The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (934 page)

Search every acre in the high-grown field,

And bring him to our eye.

Exit an Officer

What can man's wisdom

In the restoring his bereaved sense?

He that helps him take all my outward worth.

Alas, it is him: why, he has been seen just now

raging like the sea; singing aloud;

wearing a crown of stinking plants and weeds,

with burdock, hemlock, nettles, cowslip,

rye, and all the useless weeds that grow

in the useful corn. Send out a platoon;

search every acre of the tall cornfields

and bring him to see me.

What science is there

that can bring him back to his senses?

Anyone who can help can have all my possessions.

Doctor

There is means, madam:

Our foster-nurse of nature is repose,

The which he lacks; that to provoke in him,

Are many simples operative, whose power

Will close the eye of anguish.

There is a way, madam:

the great healer of nature is rest,

which he is lacking; to give him that

there are many herbs, whose power

will ease his pain.

CORDELIA

All blest secrets,

All you unpublish'd virtues of the earth,

Spring with my tears! be aidant and remediate

In the good man's distress! Seek, seek for him;

Lest his ungovern'd rage dissolve the life

That wants the means to lead it.

Enter a Messenger

May all the blessed secrets,

all the unknown powers of the earth,

grow up, watered with my tears! Be healing

for this good man's illness! Look, look for him;

in case his wild frenzy takes away the life

that doesn't have the sanity to look after it.

Messenger

News, madam;

The British powers are marching hitherward.

I have news, madam;

the British powers are marching this way.

CORDELIA

'Tis known before; our preparation stands

In expectation of them. O dear father,

It is thy business that I go about;

Therefore great France

My mourning and important tears hath pitied.

No blown ambition doth our arms incite,

But love, dear love, and our aged father's right:

Soon may I hear and see him!

Exeunt

I knew that already; our forces

are ready for them. Oh dear father,

I am doing this on your behalf;

that is why great France

took pity on my sorrow and begging tears.

No arrogant ambition drives me on,

but love, dear love and my aged father's rights:

I hope I may soon hear and see him!

Enter REGAN and OSWALD

REGAN

But are my brother's powers set forth?

But have my brother's forces set out?

OSWALD

Ay, madam.

Yes madam.

REGAN

Himself in person there?

And is he there in person?

OSWALD

Madam, with much ado:

Your sister is the better soldier.

Yes madam, after a great fuss:

your sister is the better soldier.

REGAN

Lord Edmund spake not with your lord at home?

Did Lord Edmund not speak to your lord at home?

OSWALD

No, madam.

No, madam.

REGAN

What might import my sister's letter to him?

What was the meaning of my sister's letter to him?

OSWALD

I know not, lady.

I do not know, lady.

REGAN

'Faith, he is posted hence on serious matter.

It was great ignorance, Gloucester's eyes being out,

To let him live: where he arrives he moves

All hearts against us: Edmund, I think, is gone,

In pity of his misery, to dispatch

His nighted life: moreover, to descry

The strength o' the enemy.

By God, he is coming here on serious business.

It was very stupid to let Gloucester live

after blinding him: wherever he goes he turns

everyone's hearts against us: Edmund, I think,

has gone to do him the kindness of ending

his blind life: and also to spy out

the enemy's strength.

OSWALD

I must needs after him, madam, with my letter.

I must follow him, madam, with my letter.

REGAN

Our troops set forth to-morrow: stay with us;

The ways are dangerous.

Our troops are setting out tomorrow: stay with me;

the roads are dangerous.

OSWALD

I may not, madam:

My lady charged my duty in this business.

I can't, madam:

my lady ordered me to do this.

REGAN

Why should she write to Edmund? Might not you

Transport her purposes by word? Belike,

Something--I know not what: I'll love thee much,

Let me unseal the letter.

Why would she write to Edmund? Couldn't you

just take a verbal message? I think,

something–I don't know what: I'll be very pleased with you,

let me read the letter.

OSWALD

Madam, I had rather--

Madam, I would rather–

REGAN

I know your lady does not love her husband;

I am sure of that: and at her late being here

She gave strange oeillades and most speaking looks

To noble Edmund. I know you are of her bosom.

I know your lady does not love her husband;

I'm sure of that: and when she was here recently

she was giving meaningful winks and amorous glances

to noble Edmund. I know you are in her confidence.

OSWALD

I, madam?

I, madam?

REGAN

I speak in understanding; you are; I know't:

Therefore I do advise you, take this note:

My lord is dead; Edmund and I have talk'd;

And more convenient is he for my hand

Than for your lady's: you may gather more.

If you do find him, pray you, give him this;

And when your mistress hears thus much from you,

I pray, desire her call her wisdom to her.

So, fare you well.

If you do chance to hear of that blind traitor,

Preferment falls on him that cuts him off.

I know what I'm talking about; you are, I know it:

so I advise you to think about this:

my Lord is dead; Edmund and I have talked;

and he prefers my hand to that

of your lady's: you may find out more.

If you do find him, please give him this;

and when your mistress hears of this from you,

please ask to come to her senses.

So, farewell.

If you do happen to find that blind traitor,

there will be promotion for the one who kills him.

OSWALD

Would I could meet him, madam! I should show

What party I do follow.

I wish I could meet him, madam! Then I would show

where my loyalties lie.

REGAN

Fare thee well.

Exeunt

Farewell.

Enter GLOUCESTER, and EDGAR dressed like a peasant

GLOUCESTER

When shall we come to the top of that same hill?

When will we get to the top of the hill we want?

EDGAR

You do climb up it now: look, how we labour.

You are climbing up it now: look what hard work it is.

GLOUCESTER

Methinks the ground is even.

I think the ground is flat.

EDGAR

Horrible steep.

Hark, do you hear the sea?

It's terribly steep.

Listen, can you hear the sea?

GLOUCESTER

No, truly.

Definitely not.

EDGAR

Why, then, your other senses grow imperfect

By your eyes' anguish.

Well, your other senses must've been damaged

by the pain in your eyes.

GLOUCESTER

So may it be, indeed:

Methinks thy voice is alter'd; and thou speak'st

In better phrase and matter than thou didst.

That may well be the case:

I think your voice has changed, you speak

more sense, and more articulately, and you did.

EDGAR

You're much deceived: in nothing am I changed

But in my garments.

You're much mistaken: I have changed nothing

but my clothes.

GLOUCESTER

Methinks you're better spoken.

I think you're better spoken.

EDGAR

Come on, sir; here's the place: stand still. How fearful

And dizzy 'tis, to cast one's eyes so low!