The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (937 page)

Who redeems nature from the general curse

Which twain have brought her to.

This would be an awful sight if he was the lowest wretch,

it's beyond imagining in a King! You have one daughter,

who saves your blood from the general curse

the other two have brought upon it.

EDGAR

Hail, gentle sir.

Greetings, good sir.

Gentleman

Sir, speed you: what's your will?

The same to you sir: what do you want?

EDGAR

Do you hear aught, sir, of a battle toward?

Do you hear any talk, sir, of a battle coming?

Gentleman

Most sure and vulgar: every one hears that,

Which can distinguish sound.

Certainly, it's common knowledge: everyone's heard of it

who has ears to listen.

EDGAR

But, by your favour,

How near's the other army?

But, if you don't mind,

how close is the other army?

Gentleman

Near and on speedy foot; the main descry

Stands on the hourly thought.

They are near and moving fast; they are expected

to be spotted any hour now.

EDGAR

I thank you, sir: that's all.

Thank you, sir: that's all.

Gentleman

Though that the queen on special cause is here,

Her army is moved on.

Although the Queen has stayed here for a special reason

her army has moved on.

EDGAR

I thank you, sir.

Exit Gentleman

Thank you, sir.

GLOUCESTER

You ever-gentle gods, take my breath from me:

Let not my worser spirit tempt me again

To die before you please!

You eternally kind gods, take my breath away:

don't let my dark side tempt me again

to die before you wish!

EDGAR

Well pray you, father.

That's a good prayer, father.

GLOUCESTER

Now, good sir, what are you?

Now, good sir, who are you?

EDGAR

A most poor man, made tame to fortune's blows;

Who, by the art of known and feeling sorrows,

Am pregnant to good pity. Give me your hand,

I'll lead you to some biding.

A very poor man, accustomed to the blows of fate,

who, being used to feeling sorrow,

is very ready to give pity. Give me your hand,

I'll lead you to some lodging.

GLOUCESTER

Hearty thanks:

The bounty and the benison of heaven

To boot, and boot!

Enter OSWALD

My  hearty thanks:

may you have the rewards and blessings of heaven

in addition, and more!

OSWALD

A proclaim'd prize! Most happy!

That eyeless head of thine was first framed flesh

To raise my fortunes. Thou old unhappy traitor,

Briefly thyself remember: the sword is out

That must destroy thee.

Here's the advertised prize! What a piece of luck!

That blind head of yours was created

to lift my fortunes. You unhappy old traitor,

make your peace with heaven: the sword is drawn

which will kill you.

GLOUCESTER

Now let thy friendly hand

Put strength enough to't.

EDGAR interposes

May your friendly hand

have the strength to do it.

OSWALD

Wherefore, bold peasant,

Darest thou support a publish'd traitor? Hence;

Lest that the infection of his fortune take

Like hold on thee. Let go his arm.

By what right, cheeky peasant,

do you dare to support a known traitor? Get lost,

in case you catch the infection of his bad luck

and get the same treatment. Let go of his arm.

EDGAR

Ch'ill not let go, zir, without vurther 'casion.

I won't let go, sir, without being given a reason.

OSWALD

Let go, slave, or thou diest!

Let go, slave, or you're dead!

EDGAR

Good gentleman, go your gait, and let poor volk

pass. An chud ha' bin zwaggered out of my life,

'twould not ha' bin zo long as 'tis by a vortnight.

Nay, come not near th' old man; keep out, che vor

ye, or ise try whether your costard or my ballow be

the harder: ch'ill be plain with you.

Good gentleman, go about your business, and let poor folk

pass. If I could be bullied out of my life,

I would have been dead a fortnight ago.

No, don't come near the old man; keep off, I warn

you, or we'll see whether your apple or my stick

is the harder: I'm being straight with you.

OSWALD

Out, dunghill!

Get away, dunghill!

EDGAR

Ch'ill pick your teeth, zir: come; no matter vor

your foins.

They fight, and EDGAR knocks him down

I'll pick your teeth, sir: bring it on; I'm not scared

of your thrusts.

OSWALD

Slave, thou hast slain me: villain, take my purse:

If ever thou wilt thrive, bury my body;

And give the letters which thou find'st about me

To Edmund earl of Gloucester; seek him out

Upon the British party: O, untimely death!

Dies

Slave, you have killed me: villain, take my purse:

if you want to prosper, bury my body;

and give the letters which you will find on me

to Edmund Earl of Gloucester; look for him

amongst the British party: oh, too early death!

EDGAR

I know thee well: a serviceable villain;

As duteous to the vices of thy mistress

As badness would desire.

I know you well: a fair villain;

you were as helpful to your mistress' vices

as evil could want.

GLOUCESTER

What, is he dead?

What, is he dead?

EDGAR

Sit you down, father; rest you

Let's see these pockets: the letters that he speaks of

May be my friends. He's dead; I am only sorry

He had no other death's-man. Let us see:

Leave, gentle wax; and, manners, blame us not:

To know our enemies' minds, we'ld rip their hearts;

Their papers, is more lawful.

Reads

'Let our reciprocal vows be remembered. You have

many opportunities to cut him off: if your will

want not, time and place will be fruitfully offered.

There is nothing done, if he return the conqueror:

then am I the prisoner, and his bed my goal; from

the loathed warmth whereof deliver me, and supply

the place for your labour.

'Your--wife, so I would say--

'Affectionate servant,

'GONERIL.'

O undistinguish'd space of woman's will!

A plot upon her virtuous husband's life;

And the exchange my brother! Here, in the sands,

Thee I'll rake up, the post unsanctified

Of murderous lechers: and in the mature time

With this ungracious paper strike the sight

Of the death practised duke: for him 'tis well

That of thy death and business I can tell.

Sit down, father; rest.

Let's look in his pockets: the letters he speaks of

might help me. He's dead; I'm only sorry

he didn't have a different executioner. Let's see:

if you'll excuse me, gentle wax; and don't blame our manners:

to know what our enemies think, we rip out their hearts;

it's more lawful to rip open their letters.

“Let our two-way promises be remembered. You have many

chances to kill him; if you're strong enough to do it

you will find a good time and place. If he comes back

victorious then nothing will happen; then I will be a prisoner, with his

bed as my jail; rescue me from the despised warmth of that,

and give me an alternative with you.

Your wife, as I would like to say–

your affectionate lover,

Goneril.”

Oh the limitless capacity of women for lust!

She plots against her virtuous husband's life,

planning to exchange him for my brother!

I'll bury you here in the sand, the unholy letters

of murderous lechers; and when the time is right

I will show this wicked letter

to the Duke you've condemned. It's lucky for him

that I can tell him about your plots.

GLOUCESTER

The king is mad: how stiff is my vile sense,

That I stand up, and have ingenious feeling

Of my huge sorrows! Better I were distract:

So should my thoughts be sever'd from my griefs,

And woes by wrong imaginations lose

The knowledge of themselves.

The King is mad: how rigid my horrible senses are,

that I'm still standing and can consciously feel

my great sorrows! I'd rather be mad:

that way my thoughts would be separated from my grief,

and through self-deception I would not

know about my sorrow.

EDGAR

Give me your hand:

Drum afar off

Far off, methinks, I hear the beaten drum:

Come, father, I'll bestow you with a friend.

Exeunt

Give me your hand:

I think I can hear a drum beating far off:

come on, father, I'll leave you with a friend.

soft music playing; Gentleman, and others attending.

Enter CORDELIA, KENT, and Doctor

CORDELIA

O thou good Kent, how shall I live and work,