The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (939 page)

of Kent in Germany.

KENT

Report is changeable. 'Tis time to look about; the

powers of the kingdom approach apace.

There are different rumours. It's time to prepare;

the armies of the kingdom are coming on fast.

Gentleman

The arbitrement is like to be bloody. Fare you

well, sir.

Exit

The outcome is likely to be bloody. Farewell, sir.

KENT

My point and period will be throughly wrought,

Or well or ill, as this day's battle's fought.

Exit

This could be full stop at the end of my life,

for better or for worse, depending how this battle goes.

Enter, with drum and colours, EDMUND, REGAN, Gentlemen, and Soldiers.

EDMUND (To a Gentleman, who goes out)

Know of the duke if his last purpose hold,

Or whether since he is advised by aught

To change the course: he's full of alteration

And self-reproving: bring his constant pleasure.

Find out from the Duke if his last order stands,

or whether anything has happened since to make him

change his mind: he's full of changes

and self-reproach: bring back a firm order.

REGAN

Our sister's man is certainly miscarried.

Our sister's man has certainly come to harm.

EDMUND

'Tis to be doubted, madam.

I fear so, madam.

REGAN

Now, sweet lord,

You know the goodness I intend upon you:

Tell me--but truly--but then speak the truth,

Do you not love my sister?

Now, sweet lord,

you know the good things I have planned for you:

tell me–truthfully–even if I won't like it,

do you or don't you love my sister?

EDMUND

In honour'd love.

I have an honourable love for her.

REGAN

But have you never found my brother's way

To the forfended place?

But you have never followed my brother

into her bed?

EDMUND

That thought abuses you.

 The thought is unworthy of you.

REGAN

I am doubtful that you have been conjunct

And bosom'd with her, as far as we call hers.

I fear that you have been joined with her

and close to her bosom, in every sense of the phrase.

EDMUND

No, by mine honour, madam.

No, I swear it, madam.

REGAN

I never shall endure her: dear my lord,

Be not familiar with her.

I will not tolerate her: my dear lord,

don't be friendly with her.

EDMUND

Fear me not:

She and the duke her husband!

Enter, with drum and colours, ALBANY, GONERIL, and Soldiers

Don't worry about me:

here she is and the Duke her husband!

GONERIL

[Aside] I had rather lose the battle than that sister

Should loosen him and me.

I would rather lose the battle than have my sister

come between us.

ALBANY

Our very loving sister, well be-met.

Sir, this I hear; the king is come to his daughter,

With others whom the rigor of our state

Forced to cry out. Where I could not be honest,

I never yet was valiant: for this business,

It toucheth us, as France invades our land,

Not bolds the king, with others, whom, I fear,

Most just and heavy causes make oppose.

Our very loving sister, it is good to see you.

Sir, I have heard this; the King has come to his daughter,

with others who complained about the harshness

of our rule. I was never brave

when I could not be honest: this business

affects us as France is invading our land,  

not out of arrogance but to support the King and others whom

I'm afraid have very just and heavy grievances.

EDMUND

Sir, you speak nobly.

Sir, you speak nobly.

REGAN

Why is this reason'd?

Why are you wasting your time arguing this out?

GONERIL

Combine together 'gainst the enemy;

For these domestic and particular broils

Are not the question here.

Let's join together against the enemy;

these domestic and specific quarrels

are not the issue here.

ALBANY

Let's then determine

With the ancient of war on our proceedings.

Then let's confer

with our senior officers as to how to proceed.

EDMUND

I shall attend you presently at your tent.

I will come to your tent shortly.

REGAN

Sister, you'll go with us?

Sister, you'll come with us?

GONERIL

No.

No.

REGAN

'Tis most convenient; pray you, go with us.

It would be for the best; please, come with us.

GONERIL

[Aside] O, ho, I know the riddle.--I will go.

As they are going out, enter EDGAR disguised

Aha, I know what you're up to–I will come.

EDGAR

If e'er your grace had speech with man so poor,

Hear me one word.

If your Grace ever speaks to such poor men,

let me have a word.

ALBANY

I'll overtake you. Speak.

Exeunt all but ALBANY and EDGAR

I'll catch up with you. Speak.

EDGAR

Before you fight the battle, ope this letter.

If you have victory, let the trumpet sound

For him that brought it: wretched though I seem,

I can produce a champion that will prove

What is avouched there. If you miscarry,

Your business of the world hath so an end,

And machination ceases. Fortune love you.

Before you fight the battle, open this letter.

If you win, then call the one who brought it

with a fanfare: although I seem wretched,

I can produce a champion who will confirm

everything written there. If you fail,

your time on earth would have come to an end,

and all your plans will stop. Good luck to you.

ALBANY

Stay till I have read the letter.

Wait until I have read the letter.

EDGAR

I was forbid it.

When time shall serve, let but the herald cry,

And I'll appear again.

I was forbidden to do so.

When the time is right, let the herald call,

and I'll be back.

ALBANY

Why, fare thee well: I will o'erlook thy paper.

Exit EDGAR

Re-enter EDMUND

Why, good luck to you: I will read your paper.

EDMUND

The enemy's in view; draw up your powers.

Here is the guess of their true strength and forces

By diligent discovery; but your haste

Is now urged on you.

The enemy's in view; gather up your army.

Here is the estimate of their true strength and forces

through careful reconnoitring; but you must now

make haste.

ALBANY

We will greet the time.

Exit

I shall face the emergency.

EDMUND

To both these sisters have I sworn my love;

Each jealous of the other, as the stung

Are of the adder. Which of them shall I take?

Both? one? or neither? Neither can be enjoy'd,

If both remain alive: to take the widow

Exasperates, makes mad her sister Goneril;

And hardly shall I carry out my side,

Her husband being alive. Now then we'll use

His countenance for the battle; which being done,

Let her who would be rid of him devise

His speedy taking off. As for the mercy

Which he intends to Lear and to Cordelia,

The battle done, and they within our power,

Shall never see his pardon; for my state

Stands on me to defend, not to debate.

Exit

I have sworn my love to both these sisters;

each one is suspicious of the other, as the person who's been stung

watches the adder. Which of them should I have?

Both? One? Or neither? I won't be able to enjoy either of them

if both of them remain alive: if I take the widow

that will exasperate and make mad her sister Goneril;

and I can hardly succeed with her,

while her husband is  alive. For now we'll use

his authority for the battle; once that's over

if she wants to get rid of him let her arrange

for him to be quickly killed. As for the mercy

which he intends to show to Lear and to Cordelia,

once the battle is over, and we have them in our power,