The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (941 page)

I thought that we should have shown him our favor

before you said this. He led our armies,

represented my title and my person;

as he is my direct representative you might well

call him your brother.

GONERIL

Not so hot:

In his own grace he doth exalt himself,

More than in your addition.

Not so fast:

he has raised himself on his own merits

more than through your titles.

REGAN

In my rights,

By me invested, he compeers the best.

As my representative,

honoured by me, he equals the highest.

GONERIL

That were the most, if he should husband you.

That would be most true if he should marry you.

REGAN

Jesters do oft prove prophets.

Many a true line said in jest.

GONERIL

Holla, holla!

That eye that told you so look'd but a-squint.

Hello, hello!

There's jealousy in your eye.

REGAN

Lady, I am not well; else I should answer

From a full-flowing stomach. General,

Take thou my soldiers, prisoners, patrimony;

Dispose of them, of me; the walls are thine:

Witness the world, that I create thee here

My lord and master.

Lady, I am not well; otherwise I would answer you

with angry words. General,

take my soldiers, my prisoners, my inheritance;

do what you want with them, with me; you have won me:

may everybody bear witness that I am taking you

as my lord and master.

GONERIL

Mean you to enjoy him?

Do you mean to enjoy him?

ALBANY

The let-alone lies not in your good will.

You don't have the power to stop me.

EDMUND

Nor in thine, lord.

And neither do you, lord.

ALBANY

Half-blooded fellow, yes.

You bastard, I do.

REGAN

[To EDMUND] Let the drum strike, and prove my title thine.

Order the drum to be sounded, and claim my title for yourself.

ALBANY

Stay yet; hear reason. Edmund, I arrest thee

On capital treason; and, in thine attaint,

This gilded serpent.

Pointing to Goneril

For your claim, fair sister,

I bar it in the interest of my wife:

'Tis she is sub-contracted to this lord,

And I, her husband, contradict your bans.

If you will marry, make your loves to me,

My lady is bespoke.

Wait a moment; listen to wisdom. Edmund, I arrest you

for the capital crime of treason; and, along with you,

this gilded serpent.

As to your claim, fair sister,

I block it in the interests of my wife;

she has given herself to this lord,

and I, her husband, forbid your marriage.

If you want to marry, you should offer yourself to me,

my lady is spoken for.

GONERIL

An interlude!

This is like a play!

ALBANY

Thou art arm'd, Gloucester: let the trumpet sound:

If none appear to prove upon thy head

Thy heinous, manifest, and many treasons,

There is my pledge;

Throwing down a glove

I'll prove it on thy heart,

Ere I taste bread, thou art in nothing less

Than I have here proclaim'd thee.

You are armed, Gloucester: sound the trumpet:

if nobody appears to give evidence against you

of your wicked, obvious and multiple treason

then I promise you this;

I'll prove in a fight,

before my next meal, that you are absolutely

what I have said you are.

REGAN

Sick, O, sick!

You are sick, sick!

GONERIL

[Aside] If not, I'll ne'er trust medicine.

If she's not, I'll never trust poison again.

EDMUND

There's my exchange:

Throwing down a glove

what in the world he is

That names me traitor, villain-like he lies:

Call by thy trumpet: he that dares approach,

On him, on you, who not? I will maintain

My truth and honour firmly.

Here's my reply:

If there's anyone in the world

who calls me a traitor, he is a lying villain:

call him with your trumpet: I will strongly

fight for my truthfulness and honour,

against anybody who dares to come, against him, against you, against anybody.

ALBANY

A herald, ho!

Herald, here!

EDMUND

A herald, ho, a herald!

A herald, here, a herald!

ALBANY

Trust to thy single virtue; for thy soldiers,

All levied in my name, have in my name

Took their discharge.

Put your faith in your own bravery; your soldiers

were recruited in my name, and in my name

they have been discharged.

REGAN

My sickness grows upon me.

I am feeling more sick.

ALBANY

She is not well; convey her to my tent.

Exit Regan, led

Enter a Herald

Come hither, herald,--Let the trumpet sound,

And read out this.

She is not well; take her to my tent.

Come here, herald – let the trumpet sound,

and read this out.

Captain

Sound, trumpet!

A trumpet sounds

Sound the trumpet!

Herald

[Reads] 'If any man of quality or degree within

the lists of the army will maintain upon Edmund,

supposed Earl of Gloucester, that he is a manifold

traitor, let him appear by the third sound of the

trumpet: he is bold in his defence.'

‘If any man of quality or rank within

the army will give evidence that Edmund,

supposed Earl of Gloucester, is a traitor many times over,

let him present himself before the third trumpet call:

 he is adamant that he is innocent.’

EDMUND

Sound!

First trumpet

Blow!

Herald

Again!

Second trumpet

Again!

Herald

Again!

Third trumpet

Trumpet answers within

Enter EDGAR, at the third sound, armed, with a trumpet before him

Again!

ALBANY

Ask him his purposes, why he appears

Upon this call o' the trumpet.

Ask him what he means to do, why he appears

in answer to the trumpet call.

Herald

What are you?

Your name, your quality? and why you answer

This present summons?

Who are you?

What's your name, your rank? And why do you answer

this summons?

EDGAR

Know, my name is lost;

By treason's tooth bare-gnawn and canker-bit:

Yet am I noble as the adversary

I come to cope.

You should know that my name is lost,

ground down and poisoned by treason:

yet I am as noble as the enemy

I have come to take on.

ALBANY

Which is that adversary?

Who is your enemy?

EDGAR

What's he that speaks for Edmund Earl of Gloucester?

Who is representing Edmund Earl of Gloucester?

EDMUND

Himself: what say'st thou to him?

Himself: what do you have to say to him?

EDGAR

Draw thy sword,

That, if my speech offend a noble heart,

Thy arm may do thee justice: here is mine.

Behold, it is the privilege of mine honours,

My oath, and my profession: I protest,

Maugre thy strength, youth, place, and eminence,

Despite thy victor sword and fire-new fortune,

Thy valour and thy heart, thou art a traitor;

False to thy gods, thy brother, and thy father;

Conspirant 'gainst this high-illustrious prince;

And, from the extremest upward of thy head

To the descent and dust below thy foot,

A most toad-spotted traitor. Say thou 'No,'

This sword, this arm, and my best spirits, are bent

To prove upon thy heart, whereto I speak,

Thou liest.

Draw your sword,

so that if my speech offends your noble heart

your arm can get revenge: here is mine.

Look at it, it is the privilege of my position

my oath and my knighthood to challenge you:

I say, in spite of your strength, youth, possessions and position,

despite your victorious sword and brand-new fortune,

your heroism and your courage, you are a traitor;

you are false to your gods, to your brother, and to your father;

you are a conspirator against this illustrious Prince;

and from the top of your head

to the sole of your shoe

you are stained with treachery. If you say you are not,

this sword, this arm, and my greatest strength will be devoted

to proving to your heart, which is what I'm speaking to,

that you are a liar.

EDMUND

In wisdom I should ask thy name;

But, since thy outside looks so fair and warlike,

And that thy tongue some say of breeding breathes,

What safe and nicely I might well delay

By rule of knighthood, I disdain and spurn:

Back do I toss these treasons to thy head;

With the hell-hated lie o'erwhelm thy heart;

Which, for they yet glance by and scarcely bruise,

This sword of mine shall give them instant way,

Where they shall rest for ever. Trumpets, speak!

Alarums. They fight. EDMUND falls

By rights I should ask your name;

but since you look so fair and warlike in appearance,

and the way you speak shows you have some breeding,

although I would be within my rights to delay,

through the rules of knighthood, I shan't do that:

I throw these accusations at you;