The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated)
Page 568
Look up a-height; the shrill-gorged lark so far
Cannot be seen or heard: do but look up.
From the terrible top of this chalky cliff.
Look up there; the high singing lark cannot
be seen or heard up there: just look up.
GLOUCESTER
Alack, I have no eyes.
Is wretchedness deprived that benefit,
To end itself by death? 'Twas yet some comfort,
When misery could beguile the tyrant's rage,
And frustrate his proud will.
Alas, I am blind.
Is misery deprived of the benefit
of ending itself in suicide? It used to be a comfort,
when misery could outwit the tyrant's anger
and stop him doing what he wanted.
EDGAR
Give me your arm:
Up: so. How is 't? Feel you your legs? You stand.
Give me your arm:
get up: that's it. How is it? Can you feel your legs? Stand up.
GLOUCESTER
Too well, too well.
I can do it all too well.
EDGAR
This is above all strangeness.
Upon the crown o' the cliff, what thing was that
Which parted from you?
This is beyond belief.
When you were at the top of the cliff, who was that
who left you?
GLOUCESTER
A poor unfortunate beggar.
A poor unfortunate beggar.
EDGAR
As I stood here below, methought his eyes
Were two full moons; he had a thousand noses,
Horns whelk'd and waved like the enridged sea:
It was some fiend; therefore, thou happy father,
Think that the clearest gods, who make them honours
Of men's impossibilities, have preserved thee.
As I stood down here, I thought his eyes
were two full moons; he had a thousand noses,
horns twisted and waved like the ridges of the sea:
it was some devil; therefore, you happy father,
consider that the purest gods, who win our worship
through doing impossible things, have saved you.
GLOUCESTER
I do remember now: henceforth I'll bear
Affliction till it do cry out itself
'Enough, enough,' and die. That thing you speak of,
I took it for a man; often 'twould say
'The fiend, the fiend:' he led me to that place.
Now I remember: from now on I'll put up
with my hardships until they cry out themselves
‘Enough, enough,’ and die. That thing you speak of,
I thought it was a man; often it would say
‘The fiend, the fiend:’ he took me to that place.
EDGAR
Bear free and patient thoughts. But who comes here?
Enter KING LEAR, fantastically dressed with wild flowers
The safer sense will ne'er accommodate
His master thus.
Keep your thoughts happy and patient. But who is this?
A sane man would never
be dressed up like this.
KING LEAR
No, they cannot touch me for coining; I am the
king himself.
No, they can't arrest me for forging coins; I am the
King himself.
EDGAR
O thou side-piercing sight!
What a heartrending sight!
KING LEAR
Nature's above art in that respect. There's your
press-money. That fellow handles his bow like a
crow-keeper: draw me a clothier's yard. Look,
look, a mouse! Peace, peace; this piece of toasted
cheese will do 't. There's my gauntlet; I'll prove
it on a giant. Bring up the brown bills. O, well
flown, bird! i' the clout, i' the clout: hewgh!
Give the word.
Nature's better than art in that respect. Here's your
signing on money. That fellow handles his bow like a
scarecrow: pull the string back as far as it will go. Look,
look, a mouse! Hush, hush; this piece of toasted
cheese will do it. There's my challenge; I'll take on
a giant. Bring up the spearmen. Oh,
good shot! It's a bull's-eye, it's a bull's-eye: twang!
What's the password?
EDGAR
Sweet marjoram.
Sweet marjoram.
KING LEAR
Pass.
You can pass.
GLOUCESTER
I know that voice.
I know that voice.
KING LEAR
Ha! Goneril, with a white beard! They flattered
me like a dog; and told me I had white hairs in my
beard ere the black ones were there. To say 'ay'
and 'no' to every thing that I said!--'Ay' and 'no'
too was no good divinity. When the rain came to
wet me once, and the wind to make me chatter; when
the thunder would not peace at my bidding; there I
found 'em, there I smelt 'em out. Go to, they are
not men o' their words: they told me I was every
thing; 'tis a lie, I am not ague-proof.
Ha! Goneril, with a white beard! They flattered me
like a dog does its master; they told me I was old and wise
before I was either. They said yes
and no to everything I said! Saying yes and no
to everything is poor theology. When the rain came
to soak me, and the wind to freeze me; when
the thunder would not stop when I told it to; then I
saw what they're like, then I found them out. Go away,
they are not men of their word: they told me that I was
everything; that's a lie, I am not fever proof.
GLOUCESTER
The trick of that voice I do well remember:
Is 't not the king?
That way of speaking is very familiar:
isn't it the King?
KING LEAR
Ay, every inch a king:
When I do stare, see how the subject quakes.
I pardon that man's life. What was thy cause? Adultery?
Thou shalt not die: die for adultery! No:
The wren goes to 't, and the small gilded fly
Does lecher in my sight.
Let copulation thrive; for Gloucester's bastard son
Was kinder to his father than my daughters
Got 'tween the lawful sheets.
To 't, luxury, pell-mell! for I lack soldiers.
Behold yond simpering dame,
Whose face between her forks presages snow;
That minces virtue, and does shake the head
To hear of pleasure's name;
The fitchew, nor the soiled horse, goes to 't
With a more riotous appetite.
Down from the waist they are Centaurs,
Though women all above:
But to the girdle do the gods inherit,
Beneath is all the fiends';
There's hell, there's darkness, there's the
sulphurous pit,
Burning, scalding, stench, consumption; fie,
fie, fie! pah, pah! Give me an ounce of civet,
good apothecary, to sweeten my imagination:
there's money for thee.
Yes, every inch a King:
when I look, see how the subject shakes.
I pardon that man. What was your offence?
Adultery?
You will not die; die for adultery! No:
wrens do it, and little golden flies
do it in my sight.
Let sex flourish; Gloucester's bastard son
was kinder to his father than my daughters
who were conceived in
marriage. Go to it, lust, willy-nilly!
I lack soldiers. Look at that simpering woman,
whose face looks as if she is frigidly chaste;
she imitates virtue, and shakes her head
at the sound of pleasure;
neither the polecat nor the lusty stallion goes at it
with greater enthusiasm.
From the waist down they are centaurs,
although they are all women above:
the top half belongs to the gods,
below it's all the devil's: there's hell, there's darkness,
there is a reeking pit – burning, scalding,
stinking, swallowing; fie, fie, fie! pah, pah!
Give me an ounce of perfume, good chemist,
to sweeten my imagination.
There's money for you.
GLOUCESTER
O, let me kiss that hand!
Oh let me kiss that hand!
KING LEAR
Let me wipe it first; it smells of mortality.
Let me wipe it first; it smells of death.
GLOUCESTER
O ruin'd piece of nature! This great world
Shall so wear out to nought. Dost thou know me?
What a ruined piece of nature! This great universe
will eventually be reduced to nothing like this. Do you know me?
KING LEAR
I remember thine eyes well enough. Dost thou squiny
at me? No, do thy worst, blind Cupid! I'll not
love. Read thou this challenge; mark but the
penning of it.
I remember your eyes well enough. Are you squinting
at me? Do your worst, blind Cupid! I won't
love. Read this challenge; look at
the penmanship.
GLOUCESTER
Were all the letters suns, I could not see one.
If all the letters were suns, I wouldn't see a single one.
EDGAR
I would not take this from report; it is,
And my heart breaks at it.
You don't just have to believe the words; it's true,
and it breaks my heart.
KING LEAR
Read.
Read.
GLOUCESTER
What, with the case of eyes?
What, with my eye sockets?
KING LEAR
O, ho, are you there with me? No eyes in your
head, nor no money in your purse? Your eyes are in
a heavy case, your purse in a light; yet you see how
this world goes.
Aha, is that what you mean? You have no eyes in your
head, and no money in your purse? Your eyes are too
dark, your purse is too light; but that's the way
the world turns.
GLOUCESTER
I see it feelingly.
I can certainly see that.
KING LEAR
What, art mad? A man may see how this world goes
with no eyes. Look with thine ears: see how yond
justice rails upon yond simple thief. Hark, in
thine ear: change places; and, handy-dandy, which
is the justice, which is the thief? Thou hast seen
a farmer's dog bark at a beggar?
What, are you mad? A man can see how the world turns
without eyes. Look with your ears: see how that
judge attacks that lowly thief. Listen with your
ears: swap places, take your pick, who is
the judge and who is the thief? Have you ever seen
a farmer's dog bark at a beggar?
GLOUCESTER
Ay, sir.
Yes, sir.
KING LEAR
And the creature run from the cur? There thou
mightst behold the great image of authority: a
dog's obeyed in office.
Thou rascal beadle, hold thy bloody hand!
Why dost thou lash that whore? Strip thine own back;
Thou hotly lust'st to use her in that kind
For which thou whipp'st her. The usurer hangs the cozener.
Through tatter'd clothes small vices do appear;
Robes and furr'd gowns hide all. Plate sin with gold,
And the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks:
Arm it in rags, a pigmy's straw does pierce it.
None does offend, none, I say, none; I'll able 'em:
Take that of me, my friend, who have the power
To seal the accuser's lips. Get thee glass eyes;
And like a scurvy politician, seem
To see the things thou dost not. Now, now, now, now:
Pull off my boots: harder, harder: so.
And seen the man run from the dog? There you
can see a great symbol of authority: a
dog's obeyed when he holds office.
You rascally policeman, hold back your bloody hand!
Why do you whip that whore? Whip your own back;
you are dying to do the same thing with her
that you're whipping her for. The moneylender hangs
the pawnbroker.
Little vices show through tattered clothes;
robes and fur lined gowns cover up everything. Cover sin with gold,
and the strong spear of justice breaks off harmlessly;
dress it in rags, and a pigmy's straw can run through it.
Nobody has sinned, I say, nobody; I'll vouch for them:
take that from me, my friend, who has the power
to silence the accuser. Get yourself glass eyes;
like a vile trickster, pretend
to see the things that you can't. Now, now, now,
now;
pull off my boots; harder, harder; that's it.
EDGAR
O, matter and impertinency mix'd! Reason in madness!
Oh, sense and irrelevance mixed! Reason in lunacy!
KING LEAR
If thou wilt weep my fortunes, take my eyes.
I know thee well enough; thy name is Gloucester:
Thou must be patient; we came crying hither:
Thou know'st, the first time that we smell the air,
We wawl and cry. I will preach to thee: mark.
If you will cry for my misfortune, take my eyes.
I know you well enough; your name is Gloucester:
you must be patient; we began our lives crying:
you know that from our very first breath
we scream and cry. I will preach to you, listen.
GLOUCESTER
Alack, alack the day!
Alas, alas for this time!
KING LEAR
When we are born, we cry that we are come
To this great stage of fools: this a good block;
It were a delicate stratagem, to shoe
A troop of horse with felt: I'll put 't in proof;
And when I have stol'n upon these sons-in-law,
Then, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill!
Enter a Gentleman, with Attendants
When we are born, we cry that we have arrived
on this great stage of fools: it's a good scaffold;
it would be a cunning plan to put felt shoes
on the platoon of cavalry: I'll try it;
and when I have crept up upon my sons-in-law,
then, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill!
Gentleman
O, here he is: lay hand upon him. Sir,
Your most dear daughter--
Aha, he is: take hold of him. Sir,
your dearest daughter–
KING LEAR
No rescue? What, a prisoner? I am even
The natural fool of fortune. Use me well;
You shall have ransom. Let me have surgeons;
I am cut to the brains.
No escape? What, I'm a prisoner? I'm always
the toy of fate. Treat me well;
you will get a ransom. Let me have surgeons;
my
brains are damaged.
Gentleman
You shall have any thing.
You shall have anything you want.
KING LEAR
No seconds? all myself?
Why, this would make a man a man of salt,
To use his eyes for garden water-pots,
Ay, and laying autumn's dust.
No backers? I'm all alone?
Why, this could turn a man to tears,
he could use his eyes to water his garden
and settle the dust in the autumn.
Gentleman
Good sir,--
Good sir–
KING LEAR
I will die bravely, like a bridegroom. What!
I will be jovial: come, come; I am a king,
My masters, know you that.
I will make a good show of my death, like a bridegroom. What!
I will be jolly: come along; I am a king,
my masters, you should know that.
Gentleman
You are a royal one, and we obey you.
You are royal, and we obey you.
KING LEAR
Then there's life in't. Nay, if you get it, you
shall get it with running. Sa, sa, sa, sa.
Exit running; Attendants follow
Then there's still hope. No, if you want it
you'll have to catch it. Tally Ho!
Gentleman
A sight most pitiful in the meanest wretch,
Past speaking of in a king! Thou hast one daughter,
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,