The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated)
Page 569
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. Le
t'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,
To match thy goodness? My life will be too short,
And every measure fail me.
Oh good Kent, how can my life and deeds
match your goodness? My life will be too short,
I could never live up to it.
KENT
To be acknowledged, madam, is o'erpaid.
All my reports go with the modest truth;
Nor more nor clipp'd, but so.
To be acknowledged by you, madam, is to be overpaid.
All my reports are nothing but the truth;
not exaggerated or edited, just the truth.
CORDELIA
Be better suited:
These weeds are memories of those worser hours:
I prithee, put them off.
Let's get you some better clothes:
these rags are reminders of those bad times:
please, take them off.
KENT
Pardon me, dear madam;
Yet to be known shortens my made intent:
My boon I make it, that you know me not
Till time and I think meet.
Excuse me, dear madam;
to reveal myself now would interfere with my plans:
I ask you as a favour to not show that you know me
until I think the time is right.
CORDELIA
Then be't so, my good lord.
To the Doctor
How does the king?
Just as you wish, my good lord.
How is the King?
Doctor
Madam, sleeps still.
Madam, he is still asleep.
CORDELIA
O you kind gods,
Cure this great breach in his abused nature!
The untuned and jarring senses, O, wind up
Of this child-changed father!
Oh you kind gods,
repair the great wrongs that have been done to him!
Tune up the discordant and clashing mind
of this father, changed by his children!
Doctor
So please your majesty
That we may wake the king: he hath slept long.
Would your Majesty agree
to our waking the King: he has been asleep a long time.
CORDELIA
Be govern'd by your knowledge, and proceed
I' the sway of your own will. Is he array'd?
Follow your knowledge and go ahead
as you think is best. Is he dressed?
Gentleman
Ay, madam; in the heaviness of his sleep
We put fresh garments on him.
Yes, madam; as he slept so heavily
we put new clothes on him.
Doctor
Be by, good madam, when we do awake him;
I doubt not of his temperance.
Be there, good madam, when we wake him up;
I'm sure he will be same.
CORDELIA
Very well.
Very well.
Doctor
Please you, draw near. Louder the music there!
Please come near. Play the music louder!
CORDELIA
O my dear father! Restoration hang
Thy medicine on my lips; and let this kiss
Repair those violent harms that my two sisters
Have in thy reverence made!
Oh my dear father! Recovery, make
my lips your medicine; let this kiss
repair the violent damage that my two sisters
have done to your sacred person!
KENT
Kind and dear princess!
Kind and dear Princess!
CORDELIA
Had you not been their father, these white flakes
Had challenged pity of them. Was this a face
To be opposed against the warring winds?
To stand against the deep dread-bolted thunder?
In the most terrible and nimble stroke
Of quick, cross lightning? to watch--poor perdu!--
With this thin helm? Mine enemy's dog,
Though he had bit me, should have stood that night
Against my fire; and wast thou fain, poor father,
To hovel thee with swine, and rogues forlorn,
In short and musty straw? Alack, alack!
'Tis wonder that thy life and wits at once
Had not concluded all. He wakes; speak to him.
Even if you hadn't been their father, your white hair
should have made them pity you. Was this a face
that should have been put out in the gales?
To stand up to the deep and terrible thunder?
To face the terrible quick stabs
of the furious lightning? To stand guard-poor sentry!-
with just this thin helmet? My enemy's dog,
even if it bit me, would have been allowed to stand
by my fire that night. And did you need, poor father,
to shack up with pigs and lost rogues
in thin and filthy straw? Alas, alas!
It's amazing that your life and your sanity
didn't both end at once. He's waking up, speak to him.
Doctor
Madam, do you; 'tis fittest.
You speak to him madam, that would be the most appropriate.
CORDELIA
How does my royal lord? How fares your majesty?
How is my royal lord? How is your Majesty?
KING LEAR
You do me wrong to take me out o' the grave:
Thou art a soul in bliss; but I am boun
d
Upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears
Do scald like moulten lead.
You should not have pulled me out of the grave:
you are a soul in heaven; but I am tied
to a wheel of fire, so my own tears
burn me like molten lead.
CORDELIA
Sir, do you know me?
Sir, do you know who I am?
KING LEAR
You are a spirit, I know: when did you die?
I know you are a ghost: when did you die?
CORDELIA
Still, still, far wide!
He's still wandering!
Doctor
He's scarce awake: let him alone awhile.
He's barely awake: leave him alone for a while.
KING LEAR
Where have I been? Where am I? Fair daylight?
I am mightily abused. I should e'en die with pity,
To see another thus. I know not what to say.
I will not swear these are my hands: let's see;
I feel this pin prick. Would I were assured
Of my condition!
Where have I been? Where am I? Is this daylight?
I have been very badly treated. I would die of pity
if I saw this happen to someone else. I don't know what to say.
I can't swear that these are my hands: let's see;