ACT 1 -Edited Version King Lear [Wardani] - Compressed

8/2/2019 ACT 1 -Edited Version King Lear [Wardani] - Compressed

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ACT ISCENE I. King Lear's palace.

Enter KENT, GLOUCESTER, and EDMUND

KENT

I thought the king had more affected to the

Duke of Albany than Cornwall.

GLOUCESTER

It did always seem so to us: but now, in the

division of the kingdom, it seems impossible

to find out who possess his liking most

KENTIsnt this your son, my lord?

GLOUCESTER

Im in charge for his upbringing sir: It been

times to tell people that he is my son,

but now, Im brazed to it

KENTI cant conceive you.

GLOUCESTER

Well, this young mans mothergrew him:

in her womb before having a husband on her

bed.Can you smell a fault?

KENTI cant wish the fault undone, the issue of it

being so proper.

GLOUCESTERBut I have, sir, a legal son, some year elder

than this. Oh, so, do you know this noble

gentleman, Edmund?

EDMUND

No, my lord.

GLOUCESTER

This is Lord Kent: remember him as my

honourable friend.

EDMUNDPleased to meet you sir

GLOUCESTERAhh, The king is coming.

Sennet. Enter KING LEAR,

CORNWALL, ALBANY, GONERIL,

REGAN, CORDELIA, and Attendants

KING LEAR

Attend the lords of France and Burgundy,

Gloucester.

GLOUCESTER [exits]

Exeunt GLOUCESTER and EDMUND

KING LEARGive me the map there, know that we have

divided My kingdom into three

So, tell me, my daughters -

Which of you shall we say love me most?

That at the end, will receive largest gift.

Goneril, our eldest-born, speak first.

GONERIL

Sir, I love you more than words;

Dearer than eye-sight, space, and liberty;

Beyond what can be valued, rich or odd;

It is truly sincere to love you as any child

should ;

A love that makes breath poor, and speech

unable;

Beyond all manner of so much I love you.

LEAROf all this territory, from this line to this,

will belong to you and Albany.

So, what says our second born, our dearest

Regan, wife of Cornwall? Speak.

REGAN

Sir, I am made

Of the self-same metal as my sister,

And consider me as she is. In my true heartI find she names my very deed of love towards

you;

I love you more than any joy, which the most

precious is only you;

And I find in your dear highness' love, the

only pleasure I want.

KING LEAR

To you and your heir, hereby obtain

this ample third of our fair kingdom;

Now now, our joy,Last but not least; to whose young love

shares to France and Burgundy,

what can you say to draw


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A third more opulent than your sisters? Speak.

CORDELIANothing, my lord.

KING LEAR

Nothing!

CORDELIA

Nothing.

KING LEARNothing will come of nothing: speak again.

CORDELIA

Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave

My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty

According to my bond; nor more nor less.

KING LEAR

Cordelia! Mend your speech a little,

CORDELIAGood my lord,

You have raised me, nurtured me, loved me: I

Return those duties back as are right fit,

Obey you, love you, and most honour you.

Why have my sisters husbands, if they do

love you all? Dont they love their husbands

too?Well, when I shall marry, That lord must take

Half of my love with him, half of my care and

duty:

Sure, I shall never marry like my sisters, Only

to love you father.

KING LEARHow could you say this?

CORDELIA

Yes, my lord

KING LEAR

So young, and so mean?

CORDELIASo young, my lord, and true.

KING LEAR

Let it be so; The truth shall reveal

I swear by the universe and all living things,Here I disclaim all my paternal care,

All affections and property of blood

Now, Out you, out!

KING LEAR

I loved her most, supposedly for the rest of my

life

Call France and Burgundy; why arent any of

you doing anything? [Several attendants

exit.]

Cornwall and Albany,With my two daughters, this third land should

be divided among you:

With reservation of an hundred knights,

By you to be sustained, shall my home

Make with you by due turns. Only I still retain

The name, and all the additions to a king;

The sway, revenue, execution of the rest,

Beloved sons, be yours;

This crown part partially divided for you.

[Giving the crown]

KENT

Royal Lear,

Whom I have ever honoured as my king,

Loved as my father

KING LEAR

Silent!

KENTLet your anger fall, even if it hurt.

When Lear is mad, Kent can be unmanner.What are you doing, old man?

Its my duty that made me dread to speak,

Especially when kings power bows to

flattery.

KING LEAR

Kent, for your life sake, stop talking!

KENTMy life I never held but as a pawn to fight

against your enemies;

KING LEAR

Out of my sight!

KENTSee better, Lear;

KING LEAR

O, vassal! villain!

[Laying his hand on his sword]

ALBANY & CORNWALL


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Dear sir, forbear.

KENTRevoke your doom;

I'll tell you that this is evil.

KING LEAR

Hear me, traitor!Receive your punishment Kent, five days

We do give you provision,

And on the sixth day, vanished yourself from

this kingdom.

If on the tenth following, you are still here,

Death is waiting upon you.

This shall not be revoked..

KENT

Fare thee well, king:

Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here.[To CORDELIA] The gods take you to their

dear shelter, my dear,

That due the way you think, and has most

rightly said!

[To REGAN and GONERIL]And your large

speeches may your deeds approve,

That good effects may spring from words of

love.

Thus Kent, bids you all farewell;

He'll shape his old course in a country new.

Exit

Flourish. Re-enter GLOUCESTER, with

KING OF FRANCE, BURGUNDY, and

Attendants

GLOUCESTERHere's France and Burgundy, my noble lord.

KING LEAR

My lord of Burgundy,

When she was dear to us, we did hold her so;

But now her price is fallen. Sir, there she

stands:

She's there, and she is yours.

BURGUNDY

I know no answer.

KING LEAR

Will you, with those infirmities she owes,Dower with our curse, and stranger with our

oath,

Take her, or leave her?

BURGUNDY

Pardon me, royal sir; Election makes no

negotiation on such conditions.

KING LEAR

Then leave her, sir; for, by the power that

made me,I tell you all her wealth.

[To KING OF FRANCE]For you, great king,

To prevent you like a more worthier way

Than on a woman whom nature is ashamed

Almost to acknowledge hers.

CORDELIAI beg your majesty,--

If for I want that flattering and oily art,

I am glad I dont have it, though by not havingit has lost me in your liking.

KING LEAR

Better you has not been born than not to have

pleased me better.

KING OF FRANCEIs it but this, arghh

My lord of Burgundy,

What say you to the lady? Will you have her?

She is herself a dowry, worth.

BURGUNDY

Royal Lear,

And here I take Cordelia by the hand,

Duchess of Burgundy.

KING LEARNothing for you nor her, I swear.

BURGUNDY

I am sorry, then, you have so lost a father

That you must lose a husband.

CORDELIA

Peace be with Burgundy!

Since that respects of fortune are his love,

I shall not be his wife.

KING OF FRANCE

Fairest Cordelia, that are most rich, being

poor;Most choice, forsaken; and most loved,

despised!

You and your virtues here I seize upon:


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Your dowerless daughter, king

Is queen of us, of ours, and our fair France:

KING LEAR

You has her, France: let her be yours; for we

Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see

That face of hers again. Therefore be gone

Without our grace, our love. Come, nobleBurgundy.

[Flourish. Exeunt all but KING OF FRANCE,

GONERIL, REGAN, and CORDELIA]

KING OF FRANCEBid farewell to your sisters.

CORDELIA

The jewels of our father, with this tears within

my eyesCordelia leaves you: I know you what you are;

Love well our father

So, farewell to you both.

REGAN

Prescribe not us our duties.

GONERIL

Let your study

Be to content your lord, who has received you

You have obedience scanted - failed,And well are worth the want that you have

wanted.

CORDELIA

Time shall unfold what plaited cunning hides:

Who cover faults, at last shame them derides.

Well may you prosper!

KING OF FRANCECome, my fair Cordelia.

[Exeunt KING OF FRANCE and

CORDELIA]

GONERIL

Sister, it is not a little I have to say of what

most nearly connected to us both. I think our

father will leave here tonight.

REGAN

That's most certain, and with you; next monthwith us.

GONERIL

You see how full of changes his age is;

he always loved our sister most; and

with what poor judgment he has now cast her

off

REGAN

This the infirmity of his age: Kent's

banishment.

GONERILPray you, let's hit together

REGAN

We shall further think on it.

GONERILWe must do something.

[Exeunt]

SCENE II. The Earl of Gloucester'scastle.

Enter EDMUND, with a letter

EDMUNDWhy bastard? Wherefore base?

Why brand they that I am

With base? Illegitimate?

Well, then, Legitimate Edgar, I must have

your land:

Our father's love to the bastard Edmund is

same

As to the legitimate: fine word,--legitimate!

Well, my legitimate, if this letter speed,

And my invention succeeded, Edmund the

base

Shall top the legitimate.

Now, gods, stand up for bastards!

[Enter GLOUCESTER]

GLOUCESTER

Kent been banished like that! And King of

France gone in a temper!

And the king gone to-night! subscribed his

power!

All of sudden! All this done

EDMUND

So please your lordship, none. [Putting up the

letter]

GLOUCESTERWhy so seriously seek you to put up that

letter?


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EDMUND

I know no news, my lord.

GLOUCESTERWhat paper were you reading?

EDMUNDNothing, my lord.

GLOUCESTER

No? the quality of nothing has not such need

to hide itself. Let's see

EDMUND

I beg you, sir, pardon me: it is a letter

from my brother, that I have not all over-read;

I find it not fit for your over-looking.

GLOUCESTER

Let's see, let's see.

GLOUCESTER[Reads] 'This policy and respect of age makes

the world bitter; keeps our fortunes from us

till we old. Come to me, If our father

would sleep till I waked him, you should half

his revenue for ever, and live the beloved of

your brother, EDGAR.'

Hum--conspiracy!--'Sleep till I waked him,--you

should enjoy half his revenue,'--My son

Edgar!

Had he a hand to write this? a heart and brain

to think?--When came this to you? Who

brought it?

EDMUND

It was not brought me, my lord; there's the

cunning of it; I found it thrown in at the

casement of my closet.

GLOUCESTER

You know the character of your brother?

EDMUND

If the matter were good, my lord, I swear

it were his; but, I hope his heart is

not in the contents.

GLOUCESTER

It is his.O villain, villain! His very opinion in the

letter! Unnatural, hated, Go, sirrah,

seek him; I'll arrest him: Villain! Where is he?

EDMUND

Know him no, sir.

GLOUCESTERThese late eclipses in the sun and moon

signify no good to us: love cools, friendship

falls off, brothers divide: in cities, mutinies; incountries, conflict; in palaces, betrayal; and

the cracked bond between son and father.

there's son against father: the king

falls from bias of nature; there's father against

child. Find out this villain, Edmund.

[Exit]

EDMUND

This is the excellent idiocy of the world

blaming the sun, the moon, and the starsI should have been that I am, Edgar--

[Enter EDGAR]

And perfectly he comes like the tragedy of the

old Comedy

EDMUND

Come, come; when you saw my father last?

EDGARWhy, the night gone by.

EDMUND

Do you spoke you with him?

EDGAR

Yes, two hours together.

EDMUNDParted you in good terms? Found you no

displeasure in him by word or expressions?

EDGARNone at all.

EDMUND

Bethink yourself where you may have

offended him: and at my request stay away

from his anger;

EDGAR

Some villain has done me wrong.

EDMUND

That's my fear. I pray you and, go armed.


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EDGARArmed, brother!

EDMUND

Brother, I advise you to the best; go armed!

EDGAR

Shall I hear from you soon?

EDMUNDI do serve you in this business.

[Exit EDGAR]

A naive father! and a brother noble,

That they suspects none: I see the business.

Exit

SCENE III. The Duke of Albany's palace.

Enter GONERIL, and OSWALD, her steward

GONERILDid my father strike my gentleman for

harassing of his fool?

OSWALD

Yes, madam.

GONERILBy day and night he wrongs me;

I'll not endure it:

His knights grow riotous

When he returns from hunting,

I will not speak with him; say I am sick:

OSWALDHe's coming, madam; I hear him.

Horns within

GONERIL

If he dislike it, let him to our sister,

Whose mind are mine, I know, in that are one,

Not to be over-ruled.

Remember what I tell you.

OSWALD

Well, madam.

GONERILAnd let the servants have colder looks on his

knights ;

That I may speak: I'll write straight to my

sister, To plan my very course. Prepare for

dinner.

[Exeunt] Separately

SCENE IV. A hall in the same.

Enter KENT, disguised

KENT

Now, I am the banished Kent,

Hopefully, I can serve where I do stand

condemned, So may it come, your master,

whom I love most, Shall find me full of

labours.

Horns within. Enter KING LEAR, Knights,

and Attendants

KING LEARLet me not stay a jot for dinner; go get it

ready.[Exit an Attendant]How now! What

are you?

KENTA man, sir.

KING LEAR

What are you?

KENT

A very honest-hearted fellow, and as poor as

the king.

KING LEAR

If you be as poor for a subject as he is a

King, you are poor enough. What would you

do?

KENTService.

KING LEAR

Who would you serve?

KENT

You.

KING LEAR

Does you know me, fellow?

KENTNo, sir; but you have that in your face


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which I would fain call master.

KING LEARWhat's that?

KENT

Authority.

KING LEAR

How old are you?

KENTNot so young, sir, to love a woman for

singing, nor

so old to dote on her for any thing: I have

years before, forty eight.

KING LEAR

Follow me; you shall serve me: if I like youno

more after dinner, I will not send you away

yet.

Dinner, ho, dinner! Where's my fool? fool?

Go you, and call my fool. [Exit an Attendant]

Enter OSWALD

KING LEAR

You, you, sir, where's my daughter?

OSWALDSo please you,--

Exit

KING LEARWhat says the fellow there? Call the clotpoll

back.[Exit a Knight]

Where's my fool, ho? I think the world's

asleep.[Re-enter Knight]

How now! where's that mongrel?

Knight

He says, my lord, your daughter is not well.

KING LEAR

Why came not the slave back to me when I

called him.

Knight

Sir, he answered me in the roundest manner,

he would not.

KING LEARHe would not!

I will look further into it. But where's my

fool? I have not seen him this two days.

Knight

Since my young lady's going into France, sir,

the fool has much away.

KING LEARGo you, call hither my fool.[Exit an

Attendant]

Re-enter OSWALD

KING LEARO, you sir, you, come you hither, sir: who am

I,sir?

OSWALD

My lady's father.

KING LEAR'My lady's father'! Do you making faces at me,

you rascal?[Striking him]

OSWALD

I'll not be struck, my lord.

KENTNor tripped neither, you base football player.

[Tripping up his heels]Come, sir, arise, and away! I'll teach you

differences: away, away! Again : but away!

Go!.[Pushes OSWALD out]

KING LEARNow, my friendly knave, I thank you: there's

earnest of your service.[Giving KENT

money]Enter Fool

FoolLet me hire him too: here's my coxcomb.

[Offering KENT his cap]

KING LEAR

How now, my pretty knave! how do you do?

Fool

Well Sirrah, I'll teach you a speech.

KING LEARDo.

Fool


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Mark it, nuncle:

Have more than you show,

Speak less than you know,

Lend less than you owe,

Ride more than you go,

Learn more than you heard,

Set less than you expected;

Leave your drink and your whore,And keep in-a-door,

And you shall have more

KENTThis is nothing, fool.

KING LEAR

Why, no, boy; nothing can be made out of

nothing.

FoolThe sweet fool in a fools costumethats

me.

The bitter one is the other onethats you.

KING LEAR

Do you call me fool, boy?

Fool

All your other titles you has given away;

thats the one left.

KENT

This is not a fool, my lord.

Fool

No. Give me an egg, nuncle, and I'll give you

two crowns.

KING LEAR

What two crowns shall they be?

FoolWhy, after I have cut the egg in the middle,

and eat up the white, the two crowns of the

egg left. When you cut both crown in the

middle, and give away both parts to your

daughters, your are such ass on the back over

the donkey: you has little wise in you when

you give your golden one away. If I speak

like myself in this,--

Singing

Fools have a hard time in this year;For wise men are grown foolish,

They know not how their fits to wear,

Their manners are so stupid.

KING LEAR

When were you wont to be so full of songs,

sirrah?

Fool

I have used it, nuncle, ever since you made

your daughters your mothers: for when yougive them the power, and put down your own

ass,

Singing

Then your daughter for sudden joy did weep,

And I for sorrow sung,

That such a king should play bo-peep,

And go the fools among.

Please, nuncle, keep a schoolmaster that can

teach your fool to lie: I would die learn to lie.

KING LEAR

If you lie, sirrah, we'll have you whipped.

FoolI wonder what relation you and your daughters

are: they'll have me whipped for speaking

true, you will have me whipped for lying; and

sometimes I am whipped for holding my

peace. I had rather be any

kind of anything than a fool: and yet I would

not be you, nuncle; you has spared your brainwith of both sides, and left nothing in the

middle: here comes one of the parings.

Enter GONERIL

KING LEAR

How now, daughter! what makes that

frowning on?

Fool

You was a pretty fellow when you has no need

to care for her frowning.

[To GONERIL] Yes, you, I will hold my

tongue; so your face

bids me, though you say nothing. Mum, mum,

Pointing to KING LEAR

That's a shealed peascod, empty.

GONERIL

Not only, sir, this your all-licensed fool,But other of your rude followers

Do hourly quarrel; breaking forwards

In rank and not-to-be endured riots. Sir,


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I had thought, by making this well known unto

you, By what yourself too late have spoke and

done.

FoolFor, you grow, nuncle,

Such a lighting candle burn the owner at last.

KING LEAR

Are you my daughter?

GONERILSir, I know you are burdened; and put away

These temper, that of late transform you from

what you rightly are.

KING LEAR

Does any here know me? This is not Lear:

Does Lear walk or speak such? Where are hiseyes?

Either his notion weakens or his judgement

screwed--Ha! Who is it that can tell me who I

am?

Fool

Lear's shadow.

GONERILThis admiration, sir, is of other your new

pranks. I do beseech youTo understand my purposes aright:

As you are old you should be wise.

Here do you keep a hundred knights and men

so disordered, that we are infected with their

manners,

Shows like a riotous and lust

Make it more like a bar rather than a graced

palace. Its shameful!

KING LEAR

Darkness and devils!

Saddle my horses; call my knights together:

I'll not trouble you.

Yet I have a daughter.

GONERILYou strike my people; and your disordered

masses make servants of their betters.

Enter ALBANY

KING LEAR

Youll be sorry later, but that too late repents,-

-

[To ALBANY] O, sir,

Prepare my horses.

Ingratitude more hideous when you show

them in a child

Uglier than the sea-monster!

ALBANY

Pray, sir, be patient.

KING LEAR[To GONERIL] disgusting! You lie.

My knights are men of choice and rarest parts,

That all particulars of duty know,

And in the most exact regard support O most

small fault,

[Striking his head]

And my dear judgment out! Go, go, my

people.

ALBANY

My lord, I am guiltless, as I am ignorant of

what has moved you.

KING LEAR

It may be so, my lord.

Hear, nature; dear goddess, hear!

To make this creature fruitful!

Dry up in her the organs; And from her

derogate body never spring

A babe to honour her!How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is

To have a thankless child! Away, away!

Exit

ALBANYNow whats on earth comes this?

GONERIL

Never afflict yourself to know the cause;

Re-enter KING LEAR

KING LEAR

What, fifty of my followers at a clap! Within a

fortnight! Leave?!

ALBANYWhat's the matter, sir?

KING LEAR

I'll tell you:

[To GONERIL] Life and death! I am

ashamed

That these hot tears, which break from me


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Should make you worth them.

The untented woundings of a father's curse

Let is be so: yet have I left a daughter,

Who, I am sure, is kind and comfortable:

Exeunt KING LEAR, KENT, and Attendants

GONERILDo you mark that, my lord?

ALBANY

I cannot be so unfair, Goneril,

To the great love I bear you,--

GONERIL

Pray you, content. What, Oswald, ho!

[To the Fool]You, sir, more knave than fool,

after your master.

Fool

Nuncle Lear, nuncle Lear, Wait! Take the fool

with you.

Exit

GONERILSafer than trust too far: I know his heart.

What he has said I have write to my sister

If she sustain him and his hundred knights

[Re-enter OSWALD]How now, Oswald!

What, have you write that letter to my sister?

OSWALD

Yes, madam.

GONERILTake you some company, and away to horse:

Inform her full of my particular fear;

And there to add such reasons of your own

As may compact it more. Get you gone; And

hurry for your return.

[Exit OSWALD]

ALBANY

How far your worries im afraid we might ruin

whats well.

GONERIL

No no!, then--

ALBANY

Well, well; time decides.

Exeunt

SCENE V. Court before the same.

Enter KING LEAR, KENT, and Fool

KING LEAR

Go you before to Gloucester with these letters.

Explains my daughter no further with anything you know If your diligence be not

speedy, I shall be there before you.

KENTI will not sleep, my lord, till I have delivered

your letter.

Exit

Fool

Shall see your other daughter will use youkindly; yet I can tell what I can tell.

KING LEAR

Why, tell me, my boy?

Fool

She will taste as like this as a crab does to a

crab; but I can tell why a snail has a house.

KING LEAR

Why?

Fool

Why, to put his head in; not to give it away to

his daughters, and leave his horns without a

case.

KING LEARI will forget my nature. Be my horses ready?

Fool

Your asses are ready by them.

Enter Gentleman

How now! Are the horses ready?

Gentleman

Ready, my lord.

KING LEAR

Come, boy.

Exeunt

ACT 1 -Edited Version King Lear [Wardani] - Compressed

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Transcript of ACT 1 -Edited Version King Lear [Wardani] - Compressed