Read and listen with a SparkNotes PLUS trial!

studyGuide_translation

No Fear Translations

noFear_audio

No Fear Audio

Original Text

Modern Text

Enter GONERIL and EDMUND the bastard
Enter GONERIL and EDMUND the bastard

GONERIL

Welcome, my lord. I marvel our mild husband
Not met us on the way.

GONERIL

Welcome, my lord. I marvel our mild husband
Not met us on the way.
Enter OSWALD
Enter OSWALD
   Now, where’s your master?
   Now, where’s your master?

OSWALD

Madam, within—but never man so changed.
I told him of the army that was landed.
5 He smiled at it. I told him you were coming.
His answer was “The worse.” Of Gloucester’s treachery
And of the loyal service of his son,
When I informed him, then he called me “sot,”
And told me I had turned the wrong side out.
10 What most he should dislike seems pleasant to him;
What like, offensive.

OSWALD

Madam, within—but never man so changed.
I told him of the army that was landed.
He smiled at it. I told him you were coming.
His answer was “The worse.” Of Gloucester’s treachery
And of the loyal service of his son,
When I informed him, then he called me “sot,”
And told me I had turned the wrong side out.
What most he should dislike seems pleasant to him;
What like, offensive.

GONERIL

(to EDMUND)
   Then shall you go no further.
It is the cowish terror of his spirit
That dares not undertake. He’ll not feel wrongs
15 Which tie him to an answer. Our wishes on the way
May prove effects. Back, Edmund, to my brother.
Hasten his musters and conduct his powers.
I must change names at home, and give the distaff
Into my husband’s hands. This trusty servant
20 Shall pass between us. Ere long you are like to hear—
If you dare venture in your own behalf—
A mistress’s command. Wear this. Spare speech.
Decline your head. This kiss, if it durst speak,
Would stretch thy spirits up into the air.
(kisses EDMUND) Conceive, and fare thee well.

GONERIL

(to EDMUND)
   Then shall you go no further.
It is the cowish terror of his spirit
That dares not undertake. He’ll not feel wrongs
Which tie him to an answer. Our wishes on the way
May prove effects. Back, Edmund, to my brother.
Hasten his musters and conduct his powers.
I must change names at home, and give the distaff
Into my husband’s hands. This trusty servant
Shall pass between us. Ere long you are like to hear—
If you dare venture in your own behalf—
A mistress’s command. Wear this. Spare speech.
Decline your head. This kiss, if it durst speak,
Would stretch thy spirits up into the air.
(kisses EDMUND) Conceive, and fare thee well.

EDMUND

Yours in the ranks of death.

EDMUND

Yours in the ranks of death.

GONERIL

My most dear Gloucester!

GONERIL

My most dear Gloucester!
Exit EDMUND
Exit EDMUND
Oh, the difference of man and man!
To thee a woman’s services are due.
30 My fool usurps my body.
Oh, the difference of man and man!
To thee a woman’s services are due.
My fool usurps my body.

OSWALD

   Madam, here comes my lord.

OSWALD

   Madam, here comes my lord.
Exit OSWALD
Exit OSWALD
Enter ALBANY
Enter ALBANY

GONERIL

I have been worth the whistle.

GONERIL

I have been worth the whistle.

ALBANY

     O Goneril,
You are not worth the dust which the rude wind
Blows in your face. I fear your disposition.
That nature, which contemns its origin
35 Cannot be bordered certain in itself.
She that herself will sliver and disbranch
From her material sap perforce must wither
And come to deadly use.

ALBANY

     O Goneril,
You are not worth the dust which the rude wind
Blows in your face. I fear your disposition.
That nature, which contemns its origin
Cannot be bordered certain in itself.
She that herself will sliver and disbranch
From her material sap perforce must wither
And come to deadly use.

GONERIL

   No more. The text is foolish.

GONERIL

   No more. The text is foolish.

ALBANY

Wisdom and goodness to the vile seem vile.
40 Filths savor but themselves. What have you done?
Tigers, not daughters, what have you performed?
A father, and a gracious agèd man,
Whose reverence even the head-lugged bear would lick,
Most barbarous, most degenerate, have you madded.

ALBANY

Wisdom and goodness to the vile seem vile.
Filths savor but themselves. What have you done?
Tigers, not daughters, what have you performed?
A father, and a gracious agèd man,
Whose reverence even the head-lugged bear would lick,
Most barbarous, most degenerate, have you madded.
45 Could my good brother suffer you to do it—
A man, a prince by him so benefited?
If that the heavens do not their visible spirits
Send quickly down to tame these vile offenses,
It will come:
50 Humanity must perforce prey on itself
Like monsters of the deep.
Could my good brother suffer you to do it—
A man, a prince by him so benefited?
If that the heavens do not their visible spirits
Send quickly down to tame these vile offenses,
It will come:
Humanity must perforce prey on itself
Like monsters of the deep.

GONERIL

   Milk-livered man
That bear’st a cheek for blows, a head for wrongs—
Who hast not in thy brows an eye discerning
Thine honor from thy suffering; that not know’st
55 Fools do those villains pity who are punished
Ere they have done their mischief. Where’s thy drum?
France spreads his banners in our noiseless land,
With plumèd helm thy state begins to threat,
Whiles thou, a moral fool, sits still and cries,
60 “Alack, why does he so?”

GONERIL

   Milk-livered man
That bear’st a cheek for blows, a head for wrongs—
Who hast not in thy brows an eye discerning
Thine honor from thy suffering; that not know’st
Fools do those villains pity who are punished
Ere they have done their mischief. Where’s thy drum?
France spreads his banners in our noiseless land,
With plumèd helm thy state begins to threat,
Whiles thou, a moral fool, sits still and cries,
“Alack, why does he so?”

ALBANY

   See thyself, devil!
Proper deformity shows not in the fiend
So horrid as in woman.

ALBANY

   See thyself, devil!
Proper deformity shows not in the fiend
So horrid as in woman.

GONERIL

   O vain fool!

GONERIL

   O vain fool!

ALBANY

Thou changèd and self-covered thing, for shame!
Bemonster not thy feature. Were ’t my fitness
65 To let these hands obey my blood,
They are apt enough to dislocate and tear
Thy flesh and bones. Howe'er thou art a fiend,
A woman’s shape doth shield thee.

ALBANY

Thou changèd and self-covered thing, for shame!
Bemonster not thy feature. Were ’t my fitness
To let these hands obey my blood,
They are apt enough to dislocate and tear
Thy flesh and bones. Howe'er thou art a fiend,
A woman’s shape doth shield thee.

GONERIL

Marry, your manhood, mew!

GONERIL

Marry, your manhood, mew!
Enter FIRST MESSENGER
Enter FIRST MESSENGER

ALBANY

70 What news?

ALBANY

What news?

FIRST MESSENGER

O my good lord, the Duke of Cornwall’s dead,
Slain by his servant, going to put out
The other eye of Gloucester.

FIRST MESSENGER

O my good lord, the Duke of Cornwall’s dead,
Slain by his servant, going to put out
The other eye of Gloucester.

ALBANY

     Gloucester’s eyes?

ALBANY

     Gloucester’s eyes?

FIRST MESSENGER

A servant that he bred, thrilled with remorse,
75 Opposed against the act, bending his sword
To his great master; who thereat enraged
Flew on him and amongst them felled him dead—
But not without that harmful stroke, which since
Hath plucked him after.

FIRST MESSENGER

A servant that he bred, thrilled with remorse,
Opposed against the act, bending his sword
To his great master; who thereat enraged
Flew on him and amongst them felled him dead—
But not without that harmful stroke, which since
Hath plucked him after.

ALBANY

   This shows you are above,
80 You justicers, that these our nether crimes
So speedily can venge! But oh, poor Gloucester—
Lost he his other eye?

ALBANY

   This shows you are above,
You justicers, that these our nether crimes
So speedily can venge! But oh, poor Gloucester—
Lost he his other eye?

FIRST MESSENGER

   Both, both, my lord.—
This letter, madam, craves a speedy answer.
'Tis from your sister.

FIRST MESSENGER

   Both, both, my lord.—
This letter, madam, craves a speedy answer.
'Tis from your sister.

GONERIL

(aside)
   One way I like this well.
But being widow, and my Gloucester with her,
May all the building in my fancy pluck
Upon my hateful life. Another way
The news is not so tart.—I’ll read and answer.

GONERIL

(aside)
   One way I like this well.
But being widow, and my Gloucester with her,
May all the building in my fancy pluck
Upon my hateful life. Another way
The news is not so tart.—I’ll read and answer.
Exit GONERIL
Exit GONERIL

ALBANY

90 Where was his son when they did take his eyes?

ALBANY

Where was his son when they did take his eyes?

FIRST MESSENGER

Come with my lady hither.

FIRST MESSENGER

Come with my lady hither.

ALBANY

   He is not here.

ALBANY

   He is not here.

FIRST MESSENGER

No, my good lord. I met him back again.

FIRST MESSENGER

No, my good lord. I met him back again.

ALBANY

Knows he the wickedness?

ALBANY

Knows he the wickedness?

FIRST MESSENGER

Ay, my good lord. 'Twas he informed against him,
95 And quit the house on purpose that their punishment
Might have the freer course.

FIRST MESSENGER

Ay, my good lord. 'Twas he informed against him,
And quit the house on purpose that their punishment
Might have the freer course.

ALBANY

   Gloucester, I live
To thank thee for the love thou showed’st the king,
And to revenge thine eyes.—Come hither, friend.
Tell me what more thou know’st.

ALBANY

   Gloucester, I live
To thank thee for the love thou showed’st the king,
And to revenge thine eyes.—Come hither, friend.
Tell me what more thou know’st.
Exeunt
Exeunt

Original Text

Modern Text

Enter GONERIL and EDMUND the bastard
Enter GONERIL and EDMUND the bastard

GONERIL

Welcome, my lord. I marvel our mild husband
Not met us on the way.

GONERIL

Welcome, my lord. I marvel our mild husband
Not met us on the way.
Enter OSWALD
Enter OSWALD
   Now, where’s your master?
   Now, where’s your master?

OSWALD

Madam, within—but never man so changed.
I told him of the army that was landed.
5 He smiled at it. I told him you were coming.
His answer was “The worse.” Of Gloucester’s treachery
And of the loyal service of his son,
When I informed him, then he called me “sot,”
And told me I had turned the wrong side out.
10 What most he should dislike seems pleasant to him;
What like, offensive.

OSWALD

Madam, within—but never man so changed.
I told him of the army that was landed.
He smiled at it. I told him you were coming.
His answer was “The worse.” Of Gloucester’s treachery
And of the loyal service of his son,
When I informed him, then he called me “sot,”
And told me I had turned the wrong side out.
What most he should dislike seems pleasant to him;
What like, offensive.

GONERIL

(to EDMUND)
   Then shall you go no further.
It is the cowish terror of his spirit
That dares not undertake. He’ll not feel wrongs
15 Which tie him to an answer. Our wishes on the way
May prove effects. Back, Edmund, to my brother.
Hasten his musters and conduct his powers.
I must change names at home, and give the distaff
Into my husband’s hands. This trusty servant
20 Shall pass between us. Ere long you are like to hear—
If you dare venture in your own behalf—
A mistress’s command. Wear this. Spare speech.
Decline your head. This kiss, if it durst speak,
Would stretch thy spirits up into the air.
(kisses EDMUND) Conceive, and fare thee well.

GONERIL

(to EDMUND)
   Then shall you go no further.
It is the cowish terror of his spirit
That dares not undertake. He’ll not feel wrongs
Which tie him to an answer. Our wishes on the way
May prove effects. Back, Edmund, to my brother.
Hasten his musters and conduct his powers.
I must change names at home, and give the distaff
Into my husband’s hands. This trusty servant
Shall pass between us. Ere long you are like to hear—
If you dare venture in your own behalf—
A mistress’s command. Wear this. Spare speech.
Decline your head. This kiss, if it durst speak,
Would stretch thy spirits up into the air.
(kisses EDMUND) Conceive, and fare thee well.

EDMUND

Yours in the ranks of death.

EDMUND

Yours in the ranks of death.

GONERIL

My most dear Gloucester!

GONERIL

My most dear Gloucester!
Exit EDMUND
Exit EDMUND
Oh, the difference of man and man!
To thee a woman’s services are due.
30 My fool usurps my body.
Oh, the difference of man and man!
To thee a woman’s services are due.
My fool usurps my body.

OSWALD

   Madam, here comes my lord.

OSWALD

   Madam, here comes my lord.
Exit OSWALD
Exit OSWALD
Enter ALBANY
Enter ALBANY

GONERIL

I have been worth the whistle.

GONERIL

I have been worth the whistle.

ALBANY

     O Goneril,
You are not worth the dust which the rude wind
Blows in your face. I fear your disposition.
That nature, which contemns its origin
35 Cannot be bordered certain in itself.
She that herself will sliver and disbranch
From her material sap perforce must wither
And come to deadly use.

ALBANY

     O Goneril,
You are not worth the dust which the rude wind
Blows in your face. I fear your disposition.
That nature, which contemns its origin
Cannot be bordered certain in itself.
She that herself will sliver and disbranch
From her material sap perforce must wither
And come to deadly use.

GONERIL

   No more. The text is foolish.

GONERIL

   No more. The text is foolish.

ALBANY

Wisdom and goodness to the vile seem vile.
40 Filths savor but themselves. What have you done?
Tigers, not daughters, what have you performed?
A father, and a gracious agèd man,
Whose reverence even the head-lugged bear would lick,
Most barbarous, most degenerate, have you madded.

ALBANY

Wisdom and goodness to the vile seem vile.
Filths savor but themselves. What have you done?
Tigers, not daughters, what have you performed?
A father, and a gracious agèd man,
Whose reverence even the head-lugged bear would lick,
Most barbarous, most degenerate, have you madded.
45 Could my good brother suffer you to do it—
A man, a prince by him so benefited?
If that the heavens do not their visible spirits
Send quickly down to tame these vile offenses,
It will come:
50 Humanity must perforce prey on itself
Like monsters of the deep.
Could my good brother suffer you to do it—
A man, a prince by him so benefited?
If that the heavens do not their visible spirits
Send quickly down to tame these vile offenses,
It will come:
Humanity must perforce prey on itself
Like monsters of the deep.

GONERIL

   Milk-livered man
That bear’st a cheek for blows, a head for wrongs—
Who hast not in thy brows an eye discerning
Thine honor from thy suffering; that not know’st
55 Fools do those villains pity who are punished
Ere they have done their mischief. Where’s thy drum?
France spreads his banners in our noiseless land,
With plumèd helm thy state begins to threat,
Whiles thou, a moral fool, sits still and cries,
60 “Alack, why does he so?”

GONERIL

   Milk-livered man
That bear’st a cheek for blows, a head for wrongs—
Who hast not in thy brows an eye discerning
Thine honor from thy suffering; that not know’st
Fools do those villains pity who are punished
Ere they have done their mischief. Where’s thy drum?
France spreads his banners in our noiseless land,
With plumèd helm thy state begins to threat,
Whiles thou, a moral fool, sits still and cries,
“Alack, why does he so?”

ALBANY

   See thyself, devil!
Proper deformity shows not in the fiend
So horrid as in woman.

ALBANY

   See thyself, devil!
Proper deformity shows not in the fiend
So horrid as in woman.

GONERIL

   O vain fool!

GONERIL

   O vain fool!

ALBANY

Thou changèd and self-covered thing, for shame!
Bemonster not thy feature. Were ’t my fitness
65 To let these hands obey my blood,
They are apt enough to dislocate and tear
Thy flesh and bones. Howe'er thou art a fiend,
A woman’s shape doth shield thee.

ALBANY

Thou changèd and self-covered thing, for shame!
Bemonster not thy feature. Were ’t my fitness
To let these hands obey my blood,
They are apt enough to dislocate and tear
Thy flesh and bones. Howe'er thou art a fiend,
A woman’s shape doth shield thee.

GONERIL

Marry, your manhood, mew!

GONERIL

Marry, your manhood, mew!
Enter FIRST MESSENGER
Enter FIRST MESSENGER

ALBANY

70 What news?

ALBANY

What news?

FIRST MESSENGER

O my good lord, the Duke of Cornwall’s dead,
Slain by his servant, going to put out
The other eye of Gloucester.

FIRST MESSENGER

O my good lord, the Duke of Cornwall’s dead,
Slain by his servant, going to put out
The other eye of Gloucester.

ALBANY

     Gloucester’s eyes?

ALBANY

     Gloucester’s eyes?

FIRST MESSENGER

A servant that he bred, thrilled with remorse,
75 Opposed against the act, bending his sword
To his great master; who thereat enraged
Flew on him and amongst them felled him dead—
But not without that harmful stroke, which since
Hath plucked him after.

FIRST MESSENGER

A servant that he bred, thrilled with remorse,
Opposed against the act, bending his sword
To his great master; who thereat enraged
Flew on him and amongst them felled him dead—
But not without that harmful stroke, which since
Hath plucked him after.

ALBANY

   This shows you are above,
80 You justicers, that these our nether crimes
So speedily can venge! But oh, poor Gloucester—
Lost he his other eye?

ALBANY

   This shows you are above,
You justicers, that these our nether crimes
So speedily can venge! But oh, poor Gloucester—
Lost he his other eye?

FIRST MESSENGER

   Both, both, my lord.—
This letter, madam, craves a speedy answer.
'Tis from your sister.

FIRST MESSENGER

   Both, both, my lord.—
This letter, madam, craves a speedy answer.
'Tis from your sister.

GONERIL

(aside)
   One way I like this well.
But being widow, and my Gloucester with her,
May all the building in my fancy pluck
Upon my hateful life. Another way
The news is not so tart.—I’ll read and answer.

GONERIL

(aside)
   One way I like this well.
But being widow, and my Gloucester with her,
May all the building in my fancy pluck
Upon my hateful life. Another way
The news is not so tart.—I’ll read and answer.
Exit GONERIL
Exit GONERIL

ALBANY

90 Where was his son when they did take his eyes?

ALBANY

Where was his son when they did take his eyes?

FIRST MESSENGER

Come with my lady hither.

FIRST MESSENGER

Come with my lady hither.

ALBANY

   He is not here.

ALBANY

   He is not here.

FIRST MESSENGER

No, my good lord. I met him back again.

FIRST MESSENGER

No, my good lord. I met him back again.

ALBANY

Knows he the wickedness?

ALBANY

Knows he the wickedness?

FIRST MESSENGER

Ay, my good lord. 'Twas he informed against him,
95 And quit the house on purpose that their punishment
Might have the freer course.

FIRST MESSENGER

Ay, my good lord. 'Twas he informed against him,
And quit the house on purpose that their punishment
Might have the freer course.

ALBANY

   Gloucester, I live
To thank thee for the love thou showed’st the king,
And to revenge thine eyes.—Come hither, friend.
Tell me what more thou know’st.

ALBANY

   Gloucester, I live
To thank thee for the love thou showed’st the king,
And to revenge thine eyes.—Come hither, friend.
Tell me what more thou know’st.
Exeunt
Exeunt