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No Fear Translations

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Enter CORDELIA , KENT disguised, GENTLEMAN , and DOCTOR
Enter CORDELIA , KENT disguised, GENTLEMAN , 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.

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.

KENT

To be acknowledged, madam, is o'erpaid.
5 All my reports go with the modest truth,
Nor more, nor clipped, but so.

KENT

To be acknowledged, madam, is o'erpaid.
All my reports go with the modest truth,
Nor more, nor clipped, but so.

CORDELIA

     Be better suited.
These weeds are memories of those worser hours.
I prithee, put them off.

CORDELIA

     Be better suited.
These weeds are memories of those worser hours.
I prithee, put them off.

KENT

   Pardon, dear madam.
Yet to be known shortens my made intent.
10 My boon I make it that you know me not
Till time and I think meet.

KENT

   Pardon, 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.

CORDELIA

   Then be ’t so, my good lord.—
How does the king?

CORDELIA

   Then be ’t so, my good lord.—
How does the king?

DOCTOR

   Madam, sleeps still.

DOCTOR

   Madam, sleeps still.

CORDELIA

     O you kind gods,
Cure this great breach in his abusèd nature,
Th' untuned and jarring senses, O, wind up,
15 Of this child-changèd father!

CORDELIA

     O you kind gods,
Cure this great breach in his abusèd nature,
Th' untuned and jarring senses, O, wind up,
Of this child-changèd father!

DOCTOR

     So please your majesty
That we may wake the king? He hath slept long.

DOCTOR

     So please your majesty
That we may wake the king? He hath slept long.

CORDELIA

Be governed by your knowledge, and proceed
I' th' sway of your own will. Is he arrayed?

CORDELIA

Be governed by your knowledge, and proceed
I' th' sway of your own will. Is he arrayed?
Enter LEAR asleep in a chair carried by servants
Enter LEAR asleep in a chair carried by servants

GENTLEMAN

Ay, madam. In the heaviness of his sleep
20 We put fresh garments on him.

GENTLEMAN

Ay, madam. In the heaviness of his sleep
We put fresh garments on him.

DOCTOR

Be by, good madam, when we do awake him.
I doubt not of his temperance.

DOCTOR

Be by, good madam, when we do awake him.
I doubt not of his temperance.

CORDELIA

     Very well.

CORDELIA

     Very well.

DOCTOR

Please you, draw near.—Louder the music there!

DOCTOR

Please you, draw near.—Louder the music there!

CORDELIA

(kisses LEAR) O my dear father, restoration hang
25 Thy medicine on my lips, and let this kiss
Repair those violent harms that my two sisters
Have in thy reverence made!

CORDELIA

(kisses LEAR) 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!

KENT

     Kind and dear princess!

KENT

     Kind and dear princess!

CORDELIA

Had you not been their father, these white flakes
Did challenge pity of them. Was this a face
30 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 meanest dog,
35 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
40 Had not concluded all.—He wakes. Speak to him.

CORDELIA

Had you not been their father, these white flakes
Did challenge 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 meanest 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.

DOCTOR

Madam, do you. 'Tis fittest.

DOCTOR

Madam, do you. 'Tis fittest.

CORDELIA

How does my royal lord? How fares your majesty?

CORDELIA

How does my royal lord? How fares your majesty?

LEAR

You do me wrong to take me out o' th' grave.
Thou art a soul in bliss, but I am bound
45 Upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears
Do scald like molten lead.

LEAR

You do me wrong to take me out o' th' grave.
Thou art a soul in bliss, but I am bound
Upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears
Do scald like molten lead.

CORDELIA

   Sir, do you know me?

CORDELIA

   Sir, do you know me?

LEAR

You are a spirit, I know. Where did you die?

LEAR

You are a spirit, I know. Where did you die?

CORDELIA

(aside to DOCTOR) Still, still far wide!

CORDELIA

(aside to DOCTOR) Still, still far wide!

DOCTOR

He’s scarce awake. Let him alone awhile.

DOCTOR

He’s scarce awake. Let him alone awhile.

LEAR

50 Where have I been? Where am I? Fair daylight?
I am mightily abused. I should ev'n 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 pinprick. Would I were assured
55 Of my condition.

LEAR

Where have I been? Where am I? Fair daylight?
I am mightily abused. I should ev'n 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 pinprick. Would I were assured
Of my condition.

CORDELIA

(kneels)
   O, look upon me, sir,
And hold your hands in benediction o'er me.
No, sir, you must not kneel.

CORDELIA

(kneels)
   O, look upon me, sir,
And hold your hands in benediction o'er me.
No, sir, you must not kneel.

LEAR

     Pray, do not mock me.
I am a very foolish fond old man,
60 Fourscore and upward, not an hour more nor less.
And to deal plainly
I fear I am not in my perfect mind.
Methinks I should know you, and know this man.

LEAR

     Pray, do not mock me.
I am a very foolish fond old man,
Fourscore and upward, not an hour more nor less.
And to deal plainly
I fear I am not in my perfect mind.
Methinks I should know you, and know this man.
Yet I am doubtful, for I am mainly ignorant
65 What place this is, and all the skill I have
Remembers not these garments. Nor I know not
Where I did lodge last night. Do not laugh at me,
For as I am a man, I think this lady
To be my child Cordelia.
Yet I am doubtful, for I am mainly ignorant
What place this is, and all the skill I have
Remembers not these garments. Nor I know not
Where I did lodge last night. Do not laugh at me,
For as I am a man, I think this lady
To be my child Cordelia.

CORDELIA

   And so I am, I am.

CORDELIA

   And so I am, I am.

LEAR

70 Be your tears wet? Yes, faith. I pray, weep not.
If you have poison for me, I will drink it.
I know you do not love me, for your sisters
Have, as I do remember, done me wrong.
You have some cause; they have not.

LEAR

Be your tears wet? Yes, faith. I pray, weep not.
If you have poison for me, I will drink it.
I know you do not love me, for your sisters
Have, as I do remember, done me wrong.
You have some cause; they have not.

CORDELIA

     No cause, no cause.

CORDELIA

     No cause, no cause.

LEAR

75 Am I in France?

LEAR

Am I in France?

KENT

In your own kingdom, sir.

KENT

In your own kingdom, sir.

LEAR

Do not abuse me.

LEAR

Do not abuse me.

DOCTOR

Be comforted, good madam. The great rage,
You see, is killed in him. And yet it is danger
80 To make him even o'er the time he has lost.
Desire him to go in. Trouble him no more
Till further settling.

DOCTOR

Be comforted, good madam. The great rage,
You see, is killed in him. And yet it is danger
To make him even o'er the time he has lost.
Desire him to go in. Trouble him no more
Till further settling.

CORDELIA

Will ’t please your highness walk?

CORDELIA

Will ’t please your highness walk?

LEAR

You must bear with me.
85 Pray you now, forget and forgive.
I am old and foolish.

LEAR

You must bear with me.
Pray you now, forget and forgive.
I am old and foolish.
Exeunt
Exeunt
Manent KENT and GENTLEMAN
Manent KENT and GENTLEMAN

GENTLEMAN

   Holds it true, sir, that the Duke of Cornwall was so slain?

GENTLEMAN

   Holds it true, sir, that the Duke of Cornwall was so slain?

KENT

   Most certain, sir.

KENT

   Most certain, sir.

GENTLEMAN

Who is conductor of his people?

GENTLEMAN

Who is conductor of his people?

KENT

As ’tis said, the bastard son of Gloucester.

KENT

As ’tis said, the bastard son of Gloucester.

GENTLEMAN

They say Edgar, his banished son, is with the Earl of Kent in Germany.

GENTLEMAN

They say Edgar, his banished son, is with the Earl of Kent in Germany.

KENT

Report is changeable. Tis time to look about. The powers of the kingdom approach apace.

KENT

Report is changeable. Tis time to look about. The powers of the kingdom approach apace.

GENTLEMAN

The arbitrament is like to be bloody. Fare you well, sir.

GENTLEMAN

The arbitrament is like to be bloody. Fare you well, sir.
Exit GENTLEMAN
Exit GENTLEMAN

KENT

95 My point and period will be throughly wrought,
Or well or ill, as this day’s battle’s fought.

KENT

My point and period will be throughly wrought,
Or well or ill, as this day’s battle’s fought.
Exit
Exit

Original Text

Modern Text

Enter CORDELIA , KENT disguised, GENTLEMAN , and DOCTOR
Enter CORDELIA , KENT disguised, GENTLEMAN , 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.

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.

KENT

To be acknowledged, madam, is o'erpaid.
5 All my reports go with the modest truth,
Nor more, nor clipped, but so.

KENT

To be acknowledged, madam, is o'erpaid.
All my reports go with the modest truth,
Nor more, nor clipped, but so.

CORDELIA

     Be better suited.
These weeds are memories of those worser hours.
I prithee, put them off.

CORDELIA

     Be better suited.
These weeds are memories of those worser hours.
I prithee, put them off.

KENT

   Pardon, dear madam.
Yet to be known shortens my made intent.
10 My boon I make it that you know me not
Till time and I think meet.

KENT

   Pardon, 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.

CORDELIA

   Then be ’t so, my good lord.—
How does the king?

CORDELIA

   Then be ’t so, my good lord.—
How does the king?

DOCTOR

   Madam, sleeps still.

DOCTOR

   Madam, sleeps still.

CORDELIA

     O you kind gods,
Cure this great breach in his abusèd nature,
Th' untuned and jarring senses, O, wind up,
15 Of this child-changèd father!

CORDELIA

     O you kind gods,
Cure this great breach in his abusèd nature,
Th' untuned and jarring senses, O, wind up,
Of this child-changèd father!

DOCTOR

     So please your majesty
That we may wake the king? He hath slept long.

DOCTOR

     So please your majesty
That we may wake the king? He hath slept long.

CORDELIA

Be governed by your knowledge, and proceed
I' th' sway of your own will. Is he arrayed?

CORDELIA

Be governed by your knowledge, and proceed
I' th' sway of your own will. Is he arrayed?
Enter LEAR asleep in a chair carried by servants
Enter LEAR asleep in a chair carried by servants

GENTLEMAN

Ay, madam. In the heaviness of his sleep
20 We put fresh garments on him.

GENTLEMAN

Ay, madam. In the heaviness of his sleep
We put fresh garments on him.

DOCTOR

Be by, good madam, when we do awake him.
I doubt not of his temperance.

DOCTOR

Be by, good madam, when we do awake him.
I doubt not of his temperance.

CORDELIA

     Very well.

CORDELIA

     Very well.

DOCTOR

Please you, draw near.—Louder the music there!

DOCTOR

Please you, draw near.—Louder the music there!

CORDELIA

(kisses LEAR) O my dear father, restoration hang
25 Thy medicine on my lips, and let this kiss
Repair those violent harms that my two sisters
Have in thy reverence made!

CORDELIA

(kisses LEAR) 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!

KENT

     Kind and dear princess!

KENT

     Kind and dear princess!

CORDELIA

Had you not been their father, these white flakes
Did challenge pity of them. Was this a face
30 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 meanest dog,
35 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
40 Had not concluded all.—He wakes. Speak to him.

CORDELIA

Had you not been their father, these white flakes
Did challenge 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 meanest 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.

DOCTOR

Madam, do you. 'Tis fittest.

DOCTOR

Madam, do you. 'Tis fittest.

CORDELIA

How does my royal lord? How fares your majesty?

CORDELIA

How does my royal lord? How fares your majesty?

LEAR

You do me wrong to take me out o' th' grave.
Thou art a soul in bliss, but I am bound
45 Upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears
Do scald like molten lead.

LEAR

You do me wrong to take me out o' th' grave.
Thou art a soul in bliss, but I am bound
Upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears
Do scald like molten lead.

CORDELIA

   Sir, do you know me?

CORDELIA

   Sir, do you know me?

LEAR

You are a spirit, I know. Where did you die?

LEAR

You are a spirit, I know. Where did you die?

CORDELIA

(aside to DOCTOR) Still, still far wide!

CORDELIA

(aside to DOCTOR) Still, still far wide!

DOCTOR

He’s scarce awake. Let him alone awhile.

DOCTOR

He’s scarce awake. Let him alone awhile.

LEAR

50 Where have I been? Where am I? Fair daylight?
I am mightily abused. I should ev'n 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 pinprick. Would I were assured
55 Of my condition.

LEAR

Where have I been? Where am I? Fair daylight?
I am mightily abused. I should ev'n 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 pinprick. Would I were assured
Of my condition.

CORDELIA

(kneels)
   O, look upon me, sir,
And hold your hands in benediction o'er me.
No, sir, you must not kneel.

CORDELIA

(kneels)
   O, look upon me, sir,
And hold your hands in benediction o'er me.
No, sir, you must not kneel.

LEAR

     Pray, do not mock me.
I am a very foolish fond old man,
60 Fourscore and upward, not an hour more nor less.
And to deal plainly
I fear I am not in my perfect mind.
Methinks I should know you, and know this man.

LEAR

     Pray, do not mock me.
I am a very foolish fond old man,
Fourscore and upward, not an hour more nor less.
And to deal plainly
I fear I am not in my perfect mind.
Methinks I should know you, and know this man.
Yet I am doubtful, for I am mainly ignorant
65 What place this is, and all the skill I have
Remembers not these garments. Nor I know not
Where I did lodge last night. Do not laugh at me,
For as I am a man, I think this lady
To be my child Cordelia.
Yet I am doubtful, for I am mainly ignorant
What place this is, and all the skill I have
Remembers not these garments. Nor I know not
Where I did lodge last night. Do not laugh at me,
For as I am a man, I think this lady
To be my child Cordelia.

CORDELIA

   And so I am, I am.

CORDELIA

   And so I am, I am.

LEAR

70 Be your tears wet? Yes, faith. I pray, weep not.
If you have poison for me, I will drink it.
I know you do not love me, for your sisters
Have, as I do remember, done me wrong.
You have some cause; they have not.

LEAR

Be your tears wet? Yes, faith. I pray, weep not.
If you have poison for me, I will drink it.
I know you do not love me, for your sisters
Have, as I do remember, done me wrong.
You have some cause; they have not.

CORDELIA

     No cause, no cause.

CORDELIA

     No cause, no cause.

LEAR

75 Am I in France?

LEAR

Am I in France?

KENT

In your own kingdom, sir.

KENT

In your own kingdom, sir.

LEAR

Do not abuse me.

LEAR

Do not abuse me.

DOCTOR

Be comforted, good madam. The great rage,
You see, is killed in him. And yet it is danger
80 To make him even o'er the time he has lost.
Desire him to go in. Trouble him no more
Till further settling.

DOCTOR

Be comforted, good madam. The great rage,
You see, is killed in him. And yet it is danger
To make him even o'er the time he has lost.
Desire him to go in. Trouble him no more
Till further settling.

CORDELIA

Will ’t please your highness walk?

CORDELIA

Will ’t please your highness walk?

LEAR

You must bear with me.
85 Pray you now, forget and forgive.
I am old and foolish.

LEAR

You must bear with me.
Pray you now, forget and forgive.
I am old and foolish.
Exeunt
Exeunt
Manent KENT and GENTLEMAN
Manent KENT and GENTLEMAN

GENTLEMAN

   Holds it true, sir, that the Duke of Cornwall was so slain?

GENTLEMAN

   Holds it true, sir, that the Duke of Cornwall was so slain?

KENT

   Most certain, sir.

KENT

   Most certain, sir.

GENTLEMAN

Who is conductor of his people?

GENTLEMAN

Who is conductor of his people?

KENT

As ’tis said, the bastard son of Gloucester.

KENT

As ’tis said, the bastard son of Gloucester.

GENTLEMAN

They say Edgar, his banished son, is with the Earl of Kent in Germany.

GENTLEMAN

They say Edgar, his banished son, is with the Earl of Kent in Germany.

KENT

Report is changeable. Tis time to look about. The powers of the kingdom approach apace.

KENT

Report is changeable. Tis time to look about. The powers of the kingdom approach apace.

GENTLEMAN

The arbitrament is like to be bloody. Fare you well, sir.

GENTLEMAN

The arbitrament is like to be bloody. Fare you well, sir.
Exit GENTLEMAN
Exit GENTLEMAN

KENT

95 My point and period will be throughly wrought,
Or well or ill, as this day’s battle’s fought.

KENT

My point and period will be throughly wrought,
Or well or ill, as this day’s battle’s fought.
Exit
Exit