No Fear Shakespeare
King Lear
Get this No Fear to go!
Act 3, Scene 6
Original Text |
Modern Text |
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Enter GLOUCESTER, LEAR, KENT disguised, FOOL, and EDGAR disguised |
GLOUCESTER enters with LEAR, the FOOL, and KENT and EDGAR, both in disguise. |
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GLOUCESTER
Here is better than the open air. Take it thankfully. I will
piece out the comfort with what addition I can. I will not be
long from you.
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GLOUCESTER
It’s better here than outside. Be happy about it. I’ll do what I can to make you even more comfortable. I won’t be gone long.
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5 |
KENT
All the power of his wits have given way to his impatience.
The gods reward your kindness!
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KENT
He can’t bear his grief and so he’s losing his mind. May God reward you for your kindness!
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Exit GLOUCESTER
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GLOUCESTER exits. |
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EDGAR
Frateretto calls me and tells me Nero is an angler in the lake
of darkness. Pray, innocent, and beware the foul fiend.
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EDGAR
The devil Frateretto is telling me that the diabolical Roman emperor Nero likes to go fishing in hell. Pray to the gods, you fool, and beware the foul devil.
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FOOL
Prithee, nuncle, tell me whether a madman be a gentleman
or a yeoman?
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FOOL
Here’s a riddle, uncle. Is the lunatic a gentleman or an ordinary guy?
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10 |
LEAR
A king, a king!
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LEAR
He’s a king, a king!
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FOOL
No, he’s a yeoman that has a gentleman to his son, for he’s
a mad yeoman that sees his son a gentleman before him.
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FOOL
No, he’s an ordinary guy who ’s got a gentleman for a son, since someone would have to be crazy to let his son become a gentleman before he’s achieved that distinction himself.
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LEAR
To have a thousand with red burning spits
Come hissing in upon 'em!
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LEAR
I see Regan and Goneril in hell—A thousand hissing devils with sizzling red pitchforks come up to them!
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15 |
EDGAR
The foul fiend bites my back.
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EDGAR
The nasty devil’s biting my butt.
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