No Fear Shakespeare

King Lear

William Shakespeare

Get this No Fear to go!

Act 3, Scene 6, Page 2

Original Text

Modern Text


FOOL
He’s mad that trusts in the tameness of a wolf, a horse’s health, a boy’s love, or a whore’s oath.
FOOL
You’ve got to be crazy to trust a wolf that pretends to be tame, a horse that seems healthy, a teenager in love, or a whore who swears she’ll be faithful.



20
LEAR
It shall be done. I will arraign them straight.
(to EDGAR) Come, sit thou here, most learnèd justicer.
(to FOOL)
Thou, sapient sir, sit here.—Now, you she-foxes—
LEAR
I’ll do it. I’ll put them on trial right now. (to EDGAR) Come sit here, our able judge. (to FOOL) And you sit here, wise sir.—Now, you she-foxes—



EDGAR
Look, where he stands and glares!—Want’st thou eyes at trial, madam?
(sings)
Come o'er the bourn, Bessy, to me—
EDGAR
There he is, standing and glaring at me!—Hey, lady, can’t you see how the judge is?
(sings)
Come over the stream to me, dear Bessy—




FOOL
(sings)
Her boat hath a leak,
And she must not speak
Why she dares not come over to thee.
FOOL
(sings)
She’s getting her period,
And she won’t tell you
Why she won’t come see you.

30
EDGAR
The foul fiend haunts Poor Tom in the voice of a nightingale. Hoppedance cries in Tom’s belly for two white herring. Croak not, black angel. I have no food for thee.
EDGAR
The devil sings like a nightingale to haunt Poor Tom. The demon Hoppedance is in Tom’s belly, crying for some fish to eat. Stop whining, devil. I’ve got no food to give you.


KENT
(to LEAR) How do you, sir? Stand you not so amazed.
Will you lie down and rest upon the cushions?
KENT
(to LEAR) How are you, sir? Please don’t stand there in a daze. Wouldn’t you like to lie down on the pillows?

35





40
LEAR
I’ll see their trial first. Bring in the evidence.
(to EDGAR) Thou robèd man of justice, take thy place.
(to FOOL) And thou, his yoke-fellow of equity,
Bench by his side.
(to KENT)
   You are o' th' commission.
Sit you too.
LEAR
No, I want to see their trial first. Let’s have the evidence. (to EDGAR) Take your place, honorable judge. (to FOOL) And you, his fellow justice of the peace, sit next to him. (to KENT) You can also be a judge. Sit down as well.

EDGAR
Let us deal justly.
EDGAR
Let’s give a fair verdict.

More Help

Watch the Video SparkNote

A quick and easy plot summary of King Lear.

Read the King Lear SparkNote

Summary, analysis, themes, essay topics, and more

Download the iPhone app

Download the No Fear Shakespeare app for iPhone®/iPod touch™ from iTunes

Buy No Fear King Lear at BN.com

Get the No Fear Shakespeare you can hold in your hand at BN.com

EVEN MORE HELP! ↓

Take a Study Break

Green YOUR SCHOOL!

Click here to get involved with dosomething.org!

John Krasinski's BIG MIRACLE

Click to watch the trailer and read exclusive star interviews!

Do you like Anna?

Read Dear Albert... from ANNA's perspective!

BATTLESHIP, the movie

Here's why we're super jazzed about it.