No Fear Shakespeare

King Lear

William Shakespeare

Get this No Fear to go!

Act 3, Scene 6, Page 4

Original Text

Modern Text







Hound or spaniel, brach or him,
Bobtail tyke or trundle-tail—
Tom will make them weep and wail.
For with throwing thus my head,
Dogs leap the hatch, and all are fled.
Be thy mouth or black or white,
Do-de, de-de. Cessez! Come, march to wakes and fairs and market towns. Poor Tom, thy horn is dry.
Hound or spaniel, bitch or dog,
Whether your tail is short or curly—
Tom will make you cry and wail.
With one little toss of his head,
He can scare you off for good.
Whether your mouth is black or white,
Do-dee, dee-dee da. Stop! Run off, go visit fairs and festivals! Poor Tom, your cup is empty.

75
LEAR
Then let them anatomize Regan. See what breeds about her heart. Is there any cause in nature that makes these hard hearts? (to EDGAR) You, sir, I entertain you for one of my hundred. Only I do not like the fashion of your garments. You will say they are Persian attire, but let them be changed.
LEAR
Now let them dissect Regan and her hard heart. Is there any natural cause for hardening of the heart? (to EDGAR) Sir, you can serve me as one of my hundred knights. But I don’t like your style of clothes. I’m sure you’ll tell me they’re fabulous, but I think you should change them anyway.

KENT
Now, good my lord, lie here and rest awhile.
KENT
Please lie down and rest a while, my lord.


LEAR
Make no noise, make no noise. Draw the curtains—so, so, so. We’ll go to supper i' th' morning. So, so, so.
(sleeps)
LEAR
Be quiet, be quiet. Draw the curtains, just like that. We’ll have supper in the morning. That’s right.
(he falls asleep)

FOOL
And I’ll go to bed at noon.
FOOL
And I’ll go to bed at noon.
Enter GLOUCESTER
GLOUCESTER enters.

85
GLOUCESTER
(to KENT) Come hither, friend. Where is the king my master?
GLOUCESTER
(to KENT) Come here, my friend. Where’s my master the king?

KENT
Here, sir, but trouble him not. His wits are gone.
KENT
He’s here, sir, but please don’t bother him. He’s out of his right mind.


GLOUCESTER
Good friend, I prithee, take him in thy arms.
I have o'erheard a plot of death upon him.
GLOUCESTER
Please get him, my friend, I beg you. I’ve overheard people plotting to kill him. I have a carriage ready. Put

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.