No Fear Shakespeare

King Lear

William Shakespeare

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Act 3, Scene 7, Page 5

Original Text

Modern Text

O cruel! O you gods!
Oh, so cruel! Oh dear gods!

70
REGAN
One side will mock another—th' other too.
REGAN
Now he’s a little crooked. Gouge out the other eye too.

CORNWALL
If you see vengeance—
CORNWALL
If you see vengeance—




75
FIRST SERVANT
Hold your hand, my lord!
I have served you ever since I was a child.
But better service have I never done you
Than now to bid you hold.
FIRST SERVANT
Stop, my lord! I’ve served you since childhood, but I’ve never done you a better service than telling you to stop.

REGAN
   How now, you dog?
REGAN
What’s this, you dog?


FIRST SERVANT
If you did wear a beard upon your chin,
I’d shake it on this quarrel. What do you mean?
FIRST SERVANT
I am willing to fight you if I must. What do you mean by all this?

CORNWALL
My villein!
CORNWALL
My peasant, acting like this?

FIRST SERVANT
Nay then, come on, and take the chance of anger.
FIRST SERVANT
Come on then. Over my dead body.
FIRST SERVANT and CORNWALL draw and fight CORNWALL is wounded
The FIRST SERVANT and CORNWALL draw swords and fight. CORNWALL is wounded.

80

REGAN
(to another servant)
Give me thy sword.—A peasant stand up thus?
(takes a sword, runs at FIRST SERVANT behind, and kills him)
REGAN
(to another servant) Give me your sword.—A lowly peasant defying his lord like this?
She takes a sword and stabs the FIRST SERVANT from behind, killing him.



85
FIRST SERVANT
Oh, I am slain!—My lord, you have one eye left
To see some mischief on him. Oh!
(dies)
FIRST SERVANT
I am dying!—My lord, you still have one eye left to see Cornwall punished. Oh!(he dies)

CORNWALL
Lest it see more, prevent it.—Out, vile jelly!
CORNWALL
We’ll just have to stop him from seeing ever again. Out, vile jelly, pop out of your eye sockets!

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