No Fear Shakespeare
King Lear
Get this No Fear to go!
Act 1, Scene 3
Original Text | Modern Text | |
Enter GONERIL and her steward OSWALD
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GONERIL enters with her
steward, OSWALD. | |
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GONERIL
Did my father strike my gentleman
For chiding of his fool?
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GONERIL
Did my father hit one of my attendants for scolding his fool?
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OSWALD
Ay, madam.
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OSWALD
Yes, ma'am.
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5 10 |
GONERIL
By day and night he wrongs me. Every hour
He flashes into one gross crime or other
That sets us all at odds. I’ll not endure it.
His knights grow riotous, and himself upbraids us
On every trifle. When he returns from hunting,
I will not speak with him. Say I am sick.
If you come slack of former services,
You shall do well. The fault of it I’ll answer.
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GONERIL
He constantly offends me. Every hour he comes out with some horrible new offense that puts us all on edge. I won’t stand for it. His knights are getting out of control, and he himself reprimands us about every little detail. When he comes back from hunting, I’m not going to speak to him. Tell him I’m sick. And if you’re not as attentive in serving him as you used to be, that’ll be good. I’ll take responsibility for it.
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OSWALD
He’s coming, madam. I hear him.
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OSWALD
He’s coming, ma'am. I hear him.
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Hunting horns within | Hunting horns play offstage. | |
15 20 |
GONERIL
Put on what weary negligence you please,
You and your fellow servants. I’ll have it come to question.
If he distaste it, let him to our sister,
Whose mind and mine I know in that are one,
Not to be overruled. Idle old man
That still would manage those authorities
That he hath given away! Now by my life,
Old fools are babes again and must be used
With checks as flatteries, when they are seen abused.
Remember what I have said.
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GONERIL
Be as lazy and neglectful as you like around him—you and the other servants. I want it to become an issue. If he doesn’t like it, he can go live with my sister. I know she feels the same way about him that I do, and she’ll stand her ground. That useless old man still thinks he can wield all the powers he’s given away. I swear, old fools become like babies again. You can’t just flatter them; you also have to discipline them when you see that they’re misguided. Remember what I’ve told you.
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OSWALD
Very well, madam.
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OSWALD
Very well, ma'am.
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