For which I razed my likeness. Now, banished Kent,
5
If thou canst serve where thou dost stand condemned,
So may it come thy master, whom thou lovest,
Shall find thee full of labors.
KENT
If I can disguise my voice as well as my appearance, then I'll be able to carry out my plan perfectly. I was banished, but hopefully I can serve the very king who condemned me. I love my master, and he'll find me very hard-working.
Horns within Enter LEAR with attendant knights
Trumpets play offstage. LEAR enters with his attendant knights.
LEAR
Let me not stay a jot for dinner. Go get it ready.
LEAR
Don't make me wait for dinner even a moment. Get it ready immediately.
Exit attendant
An attendant exits.
(to KENT) How now, what art thou?
(to KENT) Well now, who are you?
KENT
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A man, sir.
KENT
A man, sir.
LEAR
What dost thou profess? What wouldst thou with us?
LEAR
What's your profession? What do you want from me?
KENT
I do profess to be no less than I seem—to serve him truly
that will put me in trust, to love him that is honest, to
converse with him that is wise and says little, to fear
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judgment, to fight when I cannot choose, and to eat no fish.
KENT
I
profess that I'm as good as I seem—I'll faithfully serve a master who trusts me, love those who are honest, talk with those who are wise and don't talk too much. I'm God-fearing, I fight if I must, and I don't eat fish.
LEAR
What art thou?
LEAR
But who are you?
KENT
A very honest-hearted fellow, and as poor as the king.
KENT
An honest guy who's as poor as the king.
LEAR
If thou beest as poor for a subject as he's for a king, thou'rt
poor enough. What wouldst thou?
LEAR
If you're as poor a subject as he is a king, you definitely are poor. What do you want?
