No Fear Shakespeare
King Lear
Get this No Fear to go!
Act 1, Scene 4, Page 4
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LEAR
Thou but rememberest me of mine own conception. I have
perceived a most faint neglect of late, which I have rather
blamed as mine own jealous curiosity than as a very pretense and purpose of unkindness. I will look further
into ’t. But where’s my fool? I have not seen him this two days.
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LEAR
No, you’re just reminding me of something I’ve also noticed. I’ve felt neglected recently, but I decided that it was more likely that I was being hypersensitive than that they were intentionally unkind. I’ll look into it further. But where’s my fool? I haven’t seen him for two days.
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FIRST KNIGHT
Since my young lady’s going into France, sir, the fool hath
much pined away.
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FIRST KNIGHT
Ever since Cordelia left for France, sir, the fool has been depressed.
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LEAR
No more of that. I have noted it well. Go you and tell my
daughter I would speak with her.
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LEAR
Let’s not talk about it. I’ve noticed it myself. Go and tell my daughter I want to speak with her.
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Exit an attendant |
An attendant exits. |
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Go you, call hither my fool.
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And you, go call my fool.
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Exit another attendant |
Another attendant exits. |
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Enter OSWALD
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OSWALD enters. |
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O you sir, you, come you hither, sir. Who am I, sir?
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You there, sir, come here please. Who am I, sir?
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OSWALD
My lady’s father.
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OSWALD
The father of the lady of the house, sir.
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LEAR
“My lady’s father”? My lord’s knave, your whoreson dog!
You slave, you cur!
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LEAR
“The father of the lady of the house”? You scoundrel! You lowlife son-of-a-bitch! You dog, you peasant!
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OSWALD
I am none of these, my lord. I beseech your pardon.
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OSWALD
I’m sorry, sir, but I’m not any of those things.
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LEAR
Do you bandy looks with me, you rascal?
(he strikes OSWALD)
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LEAR
Are you making faces at me, you scoundrel? (he hits OSWALD)
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OSWALD
I’ll not be strucken, my lord.
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OSWALD
I won’t be hit, my lord.
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KENT
(tripping OSWALD)
Nor tripped neither, you base football player.
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KENT
(tripping OSWALD) Or tripped, you lowlife football player?
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