No Fear Shakespeare
King Lear
Get this No Fear to go!
Act 1, Scene 1, Page 4
Original Text |
Modern Text |
|
|
75 |
Myself an enemy to all other joys,
Which the most precious square of sense possesses.
And find I am alone felicitate
In your dear highness' love.
|
joy except my love for you, and I find that only your majesty’s love makes me happy.
|
|
|
CORDELIA
(aside) Then poor Cordelia!
And yet not so, since I am sure my love’s
More ponderous than my tongue.
|
CORDELIA
(to herself) Poor me, what am I going to say now? But I’m not poor in love—my love is bigger than my words are.
|
|
80 85 |
LEAR
To thee and thine hereditary ever
Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom,
No less in space, validity, and pleasure
Than that conferred on Goneril.—But now, our joy,
Although our last and least, to whose young love
The vines of France and milk of Burgundy
Strive to be interessed. What can you say to draw
A third more opulent than your sisters? Speak.
|
LEAR
You and your heirs hereby receive this large third of our lovely kingdom, no smaller in area or value than what I gave Goneril.—Now, you, my youngest daughter, my joy, courted by the rich rulers of France and Burgundy, what can you tell me that will make me give you a bigger part of my kingdom than I gave your sisters? Speak.
|
|
CORDELIA
Nothing, my lord.
|
CORDELIA
Nothing, my lord.
|
|
|
LEAR
Nothing?
|
LEAR
Nothing?
|
|
|
CORDELIA
Nothing.
|
CORDELIA
Nothing.
|
|
|
90 |
LEAR
How? Nothing will come of nothing. Speak again.
|
LEAR
Come on, “nothing” will get you nothing. Try again.
|
|
|
CORDELIA
Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave
My heart into my mouth. I love your majesty
According to my bond, no more nor less.
|
CORDELIA
I’m unlucky. I don’t have a talent for putting my heart’s feelings into words. I love you as a child should love her father, neither more nor less.
|
|
95 |
LEAR
How, how, Cordelia? Mend your speech a little,
Lest you may mar your fortunes.
|
LEAR
What are you saying, Cordelia? Revise your statement, or you may damage your inheritance.
|
|
|
CORDELIA
Good my lord,
You have begot me, bred me, loved me. I
Return those duties back as are right fit—
|
CORDELIA
My lord, you brought me up and loved me, and I’m giving back just as I should: I obey you, love you, and
|
