King Lear: Act 1, Scene 4 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 1, Scene 4 of King Lear from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text	Translated Text
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Enter Kent in disguise. KENT If but as well I other accents borrow That can my speech diffuse, my good intent May carry through itself to that full issue For which I razed my likeness. Now, banished Kent, If thou canst serve where thou dost stand 5 condemned, So may it come thy master, whom thou lov’st, Shall find thee full of labors.	Kent, the loyal advisor Lear exiled back in Scene 1, enters Goneril's castle disguised as a down-and-out peasant, "Caius." He speaks in a strange accent so no one recognizes his voice. Kent lives to take care of Lear, and he's determined to do it even if Lear has treated him terribly.
Horns within. Enter Lear, Knights, and Attendants. LEAR Let me not stay a jot for dinner. Go get it ready. An Attendant exits. How now, what art thou? 10	Lear enters with his rowdy entourage and orders one of his attendants to hurry up and fix his dinner. (Gee, we have no idea why Goneril's been complaining about her father. He sounds like the perfect houseguest.) He sees Kent (a.k.a., Caius) and asks him who he is.
KENT A man, sir. LEAR What dost thou profess? What wouldst thou with us? 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 15 is honest, to converse with him that is wise and says little, to fear judgment, to fight when I cannot choose, and to eat no fish. LEAR What art thou? KENT A very honest-hearted fellow, and as poor as the 20 King. LEAR If thou be’st as poor for a subject as he’s for a king, thou art poor enough. What wouldst thou? KENT Service. LEAR Who wouldst thou serve? 25 KENT You. LEAR Dost thou know me, fellow? KENT No, sir, but you have that in your countenance which I would fain call master. LEAR What’s that? 30 KENT Authority. LEAR What services canst do? KENT I can keep honest counsel, ride, run, mar a curious tale in telling it, and deliver a plain message bluntly. That which ordinary men are fit for I 35 am qualified in, and the best of me is diligence. LEAR How old art thou? KENT Not so young, sir, to love a woman for singing, nor so old to dote on her for anything. I have years on my back forty-eight. 40 LEAR Follow me. Thou shalt serve me—if I like thee no worse after dinner. I will not part from thee yet.—Dinner, ho, dinner!—Where’s my knave, my Fool? Go you and call my Fool hither. An Attendant exits. Enter Oswald, the Steward. You, you, sirrah, where’s my daughter? 45 OSWALD So please you— He exits.	Kent/Caius convinces Lear with a bit of banter that he's a good guy and should be allowed to join Lear's entourage, and Lear sends Oswald, Goneril's steward, to go find his daughter.
LEAR What says the fellow there? Call the clotpole back. A Knight exits. Where’s my Fool? Ho! I think the world’s asleep. Enter Knight again. How now? Where’s that mongrel? 50 KNIGHT He says, my lord, your daughter is not well. LEAR Why came not the slave back to me when I called him? KNIGHT Sir, he answered me in the roundest manner, he would not. 55 LEAR He would not? KNIGHT My lord, I know not what the matter is, but to my judgment your Highness is not entertained with that ceremonious affection as you were wont. There’s a great abatement of kindness appears as 60 well in the general dependents as in the Duke himself also, and your daughter. LEAR Ha? Sayst thou so? KNIGHT I beseech you pardon me, my lord, if I be mistaken, for my duty cannot be silent when I think 65 your Highness wronged.	The King abruptly calls Oswald back, but Oswald ignores him. The insolence! He sends a knight after Oswald, but the only report he gets back is that Oswald wouldn't come and Goneril won't speak with him because she doesn't feel well. The knight says he thinks they're being pretty disrespectful of Lear.
LEAR Thou but remembrest 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 70 unkindness. I will look further into ’t. But where’s my Fool? I have not seen him this two days.	Lear thinks the Knight is right. He thought it was his imagination at first, but now that the Knight mentions it, it does seem like people have been giving him the cold shoulder lately. He asks again where his Fool is. He hasn't seen him in two days.
KNIGHT Since my young lady’s going into France, sir, the Fool hath much pined away.	The Knight says the Fool has been pretty sad ever since Cordelia left.
LEAR No more of that. I have noted it well.—Go you 75 and tell my daughter I would speak with her. An Attendant exits. Go you call hither my Fool. Another exits. Enter Oswald, the Steward. O you, sir, you, come you hither, sir. Who am I, sir? OSWALD My lady’s father. LEAR “My lady’s father”? My lord’s knave! You whoreson 80 dog, you slave, you cur! OSWALD I am none of these, my lord, I beseech your pardon. LEAR Do you bandy looks with me, you rascal? Lear strikes him.	Lear doesn't want to hear about anything having to do with Cordelia. He sends one attendant to get Goneril and another to get his fool. When Oswald comes back, Lear, still smarting from being ignored, demands that Oswald tell him just who he thinks he's talking to. "My lady's father," Oswald replies. This is not an acceptable answer, as Lear is still the King, which, to Lear, is a more important label than "parent." He smacks Oswald for being rude.
OSWALD I’ll not be strucken, my lord. 85 KENT, tripping him Nor tripped neither, you base football player? LEAR I thank thee, fellow. Thou serv’st me, and I’ll love thee. KENT, to Oswald Come, sir, arise. Away. I’ll teach you 90 differences. Away, away. If you will measure your lubber’s length again, tarry. But away. Go to. Have you wisdom? So. Oswald exits. LEAR Now, my friendly knave, I thank thee. There’s earnest of thy service. He gives Kent a purse. 95	Oswald tries to stand up for himself, but Kent piles on, tripping and insulting him. (These two are like a couple of playground bullies.) Lear loves it and gives Kent a bunch of money to thank him.
Enter Fool. FOOL Let me hire him too. To Kent. Here’s my coxcomb. He offers Kent his cap. LEAR How now, my pretty knave, how dost thou? FOOL, to Kent Sirrah, you were best take my coxcomb. 100 LEAR Why, my boy? FOOL Why? For taking one’s part that’s out of favor. To Kent. Nay, an thou canst not smile as the wind sits, thou ’lt catch cold shortly. There, take my coxcomb. Why, this fellow has banished two on ’s 105 daughters and did the third a blessing against his will. If thou follow him, thou must needs wear my coxcomb.—How now, nuncle? Would I had two coxcombs and two daughters. LEAR Why, my boy? 110 FOOL If I gave them all my living, I’d keep my coxcombs myself. There’s mine. Beg another of thy daughters.	The Fool comes in and offers Kent/Caius his fool's cap. He says he's going to need it if he's going to work for this crazy, unstable King. As for Lear, the Fool says he can get his own fool's cap from Goneril and Regan. They've surely made a fool of him.
LEAR Take heed, sirrah—the whip. FOOL Truth’s a dog must to kennel; he must be 115 whipped out, when the Lady Brach may stand by th’ fire and stink. LEAR A pestilent gall to me! FOOL Sirrah, I’ll teach thee a speech. LEAR Do. 120 FOOL Mark it, nuncle: Have more than thou showest. Speak less than thou knowest, Lend less than thou owest, Ride more than thou goest, 125 Learn more than thou trowest, Set less than thou throwest; Leave thy drink and thy whore And keep in-a-door, And thou shalt have more 130 Than two tens to a score. KENT This is nothing, Fool. FOOL Then ’tis like the breath of an unfee’d lawyer. You gave me nothing for ’t.—Can you make no use of nothing, nuncle? 135 LEAR Why no, boy. Nothing can be made out of nothing. FOOL, to Kent Prithee tell him, so much the rent of his land comes to. He will not believe a Fool.	Lear reminds the Fool that he can still whip him, but the Fool isn't deterred. He makes a little speech which Kent says amounts to nothing. "Yeah," says the Fool, "exactly like the King's income now that he's given away all his land." Ba-DUM-bum!
LEAR A bitter Fool! 140 FOOL Dost know the difference, my boy, between a bitter fool and a sweet one? LEAR No, lad, teach me. FOOL That lord that counseled thee To give away thy land, 145 Come place him here by me; Do thou for him stand. The sweet and bitter fool Will presently appear: The one in motley here, 150 The other found out there. LEAR Dost thou call me “fool,” boy? FOOL All thy other titles thou hast given away. That thou wast born with.	Next, the Fool calls Lear a fool in a roundabout way. When Lear challenges him, the Fool says that he gave all of his other titles away. The title of "fool," however, is his to keep because he was born with it. Oh snap! This guy doesn't hold back.
KENT This is not altogether fool, my lord. 155 FOOL No, faith, lords and great men will not let me. If I had a monopoly out, they would have part on ’t. And ladies too, they will not let me have all the fool to myself; they’ll be snatching.—Nuncle, give me an egg, and I’ll give thee two crowns. 160 LEAR What two crowns shall they be? FOOL Why, after I have cut the egg i’ th’ middle and eat up the meat, the two crowns of the egg. When thou clovest thy crown i’ th’ middle and gav’st away both parts, thou bor’st thine ass on thy back o’er 165 the dirt. Thou hadst little wit in thy bald crown when thou gav’st thy golden one away. If I speak like myself in this, let him be whipped that first finds it so. Sings. "Fools had ne’er less grace in a year, 170 For wise men are grown foppish And know not how their wits to wear, Their manners are so apish." LEAR When were you wont to be so full of songs, sirrah? 175 FOOL I have used it, nuncle, e’er since thou mad’st thy daughters thy mothers. For when thou gav’st them the rod and put’st down thine own breeches, Sings. "Then they for sudden joy did weep, And I for sorrow sung, 180 That such a king should play bo-peep And go the fools among." Prithee, nuncle, keep a schoolmaster that can teach thy Fool to lie. I would fain learn to lie.	The Fool goes on to mock Lear for giving away his kingdom to Goneril and Regan, and for leaving his one good daughter, Cordelia, out of the mix. According to the Fool, this was a bad idea that Lear can't really be punished for—except in mocking, and the Fool is taking care of that quite well. He suggests that Lear's pitiful position now is his own fault—after all, he made his daughters into his mother, basically handing them a stick and pulling his pants down for a spanking.
LEAR An you lie, sirrah, we’ll have you whipped. 185 FOOL I marvel what kin thou and thy daughters are. They’ll have me whipped for speaking true, thou ’lt have me whipped for lying, and sometimes I am whipped for holding my peace. I had rather be any kind o’ thing than a Fool. And yet I would not be 190 thee, nuncle. Thou hast pared thy wit o’ both sides and left nothing i’ th’ middle. Here comes one o’ the parings.	When Lear suggests he would have the Fool whipped for lying, the Fool says that's strange, because Goneril and Regan would have him whipped for telling the truth. He also says that as bad as it is to be a Fool, it would be worse to be Lear. Lear has divided his brain between his daughters and left none for himself. Yes, the Fool is calling the King brainless. No one else could get away with this.
Enter Goneril. LEAR How now, daughter? What makes that frontlet on? Methinks you are too much of late i’ th’ frown. 195 FOOL Thou wast a pretty fellow when thou hadst no need to care for her frowning. Now thou art an O without a figure. I am better than thou art now. I am a Fool. Thou art nothing. To Goneril. Yes, forsooth, I will hold my tongue. So your face bids 200 me, though you say nothing. Mum, mum, He that keeps nor crust nor crumb, Weary of all, shall want some. He points at Lear. That’s a shelled peascod. 205	When Goneril enters, Lear comments that she seems to frown a lot lately, and the Fool says, "Remember how nice it was when you didn't have to worry so much about displeasing your daughter? You know, when you were still in charge?" He suggests the King is like the shell of a peapod with the peas removed. Ouch.
GONERIL Not only, sir, this your all-licensed Fool, But other of your insolent retinue Do hourly carp and quarrel, breaking forth In rank and not-to-be-endurèd riots. Sir, I had thought by making this well known unto you 210 To have found a safe redress, but now grow fearful, By what yourself too late have spoke and done, That you protect this course and put it on By your allowance; which if you should, the fault Would not ’scape censure, nor the redresses sleep 215 Which in the tender of a wholesome weal Might in their working do you that offense, Which else were shame, that then necessity Will call discreet proceeding. FOOL For you know, nuncle, 220 The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so long, That it’s had it head bit off by it young. So out went the candle, and we were left darkling.	Goneril scolds Lear for letting his entourage get out of control. She claims his hundred knights are always loud and riotous, and that with the way he's been behaving lately, she worries he's actually encouraging this bad behavior.
LEAR Are you our daughter?	Lear is surprised. Can this really be his daughter talking to him so boldly?
GONERIL I would you would make use of your good wisdom, 225 Whereof I know you are fraught, and put away These dispositions which of late transport you From what you rightly are.	Goneril tells her dad he needs to smarten up and start acting like the wise old King he's supposed to be.
FOOL May not an ass know when the cart draws the horse? Whoop, Jug, I love thee! 230	The Fool comments that even an idiot should be able to see that this is not the normal order. It's messed up for Goneril to be ordering Lear around. This is definitely a case of the cart leading the horse.
LEAR Does any here know me? This is not Lear. Does Lear walk thus, speak thus? Where are his eyes? Either his notion weakens, his discernings Are lethargied—Ha! Waking? ’Tis not so. 235 Who is it that can tell me who I am? FOOL Lear’s shadow. LEAR I would learn that, for, by the marks of sovereignty, Knowledge, and reason, I should be false persuaded 240 I had daughters. FOOL Which they will make an obedient father. LEAR Your name, fair gentlewoman?	Lear can't believe the way everyone is treating him. Don't they know who he is? The Fool suggests he's a shadow of his former self, while Lear says that the way Goneril is acting no one would know she's his daughter—who should be subservient, darn it!
GONERIL This admiration, sir, is much o’ th’ savor Of other your new pranks. I do beseech you 245 To understand my purposes aright. As you are old and reverend, should be wise. Here do you keep a hundred knights and squires, Men so disordered, so debauched and bold, That this our court, infected with their manners, 250 Shows like a riotous inn. Epicurism and lust Makes it more like a tavern or a brothel Than a graced palace. The shame itself doth speak For instant remedy. Be then desired, By her that else will take the thing she begs, 255 A little to disquantity your train, And the remainders that shall still depend To be such men as may besort your age, Which know themselves and you.	Things escalate further, and Goneril declares her house has lately rivaled a tavern or a brothel, as Lear's knights are so drunk and rowdy. Goneril insists the situation requires immediate attention, and that Lear's entourage should be reduced significantly, either by Lear's command or hers. The only part of the entourage Goneril will allow to remain by Lear should be like him: quiet old people.
LEAR Darkness and 260 devils!— Saddle my horses. Call my train together. Some exit. Degenerate bastard, I’ll not trouble thee. Yet have I left a daughter. GONERIL You strike my people, and your disordered rabble 265 Make servants of their betters. Enter Albany. LEAR Woe that too late repents!—O, sir, are you come? Is it your will? Speak, sir.—Prepare my horses. Some exit. Ingratitude, thou marble-hearted fiend, 270 More hideous when thou show’st thee in a child Than the sea monster!	Lear and Goneril continue to argue as Lear starts packing up. He plans to head to Regan's certain that his one remaining daughter will treat him better.
ALBANY Pray, sir, be patient. LEAR, to Goneril Detested kite, thou liest. My train are men of choice and rarest parts, 275 That all particulars of duty know And in the most exact regard support The worships of their name. O most small fault, How ugly didst thou in Cordelia show, Which, like an engine, wrenched my frame of 280 nature From the fixed place, drew from my heart all love And added to the gall! O Lear, Lear, Lear! He strikes his head. Beat at this gate that let thy folly in And thy dear judgment out. Go, go, my people. 285 Some exit.	Albany comes in during the middle of the fight but Lear just keeps ranting. He calls Goneril a liar—he refuses to believe that any of his entourage misbehaved in any way. More importantly, Lear also admits that, when compared to Goneril's bad behavior, Cordelia's small fault is put in perspective. He realizes his decision to banish Cordelia was contrary to his very nature (and implicitly, his love for Cordelia), and blames his head for letting foolishness in at the same time judgment went out.
ALBANY My lord, I am guiltless as I am ignorant Of what hath moved you. LEAR It may be so, my lord.— Hear, Nature, hear, dear goddess, hear! Suspend thy purpose if thou didst intend 290 To make this creature fruitful. Into her womb convey sterility. Dry up in her the organs of increase, And from her derogate body never spring A babe to honor her. If she must teem, 295 Create her child of spleen, that it may live And be a thwart disnatured torment to her. Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth, With cadent tears fret channels in her cheeks, Turn all her mother’s pains and benefits 300 To laughter and contempt, that she may feel How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is To have a thankless child.—Away, away! Lear and the rest of his train exit.	Lear continues to more or less ignore Albany and calls upon the gods to make Goneril barren as punishment for the way she treated him. If not, he yells, he hopes she'll have a mean and nasty daughter who will treat her like garbage and cause nothing but misery for Goneril.
ALBANY Now, gods that we adore, whereof comes this? GONERIL Never afflict yourself to know more of it, 305 But let his disposition have that scope As dotage gives it. Enter Lear and the Fool. LEAR What, fifty of my followers at a clap? Within a fortnight? ALBANY What’s the matter, sir? 310 LEAR I’ll tell thee. To Goneril. Life and death! I am ashamed That thou hast power to shake my manhood thus, That these hot tears, which break from me perforce, Should make thee worth them. Blasts and fogs upon 315 thee! Th’ untented woundings of a father’s curse Pierce every sense about thee! Old fond eyes, Beweep this cause again, I’ll pluck you out And cast you, with the waters that you loose, 320 To temper clay. Yea, is ’t come to this? Ha! Let it be so. I have another daughter Who, I am sure, is kind and comfortable. When she shall hear this of thee, with her nails She’ll flay thy wolvish visage. Thou shalt find 325 That I’ll resume the shape which thou dost think I have cast off forever. He exits.	Albany asks Goneril what's going on. She tries to tell him not to concern himself with it, but she barely has the words out when Lear storms back in to yell at her some more. He's angry because he's just realized Goneril dismissed fifty members of his entourage over the last two weeks. Lear tells Goneril that everyone at Regan's house will treat him like a king, not just like someone's elderly relative, and then he storms out again.
GONERIL Do you mark that? ALBANY I cannot be so partial, Goneril, To the great love I bear you— 330 GONERIL Pray you, content.—What, Oswald, ho!— You, sir, more knave than Fool, after your master. FOOL Nuncle Lear, Nuncle Lear, tarry. Take the Fool with thee. A fox, when one has caught her, 335 And such a daughter, Should sure to the slaughter, If my cap would buy a halter. So the Fool follows after. He exits.	Goneril turns to her husband and says, "Can you believe him?" But when he tries to answer she shushes him. She's just spotted the Fool and she wants to be sure to send him away, too.
GONERIL This man hath had good counsel. A hundred 340 knights! ’Tis politic and safe to let him keep At point a hundred knights! Yes, that on every dream, Each buzz, each fancy, each complaint, dislike, 345 He may enguard his dotage with their powers And hold our lives in mercy.—Oswald, I say!	After getting rid of the Fool, Goneril says they have to do something about her father. He can't be wandering around with a hundred soldiers ready to act on his next senile whim.
ALBANY Well, you may fear too far. GONERIL Safer than trust too far. Let me still take away the harms I fear, 350 Not fear still to be taken. I know his heart. What he hath uttered I have writ my sister. If she sustain him and his hundred knights When I have showed th’ unfitness— Enter Oswald, the Steward. How now, Oswald? 355 What, have you writ that letter to my sister? OSWALD Ay, madam. GONERIL Take you some company and away to horse. Inform her full of my particular fear, And thereto add such reasons of your own 360 As may compact it more. Get you gone, And hasten your return. Oswald exits. No, no, my lord, This milky gentleness and course of yours, Though I condemn not, yet, under pardon, 365 You are much more at task for want of wisdom Than praised for harmful mildness.	Albany thinks she might be exaggerating a bit, but Goneril says she'd rather be safe than sorry. She sends Oswald off with a message to Regan, her sister, informing her about the fight and telling her not to give in to her father's demands since that would make Goneril look bad. Goneril instructs Oswald to explain her reasoning while delivering the letter, and to feel free to add any juicy bits he thinks will keep Regan on their side. She then tells Albany that she's not upset with him for asking her to treat her father better, but she thinks he's being naive.
ALBANY How far your eyes may pierce I cannot tell. Striving to better, oft we mar what’s well. GONERIL Nay, then— 370 ALBANY Well, well, th’ event. They exit.	Albany says he can't be sure—maybe she sees more than he does. But he knows that often when people try to make a situation better, they wind up making it worse. Goneril basically says, "Now, now, honey," and dismisses him, which he seems okay with.

Original Text

Translated Text

Enter Kent in disguise.

KENT
If but as well I other accents borrow
That can my speech diffuse, my good intent
May carry through itself to that full issue
For which I razed my likeness. Now, banished Kent,
If thou canst serve where thou dost stand 5
condemned,
So may it come thy master, whom thou lov’st,
Shall find thee full of labors.

Kent, the loyal advisor Lear exiled back in Scene 1, enters Goneril's castle disguised as a down-and-out peasant, "Caius." He speaks in a strange accent so no one recognizes his voice.

Kent lives to take care of Lear, and he's determined to do it even if Lear has treated him terribly.

Horns within. Enter Lear, Knights, and Attendants.

LEAR Let me not stay a jot for dinner. Go get it ready.

An Attendant exits.

How now, what art thou? 10

Lear enters with his rowdy entourage and orders one of his attendants to hurry up and fix his dinner. (Gee, we have no idea why Goneril's been complaining about her father. He sounds like the perfect houseguest.)

He sees Kent (a.k.a., Caius) and asks him who he is.

KENT A man, sir.

LEAR What dost thou profess? What wouldst thou with
us?

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 15
is honest, to converse with him that is wise and says
little, to fear judgment, to fight when I cannot
choose, and to eat no fish.

LEAR What art thou?

KENT A very honest-hearted fellow, and as poor as the 20
King.

LEAR If thou be’st as poor for a subject as he’s for a
king, thou art poor enough. What wouldst thou?

KENT Service.

LEAR Who wouldst thou serve? 25

KENT You.

LEAR Dost thou know me, fellow?

KENT No, sir, but you have that in your countenance
which I would fain call master.

LEAR What’s that? 30

KENT Authority.

LEAR What services canst do?

KENT I can keep honest counsel, ride, run, mar a
curious tale in telling it, and deliver a plain message
bluntly. That which ordinary men are fit for I 35
am qualified in, and the best of me is diligence.

LEAR How old art thou?

KENT Not so young, sir, to love a woman for singing,
nor so old to dote on her for anything. I have years
on my back forty-eight. 40

LEAR Follow me. Thou shalt serve me—if I like thee
no worse after dinner. I will not part from thee
yet.—Dinner, ho, dinner!—Where’s my knave, my
Fool? Go you and call my Fool hither.

An Attendant exits.

Enter Oswald, the Steward.

You, you, sirrah, where’s my daughter? 45

OSWALD So please you—

He exits.

Kent/Caius convinces Lear with a bit of banter that he's a good guy and should be allowed to join Lear's entourage, and Lear sends Oswald, Goneril's steward, to go find his daughter.

LEAR What says the fellow there? Call the clotpole
back. A Knight exits. Where’s my Fool? Ho! I think
the world’s asleep.

Enter Knight again.

How now? Where’s that mongrel? 50

KNIGHT He says, my lord, your daughter is not well.

LEAR Why came not the slave back to me when I
called him?

KNIGHT Sir, he answered me in the roundest manner,
he would not. 55

LEAR He would not?

KNIGHT My lord, I know not what the matter is, but to
my judgment your Highness is not entertained
with that ceremonious affection as you were wont.
There’s a great abatement of kindness appears as 60
well in the general dependents as in the Duke
himself also, and your daughter.

LEAR Ha? Sayst thou so?

KNIGHT I beseech you pardon me, my lord, if I be
mistaken, for my duty cannot be silent when I think 65
your Highness wronged.

The King abruptly calls Oswald back, but Oswald ignores him. The insolence! He sends a knight after Oswald, but the only report he gets back is that Oswald wouldn't come and Goneril won't speak with him because she doesn't feel well. The knight says he thinks they're being pretty disrespectful of Lear.

LEAR Thou but remembrest 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 70
unkindness. I will look further into ’t. But where’s
my Fool? I have not seen him this two days.

Lear thinks the Knight is right. He thought it was his imagination at first, but now that the Knight mentions it, it does seem like people have been giving him the cold shoulder lately.

He asks again where his Fool is. He hasn't seen him in two days.

KNIGHT Since my young lady’s going into France, sir,
the Fool hath much pined away.

The Knight says the Fool has been pretty sad ever since Cordelia left.

LEAR No more of that. I have noted it well.—Go you 75
and tell my daughter I would speak with her. An
Attendant exits. Go you call hither my Fool.
Another exits.

Enter Oswald, the Steward.

O you, sir, you, come you hither, sir. Who am I, sir?

OSWALD My lady’s father.

LEAR “My lady’s father”? My lord’s knave! You whoreson 80
dog, you slave, you cur!

OSWALD I am none of these, my lord, I beseech your
pardon.

LEAR Do you bandy looks with me, you rascal?

Lear strikes him.

Lear doesn't want to hear about anything having to do with Cordelia. He sends one attendant to get Goneril and another to get his fool.

When Oswald comes back, Lear, still smarting from being ignored, demands that Oswald tell him just who he thinks he's talking to. "My lady's father," Oswald replies. This is not an acceptable answer, as Lear is still the King, which, to Lear, is a more important label than "parent."

He smacks Oswald for being rude.

OSWALD I’ll not be strucken, my lord. 85

KENT, tripping him Nor tripped neither, you base
football player?

LEAR I thank thee, fellow. Thou serv’st me, and I’ll
love thee.

KENT, to Oswald Come, sir, arise. Away. I’ll teach you 90
differences. Away, away. If you will measure your
lubber’s length again, tarry. But away. Go to. Have
you wisdom? So.

Oswald exits.

LEAR Now, my friendly knave, I thank thee. There’s
earnest of thy service. He gives Kent a purse. 95

Oswald tries to stand up for himself, but Kent piles on, tripping and insulting him. (These two are like a couple of playground bullies.)

Lear loves it and gives Kent a bunch of money to thank him.

Enter Fool.

FOOL Let me hire him too. To Kent. Here’s my
coxcomb. He offers Kent his cap.

LEAR How now, my pretty knave, how dost thou?

FOOL, to Kent Sirrah, you were best take my
coxcomb. 100

LEAR Why, my boy?

FOOL Why? For taking one’s part that’s out of favor.
To Kent. Nay, an thou canst not smile as the
wind sits, thou ’lt catch cold shortly. There, take my
coxcomb. Why, this fellow has banished two on ’s 105
daughters and did the third a blessing against his
will. If thou follow him, thou must needs wear my
coxcomb.—How now, nuncle? Would I had two
coxcombs and two daughters.

LEAR Why, my boy? 110

FOOL If I gave them all my living, I’d keep my coxcombs
myself. There’s mine. Beg another of thy
daughters.

The Fool comes in and offers Kent/Caius his fool's cap. He says he's going to need it if he's going to work for this crazy, unstable King. As for Lear, the Fool says he can get his own fool's cap from Goneril and Regan. They've surely made a fool of him.

LEAR Take heed, sirrah—the whip.

FOOL Truth’s a dog must to kennel; he must be 115
whipped out, when the Lady Brach may stand by th’
fire and stink.

LEAR A pestilent gall to me!

FOOL Sirrah, I’ll teach thee a speech.

LEAR Do. 120

FOOL Mark it, nuncle:
Have more than thou showest.
Speak less than thou knowest,
Lend less than thou owest,
Ride more than thou goest, 125
Learn more than thou trowest,
Set less than thou throwest;
Leave thy drink and thy whore
And keep in-a-door,
And thou shalt have more 130
Than two tens to a score.

KENT This is nothing, Fool.

FOOL Then ’tis like the breath of an unfee’d lawyer.
You gave me nothing for ’t.—Can you make no use
of nothing, nuncle? 135

LEAR Why no, boy. Nothing can be made out of
nothing.

FOOL, to Kent Prithee tell him, so much the rent of his
land comes to. He will not believe a Fool.

Lear reminds the Fool that he can still whip him, but the Fool isn't deterred. He makes a little speech which Kent says amounts to nothing. "Yeah," says the Fool, "exactly like the King's income now that he's given away all his land." Ba-DUM-bum!

LEAR A bitter Fool! 140

FOOL Dost know the difference, my boy, between a
bitter fool and a sweet one?

LEAR No, lad, teach me.

FOOL That lord that counseled thee
To give away thy land, 145
Come place him here by me;
Do thou for him stand.
The sweet and bitter fool
Will presently appear:
The one in motley here, 150
The other found out there.

LEAR Dost thou call me “fool,” boy?

FOOL All thy other titles thou hast given away. That
thou wast born with.

Next, the Fool calls Lear a fool in a roundabout way. When Lear challenges him, the Fool says that he gave all of his other titles away. The title of "fool," however, is his to keep because he was born with it. Oh snap! This guy doesn't hold back.

KENT This is not altogether fool, my lord. 155

FOOL No, faith, lords and great men will not let me. If
I had a monopoly out, they would have part on ’t.
And ladies too, they will not let me have all the fool
to myself; they’ll be snatching.—Nuncle, give me
an egg, and I’ll give thee two crowns. 160

LEAR What two crowns shall they be?

FOOL Why, after I have cut the egg i’ th’ middle and eat
up the meat, the two crowns of the egg. When thou
clovest thy crown i’ th’ middle and gav’st away
both parts, thou bor’st thine ass on thy back o’er 165
the dirt. Thou hadst little wit in thy bald crown
when thou gav’st thy golden one away. If I speak
like myself in this, let him be whipped that first
finds it so. Sings.
"Fools had ne’er less grace in a year, 170
For wise men are grown foppish
And know not how their wits to wear,
Their manners are so apish."

LEAR When were you wont to be so full of songs,
sirrah? 175

FOOL I have used it, nuncle, e’er since thou mad’st thy
daughters thy mothers. For when thou gav’st them
the rod and put’st down thine own breeches,
Sings.
"Then they for sudden joy did weep,
And I for sorrow sung, 180
That such a king should play bo-peep
And go the fools among."
Prithee, nuncle, keep a schoolmaster that can teach
thy Fool to lie. I would fain learn to lie.

The Fool goes on to mock Lear for giving away his kingdom to Goneril and Regan, and for leaving his one good daughter, Cordelia, out of the mix.

According to the Fool, this was a bad idea that Lear can't really be punished for—except in mocking, and the Fool is taking care of that quite well.

He suggests that Lear's pitiful position now is his own fault—after all, he made his daughters into his mother, basically handing them a stick and pulling his pants down for a spanking.

LEAR An you lie, sirrah, we’ll have you whipped. 185

FOOL I marvel what kin thou and thy daughters are.
They’ll have me whipped for speaking true, thou ’lt
have me whipped for lying, and sometimes I am
whipped for holding my peace. I had rather be any
kind o’ thing than a Fool. And yet I would not be 190
thee, nuncle. Thou hast pared thy wit o’ both sides
and left nothing i’ th’ middle. Here comes one o’ the
parings.

When Lear suggests he would have the Fool whipped for lying, the Fool says that's strange, because Goneril and Regan would have him whipped for telling the truth.

He also says that as bad as it is to be a Fool, it would be worse to be Lear. Lear has divided his brain between his daughters and left none for himself. Yes, the Fool is calling the King brainless. No one else could get away with this.

Enter Goneril.

LEAR
How now, daughter? What makes that frontlet on?
Methinks you are too much of late i’ th’ frown. 195

FOOL Thou wast a pretty fellow when thou hadst no
need to care for her frowning. Now thou art an O
without a figure. I am better than thou art now. I
am a Fool. Thou art nothing. To Goneril. Yes,
forsooth, I will hold my tongue. So your face bids 200
me, though you say nothing.
Mum, mum,
He that keeps nor crust nor crumb,
Weary of all, shall want some.
He points at Lear.
That’s a shelled peascod. 205

When Goneril enters, Lear comments that she seems to frown a lot lately, and the Fool says, "Remember how nice it was when you didn't have to worry so much about displeasing your daughter? You know, when you were still in charge?" He suggests the King is like the shell of a peapod with the peas removed. Ouch.

GONERIL
Not only, sir, this your all-licensed Fool,
But other of your insolent retinue
Do hourly carp and quarrel, breaking forth
In rank and not-to-be-endurèd riots. Sir,
I had thought by making this well known unto you 210
To have found a safe redress, but now grow fearful,
By what yourself too late have spoke and done,
That you protect this course and put it on
By your allowance; which if you should, the fault
Would not ’scape censure, nor the redresses sleep 215
Which in the tender of a wholesome weal
Might in their working do you that offense,
Which else were shame, that then necessity
Will call discreet proceeding.

FOOL For you know, nuncle, 220
The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so long,
That it’s had it head bit off by it young.
So out went the candle, and we were left darkling.

Goneril scolds Lear for letting his entourage get out of control. She claims his hundred knights are always loud and riotous, and that with the way he's been behaving lately, she worries he's actually encouraging this bad behavior.

LEAR Are you our daughter?

Lear is surprised. Can this really be his daughter talking to him so boldly?

GONERIL
I would you would make use of your good wisdom, 225
Whereof I know you are fraught, and put away
These dispositions which of late transport you
From what you rightly are.

Goneril tells her dad he needs to smarten up and start acting like the wise old King he's supposed to be.

FOOL May not an ass know when the cart draws the
horse? Whoop, Jug, I love thee! 230

The Fool comments that even an idiot should be able to see that this is not the normal order. It's messed up for Goneril to be ordering Lear around. This is definitely a case of the cart leading the horse.

LEAR
Does any here know me? This is not Lear.
Does Lear walk thus, speak thus? Where are his
eyes?
Either his notion weakens, his discernings
Are lethargied—Ha! Waking? ’Tis not so. 235
Who is it that can tell me who I am?

FOOL Lear’s shadow.

LEAR
I would learn that, for, by the marks of
sovereignty,
Knowledge, and reason, I should be false persuaded 240
I had daughters.

FOOL Which they will make an obedient father.

LEAR Your name, fair gentlewoman?

Lear can't believe the way everyone is treating him. Don't they know who he is? The Fool suggests he's a shadow of his former self, while Lear says that the way Goneril is acting no one would know she's his daughter—who should be subservient, darn it!

GONERIL
This admiration, sir, is much o’ th’ savor
Of other your new pranks. I do beseech you 245
To understand my purposes aright.
As you are old and reverend, should be wise.
Here do you keep a hundred knights and squires,
Men so disordered, so debauched and bold,
That this our court, infected with their manners, 250
Shows like a riotous inn. Epicurism and lust
Makes it more like a tavern or a brothel
Than a graced palace. The shame itself doth speak
For instant remedy. Be then desired,
By her that else will take the thing she begs, 255
A little to disquantity your train,
And the remainders that shall still depend
To be such men as may besort your age,
Which know themselves and you.

Things escalate further, and Goneril declares her house has lately rivaled a tavern or a brothel, as Lear's knights are so drunk and rowdy.

Goneril insists the situation requires immediate attention, and that Lear's entourage should be reduced significantly, either by Lear's command or hers. The only part of the entourage Goneril will allow to remain by Lear should be like him: quiet old people.

LEAR Darkness and 260
devils!—
Saddle my horses. Call my train together.
Some exit.
Degenerate bastard, I’ll not trouble thee.
Yet have I left a daughter.

GONERIL
You strike my people, and your disordered rabble 265
Make servants of their betters.

Enter Albany.

LEAR
Woe that too late repents!—O, sir, are you
come?
Is it your will? Speak, sir.—Prepare my horses.
Some exit.
Ingratitude, thou marble-hearted fiend, 270
More hideous when thou show’st thee in a child
Than the sea monster!

Lear and Goneril continue to argue as Lear starts packing up. He plans to head to Regan's certain that his one remaining daughter will treat him better.

ALBANY Pray, sir, be patient.

LEAR, to Goneril Detested kite, thou liest.
My train are men of choice and rarest parts, 275
That all particulars of duty know
And in the most exact regard support
The worships of their name. O most small fault,
How ugly didst thou in Cordelia show,
Which, like an engine, wrenched my frame of 280
nature
From the fixed place, drew from my heart all love
And added to the gall! O Lear, Lear, Lear!
He strikes his head.
Beat at this gate that let thy folly in
And thy dear judgment out. Go, go, my people. 285

Some exit.

Albany comes in during the middle of the fight but Lear just keeps ranting. He calls Goneril a liar—he refuses to believe that any of his entourage misbehaved in any way.

More importantly, Lear also admits that, when compared to Goneril's bad behavior, Cordelia's small fault is put in perspective.

He realizes his decision to banish Cordelia was contrary to his very nature (and implicitly, his love for Cordelia), and blames his head for letting foolishness in at the same time judgment went out.

ALBANY
My lord, I am guiltless as I am ignorant
Of what hath moved you.

LEAR It may be so, my lord.—
Hear, Nature, hear, dear goddess, hear!
Suspend thy purpose if thou didst intend 290
To make this creature fruitful.
Into her womb convey sterility.
Dry up in her the organs of increase,
And from her derogate body never spring
A babe to honor her. If she must teem, 295
Create her child of spleen, that it may live
And be a thwart disnatured torment to her.
Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth,
With cadent tears fret channels in her cheeks,
Turn all her mother’s pains and benefits 300
To laughter and contempt, that she may feel
How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is
To have a thankless child.—Away, away!

Lear and the rest of his train exit.

Lear continues to more or less ignore Albany and calls upon the gods to make Goneril barren as punishment for the way she treated him. If not, he yells, he hopes she'll have a mean and nasty daughter who will treat her like garbage and cause nothing but misery for Goneril.

ALBANY
Now, gods that we adore, whereof comes this?

GONERIL
Never afflict yourself to know more of it, 305
But let his disposition have that scope
As dotage gives it.

Enter Lear and the Fool.

LEAR
What, fifty of my followers at a clap?
Within a fortnight?

ALBANY What’s the matter, sir? 310

LEAR
I’ll tell thee. To Goneril. Life and death! I am
ashamed
That thou hast power to shake my manhood thus,
That these hot tears, which break from me perforce,
Should make thee worth them. Blasts and fogs upon 315
thee!
Th’ untented woundings of a father’s curse
Pierce every sense about thee! Old fond eyes,
Beweep this cause again, I’ll pluck you out
And cast you, with the waters that you loose, 320
To temper clay. Yea, is ’t come to this?
Ha! Let it be so. I have another daughter
Who, I am sure, is kind and comfortable.
When she shall hear this of thee, with her nails
She’ll flay thy wolvish visage. Thou shalt find 325
That I’ll resume the shape which thou dost think
I have cast off forever.

He exits.

Albany asks Goneril what's going on. She tries to tell him not to concern himself with it, but she barely has the words out when Lear storms back in to yell at her some more. He's angry because he's just realized Goneril dismissed fifty members of his entourage over the last two weeks. Lear tells Goneril that everyone at Regan's house will treat him like a king, not just like someone's elderly relative, and then he storms out again.

GONERIL Do you mark that?

ALBANY
I cannot be so partial, Goneril,
To the great love I bear you— 330

GONERIL Pray you, content.—What, Oswald, ho!—
You, sir, more knave than Fool, after your master.

FOOL Nuncle Lear, Nuncle Lear, tarry. Take the Fool
with thee.
A fox, when one has caught her, 335
And such a daughter,
Should sure to the slaughter,
If my cap would buy a halter.
So the Fool follows after.

He exits.

Goneril turns to her husband and says, "Can you believe him?" But when he tries to answer she shushes him. She's just spotted the Fool and she wants to be sure to send him away, too.

GONERIL
This man hath had good counsel. A hundred 340
knights!
’Tis politic and safe to let him keep
At point a hundred knights! Yes, that on every
dream,
Each buzz, each fancy, each complaint, dislike, 345
He may enguard his dotage with their powers
And hold our lives in mercy.—Oswald, I say!

After getting rid of the Fool, Goneril says they have to do something about her father. He can't be wandering around with a hundred soldiers ready to act on his next senile whim.

ALBANY Well, you may fear too far.

GONERIL Safer than trust too far.
Let me still take away the harms I fear, 350
Not fear still to be taken. I know his heart.
What he hath uttered I have writ my sister.
If she sustain him and his hundred knights
When I have showed th’ unfitness—

Enter Oswald, the Steward.

How now, Oswald? 355
What, have you writ that letter to my sister?

OSWALD Ay, madam.

GONERIL
Take you some company and away to horse.
Inform her full of my particular fear,
And thereto add such reasons of your own 360
As may compact it more. Get you gone,
And hasten your return. Oswald exits. No, no, my
lord,
This milky gentleness and course of yours,
Though I condemn not, yet, under pardon, 365
You are much more at task for want of wisdom
Than praised for harmful mildness.

Albany thinks she might be exaggerating a bit, but Goneril says she'd rather be safe than sorry. She sends Oswald off with a message to Regan, her sister, informing her about the fight and telling her not to give in to her father's demands since that would make Goneril look bad.

Goneril instructs Oswald to explain her reasoning while delivering the letter, and to feel free to add any juicy bits he thinks will keep Regan on their side.

She then tells Albany that she's not upset with him for asking her to treat her father better, but she thinks he's being naive.

ALBANY
How far your eyes may pierce I cannot tell.
Striving to better, oft we mar what’s well.

GONERIL Nay, then— 370

ALBANY Well, well, th’ event.

They exit.

Albany says he can't be sure—maybe she sees more than he does. But he knows that often when people try to make a situation better, they wind up making it worse.

Goneril basically says, "Now, now, honey," and dismisses him, which he seems okay with.

King Lear: Act 1, Scene 4 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 1, Scene 4 of King Lear from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text

Translated Text

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