King Lear

Officers, take them away. Guard them carefully until we decide how to punish them.

(to LEAR) At least we’re not the first ones in our position. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. But I’m worried about you, my poor King. If it were only me, I would just wait out my bad luck. Should we meet with my sisters?

No, no, no, no! Come on, let’s go to prison. The two of us together will sing like birds in a cage. We will be good to each other. When you ask for my blessing, I’ll get down on my knees and ask you to forgive me. That’s how we’ll live—we’ll pray, we’ll sing, we’ll tell old stories, we’ll laugh at pretentious courtiers, we’ll listen to nasty court gossip, we’ll find out who’s losing and who’s winning, who’s in and who’s out. We’ll think about the mysteries of the universe as if we were God’s spies. In prison we’ll outlast hordes of rulers that will come and go as their fortunes change.

Take them away.

My Cordelia, even the gods admire how much you’ve sacrificed for me. Have I hugged you yet? Anyone who wants to separate us will have to smoke us out of the cave of our togetherness like foxes. Wipe your eyes. Our jailers will shrivel up with old age before they make us cry again. We’ll watch them starve to death first. Come on.

Come here, captain. Listen. (gives the FIRST CAPTAIN a sheet of paper) Take this note. Follow those two to prison and follow these instructions. I’ve already promoted you once. If you do as you’re told, you’ll be richly rewarded. Just remember this: you have to go with the times, and these are the times for being tough. A soldier can’t afford to be a ninny. There’ll be no quibbling about this assignment. Either you accept it, or go find some other way to support yourself.

I’ll do it, sir.

Then off you go. When you’ve finished, you’ll be a happy man. Go immediately, and do exactly as I wrote down.

Jobs are hard to come by. I can’t pull a cart or eat dried oats like a horse. If it’s work for a man, I’ll do it.

(to EDMUND) Sir, you’ve shown your true courage today, and luck was on your side. You’ve taken prisoner the leaders of the opposition. I need to take cus- tody of them so I can do what’s best out of concern for their honor and the safety of the kingdom.

Sir, I decided it was appropriate to send the pathetic old king to a guarded prison cell. His old age and his title make him so popular among the commoners that I was worried our enlisted soldiers would turn against us on his behalf. I sent the French queen with him too, for the same reason. They’re ready to meet with you tomorrow, or whenever you like, wherever you’d like to hold your hearing. These are difficult times. Many have lost friends in battle, and soldiers will curse even a justified war if it causes them pain. We need a more appropriate place to discuss Cordelia and her father.

I’m sorry, sir, but in this war I consider you a subordinate, not my equal.

That’s for to me to decide. You might have asked my opinion before saying something so rude. Edmund has led our forces well, and implemented my wishes—and his close connection with me gives him the right to be considered your equal.

Not so fast. He has distinguished himself as a great soldier in his own right, deserving more than any honor your can bestow on him.

I’m the one who gave him his military commission, and it is as my proxy that he fought bravely.

He’d really be your proxy if he married you.

Don’t joke, it might come true.

Whoa, whoa! You’re so infatuated with him that you’re hallucinating.

Hey, lady, if I weren’t feeling a little sick, I’d give you a piece of my mind. (to EDMUND) General, take my soldiers, my prisoners, my whole inheritance, and do as you like with them. I surrender myself to your good judgment. Let the whole world see that I hereby make you my lord and master.

Are you trying to sleep with him?

(to GONERIL) It’s not up to you to say “Yes” or “No.”

Nor is it up to you, my lord.

Yes it is, you half-blood.

(to EDMUND) Let the drums beat. Prove your right to me by defeating any challenger.

Hang on a second. Listen to me.—Edmund, you’re under arrest for capital treason. Along with you, your co-conspirator, this snake of a woman. (points at GONERIL. Then, speaking to REGAN) My dear sister-in-law, I veto your marriage announcement for the benefit of my wife, who is already engaged to Edmund. So if you want to get married, you’ll have to woo me. My wife’s already spoken for.

What a farce!

You’ve got a sword, Gloucester. Blow the trumpets. If nobody else comes to challenge you and prove what an abominable traitor you have been, I’ll have to challenge you myself. (he throws down his glove) I’ll prove soon enough that you’re just as wicked as I say you are.

Oh, I’m sick, sick!

(to herself) If she’s not ill, I’ll never trust drugs again.

(throwing down his glove) You’re on. Whoever calls me a traitor is a vicious liar. Blow the trumpet. Anyone who dares to step forward and make that accusation—you or anyone else—go ahead. I’ll uphold my truth and my honor.

A herald! Call a herald!

A herald, a herald!

(to EDMUND) You’re on your own now. The soldiers were all drafted in my name, and now they are discharged in my name.

I feel sicker and sicker.

She’s not feeling well. Take her to my tent.

Come here, herald.—Let the trumpet sound!—Read this out. (he hands the HERALD a document)

Blow the trumpet!

(reads)

“If any noble man in the army asserts that Edmund, so-called Earl of Gloucester, is a traitor many times over, let him step forward by the third trumpet blast.”

Sound!

Again!

Again!

(to HERALD) Ask him why he’s stepping forward.

Who are you? What’s your name and rank, and why are you stepping forward?

I’ve lost my name and title to a traitor. But I’m as noble as my opponent.

And who is that?

Who’s the spokesman for Edmund, Earl of Gloucester?

I’m my own spokesman. What do you have to say to me?

Draw your sword. If I offend you by what I say, you can use your sword to take revenge. Here’s mine. (he draws his sword) Look at it. It’s the symbol of my honor, my rank, and my status as a knight. In spite of your youth, rank, strength, and excellence at warfare, in spite of your courage, your recent victory, and your good luck, I declare that you’re a traitor. You’ve betrayed your gods, your brother, and your father. You’ve plotted against this noble duke. You’re a rotten traitor, through and through, from the top of your head to the soles of your feet. If you disagree with me, I’m ready to use this sword and my courage to prove that you’re a liar.

Normally I would ask you what your name is first. But since you look so fine and noble, and since you’re so well mannered in your speech, I’m prepared to overlook the rules of knighthood, which say I should refuse to fight a man I don’t know. I throw your accusations back in your face. Your lies can hardly hurt me, but I’ll still fight you and embed your lies back in your hellish heart.—Trumpets, blow!

(to EDGAR) Save him, save him!

You were tricked into fighting, Gloucester. According to the laws of war, you didn’t have to fight a stranger. You haven’t lost this fight; you’ve been tricked and deceived.

Shut your mouth, woman, or I’ll shove this paper in it.—Stop, sir. (gives the letter to EDMUND) You despicable criminal, read your crime. (to GONERIL) Don’t try to tear it up, madam. I take it you know what this letter says.

And what if I do? I make the laws, not you. Who can prosecute me for it?

Oh, monstrous! (to EDMUND) Do you know what letter this is?

Don’t ask me what I know.

Follow her. She’s desperate. Make sure she doesn’t do anything stupid.

I’ve done everything you accuse me of—and more, much more. You’ll find out everything in due time. It’s all over now, and so am I. (to EDGAR) But who are you, you who’ve managed to defeat me? If you’re a nobleman, I forgive you.

Let’s forgive each other. I’m no less noble than you are, Edmund. If I’m more noble than you, you’ve done me wrong. My name is Edgar, and I’m your father’s son. The gods are fair, and they use our little vices to punish us. The woman he committed adultery with, your mother, cost him his eyes.

You’re right. That’s true. It’s all come full circle, and here I am.

I suspected that you were noble when I saw how you walked. Let me embrace you. I swear I never hated you or your father!

I know, prince.

Where have you been hiding? How did you know what happened to your poor father?

I knew because I helped nurse him through his suffering. Listen to my little story, and when it’s done, oh, my heart will break! To escape the decree condemning me to death, I disguised myself as a madman beggar and became a creature despised even by dogs.—Oh, how sweet our lives must be if we prefer to die gradually by debasing ourselves rather than dying all at once!—In that disguise I met up with my father with bloody sockets where his beautiful eyes used to be. I became his guide, I led him and begged for him, and kept him from suicide. I never—oh, what a mistake!—revealed myself to him until half an hour ago, when I was in my armor. With hope in my heart I asked him for his blessing, not sure that he’d give it to me. He did. I told him everything that had happened on my journey. But his frail heart, too weak to grapple with such a conflict between joy and sadness, gave out.

Your words have moved me, and maybe it’ll do some good. But go on. You look like you have something more to say.

If there’s anything more sorrowful left to add, keep it to yourself. I’m almost ready to break down hearing this much.

This may have seemed like the pinnacle of sadness, but if I went on I could outdo it. While I was sobbing loudly, a man came in. He had seen me in my ragged clothes and shunned me, but when he found out who I was, he clasped my neck with his strong arms and cried to high heaven. He threw himself on my father and told the saddest story you’ve ever heard about Lear and him. As he was telling that story he grieved more and more, until his heart started to break. Then I heard the trumpets blow twice, and left him there in a trance.

But who was that man?

It was Kent, sir, the exiled Kent, who, after the king treated him like an enemy of the state, put on a disguise and followed his king, carrying out tasks unworthy of even a slave.

Help, help, oh, help!

What kind of help do you need?

Say something, man!

What is that bloody knife?

It’s still warm from the cut. It was just removed from from the heart of—oh, she’s dead!

Who’s dead? Speak, man.

Your wife, sir, your wife. And her sister’s dead too, poisoned by your wife. She confessed.

I was engaged to both of them. All three of us will marry now in death.

Here comes Kent.

(to SECOND KNIGHT) Bring the bodies here, whether they’re alive or dead. We tremble at the gods’ wrath, but we don’t mourn these deaths.

Oh, is that Kent? There’s no time for polite greetings.

I’ve come to say farewell to my king and master. Isn’t he here?

What an enormous thing for us to forget!—Edmund, tell us, where’s the king? And where’s Cordelia?—

Do you see this, Kent?

Oh, why is this so?

Still, Edmund was beloved. One of the sisters poisoned the other out of love for me, and then killed herself.

Apparently so.—Cover their faces.

I wish I could live longer. I want to do a little good despite my evil nature. Go quickly—hurry—to the castle, for I’ve given orders to have Lear and Cordelia killed. Hurry, send someone immediately!

Run, run, oh, run!

Whom should we look for in the castle?—Whose job is it? Send something along to prove you’re withdrawing the orders.

Good idea. Take my sword. The captain—give it to the captain.

Run as if your life depended on it.

My wife and I ordered him to hang Cordelia in prison and then to make it look as if she committed suicide in despair.

Heaven help her!—Get him out of here for now.

Howl, howl, howl, howl! Oh, you men are made of stone! If I were you with eyes and a tongue to speak with, I’d crack heaven wide open with my laments! She’s gone forever. I know how to tell when someone is alive or dead. She’s as dead as the cold ground. Let me borrow a mirror. If her breath steams up the glass, then she’s alive.

Is this doomsday? The end of the world?

Or just a foretaste of it?

Let the world collapse around us.

This feather moved because of her breath. She’s alive. If that’s true, it makes up for all the sorrows I’ve ever known.

Oh, my good master!

Please, go away.

It’s noble Kent, your friend.

Curse you all, you’re all murderers and traitors! I could have saved her. Now she’s gone forever.—Cordelia, Cordelia, stay a while. Ha? What are you saying?—Her voice always was so soft and gentle. That’s a good thing in a woman.—I killed the scum who was hanging you.

It’s true, my lords, he did.

Didn’t I? Back in the old days I would’ve made him dance with my sword. But I’m old now, and suffering has weakened me. (to KENT) Who are you? My eyesight’s not the best, I’ll tell you straight.

We’re looking at the unluckiest man who ever lived.

My vision is dull. Aren’t you Kent?

That’s me. Your servant Kent. Where’s your servant Caius?

He’s a good fellow, I can tell you that much. Not afraid to fight, he’s a feisty one. He’s dead and rotting in the dirt now.

No, my lord, that was me. I’m the one who—

I’ll get right on that.

—followed you on your sad wanderings, ever since your bad luck began.

Nice to see you.

It was me, no one else. Everything is gloomy, dark, and dreadful. Your eldest daughters destroyed themselves and died in despair.

Yes, I think that’s true.

He doesn’t know what he’s saying. It’s useless to try to talk to him.

Yes, it’s pointless.

Edmund is dead, my lord.

That doesn’t matter much with everything else that’s going on.—Gentlemen, I will announce my plans. I’ll do everything I can to ease the king’s suffering. As for me, I’m surrendering all my power over to him, giving him absolute authority for the rest of his life. (to EDGAR and KENT) You will get back your rightful property and titles, along with new honors that you have more than deserved.—My friends and allies will be rewarded for their support, and my enemies will get what they deserve. Look, look!

And my poor fool was hanged.— No, no, no life left? Why should a dog or horse or rat have life, but not you? You’ll never come to me again, never, never, never, never, never.—Please help me undo this button. Thank you, sir. Do you see that? Look at her. Look, her lips. Look there, look there. Oh, oh, oh, oh. (he dies)

He’s fainted.—My lord, my lord!

My heart will break, break.

(to LEAR) Look at me, my lord.

Don’t disturb his soul. Let it go up to heaven. His soul would be angry at anyone who tried to keep him in the torture chamber of this life any longer.

Oh, he’s really gone.

What’s amazing is how long he lasted. He was living on borrowed time at the end.

Carry them away. Our business now is mourning and grief. (to KENT and EDGAR) My friends and soulmates, you two will reign over this kingdom and keep the wounded country alive.

I will have to go on a journey to death soon, sir. My master’s calling me. I can’t say no.

We must remember the gravity of this sad day. We should speak what we feel, not what we ought to say. The oldest one suffered the most. We young ones will never see as much as he has seen, or live as long.