King Lear

king lear 51

But first you How sad it is Tell me—are the
must catch me! Ha, to see him like armies nearby?
Ha, ha Ha! this! But one
daughter still
loves him.

The troops Then I
of Albany and must take
Cornwall are this good
very near. old man
There’ll be a to a safe
great battle place.
soon.

Some time before, Here is the prize that I warn you-
Goneril had given will make me rich! Out don’t come
Oswald an impor- of my way, peasant! near the old
tant letter for man!
Edmund. And Regan
had promised
Oswald a reward
for finding and
killing Gloucester.
just as Edgar and
Gloucester were
leaving, Oswald
came upon them.

52

But Oswald would not listen. As Oswald died, Edgar read the
They fought and Oswald received letter.
a fatal* wound.
“You have many chances to kill
I’m dying! But take my husband and free me! Remem-
the letter you find ber our vows of love and return
on my body to to marry me. Your loving Gon-
Edmund, Earl of eril.” So that is what’s happening!
Gloucester. He’ll I will make use of this at a later
reward you! time!

Meanwhile, Lear had at last been Doctor! How Still sleeping. But
led to the nearby French camp. is the King? I think you might
wake him up now.

Dear Kent, my I was happy to
life will be too help him, madam!
short to repay
you for your
goodness to
my father!

* leading to death

king lear 53

Lear was How are you, sir? I am a foolish old
carried in. Do you know me? man. . . eighty years
and more. my mind
is not clear!

I should know Don’t cry! I know No cause,
you and this you can’t love sir! I do love
man. Don’t me. . . I gave you you!
laugh. . . I think cause to hate me!
you are my child,
Cordelia.

His madness is Come with me,
gone. He is much Father.
better. Now he
should rest.

54

In the British Camp, Edmund and Regan waited for Albany Cornwall’s
and Goneril to arrive with their army. death
had made
I don’t trust My feelings for Regan a
Albany! And my your sister are widow.
sister. . . are most honorable!* She was
you in love with jealous**
her? of Goneril
because
she was
now in
love with
Edmund
too.

Soon Al- I will not fight Cordelia Well There’s Regan.
bany and and our King—only against spoken, I’d rather
Goneril the French armies who have sir! lose the
arrived. entered our land. battle than
lose Edmund
to her!

But the sisters Before you fight the battle,
could not worry read this letter. And if you need
about Edmund me to prove the truth of it,
at the moment. have someone call for me!
As they left for
Albany’s tent to
plan their battle,
Edgar entered
dressed as a
peasant.

* correct, the way something is supposed to be
** wanting what someone else has

king lear 55

At this Edgar left and Edmund Both sisters love me and are
returned. jealous. Regan is already a widow,
but Albany may die in battle! Which
The enemy’s We are one shall I choose?
here! Get ready. ready!

Soon the well in any case, lear and Corde-
armies met lia must die, even though Albany
in battle. In will protect them.
a short time
everything was Come quick. . . I’ll
over, and Edgar lead you to safety!
rushed back to The French are beaten!
Gloucester. Cordelia and Lear are
captured!
In the British
camp, Edmund was Take them away Come! We two will
in charge. to prison! live like birds in a
cage together!

56 Take this note. I’ll do it,
Do what it says, sir!
The prisoners and your fortune
were led away, will be made!
but Edmund had
more plans
for them.

Then the other Where are Lear They are
leaders arrived. and Cordelia? under
I must see guard. . .
that they are ready
well treated. when you
want them,
brother.

You fought well He led my Only if he
Edmund, but you troops for me! marries you!
are not my brother He can call you And he’ll
or my equal.* brother! never do that!

* someone of the same class

king lear 57

That’s what you Well, you Oh! Suddenly, If not, I’ll never
think! I’ll give won’t have him I feel very trust medicine
him my armies, for long! sick! again!
my land, ev-
erything! He’ll
be my lord and
master!

Goneril thought this because she
had poisoned her sister!

Suddenly the angry Albany spoke. If no one else And I will
can prove this, defend
Edmund, I arrest you I’ll fight you myself!
for treason*. . . and my myself!
wife as well, since she
helped you!

* acting against one’s own country

58 If any other man will fight Edmund, the Earl of
Gloucester, to prove him a traitor, let him appear
After this, now! Otherwise, the duke of Albany will do so!
Regan was
helped away.
Albany pre-
pared to fight
Edmund as the
law required.*

As the You have done wrong to Whoever
trumpets your brother and your you are,
sounded father; you have plotted my sword
through the against this Prince. My will prove
camp, Edgar sword will prove it! that you
appeared. lie!

The two This proves Shut your
men fought. nothing! You mouth,
Edmund was were tricked! woman, or
wounded. I’ll stop
it with this
paper!

* made necessary

king lear 59

This is your Don’t ask me such
letter to questions!
Edmund,
telling him
to kill me.
Do you
recognize
it?

With that, Goneril rushed
away!

Then, suffer- I am guilty* of all I am Edgar. . . Welcome,
ing from his you’ve said, and more. your father’s good
wound and But who are you? son. Glouces-
fearing that ter.
he would die,
Edmund was
suddenly
sorry for
all he had
done.

Where have you I was dis- Only half
hidden? How did guised as a an hour
you know of your mad beggar. ago I
father’s troubles? And I’ve told him
cared for the truth,
him since he asked his
was blinded. blessing. . .
and he died.

* having done something wrong

60

But just before, And where He has
another man came has he been? followed
in and hugged my the King in
father. It was Kent! disguise and
served him.

Just then a servant Help! Help! What does Who is
rushed in. She’s dead! that bloody dead?
knife mean? Speak,
man!

Goneril, sir. . . she stabbed Bring their Here comes
herself! And she has bodies here. Kent.
poisoned her sister! she
Confessed* It!

* admitted

king lear 61

There is no time to I’m looking for
greet you properly, the King. Isn’t
Kent, but welcome he here?
anyway.

The King! I forgot! Edmund, where’s Perhaps I can do
the King? Where’s Cordelia? some good before
I die. Send to the
castle, quick! Lear
and Cordelia are
to be killed.

Your wife and I gave or- Run for I hope she
ders. . . to hang Corde- your life! is safe!
lia. . . and to say she did Carry
it herself! Go quickly! Edmund
away.

62

But it was Cry out, you men of stone! She’s gone Oh, my dear
too late. forever! Cordelia! Cordelia! master!

Cordelia, stay! It’s true,
What are you gentlemen, he
saying? I killed did.
the man that
was hanging He fainted! Help
you. him!

My poor dear is dead. I’ll
never see her again. . . never,
never, never, never, never!

king lear 63

It’s too He is gone Carry them
late. He is indeed. away gently.
dead. It’s a
wonder he
has suffered
so much.

Our job is to pick up the pieces. You My heart
two must rule this kingdom now. is broken.
I must
No, sir. Edgar follow
must rule alone. my mas-
ter soon,
on a long
journey
to death.

Lear, Yes, I will rule this land. And nothing like
Cordelia, this shall ever happen again!
Glouces-
ter, Edmund,
Regan,
Goneril—all
were dead.
For those
who were
left, only a
sad funeral
march re-
mained.

King Lear

Lear, the aging king, decides to relinquish his
throne and divide his kingdom evenly among his
three daughters as determined by their
affirmations of love. Enraged and disappointed
over daughter Cordelia’s declaration, he banishes
her and divides his kingdom equally between her
two sisters. Jealousy and pride consume the two
as they seek to control the kingdom. Treachery
and betrayal lead to tragedy as the king slowly
loses his grip on reality.

Three Watson
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