Act 3, Scene 7

Original Text

*Enter Cornwall, Regan, Goneril, Edmund, and Servants.* CORNWALL. Post speedily to my lord your husband. Show him this letter. The army of France is landed. Seek out the traitor Gloucester. REGAN. Hang him instantly. GONERIL. Pluck out his eyes.

Modern English

*Cornwall, Regan, Goneril, Edmund, and Servants enter.* CORNWALL. Ride quickly to your husband, my lord. Show him this letter. The French army has landed. Find the traitor Gloucester. REGAN. Hang him on the spot. GONERIL. Gouge out his eyes.

Original Text

CORNWALL. Leave him to my displeasure. Edmund, keep you our sister company. The revenges we are bound to take upon your traitorous father are not fit for your beholding. Advise the Duke where you are going to a most festinate preparation. We are bound to the like. Our posts shall be swift and intelligent betwixt us. Farewell, dear sister. Farewell, my Lord of Gloucester. *Enter Steward.* How now? Where's the King?

Modern English

CORNWALL. Leave him to me. Edmund, stay with your sister. The punishment we intend to carry out on your treacherous father isn't something you should witness. Tell the Duke of Albany to prepare his forces with the greatest speed. We'll do the same on our end. Our messengers will keep us closely informed. Farewell, dear sister. Farewell, my Lord of Gloucester. *The Steward enters.* What's going on? Where's the King?

Original Text

STEWARD. My Lord of Gloucester hath conveyed him hence. Some five or six and thirty of his knights, Hot questrists after him, met him at gate, Who, with some other of the lords dependants, Are gone with him toward Dover, where they boast To have well-armed friends. CORNWALL. Get horses for your mistress. GONERIL. Farewell, sweet lord, and sister. *Exit.*

Modern English

STEWARD. The old Lord Gloucester smuggled him away. Some thirty-five or thirty-six of his knights, searching urgently for him, met him at the gate. They, along with some other loyal lords, have gone with him toward Dover, where they claim to have well-armed allies waiting. CORNWALL. Get horses for your mistress. GONERIL. Farewell, sweet lord and sister. *She exits.*

Original Text

CORNWALL. Edmund, farewell. Go seek the traitor Gloucester. Pinion him like a thief. Bring him before us. Though well we may not pass upon his life Without the form of justice, yet our power Shall do a courtesy to our wrath, which men May blame but not control.

Modern English

CORNWALL. Edmund, farewell. Go find the traitor Gloucester. Tie him up like a criminal and bring him to us. We may not be able to execute him outright without some pretense of a trial, but our authority will bend to accommodate our rage — something people may criticize but can't prevent.

Original Text

*Enter Gloucester and Servants.* Who's there? The traitor? REGAN. Ingrateful fox, 'tis he. CORNWALL. Bind fast his corky arms. GLOUCESTER. What means your Graces? Good my friends, consider you are my guests. Do me no foul play, friends. CORNWALL. Bind him, I say. REGAN. Hard, hard! O filthy traitor! GLOUCESTER. Unmerciful lady as you are, I'm none.

Modern English

*Gloucester is brought in by Servants.* Who's there? The traitor? REGAN. Ungrateful snake — that's him. CORNWALL. Tie his withered arms tight. GLOUCESTER. What is the meaning of this, your Graces? Remember, friends, you are my guests. Don't do this to me, friends. CORNWALL. Tie him up, I said. REGAN. Tighter! Tighter! You filthy traitor! GLOUCESTER. Merciless as you are, my lady — I am no traitor.

Original Text

CORNWALL. To this chair bind him. Villain, thou shalt find — GLOUCESTER. By the kind gods, 'tis most ignobly done To pluck me by the beard. REGAN. So white, and such a traitor? GLOUCESTER. Naughty lady, These hairs which thou dost ravish from my chin Will quicken and accuse thee. I am your host. With robbers' hands my hospitable favours You should not ruffle thus. What will you do?

Modern English

CORNWALL. Bind him to this chair. You'll find out soon enough, you villain — GLOUCESTER. In the name of the merciful gods, it's a vile thing to yank me by the beard. REGAN. Hair this white, and still a traitor? GLOUCESTER. Wicked woman, these hairs you're tearing from my chin will come alive and testify against you. I am your host. You shouldn't be manhandling someone who offered you the hospitality of his home. What are you going to do?

Original Text

CORNWALL. Come, sir. What letters had you late from France? REGAN. Be simple-answered, for we know the truth. CORNWALL. And what confederacy have you with the traitors Late footed in the kingdom? REGAN. To whose hands You have sent the lunatic King — speak! GLOUCESTER. I have a letter guessingly set down, Which came from one that's of a neutral heart, And not from one opposed. CORNWALL. Cunning. REGAN. And false.

Modern English

CORNWALL. Answer me, sir. What letters have you received from France lately? REGAN. Give a straight answer — we already know the truth. CORNWALL. And what alliance have you formed with the traitors who recently set foot in this kingdom? REGAN. Into whose hands did you deliver the mad King? Speak! GLOUCESTER. I received a letter full of speculation, from someone who takes no side in this, not from an enemy. CORNWALL. Clever. REGAN. And a lie.

Original Text

CORNWALL. Where hast thou sent the King? GLOUCESTER. To Dover. REGAN. Wherefore to Dover? Wast thou not charged at peril — CORNWALL. Wherefore to Dover? Let him answer that. GLOUCESTER. I am tied to the stake, And I must stand the course. REGAN. Wherefore to Dover?

Modern English

CORNWALL. Where did you send the King? GLOUCESTER. To Dover. REGAN. Why Dover? Weren't you warned on pain of — CORNWALL. Why Dover? Let him answer that. GLOUCESTER. I'm tied to the stake and must face whatever comes. REGAN. Why Dover?

Original Text

GLOUCESTER. Because I would not see thy cruel nails Pluck out his poor old eyes, nor thy fierce sister In his anointed flesh stick boarish fangs. The sea, with such a storm as his bare head In hell-black night endured, would have buoyed up And quenched the stelled fires. Yet poor old heart, he helped the heavens to rain. If wolves had at thy gate howled that stern time, Thou shouldst have said, "Good porter, turn the key." All cruels else subscribe. But I shall see The winged vengeance overtake such children.

Modern English

GLOUCESTER. Because I couldn't bear to watch your cruel fingernails tear out his poor old eyes, or your vicious sister sink her savage tusks into his sacred flesh. The sea itself, in a storm like the one his bare head endured in that pitch-black night, would have risen up and put out the very stars. And yet the poor old soul stood there, helping the sky weep. If wolves had been howling at your gate that brutal night, you should have said, "Gatekeeper, let them in." Even the cruelest creatures show some mercy. But I will live to see swift vengeance swoop down on children like you.

Original Text

CORNWALL. See 't shalt thou never. Fellows, hold the chair. Upon these eyes of thine I'll set my foot. GLOUCESTER. He that will think to live till he be old, Give me some help! — O cruel! O you gods! REGAN. One side will mock another. The other too!

Modern English

CORNWALL. You'll never see it. Hold him down in the chair, men. I'm going to put my foot on these eyes of yours. GLOUCESTER. Anyone who hopes to live to old age, help me! — Oh, the cruelty! Oh, you gods! REGAN. One eye gone will look ridiculous without the other. Do that one too!

Original Text

CORNWALL. If you see vengeance — SERVANT. Hold your hand, my lord! I have served you ever since I was a child, But better service have I never done you Than now to bid you hold. REGAN. How now, you dog? SERVANT. If you did wear a beard upon your chin, I'd shake it on this quarrel. What do you mean? CORNWALL. My villain! SERVANT. Nay, then, come on, and take the chance of anger. REGAN. Give me thy sword. A peasant stand up thus? *She kills him.* SERVANT. O, I am slain! My lord, you have one eye left To see some mischief on him. Oh —

Modern English

CORNWALL. If you see any vengeance coming — SERVANT. Stop, my lord! I've served you my entire life, but the best service I've ever done you is right now — telling you to stop. REGAN. How dare you, you cur? SERVANT. If you were a man with a beard on your chin, I'd challenge you over this. What do you think you're doing? CORNWALL. You dare defy me, you wretch? SERVANT. Then come on — let's settle this with swords. REGAN. Give me your sword. A peasant, standing up to his master? *She stabs and kills him.* SERVANT. I'm killed! My lord, you have one eye left to see him punished for this. Oh —

Original Text

CORNWALL. Lest it see more, prevent it. Out, vile jelly! Where is thy lustre now? GLOUCESTER. All dark and comfortless? Where's my son Edmund? Edmund, enkindle all the sparks of nature To quit this horrid act. REGAN. Out, treacherous villain! Thou call'st on him that hates thee. It was he That made the overture of thy treasons to us, Who is too good to pity thee.

Modern English

CORNWALL. So it won't see any more, I'll take care of it. Out, you foul jelly! Where's your brightness now? GLOUCESTER. Everything dark and without comfort? Where is my son Edmund? Edmund, summon every spark of natural feeling in you to avenge this monstrous act. REGAN. You treacherous fool! You're calling on the very man who hates you. It was Edmund who revealed your treason to us. He thinks you're too beneath him to even pity.

Original Text

GLOUCESTER. O my follies! Then Edgar was abused. Kind gods, forgive me that, and prosper him. REGAN. Go, thrust him out at gates, and let him smell His way to Dover. *Exit with Gloucester.* How is 't, my lord? How look you?

Modern English

GLOUCESTER. Oh, what a fool I've been! Then Edgar was wrongly accused. Merciful gods, forgive me for that, and let him thrive. REGAN. Throw him out the gates and let him sniff his way to Dover. *Gloucester is dragged out.* How are you, my lord? You don't look well.

Original Text

CORNWALL. I have received a hurt. Follow me, lady. Turn out that eyeless villain. Throw this slave Upon the dunghill. Regan, I bleed apace. Untimely comes this hurt. Give me your arm. *Exeunt.*

Modern English

CORNWALL. I've been wounded. Come with me, my lady. Throw that eyeless wretch outside. Toss this dead slave on the dung heap. Regan, I'm bleeding badly. This wound came at the worst time. Give me your arm. *They exit.*

King Lear

Act 3, Scene 7

Act 3, Scene 7