Original
Modern English
Post speedily to my lord your husband; show him this letter: the army of France is landed. Seek out the villain Gloucester.
Hurry and send this letter to my lord, your husband; show him this letter: the French army has landed. Go Find the traitor Gloucester.
Hang him instantly.
Hang him right away.
Pluck out his eyes.
Tear out his eyes.
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.
Leave him to my anger. Edmund, stay with our sister: the revenge we’re about to take On your traitorous father is not something for you To see. Tell the duke that he must make quick preparations: We must do the same. Our messengers will be swift and in constant contact Between us. Goodbye, dear sister: goodbye, my Lord of Gloucester.
How now! where’s the king?
What’s going on? Where’s the king?
My lord of Gloucester hath convey’d 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 towards Dover; where they boast To have well-armed friends.
My lord Gloucester has taken him away: About thirty-five or thirty-six of his knights, Hot on his trail, met him at the gate; Some other of the lords’ followers Have gone with him to Dover, where they’re bragging That they have well-armed friends.
Get horses for your mistress.
Get horses for your mistress.
Farewell, sweet lord, and sister.
Goodbye, sweet lord, and sister.
Edmund, farewell.
Edmund, goodbye.
Go seek the traitor Gloucester, Pinion him like a thief, bring him before us.
Go find the traitor Gloucester, Tie him up like a thief, and bring him here.
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. Who’s there? the traitor?
Though we can’t decide his fate Without following proper justice, our power Will give our anger a courtesy, which people May criticize, but can’t stop. Who’s there? The traitor?
Ingrateful fox! ’tis he.
Ungrateful fox! It’s him.
Bind fast his corky arms.
Bind his arms tightly.
What mean your graces? Good my friends, consider You are my guests: do me no foul play, friends.
What are you doing, my lords? Please, friends, think You’re my guests: don’t treat me like this, friends.
Bind him, I say.
Bind him, I said.
Hard, hard. O filthy traitor!
Tight, tight. Oh, filthy traitor!
Unmerciful lady as you are, I’m none.
Cruel woman, you’re not getting away with this.
To this chair bind him. Villain, thou shalt find--
Tie him to this chair. You’ll regret this, villain.
By the kind gods, ’tis most ignobly done To pluck me by the beard.
By the gods, this is a dishonorable thing To grab me by the beard like this.
So white, and such a traitor!
You’re so pale, and yet a traitor!
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?
Wicked woman, These hairs you’re tearing out of my chin Will come back to haunt you: I’m your guest, And with the hands of thieves, you should not treat me this way. What do you want from me?
Come, sir, what letters had you late from France?
Come on, what messages did you just get from France?
Be simple answerer, for we know the truth.
Be honest and straightforward, because we already know the truth.
And what confederacy have you with the traitors Late footed in the kingdom?
And what kind of alliance do you have with the traitors Recently seen in the kingdom?
To whose hands have you sent the lunatic king? Speak.
Who did you send the mad king to? Speak up.
I have a letter guessingly set down, Which came from one that’s of a neutral heart, And not from one opposed.
I have a letter, written in a way that could be misinterpreted, That came from someone who’s neutral, not opposed to anyone.
Cunning.
Clever.
And false.
And false.
Where hast thou sent the king?
Where did you send the king?
To Dover.
To Dover.
Wherefore to Dover? Wast thou not charged at peril--
Why Dover? Didn’t you know you were warned that doing so would endanger you?
Wherefore to Dover? Let him first answer that.
Why are you going to Dover? Let him answer that first.
I am tied to the stake, and I must stand the course.
I’m trapped, and I have to face what’s coming.
Wherefore to Dover, sir?
Why are you going to Dover, sir?
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 buoy’d up, And quench’d the stelled fires: Yet, poor old heart, he holp the heavens to rain. If wolves had at thy gate howl’d that stern time, Thou shouldst have said ’Good porter, turn the key,’ All cruels else subscribed: but I shall see The winged vengeance overtake such children.
Because I can’t watch you tear out his poor old eyes; Or let your savage sister sink her boar-like fangs Into his holy flesh. The sea, even in a storm as fierce as the one He faced on that dark night, would have kept him afloat, And put out those burning fires: Yet, poor old soul, he helped the heavens bring rain. If wolves had howled at your gate in that terrible time, You would have said, "Good porter, turn the key," While all other cruelty would have joined in: but I will see The vengeance of the gods catch up with such wicked children.
See’t shalt thou never. Fellows, hold the chair. Upon these eyes of thine I’ll set my foot.
You’ll never see that. Hold him down, fellows. I’ll crush your eyes underfoot.
He that will think to live till he be old, Give me some help! O cruel! O you gods!
He who thinks he’ll live to be old, Help me! Oh, this is cruel! Oh, gods above!
One side will mock another; the other too.
One side will mock the other; the other will do the same.
If you see vengeance,--
If you see vengeance,--
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.
Hold your hand, my lord: I’ve served you since I was a child; But I’ve never done you a better service Than to tell you to stop now.
How now, you dog!
What’s this, you dog?
If you did wear a beard upon your chin, I’d shake it on this quarrel. What do you mean?
If you had a beard, I’d shake it in your face, What are you trying to do?
My villain!
You villain!
Nay, then, come on, and take the chance of anger.
Well then, let’s go—let’s see if anger’s on your side.
Give me thy sword. A peasant stand up thus!
Give me your sword. A common peasant stands up to me like this!
O, I am slain! My lord, you have one eye left To see some mischief on him. O!
Oh, I’m dying! My lord, you have one eye left To see some harm come to him. Oh!
Lest it see more, prevent it. Out, vile jelly! Where is thy lustre now?
So that it doesn’t see more, stop it. Get out, disgusting thing! Where is your shine now?
All dark and comfortless. Where’s my son Edmund? Edmund, enkindle all the sparks of nature, To quit this horrid act.
All dark and hopeless. Where’s my son Edmund? Edmund, spark the fire of nature in you, To make up for this terrible act.
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.
Get out, treacherous villain! You’re calling on the one who hates you: he’s the one Who first told us about your betrayals; He’s too good to feel sorry for you.
O my follies! then Edgar was abused. Kind gods, forgive me that, and prosper him!
Oh, my mistakes! Then Edgar was tricked. Kind gods, forgive me for that, and help him succeed!
Go thrust him out at gates, and let him smell His way to Dover.
Go, throw him out the gates, and let him smell His way to Dover.
How is’t, my lord? how look you?
How is it, my lord? How do you feel?
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.
I’ve been hurt: follow me, lady. Throw out that blind villain; dump this slave On the garbage heap. Regan, I’m bleeding fast: This injury comes too late: give me your arm.
I’ll never care what wickedness I do, If this man come to good.
I won’t care what evil I do, If this man ends up okay.
If she live long, And in the end meet the old course of death, Women will all turn monsters.
If she lives long enough, And in the end meets death’s usual course, Women will all turn into monsters.
Let’s follow the old earl, and get the Bedlam To lead him where he would: his roguish madness Allows itself to any thing.
Let’s follow the old earl, and get the madman To take him where he wants: his crazy madness Lets him do anything.
Go thou: I’ll fetch some flax and whites of eggs To apply to his bleeding face. Now, heaven help him!
Go ahead: I’ll get some flax and egg whites To put on his bleeding face. Now, heaven help him!