Original
Modern English
soft music playing; Gentleman, and others attending.
soft music playing; Gentleman, and others attending.
O thou good Kent, how shall I live and work, To match thy goodness? My life will be too short, And every measure fail me.
Oh, good Kent, how can I live and act, to match your goodness? My life will be too short, and every effort will fail me.
To be acknowledged, madam, is o’erpaid. All my reports go with the modest truth; Nor more nor clipp’d, but so.
To be recognized, madam, is already too much. All my actions reflect modest truth; Nothing more, nothing less, just that.
Be better suited: These weeds are memories of those worser hours: I prithee, put them off.
Dress better: These clothes are reminders of those worse times: I beg you, take them off.
Pardon me, dear madam; Yet to be known shortens my made intent: My boon I make it, that you know me not Till time and I think meet.
Forgive me, dear madam; But being known shortens my purpose: My request is that you not recognize me until the time feels right.
Then be’t so, my good lord.
Then let it be so, my good lord.
How does the king?
How is the king?
Madam, sleeps still.
Madam, he’s still asleep.
O you kind gods, Cure this great breach in his abused nature! The untuned and jarring senses, O, wind up Of this child-changed father!
Oh, kind gods, Heal this terrible damage to his broken spirit! The unbalanced and chaotic senses, oh, fix This father who’s been changed by his children!
So please your majesty That we may wake the king: he hath slept long.
If it pleases your majesty, We can wake the king; he’s been asleep for a long time.
Be govern’d by your knowledge, and proceed I’ the sway of your own will. Is he array’d?
Please, do what you think is best, and follow Your own expertise. Is he dressed?
Ay, madam; in the heaviness of his sleep We put fresh garments on him.
Yes, madam; in the depth of his sleep, We dressed him in new clothes.
Be by, good madam, when we do awake him; I doubt not of his temperance.
Stay close, good madam, when we wake him; I have no doubt that he’ll be calm.
Very well.
Very well.
Please you, draw near. Louder the music there!
Please, come closer. Play the music louder!
O my dear father! Restoration hang Thy medicine on my lips; and let this kiss Repair those violent harms that my two sisters Have in thy reverence made!
Oh, my dear father! Let the restoration of your health Hang on my lips; and may this kiss Heal the wounds that my two sisters Have caused in your honor!
Kind and dear princess!
Kind and beloved princess!
Had you not been their father, these white flakes Had challenged pity of them. Was this a face To be opposed against the warring winds? To stand against the deep dread-bolted thunder? In the most terrible and nimble stroke Of quick, cross lightning? to watch--poor perdu!-- With this thin helm? Mine enemy’s dog, Though he had bit me, should have stood that night Against my fire; and wast thou fain, poor father, To hovel thee with swine, and rogues forlorn, In short and musty straw? Alack, alack! ’Tis wonder that thy life and wits at once Had not concluded all. He wakes; speak to him.
If you hadn’t been their father, these white flakes Would have made them pity you. Was this the face To face the violent storms? To stand against the terrifying, thunderous lightning? In the most dangerous and fast-moving strikes Of quick, cross-lightning? To stand guard—poor lost man!— With only this thin helmet? My enemy’s dog, Even if he had bitten me, should have stood that night Against my fire; and were you really forced, poor father, To huddle with pigs and abandoned rogues, In damp and dirty straw? Oh, what a tragedy! It’s a miracle that your life and mind haven’t already Given up. He’s waking up; speak to him.
Madam, do you; ’tis fittest.
Madam, you should; it’s most fitting.
How does my royal lord? How fares your majesty?
How does my royal lord? How are you, your majesty?
You do me wrong to take me out o’ the grave: Thou art a soul in bliss; but I am bound Upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears Do scald like moulten lead.
You’re wrong to pull me out of the grave: You’re a soul in heaven; but I am trapped On a wheel of fire, and my own tears Burn like molten lead.
Sir, do you know me?
Sir, do you know who I am?
You are a spirit, I know: when did you die?
I know you’re a spirit: when did you die?
Still, still, far wide!
Still, still, far away!
He’s scarce awake: let him alone awhile.
He’s barely awake: let him be for a while.
Where have I been? Where am I? Fair daylight? I am mightily abused. I should e’en die with pity, To see another thus. I know not what to say. I will not swear these are my hands: let’s see; I feel this pin prick. Would I were assured Of my condition!
Where have I been? Where am I? Is it daylight? I’m terribly confused. I should just die from pity, To see someone else like this. I don’t know what to say. I won’t swear these are my hands: let’s see; I feel this pinprick. I wish I were sure About my condition!
O, look upon me, sir, And hold your hands in benediction o’er me: No, sir, you must not kneel.
Oh, look at me, sir, And hold your hands over me in blessing: No, sir, you mustn’t kneel.
Pray, do not mock me: I am a very foolish fond old man, Fourscore and upward, not an hour more nor less; And, to deal plainly, I fear I am not in my perfect mind. Methinks I should know you, and know this man; Yet I am doubtful for I am mainly ignorant What place this is; and all the skill I have Remembers not these garments; nor I know not Where I did lodge last night. Do not laugh at me; For, as I am a man, I think this lady To be my child Cordelia.
Please, don’t mock me: I’m a very foolish, fond old man, Eighty years old or more, not one hour more or less; And, to be honest, I’m afraid I’m not in my right mind. I think I should know you, and know this man; But I’m not sure because I mostly don’t remember What place this is; and all the knowledge I have Doesn’t recognize these clothes; nor do I know Where I stayed last night. Don’t laugh at me; For, as I’m a man, I think this lady Is my daughter Cordelia.
And so I am, I am.
And I am, I am.
Be your tears wet? yes, ’faith. I pray, weep not: If you have poison for me, I will drink it. I know you do not love me; for your sisters Have, as I do remember, done me wrong: You have some cause, they have not.
Are your tears wet? Yes, truly. Please, don’t cry: If you have poison for me, I’ll drink it. I know you don’t love me; your sisters Have, as I recall, wronged me: You have reason, but they don’t.
No cause, no cause.
No reason, no reason.
Am I in France?
Am I in France?
In your own kingdom, sir.
In your own kingdom, sir.
Do not abuse me.
Don’t insult me.
Be comforted, good madam: the great rage, You see, is kill’d in him: and yet it is danger To make him even o’er the time he has lost. Desire him to go in; trouble him no more Till further settling.
Be comforted, good lady: the great anger, You see, is gone from him: but it’s still dangerous To bring him back too soon from the time he lost. Ask him to go inside; don’t trouble him any more Until he’s more settled.
Will’t please your highness walk?
Will it please your highness to walk?
You must bear with me: Pray you now, forget and forgive: I am old and foolish.
You must be patient with me: Please, now, forget and forgive: I’m old and foolish.
Holds it true, sir, that the Duke of Cornwall was so slain?
Is it true, sir, that the Duke of Cornwall was killed?
Most certain, sir.
Yes, it’s certain, sir.
Who is conductor of his people?
Who is leading his people now?
As ’tis said, the bastard son of Gloucester.
As it’s been said, the illegitimate son of Gloucester.
They say Edgar, his banished son, is with the Earl of Kent in Germany.
They say Edgar, his exiled son, is with the Earl of Kent in Germany.
Report is changeable. ’Tis time to look about; the powers of the kingdom approach apace.
Reports change all the time. It’s time to stay alert; the kingdom’s forces are coming quickly.
The arbitrement is like to be bloody. Fare you well, sir.
The outcome is likely to be bloody. Goodbye, sir.
My point and period will be throughly wrought, Or well or ill, as this day’s battle’s fought.
My purpose and my mission will be completed, whether it ends well or badly, depending on today’s battle.