Enter KENT, GLOUCESTER, and EDMUND

I thought the king had more affected the Duke of
Albany than Cornwall.

It did always seem so to us: but now, in the
division of the kingdom, it appears not which of
the dukes he values most; for equalities are so
weighed, that curiosity in neither can make choice
of either's moiety.

Is not this your son, my lord?

His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge: I have
so often blushed to acknowledge him, that now I am
brazed to it.

I cannot conceive you.

Sir, this young fellow's mother could: whereupon
she grew round-wombed, and had, indeed, sir, a son
for her cradle ere she had a husband for her bed.
Do you smell a fault?

I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it
being so proper.

But I have, sir, a son by order of law, some year
elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account:
though this knave came something saucily into the
world before he was sent for, yet was his mother
fair; there was good sport at his making, and the
whoreson must be acknowledged. Do you know this
noble gentleman, Edmund?

No, my lord.

My lord of Kent: remember him hereafter as my
honourable friend.

My services to your lordship.

I must love you, and sue to know you better.

Sir, I shall study deserving.

He hath been out nine years, and away he shall
again. The king is coming.

Sennet. Enter KING LEAR, CORNWALL, ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, CORDELIA, and Attendants

Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester.

I shall, my liege.

Exeunt GLOUCESTER and EDMUND

Meantime we shall express our darker purpose.
Give me the map there. Know that we have divided
In three our kingdom: and 'tis our fast intent
To shake all cares and business from our age;
Conferring them on younger strengths, while we
Unburthen'd crawl toward death. Our son of Cornwall,
And you, our no less loving son of Albany,
We have this hour a constant will to publish
Our daughters' several dowers, that future strife
May be prevented now. The princes, France and Burgundy,
Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love,
Long in our court have made their amorous sojourn,
And here are to be answer'd. Tell me, my daughters,--
Since now we will divest us both of rule,
Interest of territory, cares of state,--
Which of you shall we say doth love us most?
That we our largest bounty may extend
Where nature doth with merit challenge. Goneril,
Our eldest-born, speak first.

Sir, I love you more than words can wield the matter;
Dearer than eye-sight, space, and liberty;
Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare;
No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour;
As much as child e'er loved, or father found;
A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable;
Beyond all manner of so much I love you.

[Aside] What shall Cordelia do?
Love, and be silent.

Of all these bounds, even from this line to this,
With shadowy forests and with champains rich'd,
With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads,
We make thee lady: to thine and Albany's issue
Be this perpetual. What says our second daughter,
Our dearest Regan, wife to Cornwall? Speak.

Sir, I am made
Of the self-same metal that my sister is,
And prize me at her worth. In my true heart
I find she names my very deed of love;
Only she comes too short: that I profess
Myself an enemy to all other joys,
Which the most precious square of sense possesses;
And find I am alone felicitate
In your dear highness' love.

[Aside] Then poor Cordelia!
And yet not so; since, I am sure, my love's
More richer than my tongue.

To thee and thine hereditary ever
Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom;
No less in space, validity, and pleasure,
Than that conferr'd on Goneril. Now, our joy,
Although the last, not least; to whose young love
The vines of France and milk of Burgundy
Strive to be interess'd; what can you say to draw
A third more opulent than your sisters? Speak.

Nothing, my lord.

Nothing!

Nothing.

Nothing will come of nothing: speak again.

Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave
My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty
According to my bond; nor more nor less.

How, how, Cordelia! mend your speech a little,
Lest it may mar your fortunes.

Good my lord,
You have begot me, bred me, loved me: I
Return those duties back as are right fit,
Obey you, love you, and most honour you.
Why have my sisters husbands, if they say
They love you all? Haply, when I shall wed,
That lord whose hand must take my plight shall carry
Half my love with him, half my care and duty:
Sure, I shall never marry like my sisters,
To love my father all.

But goes thy heart with this?

Ay, good my lord.

So young, and so untender?

So young, my lord, and true.

Let it be so; thy truth, then, be thy dower:
For, by the sacred radiance of the sun,
The mysteries of Hecate, and the night;
By all the operation of the orbs
From whom we do exist, and cease to be;
Here I disclaim all my paternal care,
Propinquity and property of blood,
And as a stranger to my heart and me
Hold thee, from this, for ever. The barbarous Scythian,
Or he that makes his generation messes
To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom
Be as well neighbour'd, pitied, and relieved,
As thou my sometime daughter.

Good my liege,--

Peace, Kent!
Come not between the dragon and his wrath.
I loved her most, and thought to set my rest
On her kind nursery. Hence, and avoid my sight!
So be my grave my peace, as here I give
Her father's heart from her! Call France; who stirs?
Call Burgundy. Cornwall and Albany,
With my two daughters' dowers digest this third:
Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry her.
I do invest you jointly with my power,
Pre-eminence, and all the large effects
That troop with majesty. Ourself, by monthly course,
With reservation of an hundred knights,
By you to be sustain'd, shall our abode
Make with you by due turns. Only we still retain
The name, and all the additions to a king;
The sway, revenue, execution of the rest,
Beloved sons, be yours: which to confirm,
This coronet part betwixt you.

Giving the crown

Royal Lear,
Whom I have ever honour'd as my king,
Loved as my father, as my master follow'd,
As my great patron thought on in my prayers,--

The bow is bent and drawn, make from the shaft.

Let it fall rather, though the fork invade
The region of my heart: be Kent unmannerly,
When Lear is mad. What wilt thou do, old man?
Think'st thou that duty shall have dread to speak,
When power to flattery bows? To plainness honour's bound,
When majesty stoops to folly. Reverse thy doom;
And, in thy best consideration, cheque
This hideous rashness: answer my life my judgment,
Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least;
Nor are those empty-hearted whose low sound
Reverbs no hollowness.

Kent, on thy life, no more.

My life I never held but as a pawn
To wage against thy enemies; nor fear to lose it,
Thy safety being the motive.

Out of my sight!

See better, Lear; and let me still remain
The true blank of thine eye.

Now, by Apollo,--

Now, by Apollo, king,
Thou swear'st thy gods in vain.

O, vassal! miscreant!

Laying his hand on his sword

Dear sir, forbear.

Do:
Kill thy physician, and the fee bestow
Upon thy foul disease. Revoke thy doom;
Or, whilst I can vent clamour from my throat,
I'll tell thee thou dost evil.

Hear me, recreant!
On thine allegiance, hear me!
Since thou hast sought to make us break our vow,
Which we durst never yet, and with strain'd pride
To come between our sentence and our power,
Which nor our nature nor our place can bear,
Our potency made good, take thy reward.
Five days we do allot thee, for provision
To shield thee from diseases of the world;
And on the sixth to turn thy hated back
Upon our kingdom: if, on the tenth day following,
Thy banish'd trunk be found in our dominions,
The moment is thy death. Away! by Jupiter,
This shall not be revoked.

Fare thee well, king: sith thus thou wilt appear,
Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here.

To CORDELIAThe gods to their dear shelter take thee, maid,
That justly think'st, and hast most rightly said!

To REGAN and GONERILAnd your large speeches may your deeds approve,
That good effects may spring from words of love.
Thus Kent, O princes, bids you all adieu;
He'll shape his old course in a country new.

Exit
Flourish. Re-enter GLOUCESTER, with KING OF FRANCE, BURGUNDY, and Attendants

Here's France and Burgundy, my noble lord.

My lord of Burgundy.
We first address towards you, who with this king
Hath rivall'd for our daughter: what, in the least,
Will you require in present dower with her,
Or cease your quest of love?

Most royal majesty,
I crave no more than what your highness offer'd,
Nor will you tender less.

Right noble Burgundy,
When she was dear to us, we did hold her so;
But now her price is fall'n. Sir, there she stands:
If aught within that little seeming substance,
Or all of it, with our displeasure pieced,
And nothing more, may fitly like your grace,
She's there, and she is yours.

I know no answer.

Will you, with those infirmities she owes,
Unfriended, new-adopted to our hate,
Dower'd with our curse, and stranger'd with our oath,
Take her, or leave her?

Pardon me, royal sir;
Election makes not up on such conditions.

Then leave her, sir; for, by the power that made me,
I tell you all her wealth.

To KING OF FRANCEFor you, great king,
I would not from your love make such a stray,
To match you where I hate; therefore beseech you
To avert your liking a more worthier way
Than on a wretch whom nature is ashamed
Almost to acknowledge hers.

This is most strange,
That she, that even but now was your best object,
The argument of your praise, balm of your age,
Most best, most dearest, should in this trice of time
Commit a thing so monstrous, to dismantle
So many folds of favour. Sure, her offence
Must be of such unnatural degree,
That monsters it, or your fore-vouch'd affection
Fall'n into taint: which to believe of her,
Must be a faith that reason without miracle
Could never plant in me.

I yet beseech your majesty,--
If for I want that glib and oily art,
To speak and purpose not; since what I well intend,
I'll do't before I speak,--that you make known
It is no vicious blot, murder, or foulness,
No unchaste action, or dishonour'd step,
That hath deprived me of your grace and favour;
But even for want of that for which I am richer,
A still-soliciting eye, and such a tongue
As I am glad I have not, though not to have it
Hath lost me in your liking.

Better thou
Hadst not been born than not to have pleased me better.

Is it but this,--a tardiness in nature
Which often leaves the history unspoke
That it intends to do? My lord of Burgundy,
What say you to the lady? Love's not love
When it is mingled with regards that stand
Aloof from the entire point. Will you have her?
She is herself a dowry.

Royal Lear,
Give but that portion which yourself proposed,
And here I take Cordelia by the hand,
Duchess of Burgundy.

Nothing: I have sworn; I am firm.

I am sorry, then, you have so lost a father
That you must lose a husband.

Peace be with Burgundy!
Since that respects of fortune are his love,
I shall not be his wife.

Fairest Cordelia, that art most rich, being poor;
Most choice, forsaken; and most loved, despised!
Thee and thy virtues here I seize upon:
Be it lawful I take up what's cast away.
Gods, gods! 'tis strange that from their cold'st neglect
My love should kindle to inflamed respect.
Thy dowerless daughter, king, thrown to my chance,
Is queen of us, of ours, and our fair France:
Not all the dukes of waterish Burgundy
Can buy this unprized precious maid of me.
Bid them farewell, Cordelia, though unkind:
Thou losest here, a better where to find.

Thou hast her, France: let her be thine; for we
Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see
That face of hers again. Therefore be gone
Without our grace, our love, our benison.
Come, noble Burgundy.

Flourish. Exeunt all but KING OF FRANCE, GONERIL, REGAN, and CORDELIA

Bid farewell to your sisters.

The jewels of our father, with wash'd eyes
Cordelia leaves you: I know you what you are;
And like a sister am most loath to call
Your faults as they are named. Use well our father:
To your professed bosoms I commit him
But yet, alas, stood I within his grace,
I would prefer him to a better place.
So, farewell to you both.

Prescribe not us our duties.

Let your study
Be to content your lord, who hath received you
At fortune's alms. You have obedience scanted,
And well are worth the want that you have wanted.

Time shall unfold what plaited cunning hides:
Who cover faults, at last shame them derides.
Well may you prosper!

Come, my fair Cordelia.

Exeunt KING OF FRANCE and CORDELIA

Sister, it is not a little I have to say of what
most nearly appertains to us both. I think our
father will hence to-night.

That's most certain, and with you; next month with us.

You see how full of changes his age is; the
observation we have made of it hath not been
little: he always loved our sister most; and
with what poor judgment he hath now cast her off
appears too grossly.

'Tis the infirmity of his age: yet he hath ever
but slenderly known himself.

The best and soundest of his time hath been but
rash; then must we look to receive from his age,
not alone the imperfections of long-engraffed
condition, but therewithal the unruly waywardness
that infirm and choleric years bring with them.

Such unconstant starts are we like to have from
him as this of Kent's banishment.

There is further compliment of leavetaking
between France and him. Pray you, let's hit
together: if our father carry authority with
such dispositions as he bears, this last
surrender of his will but offend us.

We shall further think on't.

We must do something, and i' the heat.

Exeunt

第一幕

    第一场 李尔王宫中大厅

    肯特，葛罗斯特及爱德蒙上。

    肯特 我想王上对于奥本尼公爵，比对于康华尔公爵更有好感。

    葛罗斯特 我们一向都觉得是这样； 可是这次划分国土的时候，却看不出来他
对这两位公爵有什么偏心；因为他分配得那么平均，无论他们怎样斤斤较量，都不
能说对方比自己占了便宜。

    肯特 大人，这位是您的令郎吗？

    葛罗斯特 他是在我手里长大的； 我常常不好意思承认他，可是现在惯了，也
就不以为意啦。

    肯特 我不懂您的意思。

    葛罗斯特 伯爵， 这个小子的母亲可心里明白，因此，不瞒您说，她还没有嫁
人就大了肚子生下儿子来。您想这应该不应该？

    肯特 能够生下这样一个好儿子来，即使一时错误，也是可以原谅的。

    葛罗斯特 我还有一个合法的儿子， 年纪比他大一岁，然而我还是喜欢他。这
畜生虽然不等我的召唤，就自己莽莽撞撞来到这世上，可是他的母亲是个迷人的东
西，我们在制造他的时候，曾经有过一场销魂的游戏，这孽种我不能不承认他。爱
德蒙，你认识这位贵人吗？

    爱德蒙 不认识，父亲。

    葛罗斯特 肯特伯爵；从此以后，你该记着他是我的尊贵的朋友。

    爱德蒙 大人，我愿意为您效劳。

    肯特 我一定喜欢你，希望我们以后能够常常见面。

    爱德蒙 大人，我一定尽力报答您的垂爱。

    葛罗斯特 他已经在国外九年，不久还是要出去的。王上来了。

    喇叭奏花腔。李尔、康华尔、奥本尼、高纳里尔、里根、考狄利娅及侍从等上。

    李尔 葛罗斯特，你去招待招待法兰西国王和勃艮第公爵。

    葛罗斯特 是，陛下。（葛罗斯特、爱德蒙同下。）

    李尔 现在我要向你们说明我的心事。 把那地图给我。告诉你们吧，我已经把
我的国土划成三部；我因为自己年纪老了，决心摆脱一切世务的牵萦，把责任交卸
给年轻力壮之人，让自己松一松肩，好安安心心地等死。康华尔贤婿，还有同样是
我心爱的奥本尼贤婿，为了预防他日的争执，我想还是趁现在把我的几个女儿的嫁
奁当众分配清楚。法兰西和勃艮第两位君主正在竞争我的小女儿的爱情，他们为了
求婚而住在我们宫廷里，也已经有好多时候了，现在他们就可以得到答复。孩子们，
在我还没有把我的政权、领土和国事的重任全部放弃以前，告诉我，你们中间哪一
个人最爱我？我要看看谁最有孝心，最有贤德，我就给她最大的恩惠。高纳里尔，
我的大女儿，你先说。
高纳里尔 父亲，我对您的爱，不是言语所能表达的；我爱您胜过自己的眼睛、
整个的空间和广大的自由；超越一切可以估价的贵重稀有的事物；不亚于赋有淑德、
健康、美貌和荣誉的生命；不曾有一个儿女这样爱过他的父亲，也不曾有一个父亲
这样被他的儿女所爱；这一种爱可以使唇舌无能为力，辩才失去效用；我爱您是不
可以数量计算的。

    考狄利娅（旁白）考狄利娅应该怎么好呢？默默地爱着吧。

    李尔 在这些疆界以内， 从这一条界线起，直到这一条界线为止，所有一切浓
密的森林、膏腴的平原、富庶的河流、广大的牧场，都要奉你为它们的女主人；这
一块土地永远为你和奥本尼的子孙所保有。我的二女儿，最亲爱的里根，康华尔的
夫人，你怎么说？

    里根 我跟姊姊具有同样的品质， 您凭着她就可以判断我。在我的真心之中，
我觉得她刚才所说的话，正是我爱您的实际的情形，可是她还不能充分说明我的心
理：我厌弃一切凡是敏锐的知觉所能感受到的快乐，只有爱您才是我的无上的幸福。

    考狄利娅（旁白）那么，考狄利娅，你只好自安于贫穷了！可是我并不贫穷，
因为我深信我的爱心比我的口才更富有。

    李尔 这一块从我们这美好的王国中划分出来的三分之一的沃壤， 是你和你的
子孙永远世袭的产业，和高纳里尔所得到的一份同样广大、同样富庶，也同样佳美。
现在，我的宝贝，虽然是最后的一个，却并非最不在我的心头；法兰西的葡萄和勃
艮第的乳酪都在竞争你的青春之爱；你有些什么话，可以换到一份比你的两个姊姊
更富庶的土地？说吧。

    考狄利娅 父亲，我没有话说。

    李尔 没有？

    考狄利娅 没有。

    李尔 没有只能换到没有；重新说过。

    考狄利娅 我是个笨拙的人， 不会把我的心涌上我的嘴里；我爱您只是按照我
的名分，一分不多，一分不少。

    李尔 怎么，考狄利娅！把你的话修正修正，否则你要毁坏你自己的命运了。

    考狄利娅 父亲， 您生下我来，把我教养成人，爱惜我、厚待我；我受到您这
样的恩德，只有恪尽我的责任，服从您、爱您、敬重您。我的姊姊们要是用她们整
个的心来爱您，那么她们为什么要嫁人呢？要是我有一天出嫁了，那接受我的忠诚
的誓约的丈夫，将要得到我的一半的爱、我的一半的关心和责任；假如我只爱我的
父亲，我一定不会像我的两个姊姊一样再去嫁人的。

    李尔 你这些话果然是从心里说出来的吗？

    考狄利娅 是的，父亲。

    李尔 年纪这样小，却这样没有良心吗？

    考狄利娅 父亲，我年纪虽小，我的心却是忠实的。

    李尔 好， 那么让你的忠实做你的嫁奁吧。凭着太阳神圣的光辉，凭着黑夜的
神秘，凭着主宰人类生死的星球的运行，我发誓从现在起，永远和你断绝一切父女
之情和血缘亲属的关系，把你当做一个路人看待。啖食自己儿女的生番，比起你，
我的旧日的女儿来，也不会更令我憎恨。

    肯特 陛下——

    李尔 闭嘴， 肯特！不要来批怒龙的逆鳞。她是我最爱的一个，我本来想要在
她的殷勤看护之下，终养我的天年。去，不要让我看见你的脸！让坟墓做我安息的
眠床吧，我从此割断对她的天伦的慈爱了！叫法兰西王来！都是死人吗？叫勃艮第
来！康华尔，奥本尼，你们已经分到我的两个女儿的嫁奁，现在把我第三个女儿那
一份也拿去分了吧；让骄傲——她自己所称为坦白的——替她找一个丈夫。我把我
的威力、特权和一切君主的尊荣一起给了你们。我自己只保留一百名骑士，在你们
两人的地方按月轮流居住，由你们负责供养。除了国王的名义和尊号以外，所有行
政的大权、国库的收入和大小事务的处理，完全交在你们手里；为了证实我的话，
两位贤婿，我赐给你们这一顶宝冠，归你们两人共同保有。

    肯特 尊严的李尔， 我一向敬重您像敬重我的君王，爱您像爱总把您当作我的
伟大的恩主——

    李尔 弓已经弯好拉满，你留心躲开箭锋吧。

    肯特 让它落下来吧， 即使箭镞会刺进我的心里。李尔发了疯，肯特也只好不
顾礼貌了。你究竟要怎样，老头儿？你以为有权有位的人向谄媚者低头，尽忠守职
的臣僚就不敢说话了吗？君主不顾自己的尊严，干下了愚蠢的事情，在朝的端人正
士只好直言极谏。保留你的权力，仔细考虑一下你的举措，收回这种卤莽灭裂的成
命。你的小女儿并不是最不孝顺你；有人不会口若悬河，说得天花乱坠，可并不就
是无情无义。我的判断要是有错，你尽管取我的命。

    李尔 肯特，你要是想活命，赶快闭住你的嘴。

    肯特 我的生命本来是预备向你的仇敌抛掷的； 为了你的安全，我也不怕把它
失去。

    李尔 走开，不要让我看见你！

    肯特 瞧明白一些，李尔；还是让我像箭垛上的红心一般永远站在你的眼前吧。

    李尔 凭着阿波罗起誓——

    肯特 凭着阿波罗，老王，你向神明发誓也是没用的。

    李尔 啊，可恶的奴才！（以手按剑。）

    奥本尼

    康华尔 陛下息怒。

    肯特 好， 杀了你的医生，把你的恶病养得一天比一天厉害吧。赶快撤销你的
分土授国的原议；否则只要我的喉舌尚在，我就要大声疾呼，告诉你你做了错事啦。

    李尔 听着， 逆贼！你给我按照做臣子的道理，好生听着！你想要煽动我毁弃
我的不容更改的誓言，凭着你的不法的跋扈，对我的命令和权力妄加阻挠，这一种
目无君上的态度，使我忍无可忍；为了维持王命的尊严，不能不给你应得的处分。
我现在宽容你五天的时间，让你预备些应用的衣服食物，免得受饥寒的痛苦；在第
六天上，你那可憎的身体必须离开我的国境；要是在此后十天之内，我们的领土上
再发现了你的踪迹，那时候就要把你当场处死。去！凭着朱庇特发誓，这一个判决
是无可改移的。

    肯特 再会，国王；你既不知悔改，

    囚笼里也没有自由存在。（向考狄利娅）

    姑娘，自有神明为你照应：

    你心地纯洁，说话真诚！（向里根、高纳里尔）

    愿你们的夸口变成实事，

    假树上会结下真的果子。

    各位王子，肯特从此远去；

    到新的国土走他的旧路。（下。）

    喇叭奏花腔。葛罗斯特偕法兰西王、勃艮第及侍从等重上。

    葛罗斯特 陛下，法兰西国王和勃艮第公爵来了。

    李尔 勃艮第公爵， 您跟这位国王都是来向我的女儿求婚的，现在我先问您：
您希望她至少要有多少陪嫁的奁资，否则宁愿放弃对她的追求？

    勃艮第 陛下， 照着您所已经答应的数目，我就很满足了；想来您也不会再吝
惜的。

    李尔 尊贵的勃艮第， 当她为我所宠爱的时候，我是把她看得非常珍重的，可
是现在她的价格已经跌落了。公爵，您瞧她站在那儿，一个小小的东西，要是除了
我的憎恨以外，我什么都不给她，而您仍然觉得她有使您喜欢的地方，或者您觉得
她整个儿都能使您满意，那么她就在那儿，您把她带去好了。

    勃艮第 我不知道怎样回答。

    李尔 像她这样一个一无可取的女孩子，没有亲友的照顾，新近遭到我的憎恨，
咒诅是她的嫁奁，我已经立誓和她断绝关系了，您还是愿意娶她呢，还是愿意把她
放弃？

    勃艮第 恕我，陛下；在这种条件之下，决定取舍是一件很为难的事。

    李尔 那么放弃她吧， 公爵；凭着赋与我生命的神明起誓，我已经告诉您她的
全部价值了。（向法兰西王）至于您，伟大的国王，为了重视你、我的友谊，我断
不愿把一个我所憎恶的人匹配给您；所以请您还是丢开了这一个为天地所不容的贱
人，另外去找寻佳偶吧。

    法兰西王 这太奇怪了， 她刚才还是您的眼中的珍宝、您的赞美的题目、您的
老年的安慰、您的最好、最心爱的人儿，怎么一转瞬间，就会干下这么一件罪大恶
极的行为，丧失了您的深恩厚爱！她的罪恶倘不是超乎寻常，您的爱心决不会变得
这样厉害；可是除非那是一桩奇迹，我无论如何不相信她会干那样的事。

    考狄利娅 陛下， 我只是因为缺少娓娓动人的口才，不会讲一些违心的言语，
凡是我心里想到的事情，我总不愿在没有把它实行以前就放在嘴里宣扬；要是您因
此而恼我，我必须请求您让世人知道，我所以失去您的欢心的原因，并不是什么丑
恶的污点、淫邪的行动，或是不名誉的举止；只是因为我缺少像人家那样的一双献
媚求恩的眼睛，一条我所认为可耻的善于逢迎的舌头，虽然没有了这些使我不能再
受您的宠爱，可是唯其如此，却使我格外尊重我自己的人格。

    李尔 像你这样不能在我面前曲意承欢，还不如当初没有生下你来的好。

    法兰西王 只是为了这一个原因吗？ 为了生性不肯有话便说，不肯把心里想做
到的出之于口？勃艮第公爵，您对于这位公主意下如何？爱情里面要是搀杂了和它
本身无关的算计，那就不是真的爱情。您愿不愿意娶她？她自己就是一注无价的嫁
奁。

    勃艮第 尊严的李尔， 只要把您原来已经允许过的那一份嫁奁给我，我现在就
可以使考狄利娅成为勃艮第公爵的夫人。

    李尔 我什么都不给；我已经发过誓，再也不能挽回了。

    勃艮第 那么抱歉得很，您已经失去一个父亲，现在必须再失去一个丈夫了。

    考狄利娅 愿勃艮第平安！他所爱的既然只是财产，我也不愿做他的妻子。

    法兰西王 最美丽的考狄利娅！你因为贫穷，所以是最富有的；你因为被遗弃，
所以是最可宝贵的；你因为遭人轻视，所以最蒙我的怜爱。我现在把你和你的美德
一起攫在我的手里；人弃我取是法理上所许可的。天啊天！想不到他们的冷酷的蔑
视，却会激起我热烈的敬爱。陛下，您的没有嫁奁的女儿被抛在一边，正好成全我
的良缘；她现在是我的分享荣华的王后，法兰西全国的女主人了；沼泽之邦的勃艮
第所有的公爵，都不能从我手里买去这一个无价之宝的女郎。考狄利娅，向他们告
别吧，虽然他们是这样冷酷无情；你抛弃了故国，将要得到一个更好的家乡。

    李尔 你带了她去吧， 法兰西王；她是你的，我没有这样的女儿，也再不要看
见她的脸，去吧，你们不要想得到我的恩宠和祝福。来，尊贵的勃艮第公爵。（喇
叭奏花腔。李尔、勃艮第、康华尔、奥本尼、葛罗斯特及侍从等同下。）

    法兰西王 向你的两位姊姊告别吧。

    考狄利娅 父亲眼中的两颗宝玉， 考狄利娅用泪洗过的眼睛向你们告别。我知
道你们是怎样的人；因为碍着姊妹的情分，我不愿直言指斥你们的错处。好好对待
父亲；你们自己说是孝敬他的，我把他托付给你们了。可是，唉！要是我没有失去
他的欢心，我一定不让他依赖你们的照顾。再会了，两位姊姊。

    里根 我们用不着你教训。

    高纳里尔 你还是去小心侍候你的丈夫吧， 命运的慈悲把你交在他的手里；你
自己忤逆不孝，今天空手跟了汉子去也是活该。

    考狄利娅 总有一天， 深藏的奸诈会渐渐显出它的原形；罪恶虽然可以掩饰一
时，免不了最后出乖露丑。愿你们幸福！

    法兰西王 来，我美丽的考狄利娅。（法兰西王、考狄利娅同下。）

    高纳里尔 妹妹， 我有许多对我们两人有切身关系的话必须跟你谈谈。我想我
们的父亲今晚就要离开此地。

    里根 那是十分确定的事， 他要住到你们那儿去；下个月他就要跟我们住在一
起了。

    高纳里尔 你瞧他现在年纪老了， 他的脾气多么变化不定；我们已经屡次注意
到他的行为的乖僻了。他一向都是最爱我们妹妹的，现在他凭着一时的气恼就把她
撵走，这就可以见得他是多么糊涂。

    里根 这是他老年的昏悖；可是他向来就是这样喜怒无常的。

    高纳里尔 他年轻的时候性子就很暴躁， 现在他任性惯了，再加上老年人刚愎
自用的怪脾气，看来我们只好准备受他的气了。

    里根 他把肯特也放逐了； 谁知道他心里一不高兴起来，不会用同样的手段对
付我们？

    高纳里尔 法兰西王辞行回国，跟他还有一番礼仪上的应酬。让我们同心合力，
决定一个方策；要是我们的父亲顺着他这种脾气滥施威权起来，这一次的让国对于
我们未必有什么好处。

    里根 我们还要仔细考虑一下。

    高纳里尔 我们必须趁早想个办法。（同下。）

Enter EDMUND, with a letter

Thou, nature, art my goddess; to thy law
My services are bound. Wherefore should I
Stand in the plague of custom, and permit
The curiosity of nations to deprive me,
For that I am some twelve or fourteen moon-shines
Lag of a brother? Why bastard? wherefore base?
When my dimensions are as well compact,
My mind as generous, and my shape as true,
As honest madam's issue? Why brand they us
With base? with baseness? bastardy? base, base?
Who, in the lusty stealth of nature, take
More composition and fierce quality
Than doth, within a dull, stale, tired bed,
Go to the creating a whole tribe of fops,
Got 'tween asleep and wake? Well, then,
Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land:
Our father's love is to the bastard Edmund
As to the legitimate: fine word,--legitimate!
Well, my legitimate, if this letter speed,
And my invention thrive, Edmund the base
Shall top the legitimate. I grow; I prosper:
Now, gods, stand up for bastards!

Enter GLOUCESTER

Kent banish'd thus! and France in choler parted!
And the king gone to-night! subscribed his power!
Confined to exhibition! All this done
Upon the gad! Edmund, how now! what news?

So please your lordship, none.

Putting up the letter

Why so earnestly seek you to put up that letter?

I know no news, my lord.

What paper were you reading?

Nothing, my lord.

No? What needed, then, that terrible dispatch of
it into your pocket? the quality of nothing hath
not such need to hide itself. Let's see: come,
if it be nothing, I shall not need spectacles.

I beseech you, sir, pardon me: it is a letter
from my brother, that I have not all o'er-read;
and for so much as I have perused, I find it not
fit for your o'er-looking.

Give me the letter, sir.

I shall offend, either to detain or give it. The
contents, as in part I understand them, are to blame.

Let's see, let's see.

I hope, for my brother's justification, he wrote
this but as an essay or taste of my virtue.

[Reads] 'This policy and reverence of age makes
the world bitter to the best of our times; keeps
our fortunes from us till our oldness cannot relish
them. I begin to find an idle and fond bondage
in the oppression of aged tyranny; who sways, not
as it hath power, but as it is suffered. Come to
me, that of this I may speak more. If our father
would sleep till I waked him, you should half his
revenue for ever, and live the beloved of your
brother, EDGAR.'
Hum--conspiracy!--'Sleep till I waked him,--you
should enjoy half his revenue,'--My son Edgar!
Had he a hand to write this? a heart and brain
to breed it in?--When came this to you? who
brought it?

It was not brought me, my lord; there's the
cunning of it; I found it thrown in at the
casement of my closet.

You know the character to be your brother's?

If the matter were good, my lord, I durst swear
it were his; but, in respect of that, I would
fain think it were not.

It is his.

It is his hand, my lord; but I hope his heart is
not in the contents.

Hath he never heretofore sounded you in this business?

Never, my lord: but I have heard him oft
maintain it to be fit, that, sons at perfect age,
and fathers declining, the father should be as
ward to the son, and the son manage his revenue.

O villain, villain! His very opinion in the
letter! Abhorred villain! Unnatural, detested,
brutish villain! worse than brutish! Go, sirrah,
seek him; I'll apprehend him: abominable villain!
Where is he?

I do not well know, my lord. If it shall please
you to suspend your indignation against my
brother till you can derive from him better
testimony of his intent, you shall run a certain
course; where, if you violently proceed against
him, mistaking his purpose, it would make a great
gap in your own honour, and shake in pieces the
heart of his obedience. I dare pawn down my life
for him, that he hath wrote this to feel my
affection to your honour, and to no further
pretence of danger.

Think you so?

If your honour judge it meet, I will place you
where you shall hear us confer of this, and by an
auricular assurance have your satisfaction; and
that without any further delay than this very evening.

He cannot be such a monster--

Nor is not, sure.

To his father, that so tenderly and entirely
loves him. Heaven and earth! Edmund, seek him
out: wind me into him, I pray you: frame the
business after your own wisdom. I would unstate
myself, to be in a due resolution.

I will seek him, sir, presently: convey the
business as I shall find means and acquaint you withal.

These late eclipses in the sun and moon portend
no good to us: though the wisdom of nature can
reason it thus and thus, yet nature finds itself
scourged by the sequent effects: love cools,
friendship falls off, brothers divide: in
cities, mutinies; in countries, discord; in
palaces, treason; and the bond cracked 'twixt son
and father. This villain of mine comes under the
prediction; there's son against father: the king
falls from bias of nature; there's father against
child. We have seen the best of our time:
machinations, hollowness, treachery, and all
ruinous disorders, follow us disquietly to our
graves. Find out this villain, Edmund; it shall
lose thee nothing; do it carefully. And the
noble and true-hearted Kent banished! his
offence, honesty! 'Tis strange.

Exit

This is the excellent foppery of the world, that,
when we are sick in fortune,--often the surfeit
of our own behavior,--we make guilty of our
disasters the sun, the moon, and the stars: as
if we were villains by necessity; fools by
heavenly compulsion; knaves, thieves, and
treachers, by spherical predominance; drunkards,
liars, and adulterers, by an enforced obedience of
planetary influence; and all that we are evil in,
by a divine thrusting on: an admirable evasion
of whoremaster man, to lay his goatish
disposition to the charge of a star! My
father compounded with my mother under the
dragon's tail; and my nativity was under Ursa
major; so that it follows, I am rough and
lecherous. Tut, I should have been that I am,
had the maidenliest star in the firmament
twinkled on my bastardizing. Edgar--

Enter EDGARAnd pat he comes like the catastrophe of the old
comedy: my cue is villanous melancholy, with a
sigh like Tom o' Bedlam. O, these eclipses do
portend these divisions! fa, sol, la, mi.

How now, brother Edmund! what serious
contemplation are you in?

I am thinking, brother, of a prediction I read
this other day, what should follow these eclipses.

Do you busy yourself about that?

I promise you, the effects he writes of succeed
unhappily; as of unnaturalness between the child
and the parent; death, dearth, dissolutions of
ancient amities; divisions in state, menaces and
maledictions against king and nobles; needless
diffidences, banishment of friends, dissipation
of cohorts, nuptial breaches, and I know not what.

How long have you been a sectary astronomical?

Come, come; when saw you my father last?

Why, the night gone by.

Spake you with him?

Ay, two hours together.

Parted you in good terms? Found you no
displeasure in him by word or countenance?

None at all.

Bethink yourself wherein you may have offended
him: and at my entreaty forbear his presence
till some little time hath qualified the heat of
his displeasure; which at this instant so rageth
in him, that with the mischief of your person it
would scarcely allay.

Some villain hath done me wrong.

That's my fear. I pray you, have a continent
forbearance till the spied of his rage goes
slower; and, as I say, retire with me to my
lodging, from whence I will fitly bring you to
hear my lord speak: pray ye, go; there's my key:
if you do stir abroad, go armed.

Armed, brother!

Brother, I advise you to the best; go armed: I
am no honest man if there be any good meaning
towards you: I have told you what I have seen
and heard; but faintly, nothing like the image
and horror of it: pray you, away.

Shall I hear from you anon?

I do serve you in this business.

Exit EDGARA credulous father! and a brother noble,
Whose nature is so far from doing harms,
That he suspects none: on whose foolish honesty
My practises ride easy! I see the business.
Let me, if not by birth, have lands by wit:
All with me's meet that I can fashion fit.

Exit

第二场 葛罗斯特伯爵城堡中的厅堂

    爱德蒙持信上。

    爱德蒙 大自然， 你是我的女神，我愿意在你的法律之前俯首听命。为什么我
要受世俗的排挤，让世人的歧视剥夺我的应享的权利，只因为我比一个哥哥迟生了
一年或是十四个月？为什么他们要叫我私生子？为什么我比人家卑贱？我的壮健的
体格、我的慷慨的精神、我的端正的容貌，哪一点比不上正经女人生下的儿子？为
什么他们要给我加上庶出、贱种、私生子的恶名？贱种，贱种；贱种？难道在热烈
兴奋的奸情里，得天地精华、父母元气而生下的孩子，倒不及拥着一个毫无欢趣的
老婆，在半睡半醒之间制造出来的那一批蠢货？好，合法的爱德伽，我一定要得到
你的土地；我们的父亲喜欢他的私生子爱德蒙，正像他喜欢他的合法的嫡子一样。
好听的名词，“合法”！好，我的合法的哥哥，要是这封信发生效力，我的计策能
够成功，瞧着吧，庶出的爱德蒙将要把合法的嫡子压在他的下面——那时候我可要
扬眉吐气啦。神啊，帮助帮助私生子吧！

    葛罗斯特上。

    葛罗斯特 肯特就这样放逐了！ 法兰西王盛怒而去；王上昨晚又走了！他的权
力全部交出，依靠他的女儿过活！这些事情都在匆促中决定，不曾经过丝毫的考虑！
爱德蒙，怎么！有什么消息？

    爱德蒙 禀父亲，没有什么消息。（藏信。）

    葛罗斯特 你为什么急急忙忙地把那封信藏起来？

    爱德蒙 我不知道有什么消息，父亲。

    葛罗斯特 你读的是什么信？

    爱德蒙 没有什么，父亲。

    葛罗斯特 没有什么？ 那么你为什么慌慌张张地把它塞进你的衣袋里去？既然
没有什么，何必藏起来？来，给我看；要是那上面没有什么话，我也可以不用戴眼
镜。

    爱德蒙 父亲，请您原谅我；这是我哥哥写给我的一封信，我还没有把它读完，
照我所已经读到的一部分看起来，我想还是不要让您看见的好。

    葛罗斯特 把信给我。

    爱德蒙 不给您看您要恼我， 给您看了您又要动怒。哥哥真不应该写出这种话
来。

    葛罗斯特 给我看，给我看。

    爱德蒙 我希望哥哥写这封信是有他的理由的，他不过要试试我的德性。

    葛罗斯特（读信）“这一种尊敬老年人的政策，使我们在年轻时候不能享受生
命的欢乐；我们的财产不能由我们自己处分，等到年纪老了，这些财产对我们也失
去了用处。我开始觉得老年人的专制，实在是一种荒谬愚蠢的束缚；他们没有权力
压迫我们，是我们自己容忍他们的压迫。来跟我讨论讨论这一个问题吧。要是我们
的父亲在我把他惊醒之前，一直好好睡着，你就可以永远享受他的一半的收入，并
且将要为你的哥哥所喜爱。爱德伽。”——哼！阴谋！“要是我们的父亲在我把他
惊醒之前，一直好好睡着，你就可以永远享受他的一半的收入。”我的儿子爱德伽！
他会有这样的心思？他能写得出这样一封信吗？这封信是什么时候到你手里的？谁
把它送给你的？

    爱德蒙 它不是什么人送给我的， 父亲；这正是他狡猾的地方；我看见它塞在
我的房间的窗眼里。

    葛罗斯特 你认识这笔迹是你哥哥的吗？

    爱德蒙 父亲， 要是这信里所写的都是很好的话，我敢发誓这是他的笔迹；可
是那上面写的既然是这种话，我但愿不是他写的。

    葛罗斯特 这是他的笔迹。

    爱德蒙 笔迹确是他的，父亲；可是我希望这种话不是出于他的真心。

    葛罗斯特 他以前有没有用这一类话试探过你？

    爱德蒙 没有， 父亲；可是我常常听见他说，儿子成年以后，父亲要是已经衰
老，他应该受儿子的监护，把他的财产交给他的儿子掌管。

    葛罗斯特 啊， 混蛋！混蛋！正是他在这信里所表示的意思！可恶的混蛋！不
孝的、没有心肝的畜生！禽兽不如的东西！去，把他找来；我要依法惩办他。可恶
的混蛋！他在哪儿？

    爱德蒙 我不大知道， 父亲。照我的意思，你在没有得到可靠的证据，证明哥
哥确有这种意思以前，最好暂时耐一耐您的怒气；因为要是您立刻就对他采取激烈
的手段，万一事情出于误会，那不但大大妨害了您的尊严，而且他对于您的孝心，
也要从此动摇了！我敢拿我的生命为他作保，他写这封信的用意，不过是试探试探
我对您的孝心，并没有其他危险的目的。

    葛罗斯特 你以为是这样的吗？

    爱德蒙 您要是认为可以的话， 让我把您安置在一个隐僻的地方，从那个地方
您可以听到我们两人谈论这件事情，用您自己的耳朵得到一个真凭实据；事不宜迟，
今天晚上就可以一试。

    葛罗斯特 他不会是这样一个大逆不道的禽兽——

    爱德蒙 他断不会是这样的人。

    葛罗斯特 天地良心！ 我做父亲的从来没有亏待过他，他却这样对待我。爱德
蒙，找他出来；探探他究竟居心何在；你尽管照你自己的意思随机应付。我愿意放
弃我的地位和财产，把这一件事情调查明白。

    爱德蒙 父亲， 我立刻就去找他，用最适当的方法探明这回事情，然后再来告
诉您知道。

    葛罗斯特 最近这一些日蚀月蚀果然不是好兆； 虽然人们凭着天赋的智慧，可
以对它们作种种合理的解释，可是接踵而来的天灾人祸，却不能否认是上天对人们
所施的惩罚。亲爱的人互相疏远，朋友变为陌路，兄弟化成仇雠；城市里有暴动，
国家发生内乱，宫廷之内潜藏着逆谋；父不父，子不子，纲常伦纪完全破灭。我这
畜生也是上应天数；有他这样逆亲犯上的儿子，也就有像我们王上一样不慈不爱的
父亲。我们最好的日子已经过去；现在只有一些阴谋、欺诈、叛逆、纷乱，追随在
我们的背后，把我们赶下坟墓里去。爱德蒙，去把这畜生侦查个明白；那对你不会
有什么妨害的；你只要自己留心一点就是了。——忠心的肯特又放逐了！他的罪名
是正直！怪事，怪事！（下。）

    爱德蒙 人们最爱用这一种糊涂思想来欺骗自己； 往往当我们因为自己行为不
慎而遭逢不幸的时候，我们就会把我们的灾祸归怨于日月星辰，好像我们做恶人也
是命运注定，做傻瓜也是出于上天的旨意，做无赖、做盗贼、做叛徒，都是受到天
体运行的影响，酗酒、造谣、奸淫，都有一颗什么星在那儿主持操纵，我们无论干
什么罪恶的行为，全都是因为有一种超自然的力量在冥冥之中驱策着我们。明明自
己跟人家通奸，却把他的好色的天性归咎到一颗星的身上，真是绝妙的推诿！我的
父亲跟我的母亲在巨龙星的尾巴底下交媾，我又是在大熊星底下出世，所以我就是
个粗暴而好色的家伙。嘿！即使当我的父母苟合成奸的时候，有一颗最贞洁的处女
星在天空睒眼睛，我也决不会换个样子的。爱德伽——

    爱德伽上。

    爱德蒙 一说起他， 他就来了，正像旧式喜剧里的大团圆一样；我现在必须装
出一副忧愁煞人的样子，像疯子一般长吁短叹。唉！这些日蚀月蚀果然预兆着人世
的纷争！法——索——拉——咪。

    爱德伽 啊，爱德蒙兄弟！你在沉思些什么？

    爱德蒙 哥哥， 我正在想起前天读到的一篇预言，说是在这些日蚀月蚀之后，
将要发生些什么事情。

    爱德伽 你让这些东西烦扰你的精神吗？

    爱德蒙 告诉你吧，他所预言的事情，果然不幸被他说中了；什么父子的乖离、
死亡、饥荒、友谊的毁灭、国家的分裂、对于国王和贵族的恫吓和咒诅、无谓的猜
疑、朋友的放逐、军队的瓦解、婚姻的破坏，还有许许多多我所不知道的事情。

    爱德伽 你什么时候相信起星象之学来？

    爱德蒙 来，来；你最近一次看见父亲在什么时候？

    爱德伽 昨天晚上。

    爱德蒙 你跟他说过话没有？

    爱德伽 嗯，我们谈了两个钟头。

    爱德蒙 你们分别的时候， 没有闹什么意见吗？你在他的辞色之间，不觉得他
对你有点恼怒吗？

    爱德伽 一点没有。

    爱德蒙 想想看你在什么地方得罪了他； 听我的劝告，暂时避开一下，等他的
怒气平息下来再说，现在他正在大发雷霆，恨不得一口咬下你的肉来呢。

    爱德伽 一定有哪一个坏东西在搬弄是非。

    爱德蒙 我也怕有什么人在暗中离间。 请你千万忍耐忍耐，不要碰在他的火性
上；现在你还是跟我到我的地方去，我可以想法让你躲起来听听他老人家怎么说。
请你去吧；这是我的钥匙。你要是在外面走动的话，最好身边带些武器。

    爱德伽 带些武器，弟弟！

    爱德蒙 哥哥， 我这样劝告你都是为了你的好处；带些武器在身边吧；要是没
有人在暗算你，就算我不是个好人。我已经把我所看到、听到的事情都告诉你了；
可还只是轻描淡写，实际的情形，却比我的话更要严重可怕得多哩。请你赶快去吧。

    爱德伽 我不久就可以听到你的消息吗？

    爱德蒙 我在这一件事情上总是竭力帮你的忙就是了。 （爱德伽下）一个轻信
的父亲，一个忠厚的哥哥，他自己从不会算计别人，所以也不疑心别人算计他；对
付他们这样老实的傻瓜，我的奸计是绰绰有余的。该怎么下手，我已经想好了。既
然凭我的身分，产业到不了我的手，那就只好用我的智谋；不管什么手段只要使得
上，对我说来，就是正当。（下。）

Enter GONERIL, and OSWALD, her steward

Did my father strike my gentleman for chiding of his fool?

Yes, madam.

By day and night he wrongs me; every hour
He flashes into one gross crime or other,
That sets us all at odds: I'll not endure it:
His knights grow riotous, and himself upbraids us
On every trifle. When he returns from hunting,
I will not speak with him; say I am sick:
If you come slack of former services,
You shall do well; the fault of it I'll answer.

He's coming, madam; I hear him.

Horns within

Put on what weary negligence you please,
You and your fellows; I'll have it come to question:
If he dislike it, let him to our sister,
Whose mind and mine, I know, in that are one,
Not to be over-ruled. Idle old man,
That still would manage those authorities
That he hath given away! Now, by my life,
Old fools are babes again; and must be used
With cheques as flatteries,--when they are seen abused.
Remember what I tell you.

Well, madam.

And let his knights have colder looks among you;
What grows of it, no matter; advise your fellows so:
I would breed from hence occasions, and I shall,
That I may speak: I'll write straight to my sister,
To hold my very course. Prepare for dinner.

Exeunt

    第三场 奥本尼公爵府中一室

    高纳里尔及其管家奥斯华德上。

    高纳里尔 我的父亲因为我的侍卫骂了他的弄人，所以动手打他吗？

    奥斯华德 是，夫人。

    高纳里尔 他一天到晚欺侮我； 每一点钟他都要借端寻事，把我们这儿吵得鸡
犬不宁。我不能再忍受下去了。他的骑士们一天一天横行不法起来，他自己又在每
一件小事上都要责骂我们。等他打猎回来的时候，我不高兴见他说话；你就对他说
我病了。你也不必像从前那样殷勤侍候他；他要是见怪，都在我身上。

    奥斯华德 他来了，夫人；我听见他的声音。（内号角声。）

    高纳里尔 你跟你手下的人尽管对他装出一副不理不睬的态度； 我要看看他有
些什么话说。要是他恼了，那么让他到我妹妹那儿去吧，我知道我的妹妹的心思，
她也跟我一样不能受人压制的。这老废物已经放弃了他的权力，还想管这个管那个！
凭着我的生命发誓，年老的傻瓜正像小孩子一样，一味的姑息会纵容坏了他的脾气，
不对他凶一点是不行的，记住我的话。

    奥斯华德 是，夫人。

    高纳里尔 让他的骑士们也受到你们的冷眼； 无论发生什么事情，你们都不用
管；你去这样通知你手下的人吧。我要造成一些借口，和他当面说个明白。我还要
立刻写信给我的妹妹，叫她采取一致的行动。吩咐他们备饭。（各下。）

Enter KENT, disguised

If but as well I other accents borrow,
That can my speech defuse, my good intent
May carry through itself to that full issue
For which I razed my likeness. Now, banish'd Kent,
If thou canst serve where thou dost stand condemn'd,
So may it come, thy master, whom thou lovest,
Shall find thee full of labours.

Horns within. Enter KING LEAR, Knights, and Attendants

Let me not stay a jot for dinner; go get it ready.

Exit an AttendantHow now! what art thou?

A man, sir.

What dost thou profess? what wouldst thou with us?

I do profess to be no less than I seem; to serve
him truly that will put me in trust: to love him
that is honest; to converse with him that is wise,
and says little; to fear judgment; to fight when I
cannot choose; and to eat no fish.

What art thou?

A very honest-hearted fellow, and as poor as the king.

If thou be as poor for a subject as he is for a
king, thou art poor enough. What wouldst thou?

Service.

Who wouldst thou serve?

You.

Dost thou know me, fellow?

No, sir; but you have that in your countenance
which I would fain call master.

What's that?

Authority.

What services canst thou do?

I can keep honest counsel, ride, run, mar a curious
tale in telling it, and deliver a plain message
bluntly: that which ordinary men are fit for, I am
qualified in; and the best of me is diligence.

How old art thou?

Not so young, sir, to love a woman for singing, nor
so old to dote on her for any thing: I have years
on my back forty eight.

Follow me; thou shalt serve me: if I like thee no
worse after dinner, I will not part from thee yet.
Dinner, ho, dinner! Where's my knave? my fool?
Go you, and call my fool hither.

Exit an Attendant
Enter OSWALDYou, you, sirrah, where's my daughter?

So please you,--

Exit

What says the fellow there? Call the clotpoll back.

Exit a KnightWhere's my fool, ho? I think the world's asleep.

Re-enter KnightHow now! where's that mongrel?

He says, my lord, your daughter is not well.

Why came not the slave back to me when I called him.

Sir, he answered me in the roundest manner, he would
not.

He would not!

My lord, I know not what the matter is; but, to my
judgment, your highness is not entertained with that
ceremonious affection as you were wont; there's a
great abatement of kindness appears as well in the
general dependants as in the duke himself also and
your daughter.

Ha! sayest thou so?

I beseech you, pardon me, my lord, if I be mistaken;
for my duty cannot be silent when I think your
highness wronged.

Thou but rememberest me of mine own conception: I
have perceived a most faint neglect of late; which I
have rather blamed as mine own jealous curiosity
than as a very pretence and purpose of unkindness:
I will look further into't. But where's my fool? I
have not seen him this two days.

Since my young lady's going into France, sir, the
fool hath much pined away.

No more of that; I have noted it well. Go you, and
tell my daughter I would speak with her.

Exit an AttendantGo you, call hither my fool.

Exit an Attendant
Re-enter OSWALDO, you sir, you, come you hither, sir: who am I,
sir?

My lady's father.

'My lady's father'! my lord's knave: your
whoreson dog! you slave! you cur!

I am none of these, my lord; I beseech your pardon.

Do you bandy looks with me, you rascal?

Striking him

I'll not be struck, my lord.

Nor tripped neither, you base football player.

Tripping up his heels

I thank thee, fellow; thou servest me, and I'll
love thee.

Come, sir, arise, away! I'll teach you differences:
away, away! if you will measure your lubber's
length again, tarry: but away! go to; have you
wisdom? so.

Pushes OSWALD out

Now, my friendly knave, I thank thee: there's
earnest of thy service.

Giving KENT money
Enter Fool

Let me hire him too: here's my coxcomb.

Offering KENT his cap

How now, my pretty knave! how dost thou?

Sirrah, you were best take my coxcomb.

Why, fool?

Why, for taking one's part that's out of favour:
nay, an thou canst not smile as the wind sits,
thou'lt catch cold shortly: there, take my coxcomb:
why, this fellow has banished two on's daughters,
and did the third a blessing against his will; if
thou follow him, thou must needs wear my coxcomb.
How now, nuncle! Would I had two coxcombs and two daughters!

Why, my boy?

If I gave them all my living, I'ld keep my coxcombs
myself. There's mine; beg another of thy daughters.

Take heed, sirrah; the whip.

Truth's a dog must to kennel; he must be whipped
out, when Lady the brach may stand by the fire and stink.

A pestilent gall to me!

Sirrah, I'll teach thee a speech.

Do.

Mark it, nuncle:
Have more than thou showest,
Speak less than thou knowest,
Lend less than thou owest,
Ride more than thou goest,
Learn more than thou trowest,
Set less than thou throwest;
Leave thy drink and thy whore,
And keep in-a-door,
And thou shalt have more
Than two tens to a score.

This is nothing, fool.

Then 'tis like the breath of an unfee'd lawyer; you
gave me nothing for't. Can you make no use of
nothing, nuncle?

Why, no, boy; nothing can be made out of nothing.

[To KENT] Prithee, tell him, so much the rent of
his land comes to: he will not believe a fool.

A bitter fool!

Dost thou know the difference, my boy, between a
bitter fool and a sweet fool?

No, lad; teach me.

That lord that counsell'd thee
To give away thy land,
Come place him here by me,
Do thou for him stand:
The sweet and bitter fool
Will presently appear;
The one in motley here,
The other found out there.

Dost thou call me fool, boy?

All thy other titles thou hast given away; that
thou wast born with.

This is not altogether fool, my lord.

No, faith, lords and great men will not let me; if
I had a monopoly out, they would have part on't:
and ladies too, they will not let me have all fool
to myself; they'll be snatching. Give me an egg,
nuncle, and I'll give thee two crowns.

What two crowns shall they be?

Why, after I have cut the egg i' the middle, and eat
up the meat, the two crowns of the egg. When thou
clovest thy crown i' the middle, and gavest away
both parts, thou borest thy ass on thy back o'er
the dirt: thou hadst little wit in thy bald crown,
when thou gavest thy golden one away. If I speak
like myself in this, let him be whipped that first
finds it so.

SingingFools had ne'er less wit in a year;
For wise men are grown foppish,
They know not how their wits to wear,
Their manners are so apish.

When were you wont to be so full of songs, sirrah?

I have used it, nuncle, ever since thou madest thy
daughters thy mothers: for when thou gavest them
the rod, and put'st down thine own breeches,

SingingThen they for sudden joy did weep,
And I for sorrow sung,
That such a king should play bo-peep,
And go the fools among.
Prithee, nuncle, keep a schoolmaster that can teach
thy fool to lie: I would fain learn to lie.

An you lie, sirrah, we'll have you whipped.

I marvel what kin thou and thy daughters are:
they'll have me whipped for speaking true, thou'lt
have me whipped for lying; and sometimes I am
whipped for holding my peace. I had rather be any
kind o' thing than a fool: and yet I would not be
thee, nuncle; thou hast pared thy wit o' both sides,
and left nothing i' the middle: here comes one o'
the parings.

Enter GONERIL

How now, daughter! what makes that frontlet on?
Methinks you are too much of late i' the frown.

Thou wast a pretty fellow when thou hadst no need to
care for her frowning; now thou art an O without a
figure: I am better than thou art now; I am a fool,
thou art nothing.

To GONERILYes, forsooth, I will hold my tongue; so your face
bids me, though you say nothing. Mum, mum,
He that keeps nor crust nor crum,
Weary of all, shall want some.

Pointing to KING LEARThat's a shealed peascod.

Not only, sir, this your all-licensed fool,
But other of your insolent retinue
Do hourly carp and quarrel; breaking forth
In rank and not-to-be endured riots. Sir,
I had thought, by making this well known unto you,
To have found a safe redress; but now grow fearful,
By what yourself too late have spoke and done.
That you protect this course, and put it on
By your allowance; which if you should, the fault
Would not 'scape censure, nor the redresses sleep,
Which, in the tender of a wholesome weal,
Might in their working do you that offence,
Which else were shame, that then necessity
Will call discreet proceeding.

For, you trow, nuncle,
The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so long,
That it's had it head bit off by it young.
So, out went the candle, and we were left darkling.

Are you our daughter?

Come, sir,
I would you would make use of that good wisdom,
Whereof I know you are fraught; and put away
These dispositions, that of late transform you
From what you rightly are.

May not an ass know when the cart
draws the horse? Whoop, Jug! I love thee.

Doth any here know me? This is not Lear:
Doth Lear walk thus? speak thus? Where are his eyes?
Either his notion weakens, his discernings
Are lethargied--Ha! waking? 'tis not so.
Who is it that can tell me who I am?

Lear's shadow.

I would learn that; for, by the
marks of sovereignty, knowledge, and reason,
I should be false persuaded I had daughters.

Which they will make an obedient father.

Your name, fair gentlewoman?

This admiration, sir, is much o' the savour
Of other your new pranks. I do beseech you
To understand my purposes aright:
As you are old and reverend, you should be wise.
Here do you keep a hundred knights and squires;
Men so disorder'd, so debosh'd and bold,
That this our court, infected with their manners,
Shows like a riotous inn: epicurism and lust
Make it more like a tavern or a brothel
Than a graced palace. The shame itself doth speak
For instant remedy: be then desired
By her, that else will take the thing she begs,
A little to disquantity your train;
And the remainder, that shall still depend,
To be such men as may besort your age,
And know themselves and you.

Darkness and devils!
Saddle my horses; call my train together:
Degenerate bastard! I'll not trouble thee.
Yet have I left a daughter.

You strike my people; and your disorder'd rabble
Make servants of their betters.

Enter ALBANY

Woe, that too late repents,--

To ALBANYO, sir, are you come?
Is it your will? Speak, sir. Prepare my horses.
Ingratitude, thou marble-hearted fiend,
More hideous when thou show'st thee in a child
Than the sea-monster!

Pray, sir, be patient.

[To GONERIL] Detested kite! thou liest.
My train are men of choice and rarest parts,
That all particulars of duty know,
And in the most exact regard support
The worships of their name. O most small fault,
How ugly didst thou in Cordelia show!
That, like an engine, wrench'd my frame of nature
From the fix'd place; drew from heart all love,
And added to the gall. O Lear, Lear, Lear!
Beat at this gate, that let thy folly in,

Striking his headAnd thy dear judgment out! Go, go, my people.

My lord, I am guiltless, as I am ignorant
Of what hath moved you.

It may be so, my lord.
Hear, nature, hear; dear goddess, hear!
Suspend thy purpose, if thou didst intend
To make this creature fruitful!
Into her womb convey sterility!
Dry up in her the organs of increase;
And from her derogate body never spring
A babe to honour her! If she must teem,
Create her child of spleen; that it may live,
And be a thwart disnatured torment to her!
Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth;
With cadent tears fret channels in her cheeks;
Turn all her mother's pains and benefits
To laughter and contempt; that she may feel
How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is
To have a thankless child! Away, away!

Exit

Now, gods that we adore, whereof comes this?

Never afflict yourself to know the cause;
But let his disposition have that scope
That dotage gives it.

Re-enter KING LEAR

What, fifty of my followers at a clap!
Within a fortnight!

What's the matter, sir?

I'll tell thee:

To GONERILLife and death! I am ashamed
That thou hast power to shake my manhood thus;
That these hot tears, which break from me perforce,
Should make thee worth them. Blasts and fogs upon thee!
The untented woundings of a father's curse
Pierce every sense about thee! Old fond eyes,
Beweep this cause again, I'll pluck ye out,
And cast you, with the waters that you lose,
To temper clay. Yea, it is come to this?
Let is be so: yet have I left a daughter,
Who, I am sure, is kind and comfortable:
When she shall hear this of thee, with her nails
She'll flay thy wolvish visage. Thou shalt find
That I'll resume the shape which thou dost think
I have cast off for ever: thou shalt,
I warrant thee.

Exeunt KING LEAR, KENT, and Attendants

Do you mark that, my lord?

I cannot be so partial, Goneril,
To the great love I bear you,--

Pray you, content. What, Oswald, ho!

To the FoolYou, sir, more knave than fool, after your master.

Nuncle Lear, nuncle Lear, tarry and take the fool
with thee.
A fox, when one has caught her,
And such a daughter,
Should sure to the slaughter,
If my cap would buy a halter:
So the fool follows after.

Exit

This man hath had good counsel:--a hundred knights!
'Tis politic and safe to let him keep
At point a hundred knights: yes, that, on every dream,
Each buzz, each fancy, each complaint, dislike,
He may enguard his dotage with their powers,
And hold our lives in mercy. Oswald, I say!

Well, you may fear too far.

Safer than trust too far:
Let me still take away the harms I fear,
Not fear still to be taken: I know his heart.
What he hath utter'd I have writ my sister
If she sustain him and his hundred knights
When I have show'd the unfitness,--

Re-enter OSWALDHow now, Oswald!
What, have you writ that letter to my sister?

Yes, madam.

Take you some company, and away to horse:
Inform her full of my particular fear;
And thereto add such reasons of your own
As may compact it more. Get you gone;
And hasten your return.

Exit OSWALDNo, no, my lord,
This milky gentleness and course of yours
Though I condemn not, yet, under pardon,
You are much more attask'd for want of wisdom
Than praised for harmful mildness.

How far your eyes may pierce I can not tell:
Striving to better, oft we mar what's well.

Nay, then--

Well, well; the event.

Exeunt

第四场 奥本尼公爵府中厅堂

    肯特化装上。

    肯特 我已经完全隐去我的本来面目，要是我能够把我的语音也完全改变过来，
那么我的一片苦心，也许可以达到目的。被放逐的肯特啊，要是你顶着一身罪名，
还依然能够尽你的忠心，那么总有一天，对你所爱戴的主人会大有用处的。

    内号角声。李尔、众骑士及侍从等上。

    李尔 我一刻也不能等待，快去叫他们拿出饭来。（一侍从下）啊！你是什么？

    肯特 我是一个人，大爷。

    李尔 你是干什么的？你来见我有什么事？

    肯特 您瞧我像干什么的， 我就是干什么的；谁要是信任我，我愿意尽忠服侍
他；谁要是居心正直，我愿意爱他；谁要是聪明而不爱多说话，我愿意跟他来往；
我害怕法官；逼不得已的时候，我也会跟人家打架；我不吃鱼①。

    李尔 你究竟是什么人？

    肯特 一个心肠非常正直的汉子，而且像国王一样穷。

    李尔 要是你这做臣民的， 也像那个做国王的一样穷，那么你也可以算得真穷
了。你要什么？

    肯特 就要讨一个差使。

    李尔 你想替谁做事？

    肯特 替您。

    李尔 你认识我吗？

    肯特 不， 大爷，可是在您的神气之间，有一种什么力量，使我愿意叫您做我
的主人。

    李尔 是什么力量？

    肯特 一种天生的威严。

    李尔 你会做些什么事？

    肯特 我会保守秘密， 我会骑马，我会跑路，我会把一个复杂的故事讲得索然
无味，我会老老实实传一个简单的口信；凡是普通人能够做的事情，我都可以做，
我的最大的好处是勤劳。

    李尔 你年纪多大了？

    肯特 大爷， 说我年轻，我也不算年轻，我不会为了一个女人会唱几句歌而害
相思；说我年老，我也不算年老，我不会糊里糊涂地溺爱一个女人；我已经活过四
十八个年头了。

    李尔 跟着我吧；你可以替我做事。要是我在吃过晚饭以后，还是这样欢喜你，
那么我还不会就把你撵走。喂！饭呢？拿饭来！我的孩子呢？我的傻瓜呢？你去叫
我的傻瓜来。（一侍从下。）

    奥斯华德上。

    李尔 喂，喂，我的女儿呢？

    奥斯华德 对不起——（下。）

    李尔 这家伙怎么说？ 叫那蠢东西回来。（一骑士下）喂，我的傻瓜呢？全都
睡着了吗？怎么！那狗头呢？

    骑士重上。

    骑士 陛下，他说公主有病。

    李尔 我叫他回来，那奴才为什么不回来？

    骑士 陛下，他非常放肆，回答我说他不高兴回来。

    李尔 他不高兴回来！

    骑士 陛下，我也不知道为了什么缘故，可是照我看起来，他们对待您的礼貌，
已经不像往日那样殷勤了；不但一般下人从仆，就是公爵和公主也对您冷淡得多了。

    李尔 嘿！你这样说吗？

    骑士 陛下，要是我说错了话，请您原谅我；可是当我觉得您受人欺侮的时候，
责任所在，我不能闭口不言。

    李尔 你不过向我提起一件我自己已经感觉到的事； 我近来也觉得他们对我的
态度有点儿冷淡，可是我总以为那是我自己多心，不愿断定是他们有意怠慢。我还
要仔细观察观察他们的举止。可是我的傻瓜呢？我这两天没有看见他。

    骑士 陛下，自从小公主到法国去了以后，这傻瓜老是郁郁不乐。

    李尔 别再提那句话了； 我也注意到他这种情形。——你去对我的女儿说，我
要跟她说话。（一侍从下）你去叫我的傻瓜来。（另一侍从下。）

    奥斯华德重上。

    李尔 啊！你，大爷，你过来，大爷。你不知道我是什么人吗，大爷？

    奥斯华德 我们夫人的父亲。

    李尔“我们夫人的父亲”！我们大爷的奴才！好大胆的狗！你这奴才！你这狗
东西！

    奥斯华德 对不起，我不是狗。

    李尔 你敢跟我当面顶嘴瞪眼吗，你这混蛋？（打奥斯华德。）

    奥斯华德 您不能打我。

    肯特 我也不能踢你吗，你这踢皮球的下贱东西②？（自后踢奥斯华德倒地。）

    李尔 谢谢你，好家伙；你帮了我，我喜欢你。

    肯特 来， 朋友，站起来，给我滚吧！我要教训教训你，让你知道尊卑上下的
分别。去！去！你还想用你蠢笨的身体在地上打滚，丈量土地吗？滚！你难道不懂
得厉害吗？去。（将奥斯华德推出。）

    李尔 我的好小子，谢谢你；这是你替我做事的定钱。（以钱给肯特。）

    弄人上。

    弄人 让我也把他雇下来；这儿是我的鸡头帽。（脱帽授肯特。）

    李尔 啊，我的乖乖！你好？

    弄人 喂，你还是戴了我的鸡头帽吧。

    肯特 傻瓜，为什么？

    弄人 为什么？ 因为你帮了一个失势的人。要是你不会看准风向把你的笑脸迎
上去，你就会吞下一口冷气的。来，把我的鸡头帽拿去。嘿，这家伙撵走了两个女
儿，他的第三个女儿倒很受他的好处，虽然也不是出于他的本意；要是你跟了他，
你必须戴上我的鸡头帽。啊，老伯伯！但愿我有两顶鸡头帽，再有两个女儿！

    李尔 为什么，我的孩子？

    弄人 要是我把我的家私一起给了她们， 我自己还可以存下两顶鸡头帽。我这
儿有一顶；再去向你的女儿们讨一顶戴戴吧。

    李尔 嘿，你留心着鞭子。

    弄人 真理是一条贱狗，它只好躲在狗洞里；当猎狗太太站在火边撒尿的时候，
它必须一顿鞭子被人赶出去。

    李尔 简直是揭我的疮疤！

    弄人（向肯特）喂，让我教你一段话。

    李尔 你说吧。

    弄人 听着，老伯伯；——

    多积财，少摆阔；

    耳多听，话少说；

    少放款，多借债；

    走路不如骑马快；

    三言之中信一语，

    多掷骰子少下注；

    莫饮酒，莫嫖妓；

    呆在家中把门闭；

    会打算的占便宜，

    不会打算叹口气。

    肯特 傻瓜，这些话一点意思也没有。

    弄人 那么正像拿不到讼费的律师一样， 我的话都白说了。老伯伯，你不能从
没有意思的中间，探求出一点意思来吗？

    李尔 啊，不，孩子；垃圾里是淘不出金子来的。

    弄人（向肯特）请你告诉他，他有那么多的土地，也就成为一堆垃圾了；他不
肯相信一个傻瓜嘴里的话。

    李尔 好尖酸的傻瓜！

    弄人 我的孩子，你知道傻瓜是有酸有甜的吗？

    李尔 不，孩子；告诉我。

    弄人 听了他人话，

土地全丧失；

    我傻你更傻，

两傻相并立：

    一个傻瓜甜，

一个傻瓜酸；

    一个穿花衣，

一个戴王冠。

    李尔 你叫我傻瓜吗，孩子？

    弄人 你把你所有的尊号都送了别人；只有这一个名字是你娘胎里带来的。

    肯特 陛下，他倒不全然是个傻瓜哩。

    弄人 不， 那些老爷大人们都不肯答应我的；要是我取得了傻瓜的专利权，他
们一定要来夺我一份去，就是太太小姐们也不会放过我的；他们不肯让我一个人做
傻瓜。老伯伯，给我一个蛋，我给你两顶冠。

    李尔 两顶什么冠？

    弄人 我把蛋从中间切开， 吃完了蛋黄、蛋白，就用蛋壳给你做两顶冠。你想
你自己好端端有了一顶王冠，却把它从中间剖成两半，把两半全都送给人家，这不
是背了驴子过泥潭吗？你这光秃秃的头顶连里面也是光秃秃的没有一点脑子，所以
才会把一顶金冠送了人。我说了我要说的话，谁说这种话是傻话，让他挨一顿鞭子。
——

这年头傻瓜供过于求，

    聪明人个个变了糊涂，

顶着个没有思想的头，

    只会跟着人依样葫芦。

    李尔 你几时学会了这许多歌儿？

    弄人 老伯伯， 自从你把你的女儿当作了你的母亲以后，我就常常唱起歌儿来
了；因为当你把棒儿给了她们，拉下你自己的裤子的时候，——

    她们高兴得眼泪盈眶，

    我只好唱歌自遣哀愁，

    可怜你堂堂一国之王，

    却跟傻瓜们作伴嬉游。

    老伯伯，你去请一位先生来，教教你的傻瓜怎样说谎吧；我很想学学说谎。

    李尔 要是你说了谎，小子，我就用鞭子抽你。

    弄人 我不知道你跟你的女儿们究竟是什么亲戚： 她们因为我说了真话，要用
鞭子抽我，你因为我说谎，又要用鞭子抽我；有时候我话也不说，你们也要用鞭子
抽我。我宁可做一个无论什么东西，也不要做个傻瓜；可是我宁可做个傻瓜，也不
愿意做你，老伯伯；你把你的聪明从两边削掉了，削得中间不剩一点东西。瞧，那
削下的一块来了。

    高纳里尔上。

    李尔 啊，女儿！为什么你的脸上罩满了怒气？我看你近来老是皱着眉头。

    弄人 从前你用不着看她的脸， 随她皱不皱眉头都不与你相干，那时候你也算
得了一个好汉子；可是现在你却变成一个孤零零的圆圈圈儿了。你还比不上我；我
是个傻瓜，你简直不是个东西。（向高纳里尔）好，好，我闭嘴就是啦；虽然你没
有说话，我从你的脸色知道你的意思。

闭嘴，闭嘴；

你不知道积谷防饥，

活该啃不到面包皮。

    他是一个剥空了的豌豆荚。（指李尔。）

    高纳里尔 父亲，您这一个肆无忌惮的傻瓜不用说了，还有您那些蛮横的卫士，
也都在时时刻刻寻事骂人，种种不法的暴行，实在叫人忍无可忍。父亲，我本来还
以为要是让您知道了这种情形，您一定会戒饬他们的行动；可是照您最近所说的话
和所做的事看来，我不能不疑心您有意纵容他们，他们才会这样有恃无恐。要是果
然出于您的授意，为了维持法纪的尊严，我们也不能默尔而息，不采取断然的处置，
虽然也许在您的脸上不大好看；本来，这是说不过去的，可是眼前这样的步骤，在
事实上却是必要的。

    弄人 你看，老伯伯——

    那篱雀养大了杜鹃鸟，

    自己的头也给它吃掉。

    蜡烛熄了，我们眼前只有一片黑暗。

    李尔 你是我的女儿吗？

    高纳里尔 算了吧，老人家，您不是一个不懂道理的人，我希望您想明白一些；
近来您动不动就动气，实在太有失一个做长辈的体统啦。

    弄人 马儿颠倒过来给车子拖着走， 就是一头蠢驴不也看得清楚吗？“呼，玖
格！我爱你。”

    李尔 这儿有谁认识我吗？ 这不是李尔。是李尔在走路吗？在说话吗？他的眼
睛呢？他的知觉迷乱了吗？他的神志麻木了吗？嘿！他醒着吗？没有的事。谁能够
告诉我我是什么人？

    弄人 李尔的影子。

    李尔 我要弄明白我是谁； 因为我的君权、知识和理智都在哄我，要我相信我
是个有女儿的人。

    弄人 那些女儿们是会叫你做一个孝顺的父亲的。

    李尔 太太，请教您的芳名？

    高纳里尔 父亲， 您何必这样假痴假呆，近来您就爱开这么一类的玩笑。您是
一个有年纪的老人家，应该懂事一些。请您明白我的意思；您在这儿养了一百个骑
士，全是些胡闹放荡、胆大妄为的家伙，我们好好的宫廷给他们骚扰得像一个喧嚣
的客店；他们成天吃、喝、玩女人，简直把这儿当作了酒馆妓院，哪里还是一座庄
严的御邸。这一种可耻的现象，必须立刻设法纠正；所以请您依了我的要求，酌量
减少您的扈从的人数，只留下一些适合于您的年龄、知道您的地位、也明白他们自
己身分的人跟随您；要是您不答应，那么我没有法子，只好勉强执行了。

    李尔 地狱里的魔鬼！ 备起我的马来；召集我的侍从。没有良心的贱人！我不
要麻烦你；我还有一个女儿哩。

    高纳里尔 你打我的用人， 你那一班捣乱的流氓也不想想自己是什么东西，胆
敢把他们上面的人像奴仆一样呼来叱去。

    奥本尼上。

    李尔 唉！ 现在懊悔也来不及了。（向奥本尼）啊！你也来了吗？这是不是你
的意思？你说。——替我备马。丑恶的海怪也比不上忘恩的儿女那样可怕。

    奥本尼 陛下，请您不要生气。

    李尔（向高纳里尔）袅獍不如的东西！你说谎！我的卫士都是最有品行的人，
他们懂得一切的礼仪，他们的一举一动，都不愧骑士之名。啊！考狄利娅不过犯了
一点小小的错误，怎么在我的眼睛里却会变得这样丑恶！它像一座酷虐的刑具，扭
曲了我的天性，抽干了我心里的慈爱，把苦味的怨恨灌了进去。啊，李尔！李尔！
李尔！对准这一扇装进你的愚蠢、放出你的智慧的门，着力痛打吧！（自击其头）
去，去，我的人。

    奥本尼 陛下，我没有得罪您，我也不知道您为什么生气。

    李尔 也许不是你的错， 公爵。——听着，造化的女神，听我的吁诉！要是你
想使这畜生生男育女，请你改变你的意旨吧！取消她的生殖的能力，干涸她的产育
的器官，让她的下贱的肉体里永远生不出一个子女来抬高她的身价！要是她必须生
产，请你让她生下一个忤逆狂悖的孩子，使她终身受苦！让她年轻的额角上很早就
刻了皱纹；眼泪流下她的面颊，磨成一道道的沟渠；她的鞠育的辛劳，只换到一声
冷笑和一个白眼；让她也感觉到一个负心的孩子，比毒蛇的牙齿还要多么使人痛入
骨髓！去，去！（下。）

    奥本尼 凭着我们敬奉的神明，告诉我这是怎么一回事？

    高纳里尔 你不用知道为了什么原因；他老糊涂了，让他去发他的火吧。

    李尔重上。

    李尔 什么！我在这儿不过住了半个月，就把我的卫士一下子裁撤了五十名吗？

    奥本尼 什么事，陛下？

    李尔 等一等告诉你。 （向高纳里尔）吸血的魔鬼！我真惭愧，你有这本事叫
我在你的面前失去了大丈夫的气概，让我的热泪为了一个下贱的婢子而滚滚流出。
愿毒风吹着你，恶雾罩着你！愿一个父亲的咒诅刺透你的五官百窍，留下永远不能
平复的疮痍！痴愚的老眼，要是你再为此而流泪，我要把你挖出来，丢在你所流的
泪水里，和泥土拌在一起！哼！竟有这等事吗？好，我还有一个女儿，我相信她是
孝顺我的；她听见你这样对待我，一定会用指爪抓破你的豺狼一样的脸。你以为我
一辈子也不能恢复我的原来的威风了吗？好，你瞧着吧。（李尔、肯特及侍从等下。）

    高纳里尔 你听见没有？

    奥本尼 高纳里尔，虽然我十分爱你，可是我不能这样偏心——

    高纳里尔 你不用管我。 喂，奥斯华德！（向弄人）你这七分奸刁三分傻的东
西，跟你的主人去吧。

    弄人 李尔老伯伯，李尔老伯伯！等一等，带傻瓜一块儿去。

    捉狐狸，杀狐狸，

    谁家女儿是狐狸？

    可惜我这顶帽子，

    换不到一条绳子；

    追上去，你这傻子。（下。）

    高纳里尔 不知道是什么人替他出的好主意。 一百个骑士！让他随身带着一百
个全副武装的卫士，真是万全之计；只要他做了一个梦，听了一句谣言，转了一个
念头，或者心里有什么不高兴不舒服，就可以任着性子，用他们的力量危害我们的
生命。喂，奥斯华德！

    奥本尼 也许你太过虑了。

    高纳里尔 过虑总比大意好些。 与其时时刻刻提心吊胆，害怕人家的暗算，宁
可爽爽快快除去一切可能的威胁。我知道他的心理。他所说的话，我已经写信去告
诉我的妹妹了；她要是不听我的劝告，仍旧容留他带着他的一百个骑士——

    奥斯华德重上。

    高纳里尔 啊，奥斯华德！什么！我叫你写给我妹妹的信，你写好了没有？

    奥斯华德 写好了，夫人。

    高纳里尔 带几个人跟着你， 赶快上马出发；把我所担心的情形明白告诉她，
再加上一些你所想到的理由，让它格外动听一些。去吧，早点回来。（奥斯华德下）
不，不，我的爷，你做人太仁善厚道了，虽然我不怪你，可是恕我说一句话，只有
人批评你糊涂，却没有什么人称赞你一声好。

    奥本尼 我不知道你的眼光能够看到多远；可是过分操切也会误事的。

    高纳里尔 咦，那么——

    奥本尼 好，好，但看结果如何。（同下。）

Enter KING LEAR, KENT, and Fool

Go you before to Gloucester with these letters.
Acquaint my daughter no further with any thing you
know than comes from her demand out of the letter.
If your diligence be not speedy, I shall be there afore you.

I will not sleep, my lord, till I have delivered
your letter.

Exit

If a man's brains were in's heels, were't not in
danger of kibes?

Ay, boy.

Then, I prithee, be merry; thy wit shall ne'er go
slip-shod.

Ha, ha, ha!

Shalt see thy other daughter will use thee kindly;
for though she's as like this as a crab's like an
apple, yet I can tell what I can tell.

Why, what canst thou tell, my boy?

She will taste as like this as a crab does to a
crab. Thou canst tell why one's nose stands i'
the middle on's face?

No.

Why, to keep one's eyes of either side's nose; that
what a man cannot smell out, he may spy into.

I did her wrong--

Canst tell how an oyster makes his shell?

No.

Nor I neither; but I can tell why a snail has a house.

Why?

Why, to put his head in; not to give it away to his
daughters, and leave his horns without a case.

I will forget my nature. So kind a father! Be my
horses ready?

Thy asses are gone about 'em. The reason why the
seven stars are no more than seven is a pretty reason.

Because they are not eight?

Yes, indeed: thou wouldst make a good fool.

To take 't again perforce! Monster ingratitude!

If thou wert my fool, nuncle, I'ld have thee beaten
for being old before thy time.

How's that?

Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst
been wise.

O, let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven
Keep me in temper: I would not be mad!

Enter GentlemanHow now! are the horses ready?

Ready, my lord.

Come, boy.

She that's a maid now, and laughs at my departure,
Shall not be a maid long, unless things be cut shorter.

Exeunt

第五场 奥本尼公爵府外院

    李尔、肯特及弄人上。

    李尔 你带着这封信， 先到葛罗斯特去。我的女儿看了我的信，倘然有什么话
问你，你就照你所知道的回答她，此外可不要多说什么。要是你在路上偷懒耽搁时
间，也许我会比你先到的。

    肯特 陛下，我在没有把您的信送到以前，决不打一次盹。（下。）

    弄人 要是一个人的脑筋生在脚跟上，它会不会长起脓疱来呢？

    李尔 嗯，不会的，孩子。

    弄人 那么你放心吧；反正你的脑筋不用穿了拖鞋走路。

    李尔 哈哈哈！

    弄人 你到了你那另外一个女儿的地方， 就可以知道她会待你多么好；因为虽
然她跟这一个就像野苹果跟家苹果一样相像，可是我可以告诉你我所知道的事情。

    李尔 你可以告诉我什么，孩子？

    弄人 你一尝到她的滋味， 就会知道她跟这一个完全相同，正像两只野苹果一
般没有分别。你能够告诉我为什么一个人的鼻子生在脸中间吗？

    李尔 不能。

    弄人 因为中间放了鼻子， 两旁就可以安放眼睛；鼻子嗅不出来的，眼睛可以
看个仔细。

    李尔 我对不起她——

    弄人 你知道牡蛎怎样造它的壳吗？

    李尔 不知道。

    弄人 我也不知道；可是我知道蜗牛为什么背着一个屋子。

    李尔 为什么？

    弄人 因为可以把它的头放在里面； 它不会把它的屋子送给它的女儿，害得它
的角也没有地方安顿。

    李尔 我也顾不得什么天性之情了。 我这做父亲的有什么地方亏待了她！我的
马儿都已经预备好了吗？

    弄人 你的驴子们正在那儿给你预备呢。 北斗七星为什么只有七颗星，其中有
一个绝妙的理由。

    李尔 因为它们没有第八颗吗？

    弄人 正是，一点不错；你可以做一个很好的傻瓜。

    李尔 用武力夺回来！忘恩负义的畜生！

    弄人 假如你是我的傻瓜，老伯伯，我就要打你，因为你不到时候就老了。

    李尔 那是什么意思？

    弄人 你应该懂得些世故再老呀。

    李尔 啊！ 不要让我发疯！天哪，抑制住我的怒气，不要让我发疯！我不想发
疯！

    侍臣上。

    李尔 怎么！马预备好了吗？

    侍臣 预备好了，陛下。

    李尔 来，孩子。

    弄人 哪一个姑娘笑我走这一遭，

    她的贞操眼看就要保不牢。（同下。）

Enter EDMUND, and CURAN meets him

Save thee, Curan.

And you, sir. I have been with your father, and
given him notice that the Duke of Cornwall and Regan
his duchess will be here with him this night.

How comes that?

Nay, I know not. You have heard of the news abroad;
I mean the whispered ones, for they are yet but
ear-kissing arguments?

Not I pray you, what are they?

Have you heard of no likely wars toward, 'twixt the
Dukes of Cornwall and Albany?

Not a word.

You may do, then, in time. Fare you well, sir.

Exit

The duke be here to-night? The better! best!
This weaves itself perforce into my business.
My father hath set guard to take my brother;
And I have one thing, of a queasy question,
Which I must act: briefness and fortune, work!
Brother, a word; descend: brother, I say!

Enter EDGARMy father watches: O sir, fly this place;
Intelligence is given where you are hid;
You have now the good advantage of the night:
Have you not spoken 'gainst the Duke of Cornwall?
He's coming hither: now, i' the night, i' the haste,
And Regan with him: have you nothing said
Upon his party 'gainst the Duke of Albany?
Advise yourself.

I am sure on't, not a word.

I hear my father coming: pardon me:
In cunning I must draw my sword upon you
Draw; seem to defend yourself; now quit you well.
Yield: come before my father. Light, ho, here!
Fly, brother. Torches, torches! So, farewell.

Exit EDGARSome blood drawn on me would beget opinion.

Wounds his armOf my more fierce endeavour: I have seen drunkards
Do more than this in sport. Father, father!
Stop, stop! No help?

Enter GLOUCESTER, and Servants with torches

Now, Edmund, where's the villain?

Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword out,
Mumbling of wicked charms, conjuring the moon
To stand auspicious mistress,--

But where is he?

Look, sir, I bleed.

Where is the villain, Edmund?

Fled this way, sir. When by no means he could--

Pursue him, ho! Go after.

Exeunt some ServantsBy no means what?

Persuade me to the murder of your lordship;
But that I told him, the revenging gods
'Gainst parricides did all their thunders bend;
Spoke, with how manifold and strong a bond
The child was bound to the father; sir, in fine,
Seeing how loathly opposite I stood
To his unnatural purpose, in fell motion,
With his prepared sword, he charges home
My unprovided body, lanced mine arm:
But when he saw my best alarum'd spirits,
Bold in the quarrel's right, roused to the encounter,
Or whether gasted by the noise I made,
Full suddenly he fled.

Let him fly far:
Not in this land shall he remain uncaught;
And found--dispatch. The noble duke my master,
My worthy arch and patron, comes to-night:
By his authority I will proclaim it,
That he which finds him shall deserve our thanks,
Bringing the murderous coward to the stake;
He that conceals him, death.

When I dissuaded him from his intent,
And found him pight to do it, with curst speech
I threaten'd to discover him: he replied,
'Thou unpossessing bastard! dost thou think,
If I would stand against thee, would the reposal
Of any trust, virtue, or worth in thee
Make thy words faith'd? No: what I should deny,--
As this I would: ay, though thou didst produce
My very character,--I'ld turn it all
To thy suggestion, plot, and damned practise:
And thou must make a dullard of the world,
If they not thought the profits of my death
Were very pregnant and potential spurs
To make thee seek it.'

Strong and fasten'd villain
Would he deny his letter? I never got him.

Tucket withinHark, the duke's trumpets! I know not why he comes.
All ports I'll bar; the villain shall not 'scape;
The duke must grant me that: besides, his picture
I will send far and near, that all the kingdom
May have the due note of him; and of my land,
Loyal and natural boy, I'll work the means
To make thee capable.

Enter CORNWALL, REGAN, and Attendants

How now, my noble friend! since I came hither,
Which I can call but now, I have heard strange news.

If it be true, all vengeance comes too short
Which can pursue the offender. How dost, my lord?

O, madam, my old heart is crack'd, it's crack'd!

What, did my father's godson seek your life?
He whom my father named? your Edgar?

O, lady, lady, shame would have it hid!

Was he not companion with the riotous knights
That tend upon my father?

I know not, madam: 'tis too bad, too bad.

Yes, madam, he was of that consort.

No marvel, then, though he were ill affected:
'Tis they have put him on the old man's death,
To have the expense and waste of his revenues.
I have this present evening from my sister
Been well inform'd of them; and with such cautions,
That if they come to sojourn at my house,
I'll not be there.

Nor I, assure thee, Regan.
Edmund, I hear that you have shown your father
A child-like office.

'Twas my duty, sir.

He did bewray his practise; and received
This hurt you see, striving to apprehend him.

Is he pursued?

Ay, my good lord.

If he be taken, he shall never more
Be fear'd of doing harm: make your own purpose,
How in my strength you please. For you, Edmund,
Whose virtue and obedience doth this instant
So much commend itself, you shall be ours:
Natures of such deep trust we shall much need;
You we first seize on.

I shall serve you, sir,
Truly, however else.

For him I thank your grace.

You know not why we came to visit you,--

Thus out of season, threading dark-eyed night:
Occasions, noble Gloucester, of some poise,
Wherein we must have use of your advice:
Our father he hath writ, so hath our sister,
Of differences, which I least thought it fit
To answer from our home; the several messengers
From hence attend dispatch. Our good old friend,
Lay comforts to your bosom; and bestow
Your needful counsel to our business,
Which craves the instant use.

I serve you, madam:
Your graces are right welcome.

Exeunt
第二幕

    第一场 葛罗斯特伯爵城堡庭院

    爱德蒙及克伦自相对方向上。

    爱德蒙 您好，克伦？

    克伦 您好， 公子。我刚才见过令尊，通知他康华尔公爵跟他的夫人里根公主
今天晚上要到这儿来拜访他。

    爱德蒙 他们怎么要到这儿来？

    克伦 我也不知道。您有没有听见外边的消息？我的意思是说，人们交头接耳，
在暗中互相传说的那些消息。

    爱德蒙 我没有听见；请教是些什么消息？

    克伦 您没有听见说起康华尔公爵也许会跟奥本尼公爵开战吗？

    爱德蒙 一点没有听见。

    克伦 那么您也许慢慢会听到的。再会，公子。（下。）

    爱德蒙 公爵今天晚上到这儿来！那也好！再好没有了！我正好利用这个机会。
我的父亲已经叫人四处把守，要捉我的哥哥；我还有一件不大好办的事情，必须赶
快动手做起来。这事情要做得敏捷迅速，但愿命运帮助我！——哥哥，跟你说一句
话；下来，哥哥！

    爱德伽上。

    爱德蒙 父亲在那儿守着你。 啊，哥哥！离开这个地方吧；有人已经告诉他你
躲在什么所在；趁着现在天黑，你快逃吧。你有没有说过什么反对康华尔公爵的话？
他也就要到这儿来了，在这样的夜里，急急忙忙的。里根也跟着他来；你有没有站
在他这一边，说过奥本尼公爵什么话吗？想一想看。

    爱德伽 我真的一句话也没有说过。

    爱德蒙 我听见父亲来了； 原谅我；我必须假装对你动武的样子；拔出剑来，
就像你在防御你自己一般；好好地应付一下吧。（高声）放下你的剑；见我的父亲
去！喂，拿火来！这儿！——逃吧，哥哥。（高声）火把！火把！——再会。（爱
德伽下）身上沾几点血，可以使他相信我真的作过一番凶猛的争斗。（以剑刺伤手
臂）我曾经看见有些醉汉为了开玩笑的缘故，往往不顾死活地割破他自己的皮肉。
（高声）父亲！父亲！住手！住手！没有人来帮我吗？

    葛罗斯特率众仆持火炬上。

    葛罗斯特 爱德蒙，那畜生呢？

    爱德蒙 他站在这儿黑暗之中， 拔出他的锋利的剑，嘴里念念有辞，见神见鬼
地请月亮帮他的忙。
葛罗斯特 可是他在什么地方？

    爱德蒙 瞧，父亲，我流着血呢。

    葛罗斯特 爱德蒙，那畜生呢？

    爱德蒙 往这边逃去了，父亲。他看见他没有法子——

    葛罗斯特 喂，你们追上去！（若干仆人下）“没有法子”什么？

    爱德蒙 没有法子劝我跟他同谋把您杀死； 我对他说，疾恶如仇的神明看见弑
父的逆子，是要用天雷把他殛死的；我告诉他儿子对于父亲的关系是多么深切而不
可摧毁；总而言之一句话，他看见我这样憎恶他的荒谬的图谋，他就老羞成怒，拔
出他的早就预备好的剑，气势汹汹地向我毫无防卫的身上挺了过来，把我的手臂刺
破了；那时候我也发起怒来，自恃理直气壮，跟他奋力对抗，他倒胆怯起来，也许
因为听见我喊叫的声音，就飞也似的逃走了。

    葛罗斯特 让他逃得远远的吧； 除非逃到国外去，我们总有捉到他的一天；看
他给我们捉住了还活得成活不成。公爵殿下，我的高贵的恩主，今晚要到这儿来啦，
我要请他发出一道命令，谁要是能够把这杀人的懦夫捉住，交给我们绑在木桩上烧
死，我们将要重重酬谢他；谁要是把他藏匿起来，一经发觉，就要把他处死。

    爱德蒙 当他不听我的劝告， 决意实行他的企图的时候，我就严辞恫吓他，对
他说我要宣布他的秘密；可是他却回答我说，“你这个没份儿继承遗产的私生子！
你以为要是我们两人立在敌对的地位，人家会相信你的道德品质，因而相信你所说
的话吗？哼！我可以绝口否认——我自然要否认，即使你拿出我亲手写下的笔迹，
我还可以反咬你一口，说这全是你的阴谋恶计；人们不是傻瓜，他们当然会相信你
因为觊觎我死后的利益，所以才会起这样的毒心，想要害我的命。”

    葛罗斯特 好狠心的畜生！ 他赖得掉他的信吗？他不是我生出来的。（内喇叭
奏花腔）听！公爵的喇叭。我不知道他来有什么事。我要把所有的城门关起来，看
这畜生逃到哪儿去；公爵必须答应我这一个要求；而且我还要把他的小像各处传送，
让全国的人都可以注意他。我的孝顺的孩子，你不学你哥哥的坏样，我一定想法子
使你能够承继我的土地。

    康华尔、里根及侍从等上。

    康华尔 您好， 我的尊贵的朋友！我还不过刚到这儿，就已经听见了奇怪的消
息。

    里根 要是真有那样的事，那罪人真是万死不足蔽辜了。是怎么一回事，伯爵？

    葛罗斯特 啊！夫人，我这颗老心已经碎了，已经碎了！

    里根 什么！ 我父亲的义子要谋害您的性命吗？就是我父亲替他取名字的，您
的爱德伽吗？

    葛罗斯特 啊！夫人，夫人，发生了这种事情，真是说来叫人丢脸。

    里根 他不是常常跟我父亲身边的那些横行不法的骑士们在一起吗？

    葛罗斯特 我不知道，夫人。太可恶了！太可恶了！

    爱德蒙 是的，夫人，他正是常跟这些人在一起的。

    里根 无怪他会变得这样坏； 一定是他们撺掇他谋害了老头子，好把他的财产
拿出来给大家挥霍。今天傍晚的时候，我接到我姊姊的一封信，她告诉我他们种种
不法的情形，并且警告我要是他们想要住到我的家里来，我千万不要招待他们。

    康华尔 相信我， 里根，我也决不会去招待他们。爱德蒙，我听说你对你的父
亲很尽孝道。

    爱德蒙 那是做儿子的本分，殿下。

    葛罗斯特 他揭发了他哥哥的阴谋； 您看他身上的这一处伤就是因为他奋不顾
身，想要捉住那畜生而受到的。

    康华尔 那凶徒逃走了，有没有人追上去？

    葛罗斯特 有的，殿下。

    康华尔 要是他给我们捉住了， 我们一定不让他再为非作恶；你只要决定一个
办法，在我的权力范围以内，我都可以替你办到。爱德蒙，你这一回所表现的深明
大义的孝心，使我们十分赞美；像你这样不负付托的人，正是我们所需要的，我们
将要大大地重用你。

    爱德蒙 殿下，我愿意为您尽忠效命。

    葛罗斯特 殿下这样看得起他，使我感激万分。

    康华尔 你还不知道我们现在所以要来看你的原因——

    里根 尊贵的葛罗斯特， 我们这样在黑暗的夜色之中，一路摸索前来，实在是
因为有一些相当重要的事情，必须请教请教您的高见。我们的父亲和姊姊都有信来，
说他们两人之间发生了一些冲突；我想最好不要在我们自己的家里答复他们；两方
面的使者都在这儿等候我打发。我们的善良的老朋友，您不要气恼，替我们赶快出
个主意吧。

    葛罗斯特 夫人但有所命， 我总是愿意贡献我的一得之愚的。殿下和夫人光临
蓬荜，欢迎得很！（同下。）

Enter KENT and OSWALD, severally

Good dawning to thee, friend: art of this house?

Ay.

Where may we set our horses?

I' the mire.

Prithee, if thou lovest me, tell me.

I love thee not.

Why, then, I care not for thee.

If I had thee in Lipsbury pinfold, I would make thee
care for me.

Why dost thou use me thus? I know thee not.

Fellow, I know thee.

What dost thou know me for?

A knave; a rascal; an eater of broken meats; a
base, proud, shallow, beggarly, three-suited,
hundred-pound, filthy, worsted-stocking knave; a
lily-livered, action-taking knave, a whoreson,
glass-gazing, super-serviceable finical rogue;
one-trunk-inheriting slave; one that wouldst be a
bawd, in way of good service, and art nothing but
the composition of a knave, beggar, coward, pandar,
and the son and heir of a mongrel bitch: one whom I
will beat into clamorous whining, if thou deniest
the least syllable of thy addition.

Why, what a monstrous fellow art thou, thus to rail
on one that is neither known of thee nor knows thee!

What a brazen-faced varlet art thou, to deny thou
knowest me! Is it two days ago since I tripped up
thy heels, and beat thee before the king? Draw, you
rogue: for, though it be night, yet the moon
shines; I'll make a sop o' the moonshine of you:
draw, you whoreson cullionly barber-monger, draw.

Drawing his sword

Away! I have nothing to do with thee.

Draw, you rascal: you come with letters against the
king; and take vanity the puppet's part against the
royalty of her father: draw, you rogue, or I'll so
carbonado your shanks: draw, you rascal; come your ways.

Help, ho! murder! help!

Strike, you slave; stand, rogue, stand; you neat
slave, strike.

Beating him

Help, ho! murder! murder!

Enter EDMUND, with his rapier drawn, CORNWALL, REGAN, GLOUCESTER, and Servants

How now! What's the matter?

With you, goodman boy, an you please: come, I'll
flesh ye; come on, young master.

Weapons! arms! What 's the matter here?

Keep peace, upon your lives:
He dies that strikes again. What is the matter?

The messengers from our sister and the king.

What is your difference? speak.

I am scarce in breath, my lord.

No marvel, you have so bestirred your valour. You
cowardly rascal, nature disclaims in thee: a
tailor made thee.

Thou art a strange fellow: a tailor make a man?

Ay, a tailor, sir: a stone-cutter or painter could
not have made him so ill, though he had been but two
hours at the trade.

Speak yet, how grew your quarrel?

This ancient ruffian, sir, whose life I have spared
at suit of his gray beard,--

Thou whoreson zed! thou unnecessary letter! My
lord, if you will give me leave, I will tread this
unbolted villain into mortar, and daub the wall of
a jakes with him. Spare my gray beard, you wagtail?

Peace, sirrah!
You beastly knave, know you no reverence?

Yes, sir; but anger hath a privilege.

Why art thou angry?

That such a slave as this should wear a sword,
Who wears no honesty. Such smiling rogues as these,
Like rats, oft bite the holy cords a-twain
Which are too intrinse t' unloose; smooth every passion
That in the natures of their lords rebel;
Bring oil to fire, snow to their colder moods;
Renege, affirm, and turn their halcyon beaks
With every gale and vary of their masters,
Knowing nought, like dogs, but following.
A plague upon your epileptic visage!
Smile you my speeches, as I were a fool?
Goose, if I had you upon Sarum plain,
I'ld drive ye cackling home to Camelot.

Why, art thou mad, old fellow?

How fell you out? say that.

No contraries hold more antipathy
Than I and such a knave.

Why dost thou call him a knave? What's his offence?

His countenance likes me not.

No more, perchance, does mine, nor his, nor hers.

Sir, 'tis my occupation to be plain:
I have seen better faces in my time
Than stands on any shoulder that I see
Before me at this instant.

This is some fellow,
Who, having been praised for bluntness, doth affect
A saucy roughness, and constrains the garb
Quite from his nature: he cannot flatter, he,
An honest mind and plain, he must speak truth!
An they will take it, so; if not, he's plain.
These kind of knaves I know, which in this plainness
Harbour more craft and more corrupter ends
Than twenty silly ducking observants
That stretch their duties nicely.

Sir, in good sooth, in sincere verity,
Under the allowance of your great aspect,
Whose influence, like the wreath of radiant fire
On flickering Phoebus' front,--

What mean'st by this?

To go out of my dialect, which you
discommend so much. I know, sir, I am no
flatterer: he that beguiled you in a plain
accent was a plain knave; which for my part
I will not be, though I should win your displeasure
to entreat me to 't.

What was the offence you gave him?

I never gave him any:
It pleased the king his master very late
To strike at me, upon his misconstruction;
When he, conjunct and flattering his displeasure,
Tripp'd me behind; being down, insulted, rail'd,
And put upon him such a deal of man,
That worthied him, got praises of the king
For him attempting who was self-subdued;
And, in the fleshment of this dread exploit,
Drew on me here again.

None of these rogues and cowards
But Ajax is their fool.

Fetch forth the stocks!
You stubborn ancient knave, you reverend braggart,
We'll teach you--

Sir, I am too old to learn:
Call not your stocks for me: I serve the king;
On whose employment I was sent to you:
You shall do small respect, show too bold malice
Against the grace and person of my master,
Stocking his messenger.

Fetch forth the stocks! As I have life and honour,
There shall he sit till noon.

Till noon! till night, my lord; and all night too.

Why, madam, if I were your father's dog,
You should not use me so.

Sir, being his knave, I will.

This is a fellow of the self-same colour
Our sister speaks of. Come, bring away the stocks!

Stocks brought out

Let me beseech your grace not to do so:
His fault is much, and the good king his master
Will cheque him for 't: your purposed low correction
Is such as basest and contemned'st wretches
For pilferings and most common trespasses
Are punish'd with: the king must take it ill,
That he's so slightly valued in his messenger,
Should have him thus restrain'd.

I'll answer that.

My sister may receive it much more worse,
To have her gentleman abused, assaulted,
For following her affairs. Put in his legs.

KENT is put in the stocksCome, my good lord, away.

Exeunt all but GLOUCESTER and KENT

I am sorry for thee, friend; 'tis the duke's pleasure,
Whose disposition, all the world well knows,
Will not be rubb'd nor stopp'd: I'll entreat for thee.

Pray, do not, sir: I have watched and travell'd hard;
Some time I shall sleep out, the rest I'll whistle.
A good man's fortune may grow out at heels:
Give you good morrow!

The duke's to blame in this; 'twill be ill taken.

Exit

Good king, that must approve the common saw,
Thou out of heaven's benediction comest
To the warm sun!
Approach, thou beacon to this under globe,
That by thy comfortable beams I may
Peruse this letter! Nothing almost sees miracles
But misery: I know 'tis from Cordelia,
Who hath most fortunately been inform'd
Of my obscured course; and shall find time
From this enormous state, seeking to give
Losses their remedies. All weary and o'erwatch'd,
Take vantage, heavy eyes, not to behold
This shameful lodging.
Fortune, good night: smile once more: turn thy wheel!

Sleeps

第二场 葛罗斯特城堡之前

    肯特及奥斯华德各上。

    奥斯华德 早安，朋友；你是这屋子里的人吗？

    肯特 喂。

    奥斯华德 什么地方可以让我们拴马？

    肯特 烂泥地里。

    奥斯华德 对不起，大家是好朋友，告诉我吧。

    肯特 谁是你的好朋友？

    奥斯华德 好，那么我也不理你。

    肯特 要是我把你一口咬住，看你理不理我。

    奥斯华德 你为什么对我这样？我又不认识你。

    肯特 家伙，我认识你。

    奥斯华德 你认识我是谁？

    肯特 一个无赖； 一个恶棍；一个吃剩饭的家伙；一个下贱的、骄傲的、浅薄
的、叫化子一样的、只有三身衣服、全部家私算起来不过一百镑的、卑鄙龌龊的、
穿毛绒袜子的奴才；一个没有胆量的、靠着官府势力压人的奴才；一个婊子生的、
顾影自怜的、奴颜婢膝的、涂脂抹粉的混账东西；全部家私都在一只箱子里的下流
胚，一个天生的忘八胚子；又是奴才，又是叫化子，又是懦夫，又是忘八，又是一
条杂种老母狗的儿子；要是你不承认你这些头衔，我要把你打得放声大哭。

    奥斯华德 咦， 奇怪，你是个什么东西，你也不认识我，我也不认识你，怎么
开口骂人？

    肯特 你还说不认识我， 你这厚脸皮的奴才！两天以前，我不是把你踢倒在地
上，还在王上的面前打过你吗？拔出剑来，你这混蛋；虽然是夜里，月亮照着呢；
我要在月光底下把你剁得稀烂。（拔剑）拔出剑来，你这婊子生的、臭打扮的下流
东西，拔出剑来！

    奥斯华德 去！我不跟你胡闹。

    肯特 拔出剑来， 你这恶棍！谁叫你做人家的傀儡，替一个女儿寄信攻击她的
父王，还自鸣得意呢？拔出剑来，你这混蛋，否则我要砍下你的胚骨。拔出剑来，
恶棍；来来来！

    奥斯华德 喂！救命哪！要杀人啦！救命哪！

    肯特 来， 你这奴才；站住，混蛋，别跑；你这漂亮的奴才，你不会还手吗？
（打奥斯华德。）

    奥斯华德 救命啊！要杀人啦！要杀人啦！

    爱德蒙拔剑上。

    爱德蒙 怎么！什么事？（分开二人。）

    肯特 好小子，你也要寻事吗？来，我们试一下吧！来，小哥儿。

    康华尔、里根、葛罗斯特及众仆上。

    葛罗斯特 动刀动剑的，什么事呀？

    康华尔 大家不要闹；谁再动手，就叫他死。怎么一回事？

    里根 一个是我姊姊的使者，一个是国王的使者。

    康华尔 你们为什么争吵？说。

    奥斯华德 殿下，我给他缠得气都喘不过来啦。

    肯特 怪不得你， 你把全身勇气都提起来了。你这懦怯的恶棍，造化不承认他
曾经造下你这个人；你是一个裁缝手里做出来的。

    康华尔 你是一个奇怪的家伙；一个裁缝会做出一个人来吗？

    肯特 嗯， 一个裁缝；石匠或者油漆匠都不会把他做得这样坏，即使他们学会
这行手艺才不过两个钟头。

    康华尔 说，你们怎么会吵起来的？

    奥斯华德 这个老不讲理的家伙， 殿下，倘不是我看在他的花白胡子分上，早
就要他的命了——

    肯特 你这婊子养的、 不中用的废物！殿下，要是您允许我的话，我要把这不
成东西的流氓踏成一堆替人家涂刷茅厕的泥浆。看在我的花白胡子分上？你这摇尾
乞怜的狗！

    康华尔 住口！畜生，你规矩也不懂吗？

    肯特 是，殿下；可是我实在气愤不过，也就顾不得了。

    康华尔 你为什么气愤？

    肯特 我气愤的是像这样一个奸诈的奴才， 居然也让他佩起剑来。都是这种笑
脸的小人，像老鼠一样咬破了神圣的伦常纲纪；他们的主上起了一个恶念，他们便
竭力逢迎，不是火上浇油，就是雪上添霜；他们最擅长的是随风转舵，他们的主人
说一声是，他们也跟着说是，说一声不，他们也跟着说不，就像狗一样什么都不知
道，只知道跟着主人跑。恶疮烂掉了你的抽搐的面孔！你笑我所说的话，你以为我
是个傻瓜吗？呆鹅，要是我在旷野里碰见了你，看我不把你打得嘎嘎乱叫，一路赶
回你的老家去！

    康华尔 什么！你疯了吗，老头儿？

    葛罗斯特 说，你们究竟是怎么吵起来的？

    肯特 我跟这混蛋是势不两立的。

    康华尔 你为什么叫他混蛋？他做错了什么事？

    肯特 我不喜欢他的面孔。

    康华尔 也许你也不喜欢我的面孔、他的面孔，还有她的面孔。

    肯特 殿下， 我是说惯老实话的：我曾经见过一些面孔，比现在站在我面前的
这些面孔好得多啦。

    康华尔 这个人正是那种因为有人称赞了他的言辞率直，就此装出一副粗鲁的、
目中无人的样子，一味矫揉造作，仿佛他生来就是这样一个家伙。他不会谄媚，他
有一颗正直坦白的心，他必须说老实话；要是人家愿意接受他的意见，很好；不然
的话，他是个老实人。我知道这种家伙，他们用坦白的外表，包藏着极大的奸谋祸
心，比二十个胁肩谄笑、小心翼翼的愚蠢的谄媚者更要不怀好意。

    肯特 殿下， 您的伟大的明鉴，就像福玻斯神光煜煜的额上的烨耀的火轮，诸
您照临我的善意的忠诚，恳切的虔心——

    康华尔 这是什么意思？

    肯特 因为您不喜欢我的话， 所以我改变了一个样子。我知道我不是一个谄媚
之徒；我也不愿做一个故意用率直的言语诱惑人家听信的奸诈小人；即使您请求我
做这样的人，我也不怕得罪您，决不从命。

    康华尔（向奥斯德）你在什么地方冒犯了他？

    奥斯华德 我从来没有冒犯过他。 最近王上因为对我有了点误会，把我殴打；
他便助主为虐，闪在我的背后把我踢倒地上，侮辱谩骂，无所不至，装出一副非常
勇敢的神气；他的王上看见他这样，把他称赞了两句，我又极力克制自己，他便得
意忘形，以为我不是他的对手，所以一看见我，又拔剑跟我闹起来了。

    肯特 和这些流氓和懦夫相比，埃阿斯只能当他们的傻子③。

    康华尔 拿足枷来！你这口出狂言的倔强的老贼，我们要教训你一下。

    肯特 殿下， 我已经太老，不能受您的教训了；您不能用足枷枷我。我是王上
的人，奉他的命令前来；您要是把他的使者枷起来，那未免对我的主上太失敬、太
放肆无礼了。

    康华尔 拿足枷来！ 凭着我的生命和荣誉起誓，他必须锁在足枷里直到中午为
止。

    里根 到中午为止！到晚上，殿下；把他整整枷上一夜再说。

    肯特 啊，夫人，假如我是您父亲的狗，您也不该这样对待我。

    里根 因为你是他的奴才，所以我要这样对待你。

    康华尔 这正是我们的姊姊说起的那个家伙。来，拿足枷来。（从仆取出足枷。）

    葛罗斯特 殿下， 请您不要这样。他的过失诚然很大，王上知道了一定会责罚
他的；您所决定的这一种羞辱的刑罚，只能惩戒那些犯偷窃之类普通小罪的下贱的
囚徒；他是王上差来的人，要是您给他这样的处分，王上一定要认为您轻蔑了他的
来使而心中不快。

    康华尔 那我可以负责。

    里根 我的姊姊要是知道她的使者因为奉行她的命令而被人这样侮辱殴打， 她
的心里还要不高兴哩。把他的腿放进去。（从仆将肯特套入足枷）来，殿下，我们
走吧。（除葛罗斯特、肯特外均下。）

    葛罗斯特 朋友， 我很为你抱憾；这是公爵的意思，全世界都知道他的脾气非
常固执，不肯接受人家的劝阻。我还要替你向他求情。

    肯特 请您不必多此一举， 大人。我走了许多路，还没有睡过觉；一部分的时
间将在瞌睡中过去，醒着的时候我可以吹吹口哨。好人上足枷，因此就走好运也说
不定呢。再会！

    葛罗斯特 这是公爵的不是；王上一定会见怪的。（下。）

    肯特 好王上，你正像俗语说的，抛下天堂的幸福，来受赤日的煎熬了。来吧，
你这照耀下土的炬火，让我借着你的温柔的光辉，可以读一读这封信。只有倒楣的
人才会遇见奇迹；我知道这是考狄利娅寄来的，我的改头换面的行踪，已经侥幸给
她知道了；她一定会找到一个机会，纠正这种反常的情形。疲倦得很；闭上了吧，
沉重的眼睛，免得看见你自己的耻辱。晚安，命运，求你转过你的轮子来，再向我
们微笑吧。（睡。）

Enter EDGAR

I heard myself proclaim'd;
And by the happy hollow of a tree
Escaped the hunt. No port is free; no place,
That guard, and most unusual vigilance,
Does not attend my taking. Whiles I may 'scape,
I will preserve myself: and am bethought
To take the basest and most poorest shape
That ever penury, in contempt of man,
Brought near to beast: my face I'll grime with filth;
Blanket my loins: elf all my hair in knots;
And with presented nakedness out-face
The winds and persecutions of the sky.
The country gives me proof and precedent
Of Bedlam beggars, who, with roaring voices,
Strike in their numb'd and mortified bare arms
Pins, wooden pricks, nails, sprigs of rosemary;
And with this horrible object, from low farms,
Poor pelting villages, sheep-cotes, and mills,
Sometime with lunatic bans, sometime with prayers,
Enforce their charity. Poor Turlygod! poor Tom!
That's something yet: Edgar I nothing am.

Exit

第三场 荒野的一部

    爱德伽上。

    爱德伽 听说他们已经发出告示捉我； 幸亏我躲在一株空心的树干里，没有给
他们找到。没有一处城门可以出入无阻；没有一个地方不是警卫森严，准备把我捉
住！我总得设法逃过人家的耳目，保全自己的生命；我想还不如改扮做一个最卑贱
穷苦、最为世人所轻视、和禽兽相去无几的家伙；我要用污泥涂在脸上，一块毡布
裹住我的腰，把满头的头发打了许多乱结，赤身裸体，抵抗着风雨的侵凌。这地方
本来有许多疯丐，他们高声叫喊，用针哪、木锥哪、钉子哪、迷迭香的树枝哪，刺
在他们麻木而僵硬的手臂上；用这种可怕的形状，到那些穷苦的农场、乡村、羊棚
和磨坊里去，有时候发出一些疯狂的咒诅，有时候向人哀求祈祷，乞讨一些布施。
我现在学着他们的样子，一定不会引起人家的疑心。可怜的疯叫化！可怜的汤姆！
倒有几分像；我现在不再是爱德伽了。（下。）

Enter KING LEAR, Fool, and Gentleman

'Tis strange that they should so depart from home,
And not send back my messenger.

As I learn'd,
The night before there was no purpose in them
Of this remove.

Hail to thee, noble master!

Ha!
Makest thou this shame thy pastime?

No, my lord.

Ha, ha! he wears cruel garters. Horses are tied
by the heads, dogs and bears by the neck, monkeys by
the loins, and men by the legs: when a man's
over-lusty at legs, then he wears wooden
nether-stocks.

What's he that hath so much thy place mistook
To set thee here?

It is both he and she;
Your son and daughter.

No.

Yes.

No, I say.

I say, yea.

No, no, they would not.

Yes, they have.

By Jupiter, I swear, no.

By Juno, I swear, ay.

They durst not do 't;
They could not, would not do 't; 'tis worse than murder,
To do upon respect such violent outrage:
Resolve me, with all modest haste, which way
Thou mightst deserve, or they impose, this usage,
Coming from us.

My lord, when at their home
I did commend your highness' letters to them,
Ere I was risen from the place that show'd
My duty kneeling, came there a reeking post,
Stew'd in his haste, half breathless, panting forth
From Goneril his mistress salutations;
Deliver'd letters, spite of intermission,
Which presently they read: on whose contents,
They summon'd up their meiny, straight took horse;
Commanded me to follow, and attend
The leisure of their answer; gave me cold looks:
And meeting here the other messenger,
Whose welcome, I perceived, had poison'd mine,--
Being the very fellow that of late
Display'd so saucily against your highness,--
Having more man than wit about me, drew:
He raised the house with loud and coward cries.
Your son and daughter found this trespass worth
The shame which here it suffers.

Winter's not gone yet, if the wild-geese fly that way.
Fathers that wear rags
Do make their children blind;
But fathers that bear bags
Shall see their children kind.
Fortune, that arrant whore,
Ne'er turns the key to the poor.
But, for all this, thou shalt have as many dolours
for thy daughters as thou canst tell in a year.

O, how this mother swells up toward my heart!
Hysterica passio, down, thou climbing sorrow,
Thy element's below! Where is this daughter?

With the earl, sir, here within.

Follow me not;
Stay here.

Exit

Made you no more offence but what you speak of?

None.
How chance the king comes with so small a train?

And thou hadst been set i' the stocks for that
question, thou hadst well deserved it.

Why, fool?

We'll set thee to school to an ant, to teach thee
there's no labouring i' the winter. All that follow
their noses are led by their eyes but blind men; and
there's not a nose among twenty but can smell him
that's stinking. Let go thy hold when a great wheel
runs down a hill, lest it break thy neck with
following it: but the great one that goes up the
hill, let him draw thee after. When a wise man
gives thee better counsel, give me mine again: I
would have none but knaves follow it, since a fool gives it.
That sir which serves and seeks for gain,
And follows but for form,
Will pack when it begins to rain,
And leave thee in the storm,
But I will tarry; the fool will stay,
And let the wise man fly:
The knave turns fool that runs away;
The fool no knave, perdy.

Where learned you this, fool?

Not i' the stocks, fool.

Re-enter KING LEAR with GLOUCESTER

Deny to speak with me? They are sick? they are weary?
They have travell'd all the night? Mere fetches;
The images of revolt and flying off.
Fetch me a better answer.

My dear lord,
You know the fiery quality of the duke;
How unremoveable and fix'd he is
In his own course.

Vengeance! plague! death! confusion!
Fiery? what quality? Why, Gloucester, Gloucester,
I'ld speak with the Duke of Cornwall and his wife.

Well, my good lord, I have inform'd them so.

Inform'd them! Dost thou understand me, man?

Ay, my good lord.

The king would speak with Cornwall; the dear father
Would with his daughter speak, commands her service:
Are they inform'd of this? My breath and blood!
Fiery? the fiery duke? Tell the hot duke that--
No, but not yet: may be he is not well:
Infirmity doth still neglect all office
Whereto our health is bound; we are not ourselves
When nature, being oppress'd, commands the mind
To suffer with the body: I'll forbear;
And am fall'n out with my more headier will,
To take the indisposed and sickly fit
For the sound man. Death on my state! wherefore

Looking on KENTShould he sit here? This act persuades me
That this remotion of the duke and her
Is practise only. Give me my servant forth.
Go tell the duke and 's wife I'ld speak with them,
Now, presently: bid them come forth and hear me,
Or at their chamber-door I'll beat the drum
Till it cry sleep to death.

I would have all well betwixt you.

Exit

O me, my heart, my rising heart! but, down!

Cry to it, nuncle, as the cockney did to the eels
when she put 'em i' the paste alive; she knapped 'em
o' the coxcombs with a stick, and cried 'Down,
wantons, down!' 'Twas her brother that, in pure
kindness to his horse, buttered his hay.

Enter CORNWALL, REGAN, GLOUCESTER, and Servants

Good morrow to you both.

Hail to your grace!

KENT is set at liberty

I am glad to see your highness.

Regan, I think you are; I know what reason
I have to think so: if thou shouldst not be glad,
I would divorce me from thy mother's tomb,
Sepulchring an adultress.

To KENTO, are you free?
Some other time for that. Beloved Regan,
Thy sister's naught: O Regan, she hath tied
Sharp-tooth'd unkindness, like a vulture, here:

Points to his heartI can scarce speak to thee; thou'lt not believe
With how depraved a quality--O Regan!

I pray you, sir, take patience: I have hope.
You less know how to value her desert
Than she to scant her duty.

Say, how is that?

I cannot think my sister in the least
Would fail her obligation: if, sir, perchance
She have restrain'd the riots of your followers,
'Tis on such ground, and to such wholesome end,
As clears her from all blame.

My curses on her!

O, sir, you are old.
Nature in you stands on the very verge
Of her confine: you should be ruled and led
By some discretion, that discerns your state
Better than you yourself. Therefore, I pray you,
That to our sister you do make return;
Say you have wrong'd her, sir.

Ask her forgiveness?
Do you but mark how this becomes the house:
'Dear daughter, I confess that I am old;

KneelingAge is unnecessary: on my knees I beg
That you'll vouchsafe me raiment, bed, and food.'

Good sir, no more; these are unsightly tricks:
Return you to my sister.

[Rising] Never, Regan:
She hath abated me of half my train;
Look'd black upon me; struck me with her tongue,
Most serpent-like, upon the very heart:
All the stored vengeances of heaven fall
On her ingrateful top! Strike her young bones,
You taking airs, with lameness!

Fie, sir, fie!

You nimble lightnings, dart your blinding flames
Into her scornful eyes! Infect her beauty,
You fen-suck'd fogs, drawn by the powerful sun,
To fall and blast her pride!

O the blest gods! so will you wish on me,
When the rash mood is on.

No, Regan, thou shalt never have my curse:
Thy tender-hefted nature shall not give
Thee o'er to harshness: her eyes are fierce; but thine
Do comfort and not burn. 'Tis not in thee
To grudge my pleasures, to cut off my train,
To bandy hasty words, to scant my sizes,
And in conclusion to oppose the bolt
Against my coming in: thou better know'st
The offices of nature, bond of childhood,
Effects of courtesy, dues of gratitude;
Thy half o' the kingdom hast thou not forgot,
Wherein I thee endow'd.

Good sir, to the purpose.

Who put my man i' the stocks?

Tucket within

What trumpet's that?

I know't, my sister's: this approves her letter,
That she would soon be here.

Enter OSWALDIs your lady come?

This is a slave, whose easy-borrow'd pride
Dwells in the fickle grace of her he follows.
Out, varlet, from my sight!

What means your grace?

Who stock'd my servant? Regan, I have good hope
Thou didst not know on't. Who comes here? O heavens,

Enter GONERILIf you do love old men, if your sweet sway
Allow obedience, if yourselves are old,
Make it your cause; send down, and take my part!

To GONERILArt not ashamed to look upon this beard?
O Regan, wilt thou take her by the hand?

Why not by the hand, sir? How have I offended?
All's not offence that indiscretion finds
And dotage terms so.

O sides, you are too tough;
Will you yet hold? How came my man i' the stocks?

I set him there, sir: but his own disorders
Deserved much less advancement.

You! did you?

I pray you, father, being weak, seem so.
If, till the expiration of your month,
You will return and sojourn with my sister,
Dismissing half your train, come then to me:
I am now from home, and out of that provision
Which shall be needful for your entertainment.

Return to her, and fifty men dismiss'd?
No, rather I abjure all roofs, and choose
To wage against the enmity o' the air;
To be a comrade with the wolf and owl,--
Necessity's sharp pinch! Return with her?
Why, the hot-blooded France, that dowerless took
Our youngest born, I could as well be brought
To knee his throne, and, squire-like; pension beg
To keep base life afoot. Return with her?
Persuade me rather to be slave and sumpter
To this detested groom.

Pointing at OSWALD

At your choice, sir.

I prithee, daughter, do not make me mad:
I will not trouble thee, my child; farewell:
We'll no more meet, no more see one another:
But yet thou art my flesh, my blood, my daughter;
Or rather a disease that's in my flesh,
Which I must needs call mine: thou art a boil,
A plague-sore, an embossed carbuncle,
In my corrupted blood. But I'll not chide thee;
Let shame come when it will, I do not call it:
I do not bid the thunder-bearer shoot,
Nor tell tales of thee to high-judging Jove:
Mend when thou canst; be better at thy leisure:
I can be patient; I can stay with Regan,
I and my hundred knights.

Not altogether so:
I look'd not for you yet, nor am provided
For your fit welcome. Give ear, sir, to my sister;
For those that mingle reason with your passion
Must be content to think you old, and so--
But she knows what she does.

Is this well spoken?

I dare avouch it, sir: what, fifty followers?
Is it not well? What should you need of more?
Yea, or so many, sith that both charge and danger
Speak 'gainst so great a number? How, in one house,
Should many people, under two commands,
Hold amity? 'Tis hard; almost impossible.

Why might not you, my lord, receive attendance
From those that she calls servants or from mine?

Why not, my lord? If then they chanced to slack you,
We could control them. If you will come to me,--
For now I spy a danger,--I entreat you
To bring but five and twenty: to no more
Will I give place or notice.

I gave you all--

And in good time you gave it.

Made you my guardians, my depositaries;
But kept a reservation to be follow'd
With such a number. What, must I come to you
With five and twenty, Regan? said you so?

And speak't again, my lord; no more with me.

Those wicked creatures yet do look well-favour'd,
When others are more wicked: not being the worst
Stands in some rank of praise.

To GONERILI'll go with thee:
Thy fifty yet doth double five and twenty,
And thou art twice her love.

Hear me, my lord;
What need you five and twenty, ten, or five,
To follow in a house where twice so many
Have a command to tend you?

What need one?

O, reason not the need: our basest beggars
Are in the poorest thing superfluous:
Allow not nature more than nature needs,
Man's life's as cheap as beast's: thou art a lady;
If only to go warm were gorgeous,
Why, nature needs not what thou gorgeous wear'st,
Which scarcely keeps thee warm. But, for true need,--
You heavens, give me that patience, patience I need!
You see me here, you gods, a poor old man,
As full of grief as age; wretched in both!
If it be you that stir these daughters' hearts
Against their father, fool me not so much
To bear it tamely; touch me with noble anger,
And let not women's weapons, water-drops,
Stain my man's cheeks! No, you unnatural hags,
I will have such revenges on you both,
That all the world shall--I will do such things,--
What they are, yet I know not: but they shall be
The terrors of the earth. You think I'll weep
No, I'll not weep:
I have full cause of weeping; but this heart
Shall break into a hundred thousand flaws,
Or ere I'll weep. O fool, I shall go mad!

Exeunt KING LEAR, GLOUCESTER, KENT, and Fool
Storm and tempest

Let us withdraw; 'twill be a storm.

This house is little: the old man and his people
Cannot be well bestow'd.

'Tis his own blame; hath put himself from rest,
And must needs taste his folly.

For his particular, I'll receive him gladly,
But not one follower.

So am I purposed.
Where is my lord of Gloucester?

Follow'd the old man forth: he is return'd.

Re-enter GLOUCESTER

The king is in high rage.

Whither is he going?

He calls to horse; but will I know not whither.

'Tis best to give him way; he leads himself.

My lord, entreat him by no means to stay.

Alack, the night comes on, and the bleak winds
Do sorely ruffle; for many miles a bout
There's scarce a bush.

O, sir, to wilful men,
The injuries that they themselves procure
Must be their schoolmasters. Shut up your doors:
He is attended with a desperate train;
And what they may incense him to, being apt
To have his ear abused, wisdom bids fear.

Shut up your doors, my lord; 'tis a wild night:
My Regan counsels well; come out o' the storm.

Exeunt

第四场 葛罗斯特城堡前

    肯特系足枷中。李尔、弄人及侍臣上。

    李尔 真奇怪，他们不在家里，又不打发我的使者回去。

    侍臣 我听说他们在前一个晚上还不曾有走动的意思。

    肯特 祝福您，尊贵的主人！

    李尔 嘿！你把这样的羞辱作为消遣吗？

    肯特 不，陛下。

    弄人 哈哈！ 他吊着一副多么难受的袜带！缚马缚在头上，缚狗缚熊缚在脖子
上，缚猴子缚在腰上，缚人缚在腿上；一个人的腿儿太会活动了，就要叫他穿木袜
子。

    李尔 谁认错了人，把你锁在这儿？

    肯特 是那一对男女——您的女婿和女儿。

    李尔 不。

    肯特 是的。

    李尔 我说不。

    肯特 我说是的。

    李尔 不，不，他们不会干这样的事。

    肯特 他们干也干了。

    李尔 凭着朱庇特起誓，没有这样的事。

    肯特 凭着朱诺起誓，有这样的事。

    李尔 他们不敢做这样的事； 他们不能，也不会做这样的事；要是他们有意作
出这种重大的暴行来，那简直比杀人更不可恕了。赶快告诉我，你究竟犯了什么罪，
他们才会用这种刑罚来对待一个国王的使者。

    肯特 陛下， 我带了您的信到了他们家里，当我跪在地上把信交上去，还没有
立起身来的时候，又有一个使者汗流满面，气喘吁吁，急急忙忙地奔了进来，代他
的女主人高纳里尔向他们请安，随后把一封书信递上去，打断了我的公事；他们看
见她也有信来，就来不及理睬我，先读她的信；读罢了信，他们立刻召集仆从，上
马出发，叫我跟到这儿来，等候他们的答复；对待我十分冷淡。一到这儿，我又碰
见了那个使者，他也就是最近对您非常无礼的那个家伙，我知道他们对我这样冷淡，
都是因为他来了的缘故，一时激于气愤，不加考虑地向他动起武来；他看见我这样，
就高声发出懦怯的叫喊，惊动了全宅子的人。您的女婿女儿认为我犯了这样的罪，
应该把我羞辱一下，所以就把我枷起来了。

    弄人 冬天还没有过去，要是野雁尽往那个方向飞。

老父衣百结，

儿女不相识；

老父满囊金，

儿女尽孝心。

命运如娼妓，

贫贱遭遗弃。

    虽然这样说，你的女儿们还要孝敬你数不清的烦恼哩。

    李尔 啊！ 我这一肚子的气都涌上我的心头来了！你这一股无名的气恼，快给
我平下去吧！我这女儿呢？

    肯特 在里边，陛下；跟伯爵在一起。

    李尔 不要跟我；在这儿等着。（下。）

    侍臣 除了你刚才所说的以外，你没有犯其他的过失吗？

    肯特 没有。王上怎么不多带几个人来？

    弄人 你会发出这么一个问题，活该给人用足枷枷起来。

    肯特 为什么，傻瓜？

    弄人 你应该拜蚂蚁做老师， 让它教训你冬天是不能工作的。谁都长着眼睛，
除非瞎子，每个人都看得清自己该朝哪一边走；就算眼睛瞎了，二十个鼻子里也没
有一个鼻子嗅不出来他身上发霉的味道。一个大车轮滚下山坡的时候，你千万不要
抓住它，免得跟它一起滚下去，跌断了你的头颈；可是你要是看见它上山去，那么
让它拖着你一起上去吧。倘然有什么聪明人给你更好的教训，请你把这番话还我；
一个傻瓜的教训，只配让一个混蛋去遵从。

    他为了自己的利益，

向你屈节卑躬，

    天色一变就要告别，

留下你在雨中。

    聪明的人全都飞散，

只剩傻瓜一个；

    傻瓜逃走变成混蛋，

那混蛋不是我。

    肯特 傻瓜，你从什么地方学会这支歌儿？

    弄人 不是在足枷里，傻瓜。

    李尔偕葛罗斯特重上。

    李尔 拒绝跟我说话！ 他们有病！他们疲倦了，他们昨天晚上走路辛苦！都是
些鬼话，明明是要背叛我的意思。给我再去向他们要一个好一点的答复来。

    葛罗斯特 陛下， 您知道公爵的火性，他决定了怎样就是怎样，再也没有更改
的。

    李尔 报应哪！ 疫疠！死亡！祸乱！火性！什么火性？嘿，葛罗斯特，葛罗斯
特，我要跟康华尔公爵和他的妻子说话。

    葛罗斯特 呃，陛下，我已经对他们说过了。

    李尔 对他们说过了！你懂得我的意思吗？

    葛罗斯特 是，陛下。

    李尔 国王要跟康华尔说话； 亲爱的父亲要跟他的女儿说话，叫她出来见我：
你有没有这样告诉他们？我这口气，我这一腔血！哼，火性！火性子的公爵！对那
性如烈火的公爵说——不，且慢，也许他真的不大舒服；一个人为了疾病往往疏忽
了他原来健康时的责任，是应当加以原谅的；我们身体上有了病痛，精神上总是连
带觉得烦躁郁闷，那时候就不由我们自己作主了。我且忍耐一下，不要太卤莽了，
对一个有病的人作过分求全的责备。该死！（视肯特）为什么把他枷在这儿？这一
种举动使我相信公爵和她对我回避，完全是一种预定的计谋。把我的仆人放出来还
我。去，对公爵和他的妻子说，我现在立刻就要跟他们说话；叫他们赶快出来见我，
否则我要在他们的寝室门前擂起鼓来，搅得他们不能安睡。

    葛罗斯特 我但愿你们大家和和好好的。（下。）

    李尔 啊！我的心！我的怒气直冲的心！把怒气退下去吧！

    弄人 你向它吆喝吧， 老伯伯，就像厨娘把活鳗鱼放进面糊里的时候那样；她
拿起手里的棍子，在它们的头上敲了几下，喊道：“下去，坏东西，下去！”也就
像她的兄弟，为了爱他的马儿，替它在草料上涂了牛油。

    康华尔、里根、葛罗斯特及众仆上。

    李尔 你们两位早安！

    康华尔 祝福陛下！（众人释肯特。）

    里根 我很高兴看见陛下。

    李尔 里根， 我想你一定高兴看见我的；我知道我为什么要这样想；要是你不
高兴看见我，我就要跟你已故的母亲离婚，把她的坟墓当作一座淫妇的丘陇。（向
肯特）啊！你放出来了吗？等会儿再谈吧。亲爱的里根，你的姊姊太不孝啦。啊，
里根！她的无情的凶恶像饿鹰的利喙一样猛啄我的心。（以手按于心口）我简直不
能告诉你；你不会相信她忍心害理到什么地步——啊，里根！

    里根 父亲， 请您不要恼怒。我想她不会对您有失敬礼，恐怕还是您不能谅解
她的苦心哩。

    李尔 啊，这是什么意思？

    里根 我想我的姊姊决不会有什么地方不尽孝道； 要是，父亲，她约束了您那
班随从的放荡的行为，那当然有充分的理由和正大的目的，绝对不能怪她的。

    李尔 我的咒诅降在她的头上！

    里根 啊， 父亲！您年纪老了，已经快到了生命的尽头；应该让一个比您自己
更明白您的地位的人管教管教您；所以我劝您还是回到姊姊的地方去，对她赔一个
不是。

    李尔 请求她的饶恕吗？你看这样像不像个样子：“好女儿，我承认我年纪老，
不中用啦，让我跪在地上，（跪下）请求您赏给我几件衣服穿，赏给我一张床睡，
赏给我一些东西吃吧。”

    里根 父亲，别这样子；这算个什么，简直是胡闹！回到我姊姊那儿去吧。

    李尔（起立）再也不回去了，里根。她裁撤了我一半的侍从；不给我好脸看；
用她的毒蛇一样的舌头打击我的心。但愿上天蓄积的愤怒一起降在她的无情无义的
头上！但愿恶风吹打她的腹中的胎儿，让它生下地来就是个瘸子！

    康华尔 嘿！这是什么话！

    李尔 迅疾的闪电啊， 把你的眩目的火焰，射进她的傲慢的眼睛里去吧！在烈
日的熏灼下蒸发起来的沼地的瘴气啊，损坏她的美貌，毁灭她的骄傲吧！

    里根 天上的神明啊！您要是对我发起怒来，也会这样咒我的。

    李尔 不， 里根，你永远不会受我的咒诅；你的温柔的天性决不会使你干出冷
酷残忍的行为来。她的眼睛里有一股凶光，可是你的眼睛却是温存而和蔼的。你决
不会吝惜我的享受，裁撤我的侍从，用不逊之言向我顶嘴，削减我的费用，甚至于
把我关在门外不让我进来；你是懂得天伦的义务、儿女的责任、孝敬的礼貌和受恩
的感激的；你总还没有忘记我曾经赐给你一半的国土。

    里根 父亲，不要把话说远了。

    李尔 谁把我的人枷起来？（内喇叭奏花腔。）

    康华尔 那是什么喇叭声音？

    里根 我知道，是我的姊姊来了；她信上说就要到这儿来的。

    奥斯华德上。

    里根 夫人来了吗？

    李尔 这是一个靠着主妇暂时的恩宠、 狐假虎威、倚势凌人的奴才。滚开，贱
奴，不要让我看见你！

    康华尔 陛下，这是什么意思？

    李尔 谁把我的仆人枷起来？里根，我希望你并不知道这件事。谁来啦？

    高纳里尔上。

    李尔 天啊， 要是你爱老人，要是凭着你统治人间的仁爱，你认为子女应该孝
顺他们的父母，要是你自己也是老人，那么不要漠然无动于衷，降下你的愤怒来，
帮我伸雪我的怨恨吧！（向高纳里尔）你看见我这一把胡须，不觉得惭愧吗？啊里
根，你愿意跟她握手吗？

    高纳里尔 为什么她不能跟我握手呢！ 我干了什么错事？难道凭着一张糊涂昏
悖的嘴里的胡言乱语，就可以成立我的罪案吗？

    李尔 啊，我的胸膛！你还没有胀破吗？我的人怎么给你们枷了起来？

    康华尔 陛下，是我把他枷在那儿的；照他狂妄的行为，这样的惩戒还太轻呢。

    李尔 你！是你干的事吗？

    里根 父亲， 您该明白您是一个衰弱的老人，一切只好将就点儿。要是您现在
仍旧回去跟姊姊住在一起，裁撤了您的一半的侍从，那么等住满了一个月，再到我
这儿来吧。我现在不在自己家里，要供养您也有许多不便。

    李尔 回到她那儿去？ 裁撤五十名侍从！不，我宁愿什么屋子也不要住，过着
风餐露宿的生活，和无情的大自然抗争，和豺狼鸱鸮做伴侣，忍受一切饥寒的痛苦！
回去跟她住在一起？嘿，我宁愿到那娶了我的没有嫁奁的小女儿去的热情的法兰西
国王的座前匍匐膝行，像一个臣仆一样向他讨一份微薄的恩俸，苟延残喘下去。回
去跟她住在一起！你还是劝我在这可恶的仆人手下当奴才、当牛马吧。（指奥斯华
德。）

    高纳里尔 随你的便。

    李尔 女儿，请你不要使我发疯；我也不愿再来打扰你了，我的孩子。再会吧；
我们从此不再相见。可是你是我的肉、我的血、我的女儿；或者还不如说是我身体
上的一个恶瘤，我不能不承认你是我的；你是我的腐败的血液里的一个疖子、一个
瘀块、一个肿毒的疔疮。可是我不愿责骂你；让羞辱自己降临你的身上吧，我没有
呼召它；我不要求天雷把你殛死，我也不把你的忤逆向垂察善恶的天神控诉，你回
去仔细想一想，趁早痛改前非，还来得及。我可以忍耐；我可以带着我的一百个骑
士，跟里根住在一起。

    里根 那绝对不行； 现在还轮不到我，我也没有预备好招待您的礼数。父亲，
听我姊姊的话吧；人家冷眼看着您这种愤怒的神气，他们心里都要说您因为老了，
所以——可是姊姊是知道她自己该怎样做的。

    李尔 这是你的好意的劝告吗？

    里根 是的，父亲，这是我的真诚的意见。什么！五十个卫士？这不是很好吗？
再多一些有什么用处？就是这么许多人，数目也不少了，别说供养他们不起，而且
让他们成群结党，也是一件危险的事。一间屋子里养了这许多人，受着两个主人支
配，怎么不会发生争闹？简直不成话。

    高纳里尔 父亲，您为什么不让我们的仆人侍候您呢？

    里根 对了，父亲，那不是很好吗？要是他们怠慢了您，我们也可以训斥他们。
您下回到我这儿来的时候，请您只带二十五个人来，因为现在我已经看到了一个危
险；超过这个数目，我是恕不招待的。

    李尔 我把一切都给了你们——

    里根 您幸好及时给了我们。

    李尔 叫你们做我的代理人、 保管者，我的唯一的条件，只是让我保留这么多
的侍从。什么！我只能带二十五个人，到你这儿来吗？里根，你是不是这样说？

    里根 父亲，我可以再说一遍，我只允许您带这么几个人来。

    李尔 恶人的脸相虽然狰狞可怖， 要是与比他更恶的人相比，就会显得和蔼可
亲；不是绝顶的凶恶，总还有几分可取。（向高纳里尔）我愿意跟你去；你的五十
个人还比她的二十五个人多上一倍，你的孝心也比她大一倍。

    高纳里尔 父亲， 我们家里难道没有两倍这么多的仆人可以侍候您？依我说，
不但用不着二十五个人，就是十个五个也是多余的。

    里根 依我看来，一个也不需要。

    李尔 啊！ 不要跟我说什么需要不需要；最卑贱的乞丐，也有他的不值钱的身
外之物；人生除了天然的需要以外，要是没有其他的享受，那和畜类的生活有什么
分别。你是一位夫人；你穿着这样华丽的衣服，如果你的目的只是为了保持温暖，
那就根本不合你的需要，因为这种盛装艳饰并不能使你温暖。可是，讲到真的需要，
那么天啊，给我忍耐吧，我需要忍耐！神啊，你们看见我在这儿，一个可怜的老头
子，被忧伤和老迈折磨得好苦！假如是你们鼓动这两个女儿的心，使她们忤逆她们
的父亲，那么请你们不要尽是愚弄我，叫我默然忍受吧；让我的心里激起了刚强的
怒火，别让妇人所恃为武器的泪点玷污我的男子汉的面颊！不，你们这两个不孝的
妖妇，我要向你们复仇，我要做出一些使全世界惊怖的事情来，虽然我现在还不知
道我要怎么做。你们以为我将要哭泣；不，我不愿哭泣，我虽然有充分的哭泣的理
由，可是我宁愿让这颗心碎成万片，也不愿流下一滴泪来。啊，傻瓜！我要发疯了！
（李尔、葛罗斯特、肯特及弄人同下。）

    康华尔 我们进去吧；一场暴风雨将要来了。（远处暴风雨声。）

    里根 这座房屋太小了，这老头儿带着他那班人来是容纳不下的。

    高纳里尔 是他自己不好， 放着安逸的日子不过，一定要吃些苦，才知道自己
的蠢。

    里根 单是他一个人， 我倒也很愿意收留他，可是他的那班跟随的人，我可一
个也不能容纳。

    高纳里尔 我也是这个意思。葛罗斯特伯爵呢？

    康华尔 跟老头子出去了。他回来了。

    葛罗斯特重上。

    葛罗斯特 王上正在盛怒之中。

    康华尔 他要到哪儿去？

    葛罗斯特 他叫人备马；可是不让我知道他要到什么地方去。

    康华尔 还是不要管他，随他自己的意思吧。

    高纳里尔 伯爵，您千万不要留他。

    葛罗斯特 唉！ 天色暗起来了，田野里都在刮着狂风，附近许多哩之内，简直
连一株小小的树木都没有。

    里根 啊！ 伯爵，对于刚愎自用的人，只好让他们自己招致的灾祸教训他们。
关上您的门；他有一班亡命之徒跟随在身边，他自己又是这样容易受人愚弄，谁也
不知道他们会煽动他干出些什么事来。我们还是小心点儿好。

    康华尔 关上您的门， 伯爵；这是一个狂暴的晚上。我的里根说得一点不错。
暴风雨来了，我们进去吧。（同下。）

Storm still. Enter KENT and a Gentleman, meeting

Who's there, besides foul weather?

One minded like the weather, most unquietly.

I know you. Where's the king?

Contending with the fretful element:
Bids the winds blow the earth into the sea,
Or swell the curled water 'bove the main,
That things might change or cease; tears his white hair,
Which the impetuous blasts, with eyeless rage,
Catch in their fury, and make nothing of;
Strives in his little world of man to out-scorn
The to-and-fro-conflicting wind and rain.
This night, wherein the cub-drawn bear would couch,
The lion and the belly-pinched wolf
Keep their fur dry, unbonneted he runs,
And bids what will take all.

But who is with him?

None but the fool; who labours to out-jest
His heart-struck injuries.

Sir, I do know you;
And dare, upon the warrant of my note,
Commend a dear thing to you. There is division,
Although as yet the face of it be cover'd
With mutual cunning, 'twixt Albany and Cornwall;
Who have--as who have not, that their great stars
Throned and set high?--servants, who seem no less,
Which are to France the spies and speculations
Intelligent of our state; what hath been seen,
Either in snuffs and packings of the dukes,
Or the hard rein which both of them have borne
Against the old kind king; or something deeper,
Whereof perchance these are but furnishings;
But, true it is, from France there comes a power
Into this scatter'd kingdom; who already,
Wise in our negligence, have secret feet
In some of our best ports, and are at point
To show their open banner. Now to you:
If on my credit you dare build so far
To make your speed to Dover, you shall find
Some that will thank you, making just report
Of how unnatural and bemadding sorrow
The king hath cause to plain.
I am a gentleman of blood and breeding;
And, from some knowledge and assurance, offer
This office to you.

I will talk further with you.

No, do not.
For confirmation that I am much more
Than my out-wall, open this purse, and take
What it contains. If you shall see Cordelia,--
As fear not but you shall,--show her this ring;
And she will tell you who your fellow is
That yet you do not know. Fie on this storm!
I will go seek the king.

Give me your hand: have you no more to say?

Few words, but, to effect, more than all yet;
That, when we have found the king,--in which your pain
That way, I'll this,--he that first lights on him
Holla the other.

Exeunt severally

第三幕

    第一场 荒野

    暴风雨，雷电。肯特及一侍臣上，相遇。

    肯特 除了恶劣的天气以外，还有谁在这儿？

    侍臣 一个心绪像这天气一样不安静的人。

    肯特 我认识你。王上呢？

    侍臣 正在跟暴怒的大自然竞争； 他叫狂风把大地吹下海里，叫泛滥的波涛吞
没了陆地，使万物都变了样子或归于毁灭；拉下他的一根根的白发，让挟着盲目的
愤怒的暴风把它们卷得不知去向；在他渺小的一身之内，正在进行着一场比暴风雨
的冲突更剧烈的斗争。这样的晚上，被小熊吸干了乳汁的母熊，也躲着不敢出来，
狮子和饿狼都不愿沾湿它们的毛皮。他却光秃着头在风雨中狂奔，把一切付托给不
可知的力量。

    肯特 可是谁和他在一起？

    侍臣 只有那傻瓜一路跟着他，竭力用些笑话替他排解他的中心的伤痛。

    肯特 我知道你是什么人， 我敢凭着我的观察所及，告诉你一件重要的消息。
在奥本尼和康华尔两人之间，虽然表面上彼此掩饰得毫无痕迹，可是暗中却已经发
生了冲突；正像一般身居高位的人一样，在他们手下都有一些名为仆人、实际上却
是向法国密报我们国内情形的探子，凡是这两个公爵的明争暗斗，他们两人对于善
良的老王的冷酷的待遇，以及在这种种表象底下，其他更秘密的一切动静，全都传
到了法国的耳中；现在已经有一支军队从法国开到我们这一个分裂的国土上来，乘
着我们疏忽无备，在我们几处最好的港口秘密登陆，不久就要揭开他们鲜明的旗帜
了。现在，你要是能够信任我的话，请你赶快到多佛去一趟，那边你可以碰见有人
在欢迎你，你可以把被逼疯了的王上所受种种无理的屈辱向他作一个确实的报告，
他一定会感激你的好意。我是一个有地位有身价的绅士，因为知道你的为人可靠，
所以把这件差使交给你。

    侍臣 我还要跟您谈谈。

    肯特 不， 不必。为了向你证明我并不是像我的外表那样的一个微贱之人，你
可以打开这一个钱囊，把里面的东西拿去。你一到多佛，一定可以见到考狄利娅；
只要把这戒指给她看了，她就可以告诉你，你现在所不认识的同伴是个什么人。好
可恶的暴风雨！我要找王上去。

    侍臣 把您的手给我。您没有别的话了吗？

    肯特 还有一句话， 可比什么都重要；就是：我们现在先去找王上；你往那边
去，我往这边去，谁先找到他，就打一个招呼。（各下。）

Enter KING LEAR and Fool

Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! rage! blow!
You cataracts and hurricanoes, spout
Till you have drench'd our steeples, drown'd the cocks!
You sulphurous and thought-executing fires,
Vaunt-couriers to oak-cleaving thunderbolts,
Singe my white head! And thou, all-shaking thunder,
Smite flat the thick rotundity o' the world!
Crack nature's moulds, an germens spill at once,
That make ingrateful man!

O nuncle, court holy-water in a dry
house is better than this rain-water out o' door.
Good nuncle, in, and ask thy daughters' blessing:
here's a night pities neither wise man nor fool.

Rumble thy bellyful! Spit, fire! spout, rain!
Nor rain, wind, thunder, fire, are my daughters:
I tax not you, you elements, with unkindness;
I never gave you kingdom, call'd you children,
You owe me no subscription: then let fall
Your horrible pleasure: here I stand, your slave,
A poor, infirm, weak, and despised old man:
But yet I call you servile ministers,
That have with two pernicious daughters join'd
Your high engender'd battles 'gainst a head
So old and white as this. O! O! 'tis foul!

He that has a house to put's head in has a good
head-piece.
The cod-piece that will house
Before the head has any,
The head and he shall louse;
So beggars marry many.
The man that makes his toe
What he his heart should make
Shall of a corn cry woe,
And turn his sleep to wake.
For there was never yet fair woman but she made
mouths in a glass.

No, I will be the pattern of all patience;
I will say nothing.

Enter KENT

Who's there?

Marry, here's grace and a cod-piece; that's a wise
man and a fool.

Alas, sir, are you here? things that love night
Love not such nights as these; the wrathful skies
Gallow the very wanderers of the dark,
And make them keep their caves: since I was man,
Such sheets of fire, such bursts of horrid thunder,
Such groans of roaring wind and rain, I never
Remember to have heard: man's nature cannot carry
The affliction nor the fear.

Let the great gods,
That keep this dreadful pother o'er our heads,
Find out their enemies now. Tremble, thou wretch,
That hast within thee undivulged crimes,
Unwhipp'd of justice: hide thee, thou bloody hand;
Thou perjured, and thou simular man of virtue
That art incestuous: caitiff, to pieces shake,
That under covert and convenient seeming
Hast practised on man's life: close pent-up guilts,
Rive your concealing continents, and cry
These dreadful summoners grace. I am a man
More sinn'd against than sinning.

Alack, bare-headed!
Gracious my lord, hard by here is a hovel;
Some friendship will it lend you 'gainst the tempest:
Repose you there; while I to this hard house--
More harder than the stones whereof 'tis raised;
Which even but now, demanding after you,
Denied me to come in--return, and force
Their scanted courtesy.

My wits begin to turn.
Come on, my boy: how dost, my boy? art cold?
I am cold myself. Where is this straw, my fellow?
The art of our necessities is strange,
That can make vile things precious. Come,
your hovel.
Poor fool and knave, I have one part in my heart
That's sorry yet for thee.

[Singing]
He that has and a little tiny wit--
With hey, ho, the wind and the rain,--
Must make content with his fortunes fit,
For the rain it raineth every day.

True, my good boy. Come, bring us to this hovel.

Exeunt KING LEAR and KENT

This is a brave night to cool a courtezan.
I'll speak a prophecy ere I go:
When priests are more in word than matter;
When brewers mar their malt with water;
When nobles are their tailors' tutors;
No heretics burn'd, but wenches' suitors;
When every case in law is right;
No squire in debt, nor no poor knight;
When slanders do not live in tongues;
Nor cutpurses come not to throngs;
When usurers tell their gold i' the field;
And bawds and whores do churches build;
Then shall the realm of Albion
Come to great confusion:
Then comes the time, who lives to see't,
That going shall be used with feet.
This prophecy Merlin shall make; for I live before his time.

Exit

第二场 荒野的另一部分

暴风雨继续未止。李尔至弄人上。

    李尔 吹吧，风啊！胀破了你的脸颊，猛烈地吹吧！你，瀑布一样的倾盆大雨，
尽管倒泻下来，浸没了我们的尖塔，淹沉了屋顶上的风标吧！你，思想一样迅速的
硫磺的电火，劈碎橡树的巨雷的先驱，烧焦了我的白发的头颅吧！你，震撼一切的
霹雳啊，把这生殖繁密的、饱满的地球击平了吧！打碎造物的模型，不要让一颗忘
恩负义的人类的种子遗留在世上！

    弄人 啊， 老伯伯，在一间千燥的屋子里说几句好话，不比在这没有遮蔽的旷
野里淋雨好得多吗？老伯伯，回到那所房子里去，向你的女儿们请求祝福吧；这样
的夜无论对于聪明人或是傻瓜，都是不发一点慈悲的。

    李尔 尽管轰着吧！ 尽管吐你的火舌，尽管喷你的雨水吧！雨、风、雷、电，
都不是我的女儿，我不责怪你们的无情；我不曾给你们国土，不曾称你们为我的孩
子，你们没有顺从我的义务；所以，随你们的高兴，降下你们可怕的威力来吧，我
站在这儿，只是你们的奴隶，一个可怜的、衰弱的、无力的、遭人贱视的老头子。
可是我仍然要骂你们是卑劣的帮凶，因为你们滥用上天的威力，帮同两个万恶的女
儿来跟我这个白发的老翁作对。啊！啊！这太卑劣了！

    弄人 谁头上顶着个好头脑，就不愁没有屋顶来遮他的头。

    脑袋还没找到屋子，

话儿倒先有安乐窝；

    脑袋和他都生虱子，

就这么叫化娶老婆。

    有人只爱他的脚尖，

不把心儿放在心上；

    那鸡眼使他真可怜，

在床上翻身又叫嚷。

    从来没有一个美女不是对着镜子做她的鬼脸。

    肯特上。

    李尔 不，我要忍受众人所不能忍受的痛苦；我要闭口无言。

    肯特 谁在那边？

    弄人 一个是陛下，一个是弄人；这两人一个聪明一个傻。

    肯特 唉！ 陛下，你在这儿吗？喜爱黑夜的东西，不会喜爱这样的黑夜；狂怒
的天色吓怕了黑暗中的漫游者，使它们躲在洞里不敢出来。自从有生以来，我从没
有看见过这样的闪电，听见过这样可怕的雷声，这样惊人的风雨的咆哮；人类的精
神是禁受不起这样的磨折和恐怖的。

    李尔 伟大的神灵在我们头顶掀起这场可怕的骚动。 让他们现在找到他们的敌
人吧。战栗吧，你尚未被人发觉、逍遥法外的罪人！躲起来吧，你杀人的凶手，你
用伪誓欺人的骗子，你道貌岸然的逆伦禽兽！魂飞魄散吧，你用正直的外表遮掩杀
人阴谋的大奸巨恶！撕下你们包藏祸心的伪装，显露你们罪恶的原形，向这些可怕
的天吏哀号乞命吧！我是个并没有犯多大的罪、却受了很大的冤屈的人。

    肯特 唉！ 您头上没有一点遮盖的东西！陛下，这儿附近有一间茅屋，可以替
您挡挡风雨。我刚才曾经到那所冷酷的屋子里——那比它墙上的石块更冷酷无情的
屋子——探问您的行踪，可是他们关上了门不让我进去；现在您且暂时躲一躲雨，
我还要回去，非要他们讲一点人情不可。

    李尔 我的头脑开始昏乱起来了。 来，我的孩子。你怎么啦，我的孩子？你冷
吗？我自己也冷呢。我的朋友，这间茅屋在什么地方？一个人到了困穷无告的时候，
微贱的东西竟也会变成无价之宝。来，带我到你那间茅屋里去。可怜的傻小子，我
心里还留着一块地方为你悲伤哩。

    弄人

    只怪自己糊涂自己蠢，

嗨呵，一阵风来一阵雨，

    背时倒运莫把天公恨，

管它朝朝雨雨又风风。

    李尔 不错，我的好孩子。来，领我们到这茅屋里去。（李尔、肯特下。）

    弄人 今天晚上可太凉快了， 叫婊子都热不起劲儿来。待我在临走之前，讲几
句预言吧：

    传道的嘴上一味说得好；

    酿酒的酒里掺水真不少；

    有钱的大爷教裁缝做活；

    不烧异教徒；嫖客害流火④；

    若是件件官司都问得清；

    跟班不欠钱，骑士债还清；

    世上的是非不出自嘴里；

    扒儿手看见人堆就躲避；

    放债的肯让金银露了眼；

    老鸨和婊子把教堂修建；

    到那时候，英国这个国家，

    准会乱得无法收拾一下；

    那时活着的都可以看到：

    那走路的把脚步抬得高。

    其实这番预言该让梅林⑤在将来说，因为我出生在他之前。（下。）

Enter GLOUCESTER and EDMUND

Alack, alack, Edmund, I like not this unnatural
dealing. When I desire their leave that I might
pity him, they took from me the use of mine own
house; charged me, on pain of their perpetual
displeasure, neither to speak of him, entreat for
him, nor any way sustain him.

Most savage and unnatural!

Go to; say you nothing. There's a division betwixt
the dukes; and a worse matter than that: I have
received a letter this night; 'tis dangerous to be
spoken; I have locked the letter in my closet:
these injuries the king now bears will be revenged
home; there's part of a power already footed: we
must incline to the king. I will seek him, and
privily relieve him: go you and maintain talk with
the duke, that my charity be not of him perceived:
if he ask for me. I am ill, and gone to bed.
Though I die for it, as no less is threatened me,
the king my old master must be relieved. There is
some strange thing toward, Edmund; pray you, be careful.

Exit

This courtesy, forbid thee, shall the duke
Instantly know; and of that letter too:
This seems a fair deserving, and must draw me
That which my father loses; no less than all:
The younger rises when the old doth fall.

Exit

第三场 葛罗斯特城堡中的一室

    葛罗斯特及爱德蒙上。

    葛罗斯特 唉， 唉！爱德蒙，我不赞成这种不近人情的行为。当我请求他们允
许我给他一点援助的时候，他们竟会剥夺我使用自己的房屋的权利，不许我提起他
的名字，不许我替他说一句恳求的话，也不许我给他任何的救济，要是违背了他们
的命令，我就要永远失去他们的欢心。

    爱德蒙 太野蛮、太不近人情了！

    葛罗斯特 算了， 你不要多说什么。两个公爵现在已经有了意见，而且还有一
件比这更严重的事情。今天晚上我接到一封信，里面的话说出来也是很危险的；我
已经把这信锁在壁橱里了。王上受到这样的凌虐，总有人会来替他报复的；已经有
一支军队在路上了；我们必须站在王上的一边。我就要找他去，暗地里救济救济他；
你去陪公爵谈谈，免得被他觉察了我的行动。要是他问起我，你就回他说我身子不
好，已经睡了。大不了是一个死——他们的确拿死来威吓——王上是我的老主人，
我不能坐视不救。 出人意料之外的事情快要发生了， 爱德蒙，你必须小心点儿。
（下。）

    爱德蒙 你违背了命令去献这种殷勤， 我立刻就要去告诉公爵知道；还有那封
信我也要告诉他。这是我献功邀赏的好机会，我的父亲将要因此而丧失他所有的一
切，也许他的全部家产都要落到我的手里；老的一代没落了，年轻的一代才会兴起。
（下。）

Enter KING LEAR, KENT, and Fool

Here is the place, my lord; good my lord, enter:
The tyranny of the open night's too rough
For nature to endure.

Storm still

Let me alone.

Good my lord, enter here.

Wilt break my heart?

I had rather break mine own. Good my lord, enter.

Thou think'st 'tis much that this contentious storm
Invades us to the skin: so 'tis to thee;
But where the greater malady is fix'd,
The lesser is scarce felt. Thou'ldst shun a bear;
But if thy flight lay toward the raging sea,
Thou'ldst meet the bear i' the mouth. When the
mind's free,
The body's delicate: the tempest in my mind
Doth from my senses take all feeling else
Save what beats there. Filial ingratitude!
Is it not as this mouth should tear this hand
For lifting food to't? But I will punish home:
No, I will weep no more. In such a night
To shut me out! Pour on; I will endure.
In such a night as this! O Regan, Goneril!
Your old kind father, whose frank heart gave all,--
O, that way madness lies; let me shun that;
No more of that.

Good my lord, enter here.

Prithee, go in thyself: seek thine own ease:
This tempest will not give me leave to ponder
On things would hurt me more. But I'll go in.

To the FoolIn, boy; go first. You houseless poverty,--
Nay, get thee in. I'll pray, and then I'll sleep.

Fool goes inPoor naked wretches, whereso'er you are,
That bide the pelting of this pitiless storm,
How shall your houseless heads and unfed sides,
Your loop'd and window'd raggedness, defend you
From seasons such as these? O, I have ta'en
Too little care of this! Take physic, pomp;
Expose thyself to feel what wretches feel,
That thou mayst shake the superflux to them,
And show the heavens more just.

[Within] Fathom and half, fathom and half! Poor Tom!

The Fool runs out from the hovel

Come not in here, nuncle, here's a spirit
Help me, help me!

Give me thy hand. Who's there?

A spirit, a spirit: he says his name's poor Tom.

What art thou that dost grumble there i' the straw?
Come forth.

Enter EDGAR disguised as a mad man

Away! the foul fiend follows me!
Through the sharp hawthorn blows the cold wind.
Hum! go to thy cold bed, and warm thee.

Hast thou given all to thy two daughters?
And art thou come to this?

Who gives any thing to poor Tom? whom the foul
fiend hath led through fire and through flame, and
through ford and whirlipool e'er bog and quagmire;
that hath laid knives under his pillow, and halters
in his pew; set ratsbane by his porridge; made film
proud of heart, to ride on a bay trotting-horse over
four-inched bridges, to course his own shadow for a
traitor. Bless thy five wits! Tom's a-cold,--O, do
de, do de, do de. Bless thee from whirlwinds,
star-blasting, and taking! Do poor Tom some
charity, whom the foul fiend vexes: there could I
have him now,--and there,--and there again, and there.

Storm still

What, have his daughters brought him to this pass?
Couldst thou save nothing? Didst thou give them all?

Nay, he reserved a blanket, else we had been all shamed.

Now, all the plagues that in the pendulous air
Hang fated o'er men's faults light on thy daughters!

He hath no daughters, sir.

Death, traitor! nothing could have subdued nature
To such a lowness but his unkind daughters.
Is it the fashion, that discarded fathers
Should have thus little mercy on their flesh?
Judicious punishment! 'twas this flesh begot
Those pelican daughters.

Pillicock sat on Pillicock-hill:
Halloo, halloo, loo, loo!

This cold night will turn us all to fools and madmen.

Take heed o' the foul fiend: obey thy parents;
keep thy word justly; swear not; commit not with
man's sworn spouse; set not thy sweet heart on proud
array. Tom's a-cold.

What hast thou been?

A serving-man, proud in heart and mind; that curled
my hair; wore gloves in my cap; served the lust of
my mistress' heart, and did the act of darkness with
her; swore as many oaths as I spake words, and
broke them in the sweet face of heaven: one that
slept in the contriving of lust, and waked to do it:
wine loved I deeply, dice dearly: and in woman
out-paramoured the Turk: false of heart, light of
ear, bloody of hand; hog in sloth, fox in stealth,
wolf in greediness, dog in madness, lion in prey.
Let not the creaking of shoes nor the rustling of
silks betray thy poor heart to woman: keep thy foot
out of brothels, thy hand out of plackets, thy pen
from lenders' books, and defy the foul fiend.
Still through the hawthorn blows the cold wind:
Says suum, mun, ha, no, nonny.
Dolphin my boy, my boy, sessa! let him trot by.

Storm still

Why, thou wert better in thy grave than to answer
with thy uncovered body this extremity of the skies.
Is man no more than this? Consider him well. Thou
owest the worm no silk, the beast no hide, the sheep
no wool, the cat no perfume. Ha! here's three on
's are sophisticated! Thou art the thing itself:
unaccommodated man is no more but such a poor bare,
forked animal as thou art. Off, off, you lendings!
come unbutton here.

Tearing off his clothes

Prithee, nuncle, be contented; 'tis a naughty night
to swim in. Now a little fire in a wild field were
like an old lecher's heart; a small spark, all the
rest on's body cold. Look, here comes a walking fire.

Enter GLOUCESTER, with a torch

This is the foul fiend Flibbertigibbet: he begins
at curfew, and walks till the first cock; he gives
the web and the pin, squints the eye, and makes the
hare-lip; mildews the white wheat, and hurts the
poor creature of earth.
S. Withold footed thrice the old;
He met the night-mare, and her nine-fold;
Bid her alight,
And her troth plight,
And, aroint thee, witch, aroint thee!

How fares your grace?

What's he?

Who's there? What is't you seek?

What are you there? Your names?

Poor Tom; that eats the swimming frog, the toad,
the tadpole, the wall-newt and the water; that in
the fury of his heart, when the foul fiend rages,
eats cow-dung for sallets; swallows the old rat and
the ditch-dog; drinks the green mantle of the
standing pool; who is whipped from tithing to
tithing, and stock- punished, and imprisoned; who
hath had three suits to his back, six shirts to his
body, horse to ride, and weapon to wear;
But mice and rats, and such small deer,
Have been Tom's food for seven long year.
Beware my follower. Peace, Smulkin; peace, thou fiend!