作者：(英)莎士比亚
出版社：云南人民出版社
格式: AZW3, DOCX, EPUB, MOBI, PDF, TXT
李尔王试读：
ACT Ⅰ第一幕
SCENEⅠ
King Lear's palace.
Enter KENT, GLOUCESTER, and EDMUND
KENTI thought the king had more affected the Duke of Albany than Cornwall.
GLOUCESTER 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.
KENT Is not this your son, my lord?
GLOUCESTER His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge：I have so often blushed to acknowledge him, that now I am brazed to it.
KENT I cannot conceive you.
GLOUCESTER 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?
KENT I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it being so proper.
GLOUCESTER 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?
EDMUND No, my lord.
GLOUCESTER My lord of Kent：remember him hereafter as my honourable friend.
EDMUND My services to your lordship.
KENT I must love you, and sue to know you better.
EDMUND Sir, I shall study deserving.
GLOUCESTER 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
KING LEAR Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester.
GLOUCESTER I shall, my liege.
Exeunt GLOUCESTER and EDMUND
KING LEAR 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 Unburden'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 frst.
GONERIL 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.
CORDELIA[Aside]What shall Cordelia do?Love, and be silent.
LEAR 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.
REGAN Sir, I am made Of the self-same metal that my sister is, And prize me at her worth. In my true heart I fnd 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 fnd I am alone felicitate In your dear highness'love.
CORDELIA[Aside]Then poor Cordelia！And yet not so；since, I am sure, my love's More richer than my tongue.
KING LEAR 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.
CORDELIA Nothing, my lord.
KING LEAR Nothing！
CORDELIA Nothing.
KING LEAR Nothing will come of nothing：speak again.
CORDELIA Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave My heart into my mouth：I love your majesty According to my bond；nor more nor less.
KING LEAR How, how, Cordelia！mend your speech a little, Lest it may mar your fortunes.
CORDELIA Good my lord, You have begot me, bred me, loved me：I Return those duties back as are right ft, 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.
KING LEAR But goes thy heart with this?
CORDELIA Ay, good my lord.
KING LEAR So young, and so untender?
CORDELIA So young, my lord, and true.
KING LEAR 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.
KENT Good my liege，——
KING LEAR 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 confrm, This coronet part betwixt you.
Giving the crown
KENT 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，——
KING LEAR The bow is bent and drawn, make from the shaft.
KENT 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 fattery 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.KING LEAR Kent, on thy life, no more.
KENT My life I never held but as a pawn To wage against thy enemies；nor fear to lose it, Thy safety being the motive.
KING LEAR Out of my sight！
KENT See better, Lear；and let me still remain The true blank of thine eye.
KING LEAR Now, by Apollo，——
KENT Now, by Apollo, king, Thou swear'st thy gods in vain.
KING LEAR O, vassal！miscreant！
Laying his hand on his sword
ALBANY Dear sir, forbear.
CORNWALL Dear sir, forbear.
KENT 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.
KING LEAR 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.
KENT Fare thee well, king：sith thus thou wilt appear, Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here.
To CORDELIA
The gods to their dear shelter take thee, maid, That justly think'st, and hast most rightly said！
To REGAN and GONERIL
And 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
GLOUCESTER Here's France and Burgundy, my noble lord.
KING LEAR My lord of Burgundy. We frst 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?
BURGUNDY Most royal majesty, I crave no more than what your highness offer'd, Nor will you tender less.
KING LEAR 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 ftly like your grace, She's there, and she is yours.
BURGUNDY I know no answer.
KING LEAR Will you, with those infrmities she owes, Unfriended, new-adopted to our hate, Dower'd with our curse, and stranger'd with our oath, Take her, or leave her?
BURGUNDY Pardon me, royal sir；Election makes not up on such conditions.
KING LEAR Then leave her, sir；for, by the power that made me, I tell you all her wealth.
To KING OF FRANCE
For 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.
KING OF FRANCE 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.
CORDELIA 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.
KING LEAR Better thou Hadst not been born than not to have pleased me better.
KING OF FRANCE 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.
BURGUNDY Royal Lear, Give but that portion which yourself proposed, And here I take Cordelia by the hand, Duchess of Burgundy.
KING LEAR Nothing：I have sworn；I am frm.
BURGUNDY I am sorry, then, you have so lost a father That you must lose a husband.
CORDELIA Peace be with Burgundy！Since that respects of fortune are his love, I shall not be his wife.
KING OF FRANCE 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 infamed 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 fnd.
KING LEAR 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
KING OF FRANCE Bid farewell to your sisters.
CORDELIA 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.
REGAN Prescribe not us our duties.
GONERIL 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.
CORDELIA Time shall unfold what plaited cunning hides：Who cover faults, at last shame them derides. Well may you prosper！
KING OF FRANCE Come, my fair Cordelia.
Exeunt KING OF FRANCE and CORDELIA
GONERIL 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.
REGAN That's most certain, and with you；next month with us.
GONERIL 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.
REGAN'Tis the infirmity of his age：yet he hath ever but slenderly known himself.
GONERIL 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 infrm and choleric years bring with them.
REGAN Such unconstant starts are we like to have from him as this of Kent's banishment.
GONERIL 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.
REGAN We shall further think on't.
GONERIL We must do something, and i'the heat.
Exeunt
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，可是现在习惯了，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妆当众分配清楚。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妆吧。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妆，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。（递皇冠。）
肯特 尊严的李尔，我一向敬重您像敬重我的君王，爱您像爱我的父亲，跟随您像跟随我的主人，在我的祈祷之中，我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，收回这种鲁莽灭裂的成命。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 陛下息怒。
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，诅咒是她的嫁妆，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；凭着赋予我生命的神明起誓，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？爱情里面要是掺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妆。
勃艮第 尊严的李尔，只要把您原来已经允许过的那一份嫁妆给我，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，您的没有嫁妆的女儿被抛在一边，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。）
SCENEⅡ
The Earl of Gloucester's castle.
Enter EDMUND, with a letter
EDMUND 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 ferce 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：fne 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
GLOUCESTER Kent banish'd thus！and France in choler parted！And the king gone to-night！subscribed his power！Confned to exhibition！All this done Upon the gad！Edmund, how now！what news?
EDMUND So please your lordship, none. Putting up the letter
GLOUCESTER Why so earnestly seek you to put up that letter?
EDMUND I know no news, my lord.
GLOUCESTER What paper were you reading?
EDMUND Nothing, my lord.
GLOUCESTER 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.
EDMUND 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 fnd it not ft for your o'er-looking.
GLOUCESTER Give me the letter, sir.
EDMUND I shall offend, either to detain or give it. The contents, as in part I understand them, are to blame.
GLOUCESTER Let's see, let's see.
EDMUND I hope, for my brother's justifcation, he wrote this but as an essay or taste of my virtue.
GLOUCESTER[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?
EDMUND It was not brought me, my lord；there's the cunning of it；I found it thrown in at the casement of my closet.
GLOUCESTER You know the character to be your brother's?
EDMUND If the matter were good, my lord, I durst swear it were his；but, in respect of that, I would ain think it were not.
GLOUCESTER It is his.
EDMUND It is his hand, my lord；but I hope his heart is not in the contents.
GLOUCESTER Hath he never heretofore sounded you in this business?
EDMUND 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.
GLOUCESTER 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?
EDMUND 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.
GLOUCESTER Think you so?
EDMUND 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.
GLOUCESTER He cannot be such a monster——
EDMUND Nor is not, sure.
GLOUCESTER 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.
EDMUND I will seek him, sir, presently：convey the business as I shall fnd means and acquaint you withal.
GLOUCESTER 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 fnds 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
EDMUND 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 EDGAR
EDMUND And 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.
EDGAR How now, brother Edmund！what serious contemplation are you in?
EDMUND I am thinking, brother, of a prediction I read this other day, what should follow these eclipses.
EDGAR Do you busy yourself about that?
EDMUND 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.
EDGAR How long have you been a sectary astronomical?
EDMUND Come, come；when saw you my father last?
EDGAR Why, the night gone by.
EDMUND Spake you with him?
EDGAR Ay, two hours together.
EDMUND Parted you in good terms?Found you no displeasure in him by word or countenance?
EDGAR None at all.
EDMUND 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.
EDGAR Some villain hath done me wrong.
EDMUND 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 ftly bring you to hear my lord speak：pray ye, go；there's my key：if you do stir abroad, go armed.
EDGAR Armed, brother！
EDMUND 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.
EDGAR Shall I hear from you anon?
EDMUND I do serve you in this business.
Exit EDGAR
A 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 ft.
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，最好暂时忍一忍您的怒气；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 最近这一些日食月食果然不是好兆；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！这些日食月食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，说是在这些日食月食之后，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诅咒、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好；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。既然凭我的身份，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。）
SCENEⅢ
The Duke of Albany's palace.
Enter GONERIL, and OSWALD, her steward
GONERIL Did my father strike my gentleman for chiding of his fool?
OSWALD Yes, madam.
GONERIL By day and night he wrongs me；every hour He fashes 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 trife. 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.
OSWALD He's coming, madam；I hear him.
Horns within
GONERIL 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 fatteries，——when they are seen abused.Remember what I tell you.
OSWALD Well, madam.
GONERIL 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。）
SCENEⅣ
A hall in the same.
Enter KENT, disguised
KENT 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 lov'st, Shall fnd thee full of labours.
Horns within. Enter KING LEAR, Knights, and Attendants
KING LEAR Let me not stay a jot for dinner；go get it ready.
Exit an Attendant
How now！what art thou?
KENT A man, sir.
KING LEAR What dost thou profess?what wouldst thou with us?
KENT 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 fght when I cannot choose；and to eat no fsh.
KING LEAR What art thou?
KENT A very honest-hearted fellow, and as poor as the king.
KING LEAR If thou be as poor for a subject as he is for a king, thou art poor enough. What wouldst thou?
KENT Service.
KING LEAR Who wouldst thou serve?
KENT You.
KING LEAR Dost thou know me, fellow?
KENT No, sir；but you have that in your countenance which I would fain call master.
KING LEAR What's that?
KENT Authority.
KING LEAR What services canst thou do?
KENT 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 qualifed in；and the best of me is diligence.
KING LEAR How old art thou?
KENT 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.
KING LEAR 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 OSWALD
KING LEAR You, you, sirrah, where's my daughter?
OSWALD So please you，——
Exit
KING LEAR What says the fellow there?Call the clotpoll back.
Exit a Knight
Where's my fool, ho?I think the world's asleep.
Re-enter Knight
How now！where's that mongrel?
Knight He says, my lord, your daughter is not well.
KING LEAR Why came not the slave back to me when I called him.
Knight Sir, he answered me in the roundest manner, he would not.
KING LEAR He would not！
Knight 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.
KING LEAR Ha！sayest thou so?
Knight I beseech you, pardon me, my lord, if I be mistaken；for my duty cannot be silent when I think your highness wronged.
KING LEAR 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.
Knight Since my young lady's going into France, sir, the fool hath much pined away.
KING LEAR No more of that；I have noted it well. Go you, and tell my daughter I would speak with her.
Exit an Attendant
Go you, call hither my fool.
Exit an Attendant
Re-enter OSWALD
KING LEAR O, you sir, you, come you hither, sir：who am I, sir?
OSWALD My lady's father.
KING LEAR'My lady's father'！my lord's knave：your whoreson dog！you slave！you cur！
OSWALD I am none of these, my lord；I beseech your pardon.
KING LEAR Do you bandy looks with me, you rascal?
Striking him
OSWALD I'll not be struck, my lord.
KENT Nor tripped neither, you base football player.
Tripping up his heels
KING LEAR I thank thee, fellow；thou servest me, and I'll love thee.
KENT 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
KING LEAR Now, my friendly knave, I thank thee：there's earnest of thy service.
Giving KENT money
Enter Fool
Fool Let me hire him too：here's my coxcomb.
Offering KENT his cap
KING LEAR How now, my pretty knave！how dost thou?
Fool Sirrah, you were best take my coxcomb.
KENT Why, fool?
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！
KING LEAR Why, my boy?
Fool If I gave them all my living, I'ld keep my coxcombs myself. There's mine；beg another of thy daughters.
KING LEAR Take heed, sirrah；the whip.
Fool Truth's a dog must to kennel；he must be whipped out, when Lady the brach may stand by the fre and stink.
KING LEAR A pestilent gall to me！
Fool[TO KENT]Sirrah, I'll teach thee a speech.
KING LEAR Do.
Fool 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.
KENT This is nothing, fool.
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?
KING LEAR Why, no, boy；nothing can be made out of nothing.
Fool[To KENT]Prithee, tell him, so much the rent of his land comes to：he will not believe a fool.
KING LEAR A bitter fool！
Fool Dost thou know the difference, my boy, between a bitter fool and a sweet fool?
KING LEAR No, lad；teach me.Fool 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.
KING LEAR Dost thou call me fool, boy?
Fool All thy other titles thou hast given away；that thou wast born with.
KENTT his is not altogether fool, my lord.
Fool 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.
KING LEAR What two crowns shall they be?
Fool 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 frst fnds it so.
Singing
Fools 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.
KING LEAR When were you wont to be so full of songs, sirrah?
Fool 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，
Singing
Then they for sudden joy did weep, And I for sorrow sung, That such a ki ng 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.
KING LEAR An you lie, sirrah, we'll have you whipped.
Fool I marvel what kin thou and thy daughters re：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
KING LEAR How now, daughter！what makes that frontlet on?Methinks you are too much of late i'the frown.
Fool Thou wast a pretty fellow when thou hadst no need to care for her frowning；now thou art an O without a fgure：I am better than thou art now；I am a fool, thou art nothing.
To GONERIL
Yes, 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. That's a shealed peascod.
Pointing to KING LEAR
GONERIL 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.
Fool 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.
KING LEAR Are you our daughter?
GONERIL 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.
Fool May not an ass know when the cart draws the horse?Whoop, Jug！I love thee.
KING LEAR 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?
Fool Lear's shadow.
KING LEAR I would learn that；for, by the marks of sovereignty, knowledge, and reason, I should be false persuaded I had daughters.
Fool Which they will make an obedient father.
KING LEAR Your name, fair gentlewoman?
GONERIL 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.
KING LEAR Darkness and devils！Saddle my horses；call my train together：Degenerate bastard！I'll not trouble thee. Yet have I left a daughter.
GONERIL You strike my people；and your disorder'd rabble Make servants of their betters.
Enter ALBANY
KING LEAR Woe, that too late repents，——
To ALBANY
O, sir, are you come?Is it your will?Speak, sir. Prepare my horses.Ingratitude, thou marble-hearted fend, More hideous when thou show'st thee in a child Than the sea-monster！
ALBANY Pray, sir, be patient.
KING LEAR[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 fx'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 head
And thy dear judgment out！Go, go, my people.
ALBANY My lord, I am guiltless, as I am ignorant Of what hath moved you.
KING LEAR 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 disnatur'd 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 benefts 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
ALBANY Now, gods that we adore, whereof comes this?
GONERIL Never affict yourself to know the cause；But let his disposition have that scope That dotage gives it.
Re-enter KING LEAR
KING LEAR What, ffty of my followers at a clap！
Within a fortnight！
ALBANY What's the matter, sir?
KING LEAR I'll tell thee：
To GONERIL
Life 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 fay thy wolvish visage.Thou shalt fnd 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
GONERIL Do you mark that, my lord?
ALBANY I cannot be so partial, Goneril, To the great love I bear you，——
GONERIL Pray you, content. What, Oswald, ho！
To the Fool
You, sir, more knave than fool, after your master.
Fool 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
GONERIL 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！
ALBANY Well, you may fear too far.
GONERIL 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 unftness，——
Re-enter OSWALD
GONERIL How now, Oswald！What, have you writ that letter to my sister?
OSWALD Yes, madam.
GONERIL 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 OSWALD
No, 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.
ALBANY How far your eyes may pierce I can not tell：Striving to better, oft we mar what's well.
GONERIL Nay, then——
ALBANY 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。啊！你是什么？（一侍从下。）
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[1]人家打架；我不吃鱼。
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？（一侍从下。）
你去叫我的傻瓜来。
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。[2]
肯特 我也不能踢你吗，你这踢皮球的下贱东西12？（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；待在家中把门闭；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。（唱）
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。（唱）
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，却跟傻瓜们做伴嬉游。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、也明白他们自己身份的人跟随您；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！愿一个父亲的诅咒刺透你的五官百窍，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，你做人太仁慈厚道了，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。）[1]意即不是天主教徒。天主教徒逢星期五按例吃鱼。[2]踢皮球在当时只是下层市民的娱乐。
SCENEⅤ
Court before the same.
Enter KING LEAR, KENT, and Fool
KING LEAR 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.
KENT I will not sleep, my lord, till I have delivered your letter.
Exit
Fool If a man's brains were in's heels, were't not in danger of kibes?
KING LEAR Ay, boy.
Fool Then, I prithee, be merry；thy wit shall ne'er go slip-shod.
KING LEAR Ha, ha, ha！
Fool 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.
KING LEAR Why, what canst thou tell, my boy?
Fool 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?
KING LEAR No.
Fool Why, to keep one's eyes of either side's nose；that what a man cannot smell out, he may spy into.
KING LEAR I did her wrong——
Fool Canst tell how an oyster makes his shell?
KING LEAR No.
Fool Nor I neither；but I can tell why a snail has a house.
KING LEAR Why?
Fool Why, to put his head in；not to give it away to his daughters, and leave his horns without a case.
KING LEAR I will forget my nature. So kind a father！Be my horses ready?
Fool Thy asses are gone about'em. The reason why the seven stars are no more than seven is a pretty reason.
KING LEAR Because they are not eight?
Fool Yes, indeed：thou wouldst make a good fool.
KING LEAR To take't again perforce！Monster ingratitude！
Fool If thou wert my fool, nuncle, I'ld have thee beaten for being old before thy time.
KING LEAR How's that?
Fool Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst been wise.
KING LEAR O, let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven Keep me in temper：I would not be mad！
Enter Gentleman
KING LEAR How now！are the horses ready?
Gentleman Ready, my lord.
KING LEAR Come, boy.
Fool 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。）
ACT Ⅱ第二幕
SCENEⅠ
GLOUCESTER's castle.
Enter EDMUND, and CURAN meets him
EDMUND Save thee, Curan.
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.
EDMUND How comes that?
CURAN Nay, I know not. You have heard of the news abroad；I mean the whispered ones, for they are yet but ear-kissing arguments?
EDMUND Not I pray you, what are they?
CURAN Have you heard of no likely wars toward，'twixt the Dukes of Cornwall and Albany?
EDMUND Not a word.
CURAN You may do, then, in time. Fare you well, sir.
Exit
EDMUND 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 EDGAR
EDMUND My father watches：O sir, fy 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.
EDGAR I am sure on't, not a word.
EDMUND 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 EDGAR
Some blood drawn on me would beget opinion.
Wounds his arm
Of my more ferce endeavour：I have seen drunkards Do more than this in sport. Father, father！
Stop, stop！No help?
Enter GLOUCESTER, and Servants with torches
GLOUCESTER Now, Edmund, where's the villain?
EDMUND Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword out, Mumbling of wicked charms, conjuring the moon To stand auspicious mistress，——
GLOUCESTER But where is he?
EDMUND Look, sir, I bleed.
GLOUCESTER Where is the villain, Edmund?
EDMUND Fled this way, sir. When by no means he could——
GLOUCESTER Pursue him, ho！Go after.
Exeunt some Servants
By no means what?
EDMUND 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 fne, 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 fed.
GLOUCESTER Let him fy 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 fnds him shall deserve our thanks, Bringing the murderous coward to the stake；He that conceals him, death.
EDMUND 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 profts of my death Were very pregnant and potential spurs To make thee seek it.'
GLOUCESTER Strong and fasten'd villain Would he deny his letter?I never got him.
Tucket within
Hark, 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
CORNWALL How now, my noble friend！since I came hither, Which I can call but now, I have heard strange news.
REGAN If it be true, all vengeance comes too short Which can pursue the offender. How dost, my lord?
GLOUCESTER O, madam, my old heart is crack'd, it's crack'd！
REGAN What, did my father's godson seek your life?He whom my father named?your Edgar?
GLOUCESTER O, lady, lady, shame would have it hid！
REGAN Was he not companion with the riotous knights That tend upon my father?
GLOUCESTER I know not, madam：'tis too bad, too bad.
EDMUND Yes, madam, he was of that consort.
REGAN 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.
CORNWALL Nor I, assure thee, Regan. Edmund, I hear that you have shown your father A child-like offce.
EDMUND'Twas my duty, sir.
GLOUCESTER He did bewray his practise；and received This hurt you see, striving to apprehend him.
CORNWALL Is he pursued?
GLOUCESTER Ay, my good lord.
CORNWALL 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 frst seize on.
EDMUND I shall serve you, sir, Truly, however else.
GLOUCESTER For him I thank your grace.
CORNWALL You know not why we came to visit you，——
REGAN 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 ft 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.
GLOUCESTER I serve you, madam：Your graces are right welcome.
Exeunt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，嘴里念念有词，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。
试读结束[说明：试读内容隐藏了图片]