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Storgy

King LearModern English

King Lear, Act 3, Scene 5

A Room in Gloucester’s Castle

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Which text to show for Act 3, Scene 5

Original

Modern English

  1. Enter Cornwall and Edmund.

    Cornwall and Edmund come in.

  2. Cornwall1

    I will have my revenge ere I depart his house.

    I will have my revenge before I leave his house.

  3. Edmund2

    How, my lord, I may be censured, that nature thus gives way to loyalty, something fears me to think of.

    How I may be judged, my lord, for letting natural feeling give way to loyalty like this, somewhat frightens me to think about.

  4. Cornwall4

    I now perceive it was not altogether your brother’s evil disposition made him seek his death; but a provoking merit, set a-work by a reproveable badness in himself.

    I see now that it wasn't entirely your brother's wicked nature that made him seek his father's death; he was spurred on by a deserving badness in your father himself, a wickedness that called for punishment.

  5. Edmund7

    How malicious is my fortune, that I must repent to be just! This is the letter he spoke of, which approves him an intelligent party to the advantages of France. O heavens! that this treason were not; or not I the detector!

    How spiteful my luck is, that I must be sorry for doing right! This is the letter he spoke of, which proves him an informer working for France's advantage. Oh, heavens! I wish this treason did not exist, or that I were not the one to uncover it.

  6. Cornwall11

    Go with me to the Duchess.

    Come with me to the Duchess.

  7. Edmund12

    If the matter of this paper be certain, you have mighty business in hand.

    If what this paper says is true, you have serious business to deal with.

  8. Cornwall14

    True or false, it hath made thee Earl of Gloucester. Seek out where thy father is, that he may be ready for our apprehension.

    True or false, it has made you Earl of Gloucester. Find out where your father is, so that he can be ready for us to arrest him.

  9. Edmund16

    [Aside.] If I find him comforting the King, it will stuff his suspicion more fully. I will persever in my course of loyalty, though the conflict be sore between that and my blood.

    [Aside.] If I find him helping the King, that will feed Cornwall's suspicion even more. I will keep on with my course of loyalty, however painful the struggle between it and my own family feeling.

  10. Cornwall19

    I will lay trust upon thee; and thou shalt find a dearer father in my love.

    I will place my trust in you; and in my love you will find a more affectionate father.

  11. Exeunt.

    They leave.

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Explain lines 12–20 in plain terms.What is the speaker actually deciding in this scene?Where does the language turn, and what does the turn do?

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Original text: Project Gutenberg edition #1532 (public domain, edited by the PG Shakespeare Team). Modern English rendering by Storgy.