King Lear: Act 1, Scene 3 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 1, Scene 3 of King Lear from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text	Translated Text
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Enter Goneril and Oswald, her Steward. GONERIL Did my father strike my gentleman for chiding of his Fool? OSWALD Ay, madam. GONERIL By day and night he wrongs me. Every hour He flashes into one gross crime or other 5 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, 10 You shall do well. The fault of it I’ll answer.	Things are not going well at Goneril's castle. She's taken first shift as her dad's assisted care provider, and it turns out Lear's a lousy houseguest. It seems Lear smacked one of Goneril's servants for being rude to his Fool. Also, his entourage—a group of a hundred knights—is a rowdy bunch, and Lear is continuing to act like he's in charge, even though he more or less retired. Goneril is fed up. She tells Oswald to tell her father she won't speak with him when he gets back from hunting. If they're rude to him for a bit, he'll get the message and she'll deal with the fallout.
OSWALD He’s coming, madam. I hear him. GONERIL Put on what weary negligence you please, You and your fellows. I’d have it come to question. If he distaste it, let him to my sister, 15 Whose mind and mine I know in that are one, Not to be overruled. 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 20 With checks as flatteries, when they are seen abused. Remember what I have said. OSWALD Well, madam. GONERIL And let his knights have colder looks among you. 25 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. They exit in different directions.	When Oswald says he hears Lear coming, Goneril further instructs him to completely neglect her dad. If Lear doesn't like the way he's beeing treated him, he can go to her sister, Regan's house, where he'll get more of the same. Regan won't put up with his foolishness either. She says that old men are like babies again, and can therefore be manipulated easily. Before she leaves, she tells Oswald to be sure that he and the rest of the staff neglect Lear's knights, too. She wants to make sure her dad and his buddies get the message, and when he complains, she'll be ready to give him a piece of her mind.

Original Text

Translated Text

Enter Goneril and Oswald, her Steward.

GONERIL Did my father strike my gentleman for chiding
of his Fool?

OSWALD Ay, madam.

GONERIL
By day and night he wrongs me. Every hour
He flashes into one gross crime or other 5
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, 10
You shall do well. The fault of it I’ll answer.

Things are not going well at Goneril's castle. She's taken first shift as her dad's assisted care provider, and it turns out Lear's a lousy houseguest. It seems Lear smacked one of Goneril's servants for being rude to his Fool. Also, his entourage—a group of a hundred knights—is a rowdy bunch, and Lear is continuing to act like he's in charge, even though he more or less retired.

Goneril is fed up. She tells Oswald to tell her father she won't speak with him when he gets back from hunting. If they're rude to him for a bit, he'll get the message and she'll deal with the fallout.

OSWALD He’s coming, madam. I hear him.

GONERIL
Put on what weary negligence you please,
You and your fellows. I’d have it come to question.
If he distaste it, let him to my sister, 15
Whose mind and mine I know in that are one,
Not to be overruled. 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 20
With checks as flatteries, when they are seen
abused.
Remember what I have said.

OSWALD Well, madam.

GONERIL
And let his knights have colder looks among you. 25
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.

They exit in different directions.

When Oswald says he hears Lear coming, Goneril further instructs him to completely neglect her dad. If Lear doesn't like the way he's beeing treated him, he can go to her sister, Regan's house, where he'll get more of the same. Regan won't put up with his foolishness either.

She says that old men are like babies again, and can therefore be manipulated easily.

Before she leaves, she tells Oswald to be sure that he and the rest of the staff neglect Lear's knights, too. She wants to make sure her dad and his buddies get the message, and when he complains, she'll be ready to give him a piece of her mind.

King Lear: Act 1, Scene 3 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 1, Scene 3 of King Lear from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text

Translated Text

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