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King Lear - Act 1, scene 3
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Last updated: Thu, Apr 21, 2016
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King Lear - Act 1, scene 3Act 1, scene 3
Scene 3
Synopsis:
Goneril, with whom Lear has gone to live, expresses her anger at Lear and his knights. She orders her steward, Oswald, to inform Lear that she will not see him and to treat Lear coldly.
Enter Goneril and ⌜Oswald, her⌝ Steward.GONERIL 0548 Did my father strike my gentleman for chiding
0549 of his Fool?
OSWALD 0550 Ay, madam.
GONERIL
0551 By day and night he wrongs me. Every hour
0552 5 He flashes into one gross crime or other
0553 That sets us all at odds. I’ll not endure it.
0554 His knights grow riotous, and himself upbraids us
0555 On every trifle. When he returns from hunting,
0556 I will not speak with him. Say I am sick.
0557 10 If you come slack of former services,
0558 You shall do well. The fault of it I’ll answer.
OSWALD 0559 He’s coming, madam. I hear him.
GONERIL
0560 Put on what weary negligence you please,
0561 You and your fellows. I’d have it come to question.
0562 15 If he distaste it, let him to my sister,
0563 Whose mind and mine I know in that are one,
0564 ⟨Not to be overruled. Idle old man
0565 That still would manage those authorities
0566 That he hath given away. Now, by my life,
0567 20 Old fools are babes again and must be used
0568 With checks as flatteries, when they are seen
0569 abused.⟩
0570 Remember what I have said.
OSWALD 0571 Well, madam.
GONERIL
0572 25 And let his knights have colder looks among you.
0573 What grows of it, no matter. Advise your fellows so.
0574 ⟨I would breed from hence occasions, and I shall,
0575 That I may speak.⟩ I’ll write straight to my sister
0576 To hold my ⟨very⟩ course. Prepare for dinner.
They exit ⌜in different directions.⌝