Save thee, Curan.
Good luck to you, Curan.
Hey, Curan.
yo 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.
And to you, sir. I've been with your father and let him know that the Duke of Cornwall and Regan his wife will be here tonight.
You too. I just told your father that the Duke of Cornwall and Regan will be visiting tonight.
i told your father the duke & regan are coming tonight
How comes that?
How did that come about?
How's that happening?
how come?
Nay, I know not. You have heard of the news abroad; I mean the
whispered ones, for they are yet but ear-kissing arguments?
No, I don't know. You've heard the news going around, haven't you? I mean the rumors being whispered about, the ones that are still just casual gossip?
Nah, I don't know. You've heard the stuff people are talking about though, right? I mean the rumors floating around, the ones people are still just whispering about?
u heard the rumors? ppl whispering bout stuff
Not I: pray you, what are they?
No, I haven't; please, what are they?
Nope, I haven't. So what are they?
nah what r they
Have you heard of no likely wars toward, ’twixt the two dukes
of Cornwall and Albany?
Haven't you heard about any likely wars breaking out between the two Dukes of Cornwall and Albany?
Haven't you heard that there might be a war coming between the Duke of Cornwall and the Duke of Albany?
hear bout war between cornwall & albany dukes
Not a word.
Not a word.
Not a word.
Not a word.
You may do, then, in time. Fare you well, sir.
You probably will find out about it soon enough. Take care, sir.
Well, you'll probably hear about it soon. See you, sir.
u'll hear soon lol bye
The Duke be here tonight? 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!
The Duke is coming tonight? Perfect! Absolutely perfect! This works right into what I need to do. My father has set a guard to arrest my brother; And I have something risky to accomplish, Which I must do. Speed and luck, come help me! Brother, come here, come down, brother, listen!
The Duke shows up tonight? That's perfect! Best thing ever! This fits right into my plan. My father's got people ready to grab my brother; And I've got something tricky I gotta pull off, Something I have to do. Come on, luck and speed! Brother, get down here, brother, listen to me!
duke tonight. perfect. my plan works. gotta do sth tricky. brother come down
My 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.
My father is watching. Oh sir, flee this place! Your location has been revealed where you were hiding. You have the advantage of darkness right now. Haven't you spoken against the Duke of Cornwall? He's coming here tonight in haste, and Regan with him. Haven't you said anything supporting him against the Duke of Albany? Think carefully.
My father's watching. Get out of here! They know where you're hiding. The night is your only advantage. Did you say anything bad about the Duke of Cornwall? He's coming tonight with Regan, and in a hurry. Did you say anything supporting him against Albany? Think about this.
my dad's watching get out they know where you are did you criticize cornwall? he's coming tonight think carefully
I am sure on’t, not a word.
I'm certain of it—not a word of that.
Yeah, I'm sure of that part—not a word.
yeah def 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.
I hear my father coming—forgive me; I have to pretend to draw my sword against you in this trick: Draw your sword: try to defend yourself: now do well. Give in: come before my father. Light, someone, light! Run, brother. Torches, torches!—Goodbye now.
I hear my father—sorry; I gotta pull my sword on you to make this look real: Draw—put up a fight: now be convincing. Give up: come to my father. Someone bring light! Get out of here, brother. Torches, torches!—See you.
hear dad coming. gotta fake fight. draw sword. defend urself. then give up. run!
Some blood drawn on me would beget opinion
Of my more fierce endeavour: [_Wounds his arm._]
I have seen drunkards
Do more than this in sport. Father, father!
Stop, stop! No help?
Drawing some blood on me will create the impression of fierce struggle. I have seen drunken men do more than this in play. Father, father! Stop, stop! Is there no help?
Getting some blood on me will make it look like I fought hard. I've seen drunk people do worse than this just for fun. Father! Father! Stop! Help me!
blood makes it look like i fought i've seen drunks do worse father father help me
Servants with torches.
Servants, bring torches here.
Bring torches!
torches
Edmund sets both traps in 1-2 and springs both in 2-1 — with one key improvisation. When he hears Cornwall and Regan are coming, he doesn't hesitate. He recognizes immediately that their arrival is an opportunity, not a complication. If he can complete the Edgar plot before they arrive, he shows up to meet them as a proven loyal son, not an unknown bastard.
The improvisation is the self-wound. It wasn't in the original plan — he couldn't have anticipated this exact moment. But he sees that a physical wound will make the story undeniable, and he inflicts it without significant deliberation. 'I have seen drunkards do more than this in sport' is not bravado after the fact. It's a cost-benefit calculation completed in under a second.
What makes Edmund's plots work is the exploitation of trust. Both his father and his brother trust him completely. Edgar has no reason to suspect his brother. Gloucester has already been primed by the forged letter to see Edgar as a villain. Edmund doesn't have to overcome skepticism — he just has to give the skepticism an object (Edgar) before anyone turns it on him.
The play's deeper irony is that Edmund is genuinely impressive. His intelligence is real. His courage is real. Everything he accomplishes through his own ability — the manipulation, the staging, the timing — he genuinely earned through superior thinking. The question the play asks is: impressive toward what end?
Now, Edmund, where’s the villain?
Now, Edmund, where's the criminal who attacked you?
Now Edmund, where's the guy who tried to kill you?
where's the attacker
Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword out,
Mumbling of wicked charms, conjuring the moon
To stand auspicious mistress.
He stood right here in the dark, with his sharp sword drawn, Mumbling evil spells, pleading with the moon To be his favorable protector.
He was right here in the darkness with his sharp sword out, Muttering curses, begging the moon To help him out.
was here in dark w sword. muttering curses. begging moon to help
But where is he?
But where did he go?
So where'd he run off to?
where'd he go tho
Look, sir, I bleed.
Look, sir, I'm bleeding.
Look, sir, I'm hurt.
im bleeding see
Where is the villain, Edmund?
Where is he, Edmund? Where is this criminal?
Edmund, where is he? Where's the guy who did this?
where is he edmund
Fled this way, sir. When by no means he could,—
He fled that direction, sir. When by any means possible he could not,—
He took off that way, sir. When he couldn't,—
went that way sir
Pursue him, ho! Go after.
Go after him! Go after him!
Chase him! Go get him!
chase him go go
—By no means what?
By no means what? Finish what you were saying.
What do you mean, by no means what?
finish it
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, latch’d mine arm;
But when he saw my best alarum’d spirits,
Bold in the quarrel’s right, rous’d to th’encounter,
Or whether gasted by the noise I made,
Full suddenly he fled.
He tried to push me to murder you; but I told him that the vengeful gods bend all their lightning against those who kill their fathers; I spoke about how strong and powerful the bond is between child and father; sir, in summary, seeing how completely opposed I stood to his unnatural plan, with violent motion he struck at me with his prepared sword, charging hard at my unprotected body, and grabbed my arm; but when he saw my best defensive spirits, bold in fighting right, roused to the battle, or whether scared by the noise I made, he suddenly fled.
He wanted me to kill you; but I told him that the vengeful gods hit anyone who kills their father with lightning; I talked about how strong the bond is between parent and child; sir, basically, when he saw I totally opposed his sick plan, he attacked me hard with his sword ready, rushing at my defenseless body, grabbed my arm; but when he saw I was fighting back, bold and ready, going all in, or maybe scared by the noise I made, he just ran.
he wanted me 2 kill u. told him gods punish that. showed how strong parent-child bond is. he attacked hard. i fought back. he ran
Let him fly far;
Not in this land shall he remain uncaught;
And found—dispatch’d. The noble Duke my master,
My worthy arch and patron, comes tonight:
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.
Let him run far; he won't stay safe in this land; and when caught—he'll be executed. The great Duke my master, my worthy leader and protector, comes tonight: by his authority I will announce it, that whoever finds him will receive our reward, bringing the murderous coward to execution; whoever hides him, will die.
Let him go far; he can't hide in this land forever; and when we catch him—he's done. The Duke my master, my great leader and patron, comes tonight: by his power I'll announce it, that whoever catches him gets a reward, bringing the coward killer to his death; whoever helps him hide, dies too.
let him run. he can't hide here. when caught he's done. duke comes tonight. catch him = reward. hide 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’d turn it all
To thy suggestion, plot, and damned practice:
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.
When I tried to stop him from his plan, and found he was determined to do it, with harsh words I threatened to expose him: he answered, 'You worthless bastard! Do you really think, if I stood against you, that having any power or good reputation would make anyone believe you? No: I would deny the things you speak of just like this; yes, even if you had proof written down in my own handwriting, I'd twist it all to make it look like your scheming and plotting: And you'd have to be a fool for anyone to think the profits from my death weren't powerfully tempting you to want me dead.'
When I tried to stop him from doing it, and saw he was really gonna go through with it, I threatened him with harsh words to expose him: he said, 'You worthless bastard! Do you honestly think, if I fought you, that any respect or good name you had would make anyone trust what you say? No: I'd say those things never happened, just like this; even if you showed people something I wrote in my own hand, I'd say you made it all up to frame me: And you'd be stupid to think everyone wouldn't see that my death would make you rich enough to kill me for.'
tried stopping him. he was determined. threatened to expose him. he said worthless bastard nobody'd believe u. even w proof i'd say u faked it. ur motive is too obvious
O strange and fast’ned villain!
Would he deny his letter, said he? I never got him.
What a strange and determined villain! He denied his own letter, you say? I never fathered him.
What a weird and stubborn monster! He denied writing that letter? I didn't father him.
weird stubborn jerk. denied his own letter?? not even my son
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 due note of him; and of my land,
Loyal and natural boy, I’ll work the means
To make thee capable.
Listen, the Duke's trumpets! I don't know why he's coming. I'll block all ports; the villain shall not escape. The Duke must grant me that. Besides, I'll send his picture far and wide so all the kingdom knows him. And for you, my loyal and natural boy, I'll work to make you capable of inheriting my lands.
Listen! The Duke's arriving by trumpet. I don't know what brings him here. I'll close off all ports—the villain won't get away. The Duke will have to allow it. I'll send that villain's picture everywhere so everyone knows to look for him. And Edmund, my loyal son, I'll arrange things so you can inherit my lands.
the duke's coming i'll block all ports the villain won't escape i'll send his picture everywhere i'll make you my heir
Attendants.
Attendants, come here.
Attendants!
attendants
How now, my noble friend! since I came hither,
Which I can call but now, I have heard strange news.
Hello, my noble friend! Since I just arrived, which I can only call this moment, I have heard strange news.
Hello, my good friend! Since I just got here, which was barely a moment ago, I've heard some crazy news.
hey noble friend just got here. already heard wild news
If it be true, all vengeance comes too short
Which can pursue th’offender. How dost, my lord?
If it's true, there isn't enough punishment available to fit the offense. How are you, my lord?
If that's true, there's no punishment big enough for what he did. How are you doing, sir?
if true no punishment fits. how u doing
Regan and Cornwall arrive at Gloucester's castle without warning, in the night. Gloucester is surprised; he doesn't know why they've come. Regan eventually explains (in 2-4) that she and Cornwall have left their home specifically because they received letters — from both Lear and Goneril — and they want neutral ground to handle what's coming.
The departure from home is a strategic move. By going to Gloucester's castle (neither Lear's current residence nor Goneril's), Regan puts herself in a position to receive Lear without being on territory that's formally hers. When Lear arrives, he arrives as a visitor to someone else's house. This means anything that happens to him there is Regan's choice rather than her obligation.
The coordination between Goneril and Regan, first established in 1-3 (the letter) and confirmed here, operates smoothly across distance. They're running a campaign with military precision: Goneril manufactures the confrontation and forces Lear out; Regan takes up a neutral position and waits. By the time Lear arrives in 2-4, he finds the two sisters standing together. The trap has two jaws.
O madam, my old heart is crack’d, it’s crack’d!
Oh madam, my old heart is broken, it's broken!
Oh madam, my heart is shattered, it's shattered!
heart broken so broken
What, did my father’s godson seek your life?
He whom my father nam’d? your Edgar?
What, did my father's godson try to kill you? The Edgar my father raised?
What, did the guy my father raised like a son try to murder you? My father's Edgar?
did dad's godson edgar try 2 kill u
O lady, lady, shame would have it hid!
Oh madam, madam, shame wishes it could be hidden!
Oh lady, lady, I'm so ashamed of this!
so ashamed this happened
Was he not companion with the riotous knights
That tend upon my father?
Wasn't he one of the wild knights who follow my father around?
Wasn't he hanging around with those crazy knights who follow my father?
was he w those wild knights following dad
I know not, madam; ’tis too bad, too bad.
I don't know, madam; it's too terrible, too terrible.
I don't know, madam; it's just awful, awful.
don't know. too awful
Yes, madam, he was of that consort.
Yes, madam, he was part of that group.
Yes, madam, he was hanging with them.
yeah he was w them
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.
No wonder then that he turned out badly: it's those knights who've put him up to trying to kill your father, so he can waste your father's money. I got information this very evening from my sister about these knights; and with such warnings that if they try to stay at my house, I won't be there.
No surprise he turned out like this: it's those knights who got him to try killing your father, so he can blow through all his money. My sister sent me a message tonight about these knights; and with such warnings that if they show up at my place, I'm leaving.
those knights put him up 2 it. want dad dead 2 waste his $. sister warned me. if they come im gone
Nor I, assure thee, Regan.
Edmund, I hear that you have shown your father
A childlike office.
Nor I, I assure you, Regan. Edmund, I hear that you have shown your father childlike service.
Not me either, I assure you, Regan. Edmund, I've heard that you've been devoted and respectful to your father, the way a dutiful child should be.
not me either edmund you're dutiful like a good child to your father
It was my duty, sir.
It was my responsibility, sir.
It was what I had to do, sir.
had to do it
He did bewray his practice; and receiv’d
This hurt you see, striving to apprehend him.
He revealed his plot to me; and got this wound you see, while trying to catch him.
He showed me what he was planning; and got this injury you can see, trying to grab him.
he showed his plan. got this wound catching him
Is he pursued?
Is he pursued?
Is he pursued?
Is he pursued?
Ay, my good lord.
Yes, my good lord.
Yes, sir.
yep we got em
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.
If he's caught, he'll never be able to hurt anyone again: you can do whatever you think is right. For you, Edmund, your honor and obedience show themselves so clearly right now that you'll become one of us: we'll need people we can trust this much; you we'll take into our service right away.
If we catch him, he can't hurt anyone ever again: do whatever you think is best. As for you, Edmund, your loyalty and obedience are so obvious right now that you're gonna be part of our inner circle: we really need people we can trust like this; you we're putting in a top position right away.
catch him = problem solved. u edmund ur loyalty is obvious. ur ours now. need trust like this
I shall serve you, sir, truly, however else.
I'll serve you truly, sir, no matter what else happens.
I'll serve you faithfully, sir, whatever comes.
i'll serve u truly sir
For him I thank your grace.
On his behalf I thank you, my lord.
I thank you for him, sir.
thanks for him
You know not why we came to visit you?
Do you know why we came to visit you?
Do you know why we're here visiting you?
u know y we came
Thus out of season, threading dark-ey’d 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 best 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.
At this strange hour, traveling through the dark night: there are important reasons, noble Gloucester, that we need your advice on. Our father has written to us, as has our sister, about conflicts that I thought it best to respond to from our own home rather than here; our various messengers are waiting to be sent out. Our good old friend, take comfort; and give us your wise counsel on our business, which needs immediate attention.
Traveling through the dark at this weird hour: there are serious matters, noble Gloucester, that we need your help with. Our father's written to us, and so has our sister, about problems that I figured it's better to handle from home; we've got messengers waiting to go out. Our good old friend, feel better; and give us your good advice on what we need to do, which is urgent.
dark hour travel serious stuff need ur advice. dad & sister wrote bout conflicts. got messengers waiting. need ur help now
I serve you, madam:
Your graces are right welcome.
I'm at your service, madam: you're very welcome here.
I serve you, madam: you're very welcome.
im here for u. welcome
The Reckoning
Edmund hears that Regan and Cornwall are coming to Gloucester's castle. He uses the news to accelerate his plot. He finds Edgar, warns him that Gloucester is furious and armed men are coming, tells him to flee — and as Edgar escapes, Edmund draws his sword and wounds himself. He then tells Gloucester that Edgar attacked him when Edmund refused to join a plot against Gloucester's life. Gloucester, horrified, believes it instantly. He disinherits Edgar and promises to legitimize Edmund. Then Regan and Cornwall arrive — they've left home because of a letter from Goneril about Lear — and Cornwall immediately sponsors Edmund as his man. The trap closes. Edgar is hunted; Edmund is rising.
If this happened today…
An illegitimate son hears that two board members are coming for an emergency meeting. He texts his brother: 'Dad's heard something, he's furious — get out before he sees you.' As the brother slips out, the son cuts his own hand, walks back into the meeting bleeding, and tells his father and the board: 'Edgar tried to convince me to help him contest the will — when I refused he attacked me.' Two board members believe it immediately, congratulate the son on his loyalty, and put him on the executive team. His father signs the papers to remove the brother's name from everything.