(Line differences from Q1 are in brackets, lines in F1 only are in italics)
Act 1 Scene 3
The Duke of Albany’s residence
Enter GONERIL and OSWALD her steward
GONERIL
Did my father strike my gentleman for
chiding of his fool?
OSWALD
Aye, [Yes] madam.
GONERIL
By day and night he wrongs me. Every hour
He flashes 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 trifle. 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.
GONERIL
Put on what weary negligence you please,
You and your fellows; I’ll have it come to question.
If he distaste [dislike] it, let him to my [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 checks as flatteries, when they are seen abused.]
Remember what I have said.
OSWALD
[Very] 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. [Go] Prepare for dinner.
Exit
Footnotes:
gentleman: steward, that is, Oswald to whom she speaks
chiding: reprimanding, scolding
come slack of former services: serve him less than before
answer: I’ll say I’m responsible if he complains
question: I want him to criticize your lack of service, so we can discuss this problem openly
manage those authorities: Lear wants to order people about like a king, even though he has relinquished that title.
checks as flatteries: old men who act like children must be handled with restraints rather than flattery
breed from hence occasions: I want to make an issue out of this, so I can speak to him about it.