King Lear : Act 1, Scene 3



           Enter GONERIL, and [OSWALD, her] steward.
Goneril with Oswald


      GONERIL:
  1   Did my father strike my gentleman for chiding of his fool?

      OSWALD:
  2   Yes, madam.

      GONERIL:
  3   By day and night he wrongs me; every hour
  4   He flashes into one gross crime or other,
4. crime: offense

  5   That sets us all at odds: I'll not endure it:
5. That sets us all at odds: i.e., that makes everyone start quarreling with one another.

  6   His knights grow riotous, and himself upbraids us
  7   On every trifle. When he returns from hunting,
  8   I will not speak with him; say I am sick:
  9   If you come slack of former services,
9. come slack of former services: do less than you used to do [for King Lear].

 10   You shall do well; the fault of it I'll answer.
10. the fault of it I'll answer: I'll take the blame for it.


      OSWALD:
 11   He's coming, madam; I hear him.

           [Hunting horns sound.]

      GONERIL:
 12   Put on what weary negligence you please,
 13   You and your fellows; I'll have it come to question:
13. I'll have it come to question: i.e., I want to confront him about it.

 14   If he distaste it, let him to our sister,
14. distaste: dislike.  let him to our sister: let him go to my sister [Regan].

 15   Whose mind and mine, I know, in that are one,
 16   Not to be over-ruled. Idle old man,
16. Idle: foolish, whimsical.

 17   That still would manage those authorities
 18   That he hath given away! Now, by my life,
17-18. That . . . away!: i.e., who still thinks he can wield the power he has given away!

 19   Old fools are babes again; and must be used
 20   With cheques as flatteries, when they are seen abus'd.
19-20. must . . . abus'd: i.e., must be dealt with by means of rebukes, rather than with misguided flatteries, when they can be clearly seen to be deluded.

 21   Remember what I tell you.

      OSWALD:
                                                    Well, madam.

      GONERIL:
 22   And let his knights have colder looks among you;
 23   What grows of it, no matter; advise your fellows so:
23. your fellows: your fellow servants

 24   I would breed from hence occasions, and I shall,
24. occasions: confrontations

 25   That I may speak: I'll write straight to my sister,
25. That I may speak: i.e., in order that I can have a good excuse to set him straight.  straight: immediately.

 26   To hold my very course. Prepare for dinner.
26. To hold my very course: to do exactly as I do.


           Exeunt.