SEARCH TEXTS  

Plays  +  Sonnets  +  Poems  +  Concordance  +  Advanced Search  +  About OSS

Speeches (Lines) for Goneril
in "King Lear"

Total: 53

---
# Act, Scene, Line
(Click to see in context)
Speech text

1

I,1,55

Sir, I love you more than words can wield the matter;
Dearer than eyesight, space, and liberty;
Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare;
No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour;
As much as child e'er lov'd, or father found;
A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable.
Beyond all manner of so much I love you.

2

I,1,300

Prescribe not us our duties.

3

I,1,310

Sister, it is not little I have to say of what most nearly
appertains to us both. I think our father will hence to-night.

4

I,1,313

You see how full of changes his age is. The observation we
have made of it hath not been little. He always lov'd our
sister most, and with what poor judgment he hath now cast her
off appears too grossly.

5

I,1,319

The best and soundest of his time hath been but rash; then
must we look to receive from his age, not alone the
imperfections of long-ingraffed condition, but therewithal
the unruly waywardness that infirm and choleric years bring with
them.

6

I,1,326

There is further compliment of leave-taking between France and
him. Pray you let's hit together. If our father carry authority
with such dispositions as he bears, this last surrender of his
will but offend us.

7

I,1,331

We must do something, and i' th' heat.

8

I,3,505

Did my father strike my gentleman for chiding of his fool?

9

I,3,507

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.

10

I,3,517

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 our sister,
Whose mind and mine I know in that are one,
Not to be overrul'd. 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 us'd
With checks as flatteries, when they are seen abus'd.
Remember what I have said.

11

I,3,528

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. Prepare for dinner.

12

I,4,722

Not only, sir, this your all-licens'd fool,
But other of your insolent retinue
Do hourly carp and quarrel, breaking forth
In rank and not-to-be-endured riots. Sir,
I had thought, by making this well known unto you,
To have found a safe redress, but now grow fearful,
By what yourself, too, late have spoke and done,
That you protect this course, and put it on
By your allowance; which if you should, the fault
Would not scape censure, nor the redresses sleep,
Which, in the tender of a wholesome weal,
Might in their working do you that offence
Which else were shame, that then necessity
Must call discreet proceeding.

13

I,4,741

Come, sir,
I would you would make use of that good wisdom
Whereof I know you are fraught, and put away
These dispositions that of late transform you
From what you rightly are.

14

I,4,759

This admiration, sir, is much o' th' savour
Of other your new pranks. I do beseech you
To understand my purposes aright.
As you are old and reverend, you should be wise.
Here do you keep a hundred knights and squires;
Men so disorder'd, so debosh'd, and bold
That this our court, infected with their manners,
Shows like a riotous inn. Epicurism and lust
Make it more like a tavern or a brothel
Than a grac'd palace. The shame itself doth speak
For instant remedy. Be then desir'd
By her that else will take the thing she begs
A little to disquantity your train,
And the remainder that shall still depend
To be such men as may besort your age,
Which know themselves, and you.

15

I,4,779

You strike my people, and your disorder'd rabble
Make servants of their betters.

16

I,4,818

Never afflict yourself to know the cause;
But let his disposition have that scope
That dotage gives it.

17

I,4,841

Do you mark that, my lord?

18

I,4,844

Pray you, content.- What, Oswald, ho!
[To the Fool] You, sir, more knave than fool, after your master!

19

I,4,852

This man hath had good counsel! A hundred knights?
'Tis politic and safe to let him keep
At point a hundred knights; yes, that on every dream,
Each buzz, each fancy, each complaint, dislike,
He may enguard his dotage with their pow'rs
And hold our lives in mercy.- Oswald, I say!

20

I,4,859

Safer than trust too far.
Let me still take away the harms I fear,
Not fear still to be taken. I know his heart.
What he hath utter'd I have writ my sister.
If she sustain him and his hundred knights,
When I have show'd th' unfitness- [Enter [Oswald the] Steward.]
How now, Oswald?
What, have you writ that letter to my sister?

21

I,4,868

Take you some company, and away to horse!
Inform her full of my particular fear,
And thereto add such reasons of your own
As may compact it more. Get you gone,
And hasten your return. [Exit Oswald.] No, no, my lord!
This milky gentleness and course of yours,
Though I condemn it not, yet, under pardon,
You are much more at task for want of wisdom
Than prais'd for harmful mildness.

22

I,4,879

Nay then-

23

II,4,1488

Why not by th' hand, sir? How have I offended?
All's not offence that indiscretion finds
And dotage terms so.

24

II,4,1513

At your choice, sir.

25

II,4,1541

Why might not you, my lord, receive attendance
From those that she calls servants, or from mine?

26

II,4,1560

Hear, me, my lord.
What need you five-and-twenty, ten, or five,
To follow in a house where twice so many
Have a command to tend you?

27

II,4,1592

'Tis his own blame; hath put himself from rest
And must needs taste his folly.

28

II,4,1596

So am I purpos'd.
Where is my Lord of Gloucester?

29

II,4,1605

My lord, entreat him by no means to stay.

30

III,7,2126

Pluck out his eyes.

31

III,7,2141

Farewell, sweet lord, and sister.

32

IV,2,2338

Welcome, my lord. I marvel our mild husband
Not met us on the way. [Enter Oswald the Steward.]
Now, where's your master?

33

IV,2,2350

[to Edmund] Then shall you go no further.
It is the cowish terror of his spirit,
That dares not undertake. He'll not feel wrongs
Which tie him to an answer. Our wishes on the way
May prove effects. Back, Edmund, to my brother.
Hasten his musters and conduct his pow'rs.
I must change arms at home and give the distaff
Into my husband's hands. This trusty servant
Shall pass between us. Ere long you are like to hear
(If you dare venture in your own behalf)
A mistress's command. Wear this. [Gives a favour.]
Spare speech.
Decline your head. This kiss, if it durst speak,
Would stretch thy spirits up into the air.
Conceive, and fare thee well.

34

IV,2,2366

My most dear Gloucester!
O, the difference of man and man!
To thee a woman's services are due;
My fool usurps my body.

35

IV,2,2372

I have been worth the whistle.

36

IV,2,2381

No more! The text is foolish.

37

IV,2,2395

Milk-liver'd man!
That bear'st a cheek for blows, a head for wrongs;
Who hast not in thy brows an eye discerning
Thine honour from thy suffering; that not know'st
Fools do those villains pity who are punish'd
Ere they have done their mischief. Where's thy drum?
France spreads his banners in our noiseless land,
With plumed helm thy state begins to threat,
Whiles thou, a moral fool, sit'st still, and criest
'Alack, why does he so?'

38

IV,2,2408

O vain fool!

39

IV,2,2415

Marry, your manhood mew!

40

IV,2,2435

[aside] One way I like this well;
But being widow, and my Gloucester with her,
May all the building in my fancy pluck
Upon my hateful life. Another way
The news is not so tart.- I'll read, and answer. Exit.

41

V,1,3045

[aside] I had rather lose the battle than that sister
Should loosen him and me.

42

V,1,3057

Combine together 'gainst the enemy;
For these domestic and particular broils
Are not the question here.

43

V,1,3064

No.

44

V,1,3066

[aside] O, ho, I know the riddle.- I will go.
[As they are going out,] enter Edgar [disguised].

45

V,3,3197

Not so hot!
In his own grace he doth exalt himself
More than in your addition.

46

V,3,3202

That were the most if he should husband you.

47

V,3,3204

Holla, holla!
That eye that told you so look'd but asquint.

48

V,3,3212

Mean you to enjoy him?

49

V,3,3226

An interlude!

50

V,3,3235

[aside] If not, I'll ne'er trust medicine.

51

V,3,3302

This is mere practice, Gloucester.
By th' law of arms thou wast not bound to answer
An unknown opposite. Thou art not vanquish'd,
But cozen'd and beguil'd.

52

V,3,3311

Say if I do- the laws are mine, not thine.
Who can arraign me for't?

53

V,3,3315

Ask me not what I know. Exit.

Return to the "King Lear" menu