Kent Monologue from King Lear

From King Lear by William Shakespeare

male · defiant · 1:09 min

Royal Lear, Whom I have ever honour’d as my king, Lov’d as my father, as my master follow’d, As my great patron thought on in my prayers.— (LEAR: The bow is bent and drawn; make from the shaft.) Let it fall rather, though the fork invade The region of my heart: be Kent unmannerly When Lear is mad. What wouldst thou do, old man? Think’st thou that duty shall have dread to speak, When power to flattery bows? To plainness honour’s bound When majesty falls to folly. Reverse thy state; And in thy best consideration check This hideous rashness: answer my life my judgement, Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least; Nor are those empty-hearted, whose low sounds Reverb no hollowness. (LEAR: Kent, on thy life, no more.) My life I never held but as a pawn To wage against thine enemies; ne’er fear to lose it, Thy safety being the motive.

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