(the storm.)

King Lear monologues, printed in full

Lear's eighteen, Edgar's eleven, Edmund's nine, Goneril, Kent, Gloucester, the Fool, Regan and Cordelia. The play has more standalone speeches than any other in the canon and most of them are never heard at an audition. Public domain, printed whole.

Search all of them Start rehearsing

1
Cordelia from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · dramatic · 0:53 min
Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave My heart into my mouth. I love your Majesty According to my bond; no more nor less. Good my lord, You have begot me, bred me, lov'd me; I Return…
2
Lear from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · dramatic · 1:26 min
Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester. (GLOUCESTER: I shall, my lord.) Meantime we shall express our darker purpose. Give me the map there. Know that we have divided…
3
Lear from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · defiant · 2:18 min
So young, and so untender? (CORDELIA: So young, my lord, and true.) Let it be so, thy truth then be thy dower: For, by the sacred radiance of the sun, The mysteries of Hecate and…
4
Kent from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · defiant · 1:19 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…
5
Lear from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · defiant · 0:55 min
Hear me, recreant! on thine allegiance, hear me! Since thou hast sought to make us break our vows, Which we durst never yet, and with strain’d pride To come betwixt our sentences…
6
Edmund from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · defiant · 1:28 min
Thou, Nature, art my goddess; to thy law My services are bound. Wherefore should I Stand in the plague of custom, and permit The curiosity of nations to deprive me? For that I am…
7
Gloucester from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · anguished · 1:07 min
(Reads.) ‘This policy and reverence of age makes the world bitter to the best of our times; keeps our fortunes from us till our oldness cannot relish them. I begin to find an idle…
8
Edmund from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · dramatic · 1:12 min
I do not well know, my lord. If it shall please you to suspend your indignation against my brother till you can derive from him better testimony of his intent, you should run a…
9
Gloucester from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · dark · 1:08 min
These late eclipses in the sun and moon portend no good to us: though the wisdom of Nature can reason it thus and thus, yet nature finds itself scourged by the sequent effects.…
10
Edmund from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · philosophical · 1:28 min
This is the excellent foppery of the world, that, when we are sick in fortune, often the surfeits of our own behaviour, we make guilty of our disasters the sun, the moon, and the…
11
Goneril from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · defiant · 1:31 min
Did my father strike my gentleman for chiding of his fool? (OSWALD: Ay, madam.) By day and night, he wrongs me; every hour He flashes into one gross crime or other, That sets us…
12
Fool from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · sarcastic · 0:52 min
Why, after I have cut the egg i’ the middle and eat up the meat, the two crowns of the egg. When thou clovest thy crown i’ the middle and gav’st away both parts, thou bor’st thine…
13
Goneril from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · defiant · 0:54 min
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,…
14
Goneril from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · defiant · 1:03 min
This admiration, sir, is much o’ the favour 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…
15
Lear from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · anguished · 1:36 min
Darkness and devils! Saddle my horses; call my train together. Degenerate bastard! I’ll not trouble thee: Yet have I left a daughter. (GONERIL: You strike my people; and your…
16
Lear from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · dark · 1:02 min
It may be so, my lord. Hear, nature, hear; dear goddess, hear! Suspend thy purpose, if thou didst intend To make this creature fruitful! Into her womb convey sterility! Dry up in…
17
Lear from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · defiant · 1:17 min
What, fifty of my followers at a clap? Within a fortnight? (ALBANY: What’s the matter, sir?) I’ll tell thee. (To Goneril.) Life and death! I am asham’d That thou hast power to…
18
Edmund from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · dramatic · 0:59 min
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,…
19
Edmund from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · dark · 1:06 min
Look, sir, I bleed. (GLOUCESTER: Where is the villain, Edmund?) Fled this way, sir. When by no means he could,— (GLOUCESTER: Pursue him, ho! Go after. —By no means what?) Persuade…
20
Edmund from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · defiant · 0:55 min
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…
21
Kent from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · defiant · 1:26 min
Thou whoreson zed! thou unnecessary letter! My lord, if you’ll give me leave, I will tread this unbolted villain into mortar and daub the walls of a jakes with him. Spare my grey…
22
Kent from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · contemplative · 1:14 min
Pray do not, sir: I have watch’d, and travell’d hard; Some time I shall sleep out, the rest I’ll whistle. A good man’s fortune may grow out at heels: Give you good morrow!…
23
Edgar from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · anguished · 1:19 min
I heard myself proclaim’d, And by the happy hollow of a tree Escap’d the hunt. No port is free, no place That guard and most unusual vigilance Does not attend my taking. While I…
24
Kent from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · defiant · 1:08 min
My lord, when at their home I did commend your highness’ letters to them, Ere I was risen from the place that show’d My duty kneeling, came there a reeking post, Stew’d in his…
25
Fool from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · philosophical · 1:16 min
We’ll set thee to school to an ant, to teach thee there’s no labouring i’the winter. All that follow their noses are led by their eyes but blind men; and there’s not a nose among…
26
Lear from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · anguished · 1:49 min
Vengeance! plague! death! confusion! Fiery? What quality? Why, Gloucester, Gloucester, I’d speak with the Duke of Cornwall and his wife. (GLOUCESTER: Well, my good lord, I have…
27
Lear from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · anguished · 1:49 min
Return to her, and fifty men dismiss’d? No, rather I abjure all roofs, and choose To wage against the enmity o’ the air; To be a comrade with the wolf and owl, Necessity’s sharp…
28
Lear from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · anguished · 1:44 min
O, reason not the need: our basest beggars Are in the poorest thing superfluous: Allow not nature more than nature needs, Man’s life is cheap as beast’s. Thou art a lady; If only…
29
Kent from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · dramatic · 2:42 min
Sir, I do know you; And dare, upon the warrant of my note Commend a dear thing to you. There is division, Although as yet the face of it be cover’d With mutual cunning, ’twixt…
30
Fool from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · philosophical · 1:24 min
(Singing.) He that has and a little tiny wit, With heigh-ho, the wind and the rain, Must make content with his fortunes fit, Though the rain it raineth every day. (LEAR: True,…
31
Lear from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · anguished · 1:29 min
Let me alone. (KENT: Good my lord, enter here.) Wilt break my heart? (KENT: I had rather break mine own. Good my lord, enter.) Thou think’st ’tis much that this contentious storm…
32
Lear from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · anguished · 1:02 min
Prythee go in thyself; seek thine own ease: This tempest will not give me leave to ponder On things would hurt me more. But I’ll go in. (To the Fool.) In, boy; go first. You…
33
Edgar from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · anguished · 1:20 min
Away! the foul fiend follows me! Through the sharp hawthorn blows the cold wind. Humh! go to thy cold bed, and warm thee. (LEAR: Didst thou give all to thy two daughters? And art…
34
Edgar from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · dark · 1:54 min
Pillicock sat on Pillicock hill, Alow, alow, loo loo! (FOOL: This cold night will turn us all to fools and madmen.) Take heed o’ th’ foul fiend: obey thy parents; keep thy word…
35
Edgar from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · dark · 1:05 min
Poor Tom; that eats the swimming frog, the toad, the todpole, the wall-newt and the water; that in the fury of his heart, when the foul fiend rages, eats cow-dung for sallets;…
36
Edgar from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · contemplative · 0:55 min
When we our betters see bearing our woes, We scarcely think our miseries our foes. Who alone suffers, suffers most i’ the mind, Leaving free things and happy shows behind: But…
37
Gloucester from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · anguished · 0:56 min
I am tied to the stake, and I must stand the course. (REGAN: Wherefore to Dover, sir?) Because I would not see thy cruel nails Pluck out his poor old eyes; nor thy fierce sister…
38
Goneril from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · defiant · 1:28 min
(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…
39
Albany from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · anguished · 1:19 min
O Goneril! You are not worth the dust which the rude wind Blows in your face! I fear your disposition; That nature which contemns its origin Cannot be bordered certain in itself.…
40
Regan from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · dark · 1:26 min
Why should she write to Edmund? Might not you Transport her purposes by word? Belike, Somethings, I know not what, I’ll love thee much. Let me unseal the letter. (OSWALD: Madam, I…
41
Edgar from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · anguished · 1:20 min
Y’are much deceiv’d: in nothing am I chang’d But in my garments. (GLOUCESTER: Methinks you’re better spoken.) Come on, sir; here’s the place. Stand still. How fearful And dizzy…
42
Lear from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · defiant · 2:39 min
Ha! Goneril with a white beard! They flattered me like a dog; and told me I had white hairs in my beard ere the black ones were there. To say ‘ay’ and ‘no’ to everything I said…
43
Lear from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · defiant · 2:20 min
And the creature run from the cur? There thou mightst behold the great image of authority: a dog’s obeyed in office. Thou rascal beadle, hold thy bloody hand! Why dost thou lash…
44
Edgar from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · dark · 1:54 min
I know thee well. A serviceable villain, As duteous to the vices of thy mistress As badness would desire. (GLOUCESTER: What, is he dead?) Sit you down, father; rest you. Let’s see…
45
Cordelia from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · anguished · 1:20 min
Very well. (PHYSICIAN: Please you draw near. Louder the music there!) O my dear father! Restoration hang Thy medicine on my lips; and let this kiss Repair those violent harms that…
46
Lear from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · anguished · 1:24 min
Pray, do not mock me: I am a very foolish fond old man, Fourscore and upward, not an hour more nor less; And to deal plainly, I fear I am not in my perfect mind. Methinks I should…
47
Edmund from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · dark · 1:23 min
The enemy’s in view; draw up your powers. Here is the guess of their true strength and forces By diligent discovery; but your haste Is now urg’d on you. (ALBANY: We will greet the…
48
Lear from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · melancholic · 1:29 min
No, no, no, no. Come, let’s away to prison: We two alone will sing like birds i’ the cage: When thou dost ask me blessing I’ll kneel down And ask of thee forgiveness. So we’ll…
49
Edgar from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · defiant · 1:24 min
Know my name is lost; By treason’s tooth bare-gnawn and canker-bit. Yet am I noble as the adversary I come to cope. (ALBANY: Which is that adversary?) What’s he that speaks for…
50
Edgar from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · anguished · 1:27 min
Worthy prince, I know’t. (ALBANY: Where have you hid yourself? How have you known the miseries of your father?) By nursing them, my lord. List a brief tale; And when ’tis told, O…
51
Edgar from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · anguished · 1:22 min
This would have seem’d a period To such as love not sorrow; but another, To amplify too much, would make much more, And top extremity. Whilst I was big in clamour, came there a…
52
Gentleman from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · anguished · 1:01 min
One minded like the weather, most unquietly. (KENT: I know you. Where’s the King?) Contending with the fretful elements; Bids the wind blow the earth into the sea, Or swell the…
53
Gloucester from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · dark · 1:33 min
Alack, alack, Edmund, I like not this unnatural dealing. When I desired their leave that I might pity him, they took from me the use of mine own house; charged me on pain of…
54
Edmund from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · dark · 0:57 min
Sir, I thought it fit To send the old and miserable King To some retention and appointed guard; Whose age has charms in it, whose title more, To pluck the common bosom on his…
55
Lear from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · anguished · 1:21 min
Right noble Burgundy, When she was dear to us, we did hold her so; But now her price is fall’n. Sir, there she stands: If aught within that little-seeming substance, Or all of it,…
56
Goneril from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · dramatic · 1:05 min
Sister, it is not little I have to say of what most nearly appertains to us both. I think our father will hence tonight. (REGAN: That’s most certain, and with you; next month with…
57
Edmund from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · dark · 1:28 min
That’s my fear. I pray you have a continent forbearance till the speed of his rage goes slower; and, as I say, retire with me to my lodging, from whence I will fitly bring you to…
58
Lear from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · defiant · 1:11 min
Thou but rememberest me of mine own conception: I have perceived a most faint neglect of late; which I have rather blamed as mine own jealous curiosity than as a very pretence and…
59
Fool from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · sarcastic · 1:00 min
That lord that counsell’d thee To give away thy land, Come place him here by me, Do thou for him stand. The sweet and bitter fool Will presently appear; The one in motley here,…
60
Goneril from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · dark · 1:41 min
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…
61
Kent from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · defiant · 1:07 min
What a brazen-faced varlet art thou, to deny thou knowest me! Is it two days ago since I tripped up thy heels and beat thee before the King? Draw, you rogue: for, though it be…
62
Regan from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · defiant · 1:04 min
I pray you, sir, take patience. I have hope You less know how to value her desert Than she to scant her duty. (LEAR: Say, how is that?) I cannot think my sister in the least Would…
63
Lear from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · anguished · 1:11 min
Ask her forgiveness? Do you but mark how this becomes the house? ‘Dear daughter, I confess that I am old; (Kneeling.) Age is unnecessary: on my knees I beg That you’ll vouchsafe…
64
Gloucester from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · anguished · 0:57 min
Here, take this purse, thou whom the heaven’s plagues Have humbled to all strokes: that I am wretched Makes thee the happier. Heavens deal so still! Let the superfluous and…
65
Gentleman from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · anguished · 1:15 min
Not to a rage: patience and sorrow strove Who should express her goodliest. You have seen Sunshine and rain at once: her smiles and tears Were like a better day. Those happy…
66
Gloucester from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · anguished · 1:05 min
Let go my hand. Here, friend, ’s another purse; in it a jewel Well worth a poor man’s taking. Fairies and gods Prosper it with thee! Go thou further off; Bid me farewell, and let…
67
Edgar from King Lear
William Shakespeare · play · dramatic · 1:24 min
Gone, sir, farewell. (Gloucester leaps, and falls along) And yet I know not how conceit may rob The treasury of life when life itself Yields to the theft. Had he been where he…

Length is estimated at a spoken pace of about 150 words a minute. Public-domain pieces are printed in full on their own page; copyrighted ones list the character and the source.

Not the one yet?

Describe the piece the way you would to a coach and the search reads the whole corpus, not this shelf. Free to start, no credit card.

Search the corpus Start rehearsing