King Lear, Act 4 Scene 5 runs 45 lines of dialogue, spoken by 2 speakers. That is shorter than the play’s average scene length of about 135 lines. This scene is part of Act 4 of King Lear.
Full Dialogue
Regan ♀
But are my brother's powers set forth?
Oswald ♂
Ay, madam.
Regan ♀
Himself in person there?
Oswald ♂
Madam, with much ado:
Your sister is the better soldier.
Your sister is the better soldier.
Regan ♀
Lord Edmund spake not with your lord at home?
Oswald ♂
No, madam.
Regan ♀
What might import my sister's letter to him?
Oswald ♂
I know not, lady.
Regan ♀
'Faith, he is posted hence on serious matter.
It was great ignorance, Gloucester's eyes being out,
To let him live: where he arrives he moves
All hearts against us: Edmund, I think, is gone,
In pity of his misery, to dispatch
His nighted life: moreover, to descry
The strength o' the enemy.
It was great ignorance, Gloucester's eyes being out,
To let him live: where he arrives he moves
All hearts against us: Edmund, I think, is gone,
In pity of his misery, to dispatch
His nighted life: moreover, to descry
The strength o' the enemy.
Oswald ♂
I must needs after him, madam, with my letter.
Regan ♀
Our troops set forth to-morrow: stay with us;
The ways are dangerous.
The ways are dangerous.
Oswald ♂
I may not, madam:
My lady charged my duty in this business.
My lady charged my duty in this business.
Regan ♀
Why should she write to Edmund? Might not you
Transport her purposes by word? Belike,
Something–I know not what: I'll love thee much,
Let me unseal the letter.
Transport her purposes by word? Belike,
Something–I know not what: I'll love thee much,
Let me unseal the letter.
Oswald ♂
Madam, I had rather–
Regan ♀
I know your lady does not love her husband;
I am sure of that: and at her late being here
She gave strange oeillades and most speaking looks
To noble Edmund. I know you are of her bosom.
I am sure of that: and at her late being here
She gave strange oeillades and most speaking looks
To noble Edmund. I know you are of her bosom.
Oswald ♂
I, madam?
Regan ♀
I speak in understanding; you are; I know't:
Therefore I do advise you, take this note:
My lord is dead; Edmund and I have talk'd;
And more convenient is he for my hand
Than for your lady's: you may gather more.
If you do find him, pray you, give him this;
And when your mistress hears thus much from you,
I pray, desire her call her wisdom to her.
So, fare you well.
If you do chance to hear of that blind traitor,
Preferment falls on him that cuts him off.
Therefore I do advise you, take this note:
My lord is dead; Edmund and I have talk'd;
And more convenient is he for my hand
Than for your lady's: you may gather more.
If you do find him, pray you, give him this;
And when your mistress hears thus much from you,
I pray, desire her call her wisdom to her.
So, fare you well.
If you do chance to hear of that blind traitor,
Preferment falls on him that cuts him off.
Oswald ♂
Would I could meet him, madam! I should show
What party I do follow.
What party I do follow.
Regan ♀
Fare thee well.
45 lines rendered verbatim from the dialogue corpus.
Who’s On Stage
Speaking characters in this scene
| Character | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Regan | 33 | 73.3% |
| Oswald | 12 | 26.7% |
Line distribution
The top speaker in this scene delivers 33 lines, while the scene’s average per speaker is about 23 lines.
Total speakers on stage
2 named characters speak in this scene.
Scene in Context
Position within Act 4
This is Scene 5 of 7 in Act 4 of King Lear.
Scene length vs. play average
At 45 lines, this scene is shorter than the King Lear average scene in King Lear (~135 lines).
Adjacent scenes
Previous: Act 4 Scene 4 · Next: Act 4 Scene 6