King Lear, Act 5 Scene 1 runs 78 lines of dialogue, spoken by 5 speakers. That is shorter than the play’s average scene length of about 135 lines. This scene is part of Act 5 of King Lear.
Full Dialogue
Edmund ♂
Know of the duke if his last purpose hold,
Or whether since he is advised by aught
To change the course: he's full of alteration
And self-reproving: bring his constant pleasure.
Or whether since he is advised by aught
To change the course: he's full of alteration
And self-reproving: bring his constant pleasure.
Regan ♀
Our sister's man is certainly miscarried.
Edmund ♂
'Tis to be doubted, madam.
Regan ♀
Now, sweet lord,
You know the goodness I intend upon you:
Tell me–but truly–but then speak the truth,
Do you not love my sister?
You know the goodness I intend upon you:
Tell me–but truly–but then speak the truth,
Do you not love my sister?
Edmund ♂
In honour'd love.
Regan ♀
But have you never found my brother's way
To the forfended place?
To the forfended place?
Edmund ♂
That thought abuses you.
Regan ♀
I am doubtful that you have been conjunct
And bosom'd with her, as far as we call hers.
And bosom'd with her, as far as we call hers.
Edmund ♂
No, by mine honour, madam.
Regan ♀
I never shall endure her: dear my lord,
Be not familiar with her.
Be not familiar with her.
Edmund ♂
Fear me not:
She and the duke her husband!
She and the duke her husband!
Goneril ♀
[Aside] I had rather lose the battle than that sister
Should loosen him and me.
Should loosen him and me.
Albany ♂
Our very loving sister, well be-met.
Sir, this I hear; the king is come to his daughter,
With others whom the rigor of our state
Forced to cry out. Where I could not be honest,
I never yet was valiant: for this business,
It toucheth us, as France invades our land,
Not bolds the king, with others, whom, I fear,
Most just and heavy causes make oppose.
Sir, this I hear; the king is come to his daughter,
With others whom the rigor of our state
Forced to cry out. Where I could not be honest,
I never yet was valiant: for this business,
It toucheth us, as France invades our land,
Not bolds the king, with others, whom, I fear,
Most just and heavy causes make oppose.
Edmund ♂
Sir, you speak nobly.
Regan ♀
Why is this reason'd?
Goneril ♀
Combine together 'gainst the enemy;
For these domestic and particular broils
Are not the question here.
For these domestic and particular broils
Are not the question here.
Albany ♂
Let's then determine
With the ancient of war on our proceedings.
With the ancient of war on our proceedings.
Edmund ♂
I shall attend you presently at your tent.
Regan ♀
Sister, you'll go with us?
Goneril ♀
No.
Regan ♀
'Tis most convenient; pray you, go with us.
Goneril ♀
[Aside] O, ho, I know the riddle.–I will go.
Edgar ♂
If e'er your grace had speech with man so poor,
Hear me one word.
Hear me one word.
Albany ♂
I'll overtake you. Speak.
Edgar ♂
Before you fight the battle, ope this letter.
If you have victory, let the trumpet sound
For him that brought it: wretched though I seem,
I can produce a champion that will prove
What is avouched there. If you miscarry,
Your business of the world hath so an end,
And machination ceases. Fortune love you.
If you have victory, let the trumpet sound
For him that brought it: wretched though I seem,
I can produce a champion that will prove
What is avouched there. If you miscarry,
Your business of the world hath so an end,
And machination ceases. Fortune love you.
Albany ♂
Stay till I have read the letter.
Edgar ♂
I was forbid it.
When time shall serve, let but the herald cry,
And I'll appear again.
When time shall serve, let but the herald cry,
And I'll appear again.
Albany ♂
Why, fare thee well: I will o'erlook thy paper.
Edmund ♂
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 urged on you.
Here is the guess of their true strength and forces
By diligent discovery; but your haste
Is now urged on you.
Albany ♂
We will greet the time.
Edmund ♂
To both these sisters have I sworn my love;
Each jealous of the other, as the stung
Are of the adder. Which of them shall I take?
Both? one? or neither? Neither can be enjoy'd,
If both remain alive: to take the widow
Exasperates, makes mad her sister Goneril;
And hardly shall I carry out my side,
Her husband being alive. Now then we'll use
His countenance for the battle; which being done,
Let her who would be rid of him devise
His speedy taking off. As for the mercy
Which he intends to Lear and to Cordelia,
The battle done, and they within our power,
Shall never see his pardon; for my state
Stands on me to defend, not to debate.
Each jealous of the other, as the stung
Are of the adder. Which of them shall I take?
Both? one? or neither? Neither can be enjoy'd,
If both remain alive: to take the widow
Exasperates, makes mad her sister Goneril;
And hardly shall I carry out my side,
Her husband being alive. Now then we'll use
His countenance for the battle; which being done,
Let her who would be rid of him devise
His speedy taking off. As for the mercy
Which he intends to Lear and to Cordelia,
The battle done, and they within our power,
Shall never see his pardon; for my state
Stands on me to defend, not to debate.
78 lines rendered verbatim from the dialogue corpus.
Who’s On Stage
Speaking characters in this scene
| Character | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Edmund | 31 | 39.7% |
| Regan | 14 | 17.9% |
| Albany | 14 | 17.9% |
| Edgar | 12 | 15.4% |
| Goneril | 7 | 9.0% |
Line distribution
The top speaker in this scene delivers 31 lines, while the scene’s average per speaker is about 16 lines.
Total speakers on stage
5 named characters speak in this scene.
Scene in Context
Position within Act 5
This is Scene 1 of 3 in Act 5 of King Lear.
Scene length vs. play average
At 78 lines, this scene is shorter than the King Lear average scene in King Lear (~135 lines).
Adjacent scenes
Previous: Act 4 Scene 7 · Next: Act 5 Scene 2
About Act 5 Scene 1 of King Lear
Who carries Act 5 Scene 1 of King Lear?
Edmund, with 31 lines — about 40% of the scene.
Is the scene a dialogue or a solo?
With 5 speakers and the lead holding 40% of the lines, this scene is a balanced multi-voice exchange.