Original: We’ll set thee to school to an ant, to teach thee there’s no labouring i’ th’ winter.
Modern: We should send you to learn from an ant, to teach you that there’s no point working in winter.

Original: All that follow their noses are led by their eyes but blind men, and there’s not a nose among twenty but can smell him that’s stinking.
Modern: Everyone who follows their instincts is guided by what they see, except blind men, and nineteen out of twenty people can smell someone who stinks.

Original: Let go thy hold when a great wheel runs down a hill, lest it break thy neck with following it; but the great one that goes upward, let him draw thee after.
Modern: Let go when a powerful person is falling from grace, or you’ll be destroyed following them down; but when someone powerful is rising, let them pull you up with them.

Original: When a wise man gives thee better counsel, give me mine again.
Modern: When a wise man gives you better advice than mine, then give my advice back to me.

Original: I would have none but knaves follow it, since a fool gives it.
Modern: I would only want dishonest people to follow my advice, since it comes from a fool.

Original: That sir which serves and seeks for gain,
Modern: That person who serves only for personal profit,

Original: And follows but for form,
Modern: And follows just for appearances,

Original: Will pack when it begins to rain
Modern: Will pack up and leave when trouble starts,

Original: And leave thee in the storm.
Modern: And abandon you in the crisis.

Original: But I will tarry; the fool will stay,
Modern: But I will remain; the fool will stay,

Original: And let the wise man fly.
Modern: And let the wise man run away.

Original: The knave turns fool that runs away;
Modern: The dishonest person becomes a fool by running away;

Original: The fool no knave, perdy.
Modern: The fool is no villain, by God.

In Act II, Scene iv of King Lear, Kent arrives at Gloucester’s castle in the stocks, where Lear discovers him and is outraged to learn that Regan and Cornwall have placed his messenger in this humiliating punishment. Lear demands to speak with his daughter and son-in-law, but they claim to be too tired and unwell to see him immediately. The Fool continues to offer pointed commentary on the situation through his riddles and jokes. When Regan and Cornwall finally appear, Lear complains bitterly about Goneril’s treatment of him, expecting Regan to be more sympathetic and to provide him refuge.

However, Regan proves to be just as cold as her sister, suggesting that Lear should return to Goneril and apologize. When Goneril herself arrives at Gloucester’s castle, both daughters unite against their father, progressively reducing the number of knights and followers they will allow him to keep. They argue that he needs no retinue at all since they can provide for his basic needs. As the scene reaches its climax, both daughters and their husbands go inside, leaving the elderly king outside in the approaching storm. Lear, accompanied by his Fool and Kent (who has been released from the stocks), rages against his daughters’ ingratitude and cruel treatment as thunder begins to rumble overhead.

King Lear centers on two parallel plots of familial betrayal and blindness to truth. The main plot follows the aging King Lear, who decides to divide his kingdom among his three daughters based on their public declarations of love. Goneril and Regan offer flowery but hollow speeches, while the honest Cordelia refuses to participate in this ceremony, saying she loves her father “according to my bond, no more nor less.” Enraged by her honesty, Lear banishes Cordelia and divides her portion between her sisters. The Earl of Kent, who tries to defend Cordelia, is also banished. Cordelia marries the King of France and departs, while Goneril and Regan quickly reveal their true nature by stripping their father of his retinue and dignity.

The subplot involves the Earl of Gloucester and his two sons: Edgar, his legitimate heir, and Edmund, his illegitimate son. Edmund masterfully manipulates his father through forged letters, convincing Gloucester that Edgar plans to kill him. Edgar is forced to flee and assumes the disguise of “Poor Tom,” a mad beggar. Meanwhile, Edmund continues his scheming, eventually becoming involved with both Goneril and Regan, who compete for his affections while plotting against each other.

As the play progresses, both fathers suffer for their inability to distinguish between appearance and reality. Lear descends into madness during a violent storm, accompanied by his Fool and the disguised Kent (who has returned to serve his master despite his banishment). Gloucester, attempting to help Lear, is brutally punished by Cornwall and Regan, who gouge out his eyes. Only then does he realize he has wronged Edgar and been deceived by Edmund. The play culminates in a final battle where the forces of evil largely destroy each other—Goneril poisons Regan and kills herself, Edmund is defeated in combat by Edgar, and Lear dies of grief while holding the dead Cordelia, who has been hanged on Edmund’s orders. The play ends with Edgar, Albany, and Kent left to restore order to a devastated kingdom.