Scene 3: A Room in the Duke of Albany’s Palace

Enter Goneril and Oswald.

[GONERIL]: Did my father strike my gentleman for chiding of his fool?

[OSWALD]: Ay, madam.

[GONERIL]: By day and night, he wrongs me; every hour He flashes into one gross crime or other, That sets us all at odds; I’ll not endure it: His knights grow riotous, and himself upbraids us On every trifle. When he returns from hunting, I will not speak with him; say I am sick. If you come slack of former services, You shall do well; the fault of it I’ll answer.

[_Horns within._]

[OSWALD]: He’s coming, madam; I hear him.

[GONERIL]: Put on what weary negligence you please, You and your fellows; I’d have it come to question: If he distaste it, let him to our sister, Whose mind and mine, I know, in that are one, Not to be overruled. Idle old man, That still would manage those authorities That he hath given away! Now, by my life, Old fools are babes again; and must be us’d With checks as flatteries, when they are seen abus’d. Remember what I have said.

[OSWALD]: Very well, madam.

[GONERIL]: And let his knights have colder looks among you; What grows of it, no matter; advise your fellows so; I would breed from hence occasions, and I shall, That I may speak. I’ll write straight to my sister To hold my very course. Prepare for dinner.

[_Exeunt._]