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On every trifle. When he returns from hunting Kent. Authority:
I will not speak with him ; say I am sick :

Lear. What services canst thou do?
If you come slack of former services,

Kent. I can keep honest counsel, ride, ron, You shall do well; the fault of it I'll answe:. mar a curious tale in telling it, and deliver a Osw. He's coming, madam ; I hear him. plain message bluntly; that which ordinary men

Horns within. are fit for, I am qualified in, and the best of me Gon. Put on what weary negligence you please, is diligence. You and your fellows; I'd have it come to ques. Lear. How old art thou ? tion:

Kent. Not so young, sir, to love a woman for If he distaste it, let him to my sister,

singing, nor so old to dote on her for any thing; Whose mind and mine, I know, in that are I have years on my back forty-eight. one,

Lear. Follow me; thou shalt serve me: if I Not to be over-rul'd. Idle old man,

like thee no worse after dinner I will not part That still would manage those authorities from thee yet. Dinner, hol dinner! Where's That he hath given away! Now, by my life, my knave? my fool ? Go you and call my fool Old fools are babes again, and must be us'd 20 hither,

Exit an Attendant. With checks as flatteries, when they are seen abus'd.

Enter OSWALD. Remember what I have said.

You, you, sirrah, where's my daughter ?
Osno.

Well, madam.
Osw. So please you,-

Excit. 50 Gon. And let his knights have colder looks

Lear. What says the fellow there? Call the among you;

clotpoll back.

Exit a Knight. What grows of it, no matter ; advise your Where's my fool, ho? I think the world's asleep.

. fellows so : I would breed from hence occasions, and I shall, That I may speak : I'll write straight to my How now! Where's that mongrel ?

Re-enter Knight sister To hold my very course. Prepare for dinner.

Knight. He says, my lord, your daughter is Eceunt.

not well.

Lear. Why came not the slave back to me SCENE IV.-A Hall in the Same.

when I called him?

Knight. Sir, he answered me in the roundest Enter KENT, disguised.

manner, he would not. Kent. If but as well I other accents borrow,

Lear. He would not ! That can my speech diffuse, my good intent

Knight. My lord, I know not what the matter May carry through itself to that full iss

is; but, to my judgment, your highness is not For which I raz'd my likeness. Now, banish'a entertained with that ceremonious affection as Kent,

you were wont; there's a great abatement of If thou canst serve where thou dost stand con. kindness appears as well in the general dedemn'd,

pendants as in the duke himself also and your So may it come, thy master, whom thou lov'st,

daughter. Shall find thee full of labours.

Lear. Ha ! sayest thou so ?

Knight. I beseech you, pardon me, my lord, Horns within. Enter LEAR, Knights, and if I be mistaken ; for my duty cannot be silent Attendants.

when I think your highness wronged. Lear. Let me not stay a jot for dinner : go,

Lear. Thou but rememberest me of mine own get it ready.

Exit an Attendant. conception: I have perceived a most faint How now! what art thou ?

10 neglect of late ; which I have rather blamed Kent. A man, sir.

as mine own jealous curiosity than as a very Lear. What dost thou profess? What would'st pretence and purpose of unkindness : I will look thou with us?

further into 't. But where's my fool ? I have Kent. I do profess to be no less than I seem ;

not seen him this two days. to serve him truly that will put me in trust; to

Knight. Since my young lady's going into love him that is honest; to converse with him France, sir, the fool bath much pined away. that is wise, and says little; to fear judgment;

Lear. No more of that; I have noted it well. to fight when I cannot choose ; and to eat no

Go you and tell my daughter I would speak fish.

with her.

Exit an Attendant, Lear. What art thou ?

Go you, call hither

my
fool.

Exit an Attendant, k'ent. A very honest-hearted fellow, and as poor as the king.

Re-enter OSWALD. Lear. If thou be as poor for a subject as he is for a king, thou art poor enough. What O! you sir, you, come you hither, sir. Who am would'st thou ?

I, sir? Kent. Service.

Osw. My lady's father. Lear. Whom would'st thou serve ?

Lear. “My lady's father'! my lord's kpave : Kent. You.

you whoreson dog! you slave ! you cur ! Lear. Dost thou know me, fellow?

Osw. I am none of these, my lord ; I beseech Kent. No, sir ; but you have that in your your pardon. coantenance which I would fain call master. 31 Lear. Do you bandy looks with me, you Lear. What's that?

Striking him.

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Prithee, nuncle, keep a schoolmaster that can teach thy fool to lie: I would fain learn to lie. Lear. An you lie, sirrah, we'll have you whipped.

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Fool. I marvel what kin thou and thy daughters are: they'll have me whipped for speaking true, thou 'lt have me whipped for lying; and sometimes I am whipped for holding my peace. I had rather be any kind o' thing than a fool; and yet I would not be thee, nuncle; thou hast pared thy wit o' both sides, and left nothing i' 140 the middle: here comes one o' the parings.

Enter GONERIL.

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In rank and not-to-be-endured riots. Sir

Enter ALBANY. I had thought, by making this well known unto Lear. Woe, that too late repents ; 01 sir, are

you, To have found a safe redress; but now grow Is it your will ? Speak, sir. Prepare my horses.

you come? fearful,

Ingratitude, thou marble-hearted fiend, By what yourself too late have spoke and done, More hideous, when thou show'st thee in a child, That you protect this course, and put it on Than the sea-monster. By your allowance ; which if you should, the Alb.

Pray, sir, be patient. fault

Lear. To GONERIL. Detested kite! thou liest: Would not 'scape censure, nor the redresses My train are men of choice and rarest parts, sleep,

That all particulars of duty know, Which, in the tender of a wholesome weal, And in the most exact regard support Might in their working do you that offence,

The worships of their name. O most small Which else were shame, that then necessity

fault, Will call discreet proceeding.

How ugly didst thou in Cordelia show! Pool. For you know, nuncle,

Which, like an engine, wrench'd my frame of The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so

nature long,

From the fix'd place, drew from my heart all That it bad it head bit off by it young. love, So out went the candle, and we were left dark- And added to the gall. O Lear, Lear, Lear! ling.

Beat at this gate, that let thy folly in, Lear. Are you our daughter ?

Striking his head. Gon. Come, sir,

And thy dear judgment out! Go, go, my people. I would you would make use of your good wis- Alb. My lord, I am guiltless, as I am ignorant dom,

Of what hath mov'd you. Whereof I know you are fraught; and put away Lear.

It may be so, my lord.
These dispositions which of late transport you Hear, Nature, hear! dear goddess, hear !
From what you rightly are.
Pool. May not an ass know when the cart To make this creature fruitful!

Suspend thy purpose, if thou didst intend
draws the horse? Whoop, Jug! I love thee. Into her womb convey sterility!
Lear. Doth any here know me! This is not Dry up in her the organs of increase,
Lear :

And from her derogate body never spring Does Lear walk thus ? speak thus ? Where are A babe to honour her! If she must teem, his eyes ?

Create her child of spleen, that it may live Either his notion weakens, his discernings 250 | And be a thwart disnatur'd torment to her! Are lethargied. Ha! waking ? 'tis not so. Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth, Who is it that can tell me who I am ?

With cadent tears fret channels in her cheeks, Fool. Lear's shadow.

Turn all her mother's pains and benefits Lear. I would learn that ; for by the marks To laughter and contempt, that she may feel of sovereignty, knowledge, and reason, I should How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is be false persuaded I had daughters.

To have a thankless child ! Away, away! Exit. Pool. Which they will make an obedient

Alb. Now, gods that we adore, whereof comes father.

this? Lear. Your name, fair gentlewoman?

Gon. Never afflict yourself to know the cause; Gon. This admiration, sir, is much o' the But let his disposition have that scope

260 That dotage gives it. Of other your new pranks. I do beseech you To understand my purposes aright:

Re-enter LEAR. As you are old and reverend, should be wise. Lear. What ! fifty of my followers at a clap; Here do you keep a hundred knights and Within a fortnight! squires ;

Alb.

What's the matter, sir? Men so disorder'd, so debosh'd, and bold,

Lear. I'll tell thee. To GONERIL. Life and That this our court, infected with their manners, death ! I am asham'd Shows like a riotous inn: epicurism and lust That thou hast power to sbake my manhood Make it more like a tavern or a brothel

thus, Than a grac'd palace. The shame itself doth That these hot tears, which break from me speak

perforce, For instant remedy ; be then desir'd 270 Should make thee worth them. Blasts and fogs By her, that else will take the thing she begs, A little to disquantity your train ;

The untented woundings of a father's curse And the rema der, that shall still depend, Pierce every sense about thee! old fond eyes, To be such men as may besort your age, Beweep this cause again, I'll pluck ye out, Which know themselves and you.

And cast you, with the waters that you lose, Lear.

Darkness and devils ! To temper clay. Yea, is it come to this? Saddle my horses ; call my train together. Let it be so : I have another daughter, Degenerate bastard ! I'll not trouble thee : Who, I am sure, is kind and comfortable : Yet have I left a daughter.

When she shall hear this of thee, with her nails Gon. You strike my people, and your dis- She'll flay thy wolvish visage. Thou shalt find order'd rabble

That I'll resume the shape which thou dost Make servants of their betters.

think

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savour

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upon thee!

:

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spy into.

SI

How now,

I have cast off for ever; thou shalt, I warrant Lear. Ha, ha, ha! thee.

Fool. Shalt see thy other daughter will use Exeunt LEAR, KENT, and Attendants. thee kindly; for though she's as like this as a Gon. Do you mark that, my lord ?

crab's like an apple, yet I can tell what I can Alb. I cannot be so partial, Goneril,

tell. To the great love I bear you, --

Lear. What canst tell, boy? Gon. Pray you, content. What, Oswald, ho! Fool. She will taste as like this as a crab does To the Fool. You, sir, more knave than fool, to a crab. Thou canst tell why one's nose after your master.

stands i' the middle on 's face !
Fool. Nuncle Lear, nuncle Lear! tarry, and Lear. No.
take the fool with thee.

Fool. Why, to keep one's eyes of either side's
A fox, when one has caught her, nose, that what a man cannot smell out, he may
And such a daughter,
Should sure to the slaughter,

'Lear. I did her wrong,
If my cap would buy a halter ;

Fool. Canst tell how an oyster makes his So the fool follows after.

E.cit. shell ? Gon. This man hath had good counsel. A Lear. No. hundred knights!

Fool. Nor I neither ? but I can tell why a 'Tis politic and safe to let him keep

snail bas a house. At point a hundred knights; yes, that on every Lear. Why? dream,

Pool. Why, to put 's head in; not to give it Each buzz, each fancy, each complaint, dislike, away to his daughters, and leave his horns He may enguard his dotage with their powers, without a case. And hold our lives in mercy. Oswald, I say ! 352 Lear. I will forget my nature. So kind a Alb. Well, you may fear too far.

father! Be my horses ready? Gon.

Safer than trust too far. Pool. Thy asses are gone about 'em. The Let me still take away the harms I fear, reason why the seven stars are no more than Not fear still to be taken: I know his heart. seven is a pretty reason. What he hath utter'd I have writ my sister ; Lear. Because they are not eight ? If she sustain him and his hundred knights, Fool. Yes, indeed: thou would'st make a When I have show'd the unfitness,

good fool.

Lear. To take 't again perforce! Monster Re-enter OswALD.

ingratitude!

Oswald ! Fool. If thou wert my fool, nuncle, I'd have What! have you writ that letter to my sister ? thee beaten for being old before thy time. Osw. Ay, madam.

Lear. How's that? Gon. Take you some company, and away to Fool. Thou should'st not have been old till horse :

thou hadst been wise. Inform her full of my particular fear ;

Lear. 01 let me not be mad, not mad, sweet And thereto add such reasons of your own

heaven; As may compact it more.

Get you gone,

Keep me in temper; I would not be mad ! And hasten your return.

Exit OSWALD.
No, no, my lord,

Enter Gentleman.
This milky gentleness and course of yours How now! Are the horses ready!
Though I condemn not, yet, under pardon, Gent. Ready, my lord.
You are much more attask'd for want of Lear. Come, boy.
wisdom

Pool. She that's a maid now, and laughs at Than prais'd for harmful mildness.

my departure, Alb. How far your eyes may pierce I cannot shall not be a maid long, unless things be cut tell :

shorter.

Ecount Striving to better, oft we mar what's well.

Gon. Nay, then–
Alb. Well, well; the event.

Exeunt.

ACT II.

SCENE I.- A Court within the Castle of the Earl of
SCENE V.-Court before the Same.

GLOUCESTER.
Enter LEAR, KENT, and Pool.

Enter EDMUND and CURAN, meeting. Lear. Go you before to Gloucester with these Edm. Save thee, Curan. letters. Acquaint my daughter no further with Cur. And you, sir. I have been with your any thing you know than comes from her de- father, and given him notice that the Duke of mand out of the letter. If your diligence be Cornwall and Regan his duchess will be here not speedy I shall be there before you.

with him this night. Kent. I will not sleep, my lord, till I have Edm. How comes that? delivered your letter.

Erit. Cur. Nay, I know not. You have heard of Pool. If a man's brains were in 's heels, were 't the news abroad? I mean the whispered ones. not in danger of kibes ?

for they are yet but ear-kissing arguments. Lear. Ay, boy.

Edm. Not I: pray you, what are they! Pool. Then, I prithee, be merry ; thy wit shall Cur. Have you heard of no likely wars towarı, ne'er go slip-shod.

'twist the Dukes of Cornwall and Albany ?

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Edm. Not a word.

By his authority I will proclaim it, Cur. You may do then, in time. Fare you That he which finds him shall deserve our thanks, well, sir.

Exit. Bringing the murderous coward to the stake ; Edm. The duke be here to-night ! The He that conceals him, death. better! best!

Edm. When I dissuaded him from his intent, This weaves itself perforce into my business. And found him pight to do it, with curst speech My father hath set guard to take my brother ; I threaten'd to discover him : he replied, And I have one thing, of a queasy question, * Thou unpossessing bastard ! dost thou think, Which I must act. Briefness and fortune, work! If I would stand against thee, would the reposal Brother, a word; descend : brother, I say ! Of any trust, virtue, or worth in thee Enter EDGAR,

Make thy words faith'd ? No: what I should

deny, My father watches : 0 sir! fly this place; As this I would; ay, though thou didst produce Intelligence is given where you are hid ; My very character, I'd turn it all You have now the good advantage of the night. To thy suggestion, plot, and damned practice : Have you not spoken 'gainst the Duke of And thou must make a dullard of the world, Cornwall ?

If they not thought the profits of my death He's coming hither, now, i' the night, i' the haste, were very pregnant and potential spurs And Regan with him ; have you nothing said To make thee seek it.' Upon his party 'gainst the Duke of Albany ? Glou.

Strong and fasten'd villain ! Advise yourself.

Would he deny his letter? I never got him. Edg. I am sure on 't, not a word.

Tucket within. Edm. I hear my father coming ; pardon me ; Hark! the duke's trumpets. I kuow not why In cunning I must draw my sword upon you ; 31 he comes. Draw; seem to defend yourself; now quit you All ports I'll bar; the villain shall not 'scape ; well.

The duke must grant me that : besides, his Yield; come before my father. Light, ho! picture here!

I will send far and near, that all the kingdom Fly, brother. Torches ! torches! So, farewell. May have due note of him ; and of my land,

Exit EDGAR. Loyal and natural boy, I'll work the means Some blood drawn on me would beget opinion To make thee capable.

Wounds his arm. Of my more fierce endeavour: I have seen

Enter CORNWALL, REGAN, and Attendants. drunkards

Corn. How now, my noble friend ! since I Do more than this in sport. Father ! father ! came hither, Stop, stop! No help?

Which I can call but now, I have heard strange

news. Enter GLOUCESTER, and Servants with torches.

Reg. If it be true, all vengeance comes too short Glou. Now, Edmund, where's the villain ? Which can pursue the offender. How dost, my Edm. Here stood he in the dark, his sharp lord ? sword out,

Glou. O! madam, my old heart is crack'd, is Mumbling of wicked charms, conjuring the moon crack'd. To stand auspicious mistress.

Reg. What! did my father's godson seek your Glou.

But where is he? 41 life? Edm. Look, sir, I bleed.

He whom my father nam'd ? your Edgar? Glou.

Where is the villain, Edmund ? Glou. O ! lady, lady, shame would have it hid. Edm. Fled this way, sir. When by no means Rej. Was he not companion with the riotous he could

knights Glou. Pursue him, lio! Go after. Lxit Serrant. That tend upon my father? By no means what?

Glou. I know not, madam ; 'tis too bad, too bad. Edm. Persuade me to the murder of your Edm. Yes, madam, lie was of that consort. lordship;

Reg. No marvel then though he were ill But that I told him, the revenging gods

affected ; 'Gainst parricides did all the thunder bend ; 'Tis they have put him on the old man's death, Spoke with how manifold and strong a bond To have the expense and waste of his revenues. The child was bound to the father ; sir, in fine, | I have this present evening from my sister Seeing how loathly opposite I stood

Been well inform‘d of them, and with such To his upnatural purpose, in fell motion,

cantions With his prepared sword he charges home That if they come to sojourn at my house, My unprovided body, lanc'd mine arm :

I'll not be there. But when he saw my best alarum'd spirits

Corn.

Nor I, assure thee, Regan. Bold in the quarrel's right, rous'd to the Edmund, I hear that you have shown your father encounter,

A child-like office. Or whether gasted by the noise I made,

Edm.

'Twas my duty, sir. Full suddenly he fled.

Glou. He did bewray his practice; and receiv'd Glou.

Let him fly far : This hurt you see, striving to apprehend him. Not in this land shall he remain uncaught; Corn. Is he pursued ? And found - dispatch. The noble duke my Glou.

Ay, my good lord. master,

Corn. If he be taken he shall never more My worthy arch and patron, comes to-night : 60 Be fear'd of doing harm; make your own purpose,

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