nothing. Yes, forsooth, I will hold my tongue; so your face [to GoN.] bids me, though you say nothing. Mum, mum, He that keeps nor crust nor crumb, That's a shealed peascod. [Pointing to LEAR. Gon. Not only, sir, this your all-licens'd fool, But other of your insolent retinue Do hourly carp and quarrel; breaking forth In rank and not-to-be-endured riots. Sir, I had thought, by making this well known unto you, By your allowance; which if you should, the fault The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so long Gon. I would you would make use of your good wisdom, Whereof I know you are fraught; and put away These dispositions, which of late transport you From what you rightly are. Fool. May not an ass know when the cart draws the horse? -Whoop, Jug! I love thee. Lear. Does any here know me?-This is not Lear: Does Lear walk thus? speak thus? Where are his eyes? Either his notion weakens, his discernings Are lethargied.—Ha! waking? 'tis not so. Who is it that can tell me who I am? Fool. Lear's shadow. Lear. I would learn that; for, by the marks of sovereignty, Knowledge, and reason, I should be false persuaded I had daughters. Fool. Which they will make an obedient father. Lear. Your name, fair gentlewoman? Gon. This admiration, sir, is much o' the favour Of other your new pranks. I do beseech you As you are old and reverend, should be wise. Here do you keep a hundred knights and squires; That this our court, infected with their manners, Than a grac'd palace. The shame itself doth speak By her that else will take the thing she begs, A little to disquantity your train; And the remainder, that shall still depend, Darkness and devils! Lear. Yet have I left a daughter. Gon. You strike my people; and your disorder'd rabble Make servants of their betters. Enter ALBANY. Lear. Woe, that too late repents,—[to ALB.] O, sir, are you come? Is it your will? Speak, sir.-Prepare my horses.— More hideous when thou show'st thee in a child Alb. Pray, sir, be patient. [To GONERIL Lear. Detested kite! thou liest: My train are men of choice and rarest parts, That all particulars of duty know; And in the most exact regard support The worships of their name. -O most small fault, Which, like an engine, wrench'd my frame of nature From the fix'd place; drew from my heart all love, And added to the gall. O Lear, Lear, Lear! Beat at this gate, that let thy folly in [Striking his head. And thy dear judgment o it!-Go, go, my people. Alb. My lord, I am guiltless, as am ignorant Of what hath mov'd you. Lear. It may be so, my lord. Hear, nature, hear; dear goddess, hear! To make this creature fruitful! Into her womb convey sterility! Dry up in her the organs of increase; And from her derogate body never spring Alb. Now, gods that we adore, whereof Gon. Never afflict yourself to know more of it; But let his disposition have that scope That dotage gives it. Re-enter LEAR. Lear. What, fifty of my followers at a clap! Within a fortnight! Alb. What's the matter, sir? [Exit. comes Lear. I'll tell thee,--Life and death!-I am asham'd [To GONERIL. That thou hast power to shake my manhood thus ; thee! The untented woundings of a father's curse Pierce every sense about thee!-Old fond eyes, And cast you, with the waters that you lose, Let it be so: I have another daughter, Who, I am sure, is kind and comfortable: When she shall hear this of thee, with her nails [Exeunt LEAR, KENT, and Attendants Gon. Do you mark that? Alb. I cannot be so partial, Goneril, To the great love I bear you, Gon. Pray you, content. -What, Oswald, ho! You, sir, more knave than fool, after your master. [To the Fool. Fool. Nuncle Lear, nuncle Lear, tarry,-take the fool with thee.- A fox, when one has caught her, If my cap would buy a halter: Gon. This man hath had good counsel. knights! "Tis politic and safe to let him keep [Exit. A hundred At point a hundred knights: yes, that on every dream, Gon. How now, Oswald! Re-enter OSWALD. What, have you writ that letter to my sister? Gon. Take you some company, and away to horse: And thereto add such reasons of your own As may compact it more. Get you gone; And hasten your return. [Exit OSWALD.]-No, no, my lord, This milky gentleness and course of yours, Though I condemn it not, yet, under pardon, You are much more attask'd for want of wisdom Than prais'd for harmful mi'dness. Alb. How far your eyes may pierce I cannot tell: Striving to better, oft we mar what's well. Gon. Nay, then,— Alb. Well, well; the event. [Exeunt. SCENE V.-Court before the DUKE OF ALBANY'S Palace. Enter LEAR, KENT, and Fool. Lear. Go you before to Gloster with these letters: acquaint my daughter no further with anything you know than comes from her demand out of the letter. If your dili gence be not speedy, I shall be there afore you. Kent. I will not sleep, my lord, till I have delivered your letter. [Exit. Fool. If a man's brains were in 's neels, were't not in danger of kibes? Lear. Ay, boy. Fool. Then, I pr'ythee, be merry; thy wit shall not go slipshod. Lear. Ha, ha, ha! Fool. Shalt see thy other daughter will use thee kindly; for though she's as like this as a crab's like an apple, yet I can tell what I can tell. Lear. What canst tell, boy? Fool. She will taste as like this as a crab does to a crab. Thou canst tell why one's nose stands i' the middle on 's face? Lear. No. Fool. Why, to keep one's eyes of either side's nose, that what a man cannot smell out, he may spy into. Lear. I did her wrong, Fool. Canst tell how an oyster makes his shell? Lear. No. Fool. Nor I neither; but I can tell why a snail has a house. Lear. Why? Fool. Why, to put his head in; not to give it away to his daughters, and leave his horns without a case. Lear. I will forget my nature. So kind a father!-Be my horses ready? Fool. Thy asses are gone about 'em. The reason why the seven stars are no more than seven is a pretty reason. Lear. Because they are not eight? Fool. Yes, indeed: thou wouldst make a good fool. Lear. To take't again perforce!-Monster ingratitude! Fool. If thou wert my fool, nuncle, I'd have thee beaten for being old before thy time. Lear. How's that? Fool. Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst been wise. Lear. O, let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven! Keep me in temper: I would not be mad! Enter Gentleman. How now! are the horses ready? Gent. Ready, my lord. Lear. Come, boy. Fool. She that's a maid now, and laughs at my departure, Shall not be a maid long, unless things be cut shorter. 1 [Exeunt. |