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Lear. What dost thou profess? What would'sty thou with us?

Kent. I do profess to be no less than I seem; to serve him truly, that will put me in trust; to love him that is honest; to converse with him that is 5 wise, and says little; to fear judgement; to fight, when I cannot choose; and to eat no fish2.

Lear. What art thou?

Kent. A very honest-hearted fellow, and as poor as the king.

Lear. If thou be as poor for a subject as he is for a king, thou art poor enough. What would'st thou?

Kent. Service.

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jappears, as well in the general dependents, as in the duke himself also, and your daughter.

Lear. Ha! say'st thou so?

Knight. I beseech you, pardon me, my lord, if I be mistaken; for my duty cannot be sient, when I think your highness is wrong'd.

Lear. Thou but remember'st me of mine own conception: I have perceived a most faint neglect of late; which I have rather blained as mine own 10 jealous curiosity, than as a very pretence 'and purpose of unkindness: I will look further into 't.But where 's my fool? I have not seen hin these two days.

Knight. Since my young lady's going into 15 France, sir, the fool hath much pin'd away.

Lear. No more of that; I have noted it well.-
Go you, and tell my daughter I would speak
with her.-Go you, call hither my fool.-
Re-enter Steward.

200, you sir, you sir, come you hither: Who am I,
Stew. My lady's father.
[sir?
Lear. My lady's father! my lord's knave: you
whoreson dog! you slave! you cur!

Kent. I can keep honest counsel, ride, run, mar a curious tale in telling it, and deliver a plain message bluntly: that which ordinary men are fit 25 for, I am qualify'd in; and the best of me is diligence.

Lear. How old art thou?

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Stew. I am none of these, my lord; I beseech you, pardon me.

Lear. Do you bandy looks with me, you rascal?

[Striking him. Stew. I'll not be struck, my lord. Kent. Nor tript neither; you base foot-ball player. [Tripping up his heels. Lear. I thank thee, fellow; thou serv'st me, and I'll love thee.

Kent. Come, sir, arise, away; I'll teach you differences; away, away: If you will measure your lubber's length again, tarry: but away: go to: Have you wisdom? so.

[Pushes the Steward out. Lear. Now, my friendly knave, I thank thee: there's carnest of thy service. [Giving Kent money. Enter Fool.

Fool. Let me hire him too;-Here's my coxcomb. [Giring Kent his cap. Lear. How now, my pretty knave? how dost

thou?

Fool. Sirrah, you were best take my coxcomb.
Kent. Why, fool?

Fool. Why, for taking one's part that is out of favour: Nay, an thou canst not smile as the wind sits, thou'lt catch cold shortly: There, take my oxcomb: Why, this fellow has banish'd two of his daughters, and did the third a blessing against his will; it thou follow him, thou must needs wear my coxcomb.-—How now, nuncle è 'Would I had two coxcombs, and two daughters!

To converse signifies immediately and properly to keep company, not to discourse or talk. His meaning is, that he chooses for his companions men of reserve and caution; men who are no tattlers nor tale-bearers, In Queen Elizabeth's time, the Papists were esteemed, and with good reason, enemies to the government.-Hence the proverbial phrase of He's an honest man, and eats no fish; to signify he is a friend to the government, and a Protestant; the eating fish, on a religious account, being then esteemed such a badge of popery, that when it was enjoin'd for a season by act of parliament, for the encouragement of the fish-towns, it was thought necessary to declare the reason; hence it was called Cecil's fast. 3 Pretence for design. * Meaning his cap, called so because on the top of the fool's or jester's cap was sewed a piece of red cloth, resembling the comb of a cock.-The word, afterwards, was used to denote a vain, conceited, meddling fellow. Two toolscaps, intended, as it seems, to mark double folly in the man that gives all to his daughters., 304

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Lear.

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Lear. What two crowns shall they be?

Fool. Why, after I have cut the egg i' the middle, and eat up the meat, the two crowns of the egg. When thou clovest thy crown i' the 5 middle, and gavest away both parts, thou borest thine ass on thy back over the dirt: Thou had'st little wit in thy bald crown, when thou gavest thy golden one away. If I speak like myself in this, let him be whipp'd that first finds it so.

Fool. Sirrah, I'll teach thee a speech. [To Kent, 10
Lear. Do.

Fool. Mark it, nuncle :

Have more than thou showest,
Speak less than thou knowest,
Lend less than thou owest 2,
Ride more than thou goest,
Learn more than thou trowest3,
Set less than thou throwest;
Leave thy drink and thy whore,
And keep in a-door,

And thou shalt have more

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Fool's ne'er had less grace in a year; [Singing.
For wise men are grown foppish;

And know not how their wits to wear,
Their manners are so apish.

Lear. When were you wont to be so full of 15 songs, sirrah?

20

Can you 25

Lear. Why, no, boy; nothing can be made out of nothing.

Fool. Pr'ythee, tell him, so much the rent of his land comes to; he will not believe a fool.

Lear. A bitter fool!

[To Kent.

Fool. Dost thou know the difference, my boy,
between a bitter fool and a sweet fool?
Lear. No, lad, teach me.

Fool. That lord, that counsell'd thee
To give away thy land,,
Come, place him here by me,-
Or do thou for him stand:
The sweet and bitter fool
Will presently appear;
The one in motley here,

The other found out there.

Lear. Dost thou call me fool, boy?

Fool. All thy other titles thou hast given away

that thou wast born with.

Kent. This is not altogether fool, my lord.

|

Fool. I have used it, nuncle, ever since thou mad'st thy daughters thy mothers: for when thou gav'st them the rod, and putt'st down thine own breeches,

Then they for sudden joy did weep, [Singing,
And I for sorrow sung,

That such a king should play bo-peep,
And go the fools among.

Pr'ythee, nuncle, keep a school-master that can
teach thy fool to lie; I would fain learn to lie.
Lear. If you lie, sirrah, we'll have you whipt.

Fool. I marvel, what kin thou and thy daughters are: they'll have me whipt for speaking true, thou 'It have me whipt for lying; and, sometimes, 30I am whipt for holding my peace. I had rather be any kind of thing, than a fool: and yet I would not be thee, nuncle; thou hast pared thy wit o' both sides, and left nothing in the middle: Here comes one of the parings."

35

Enter Goneril.

Lear. How now, daughter? what makes that frontlet on?

6

Methinks, you are too much of late i' the frown,

Fool. Thou wast a pretty fellow, when thou 40had'st no need to care for her frowning; now thou art an O without a figure: I am better than thou art now; I am a fool, thou art nothing. Yes, forsooth, I will hold my tongue; [to Goneril.] so your face bids me, though you say nothing. 45 Mum, mum,

Fool. No, 'faith, lords and great men will not let me; if I had a monopoly on't, they would have 50 part on 't: and ladies too, they will not let me have all fool to myself; they'll be snatching. Give me an egg, nuncle, and I'll give thee two

crowns,

3

2

He that keeps nor crust nor crum,
Weary of all, shall want some.-
That's a sheal'd 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, [you,
I had thought, by making this well known unto
To have found a safe redress; but now grow fearful,

1 Brach is a bitch of the hunting-kind. 'That is, do not lend all that thou hast.—To owe, in old English, is to possess. To trow, is an old word which signifies to believe. • A satire on the gross abuses of monopolies at that time; and the corruption and avarice of the courtiers, who commonly went shares with the patentee.-Monopolies were, in Shakspeare's time, the common objects of satire. "The meaning is, There never was a time when fools were less in favour; and the reason is, that they were never so little wanted, for wise men now supply their place. Both the quarto editions read less wit for less grace. Lear alludes to the frontlet, which was anciently part of a woman's dress. i.e now a mere husk, which contains nothing.

By

By what yourself too late have spoke and done,
That you protect this course, and put it on1
By your allowance; which if you should, the fault
Would not 'scape censure, nor the redresses sleep;
Which, in the tender of a wholesome weal,
Might in their working do you that offence,
Which else were shame, that then necessity.
Will call discreet proceeding.

Fool. For you trow, nuncle,

The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so long,
That it had its head bit off by its young.

So, out went the candle, and we were left darkling.
Lear. Are you our daughter?

Gon. Come, sir,

I would, you would make use of that good wisdom
Whereof I know you are fraught; and put away
These dispositions, which of late transform 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?-Why, this is
not Lear:

[eyes?
Does Lear walk thus? speak thus?-Where are his
Either his notion weakens, or his discernings
Are lethargy'd-Ha! waking?—'Tis not so.-
Who is it that can tell me who I am?-Lear's
shadow?

I would learn that; for by the marks
Of sov'reignty, of knowledge, and of reason,
I should be false persuaded I had daughters.-
Your name, fair gentlewoman?

Gon. Come, sir,

This admiration is much o' the favour
Of other your new pranks. I do beseech you
To understand my purposes aright:

As you are old and reverend, you should be wise:
Here do you keep a hundred knights and squires;
Men so disorder'd, so debauch'd and bold,
That this our court, infected with their manners,
Shews like a riotous inn: epicurism and lust
Make it more like a tavern, or a brothel, [speak
Than a grac'd palace'. The shame itself doth
For instant remedy: Be then desir'd

By her, that else will take the thing she begs,
A little to disquantity your train;
And the remainder, that shall still depend',
To be such men as may besort your age,
And know themselves and you.

Lear. Darkness and devils!

Saddle my horses; call my train together.—
Degenerate bastard! I'll not trouble thee;
Yet have I left a daughter.

[rabble

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Is it your will? speak, sir.-Prepare my horses.—
Llo Albany
Ingratitude! thou marble-hearted fiend,
More hideous, when thou shew'st thee in a child
5 Than the sea-monster' !

Alb. Pray, sir, be patient.

Lear. Detested kite! thou liest: [To Goneril. My train are men of choice and rarest parts, That all particulars of duty know;

10 And in the most exact regard support

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The worships of their name.-O most small fault,
How ugly didst thou in Cordelia shew! [nature
Which, like an engine, wrench'd by frame of
From the fixt 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 judgement out!-Go, go, my people.
Alb. My lord, I am guiltless, as I am ignorant
20 Of what hath mov'd you.

Lear. It may be so, my lord.

Hear, nature! hear; dear goddess, hear!
Suspend thy purpose, if thou didst intend
To make this creature fruitful!

25 Into her womb convey sterility;

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Dry up in her the organs of increase;
And from her derogate' body never spring
A babe to honour her! If she must teem,
Create her child of spleen; that it may live,
30 And be a thwart disnatur'd torment to her!
Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth:
With cadent' tears fret channels in her cheeks;
Turn all her mother's pains and benefits
To laughter and contempt; that she may feel
35 How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is
To have a thankless child!-Away, away! [Exit.
Alb. Now, gods, that we adore, whereof comes

this?

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upon thee!

The untented 10 woundings of a father's curse
55 Pierce every sense about thee!-Old fond eyes,
Beweep this cause again, I'll pluck you out;
And cast you, with the waters that you lose,

4

1i. e. promote, push it forward. 2 Mr. Steevens has been informed, that this is a quotation from the burthen of an old song, A palace grac'd by the presence of a sovereign. Depend, for continue in service. 'Mr. Upton observes, that the sea-monster is the Hippopotamus, the hieroglyphical symbol of impiety and ingratitude.-Sandys, in his Travels, says "that he killeth his sire, and ravisheth his own dam.". By an engine is meant the rack. Derogate here means degraded, blasted. " Disnatur'd is wanting in natural affection. i. e. falling tears. tepted wounds, means wounds in their worst state, not having a tent in them to digest them.

6

7

10 Un

To

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Let me still take away the harms I fear,
Not fear still to be taken. I know his heart:
What he hath utter'd, I have writ my sister;
If she sustain him and his hundred knights,
When I have shew'd the unfitness,---How now, 35
Oswald?

Enter Steward.

What, have you writ that letter to my sister?
Stew, Ay, madam.

[horse:
Gon. Take you some company, and away to 40
Inform her full of my particular fear:
And thereto add such reasons of your own,
As may compact it more. Get you gone;
And hasten your return. No, no, my lord,

[Exit Steward. 45| This milky gentleness, and course of yours, Though I condemn it not, yet, under pardon, You are much more at task for want of wisdom, Than prais'd for harmful mildness.

[tell:

fters: acquaint my daughter no further with any thing you know than comes from her demand out of the letter: If your diligence be not speedy, L shall be there before you.

Kent. I will not sleep, my lord, 'till I have deliver'd your letter.

Fool. If a man's brains were in his heels,were't not in danger of kibes?

Lear. Ay, boy.

Fool. Then I pr'ythee be merry; thy wit shall not go slip-shod.

Lear. Ha, ha, ha!

Fool. Shalt see, thy other daughter will use thee kindly; for though she's as like this as a crab is like an apple, yet I can tell what I can tell. Lear. Why, what canst thou 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 of one's face?

Lear. No.

Fool. Why, to keep one's eyes on either side one'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 with

out 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 would'st make a good fool.

Lear. To take it 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 should'st not have been old before thou hadst been wise.

Lear. O, let me not be mad, not mad, sweet Keep me in temper; I would not be

heaven!

Alb. How far your eyes may pierce, I cannot 50 mad!Striving to better, oft' we mar what's well.

Gon. Nay, then-

Alb. Well, well; the event.

SCENE

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A Court-yard before the Duke of Albany's Palace. 55 Enter Lear, Kent, and Fool.

Lear. Go you before to Gloster with these let

3

Enter a Gentleman.

How now? are the horses ready?

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At point, probably means completely armed, and consequently ready at appointment or command on the slightest notice. That is, Unite one circumstance with another, so as to make a consistent account. To be at task, is to be liable to reprehension and correction. He is He is meditating on his daughter's having in so violent a manner deprived him of those privileges which before she had agreed to grant him.

musing on Cordelia.

ACT

SCENE I.

ACT II.

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Cur. Nay, I know not: You have heard of the news abroad; I mean the whisper'd ones, for they are yet but ear-kissing arguments 1?

Edm. Not 1; Pray you, what are they?

5

Glo. But where is he?

Edm. Look, sir, I bleed.

Glo. Where is the villain, Edmund?
Edm. Fled this way, sir. When by no means
he could-
[means, what
Glo. Pursue him, ho!-Go after.- -By no
Edm. Persuade me to the murder of your lord-
But that I told him, the revenging gods [ship
'Gainst parricides did all their thunders bend;
10 Spoke, with how manifold and strong a bond
The child was bound to the father;-Sir, in fine,
Seeing how lothly opposite I stood

To his unnatural purpose, in fell motion,
With his prepared sword, he charges home

Cur. Have you heard of no likely wars toward, 15 My unprovided body, lanc'd mine arm: 'twixt the dukes of Cornwall and Albany?

Edm. Not a word.

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Edm. The duke be here to-night? The better!20
Best!

This weaves itself perforce into my business!
My father hath set guard to take my brother;
And I have one thing, of a queazy1 question,
Which I must act :--Briefness, and fortune, work!--25
Brother, a word;-descend:-Brother, I say;
Enter Edgar.

My father watches:-O, sir, fly this place;
Intelligence is given where you are hid;
You have now the good advantage of the night:-30
Have you not spoken 'gainst the duke of Cornwall?
He's coming hither, now, i' the night, i' the haste,
And Regan with him; Have you nothing said
Upon his party 'gainst the duke of Albany?
Advise yourself.

Edg. I am sure on 't, not a word.

well.

But when he saw my best alarum'd spirits,
Bold in the quarrel's right, rous'd to the encounter,
Or whether-gasted by the noise I made,
Full suddenly he fled.

Glo. Let him fly far:

Not in this land shall he remain uncaught; [ter,
And found--Dispatch.-The noble duke my mas-
My worthy arch and patron comes to-night:
By his authority I will proclaim t,

That he, which finds him, shall deserve our thanks,
Bringing the murderous coward to the stake;`
He that conceals him, death.

Edm. When I dissuaded him from his intent,
And found him pight' to do it, with curst speech
I threaten'd to discover him: He replied,
"Thou unpossessing bastard! dost thou think,

If I would stand against thee, would the reposal "Of any trust, virtue, or worth, in thee [deny, "Make thy words faith'd? No: what I should 35" (As this I would; ay, though thou didst proMy very character) I'd turn it all [duce

Edm. I hear my father coming,-Pardon me :-
In cunning, I must draw my sword upon you:-
Draw: Seem to defend yourself: Now quit you
[here!-40
Yield:-Come before my father;-Light, ho,|
Fly,brother;-Torches! torches!-So, farewell.-
[Exit Edgar.

Some blood drawn on me would beget opinion
[Wounds his arm. 45
Ofmymorefierce endeavour: I haveseendrunkards
Do more than this in sport.-Father! father!
Stop, stop! No help?

Enter Gloster, and Servants with torches.
Glo. Now, Edmund, where's the villain?
Edm. Here stood he in the dark, his sharp

sword out,

Mumbling of wicked charms, conjuring the moon
To stand his auspicious mistress:-

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"To thy suggestion, plot, and damned practice:
"And thou must make a dullard of the world,
"If they not thought the profits of my death
Were very pregnant and potential spurs
"To make thee seek it." [Trumpets within.
Glo. O strange, fasten'd villain!
[him
Would he deny his letter, said he?—I never got
Hark, the duke's trumpets! I know not why he

comes:

All ports I'll bar; the villain shall not 'scape;
The duke must grant me that: besides, his picture
I will send far and near, that all the kingdom
May have due note of him: and of my land,
50 Loyal and natural boy, I'll work the means
To make thee capable'.

Enter Cornwall, Regan, and Attendants.
Corn. How now, my noble friend? since I
came hither,

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i. e. frighted. i. e. chief; a word now

1 Ear-kissing arguments means, that they are yet in reality only whisper'd ones. means delicate; what requires to be handled nicely. used only in composition, as arch-angel, arch-duke. is severe, harsh, vehemently angry,

legal bar of thy illegitimacy.

5

Pight is pitch'd, fixed, settled. • Curst

?i. e. capable of succeeding to my land, notwithstanding the

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