The worships of their name.-O most small fault, How ugly didst thou in Cordelia show!

Which, like an engine,1 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 out!-Go, go, my people. Alb. My lord, I am guiltless, as I am ignorant Of what hath moved 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:

Into her womb convey sterility;

Dry up in her the organs of increase;

And from her derogate 2 body never spring
A babe to honor her! If she must teem,
Create her child of spleen, that it may live,
And be a thwart disnatured torment to her:
Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth;
With cadent 3 tears fret channels in her cheeks;
Turn all her mother's pains and benefits
To laughter and contempt; that she may feel
How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is
To have a thankless child!-Away, away!

[Exit.

A rack.

2 Degraded.

3 Falling.

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

this?

Gon. Never afflict yourself to know the cause; 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?

Lear. I'll tell thee:-Life and death! I am

ashamed

That thou hast power to shake my manhood thus ;
[to Goneril.
That these hot tears, which break from me perforce,
Should make thee worth them.-Blasts and fogs
upon thee!

The untented 1 woundings of a father's curse
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,
To temper clay.-Ha! is it come to this?
Let it be so. Yet have I left a daughter,
Who, I am sure, is kind and comfortable.
When she shall hear this of thee, with her nails
She'll flay thy wolfish visage. Thou shalt find,
That I'll resume the shape which thou dost think

1 Undressed.

I have cast off for ever; thou shalt, I warrant thee.

[Exeunt Lear, Kent, and Attendants.

Gon. Do you mark that, my lord?

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, and take the fool with thee.

A fox, when one has caught her,
And such a daughter,

Should sure to the slaughter,
If my cap would buy a halter;

So the fool follows after.'

[Exit.

Gon. This man hath had good counsel.—A hun

dred knights!

"Tis politic and safe to let him keep

At point1 a hundred knights, Yes, that on every

dream,

Each buz, each fancy, each complaint, dislike,
He may enguard his dotage with their powers,
And hold our lives in mercy.-Oswald, I say!
Alb. Well, you may fear too far.
Gon.
Safer than trust too far:
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;

1 Completely armed.

If she sustain him and his hundred knights,
When I have show'd the unfitness,-

Oswald?

Enter STEWARD.

-How now,

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

Gon. Take you some company, and away to

horse:

Inform her full of my particular fear;

And thereto add such reasons of your own,

As may compact it more.

And hasten your return.

lord,

Get you gone;

[Exit Stew.] No, no, my

This milky gentleness, and course of yours, Though I condemn it not; yet, under pardon, You are much more attask'd1 for want of wisdom, Than praised for harmful mildness.

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.

1 Liable to reprehension.

[Exeunt.

SCENE V.

Court before the same.

Enter LEAR, KENT, and Fool.

Lear. Go you before to Gloster with these letters: acquaint my daughter no farther with any thing you know, than comes from her demand out of the letter. If your diligence be not speedy, I shall be there before you.

Kent. I will not sleep, my lord, till I have delivered your letter. [Exit. 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 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 is like an apple, yet I can tell what I can tell.

Lear. Why, what canst thou tell, my 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 his face?

Lear. No.

Fool. Why, to keep his eyes on either side his nose; that what a man cannot smell out, he may spy into.

Lear. I did her wrong: