that, which ordinary men are fit for, I am qualified in; and the best of me is diligence.

Lear. How old art thou?

Kent. Not so young, sir, to love a woman for singing; nor so old, to dote on her for any thing: I have years on my back, forty-eight.

Lear. Thy name?

Kent. Caius..

Lear. Follow me; thou shalt serve me.

Enter OSWALD singing, and passing KING LEAR carelessly.

Now, sir?

Osw. Sir. Tol de rol, &c. [Exit singing. Lear. What says the fellow ? call the clodpole back. [Exeunt KENT and Second KNIGHT.

3 Knight. My lord, I know not; but, methinks, your highness is entertained with slender ceremony. Lear. Say'st thou so?

Thou but remember'st me of mine own conception. Enter First KNIGHT.

Why came not that slave back when I call'd him? 1 Knight. My lord, he answered, i'th'surliest manner, that he would not.

Lear. I hope our daughter did not so instruct him. OSWALD brought in by KENT and Second KNIGHT. Now, who am I, sir?

Osw. My lady's father.

Lear. My lady's father! My lord's knave.

Osw. I'll not be struck, my lord.

[Strikes him.

Kent. Nor tripp'd neither, you vile civet-box.

[Trips up his Heels.

Lear. I thank thee, fellow, thou serv'st me.

Kent. Come, sir, arise, away; I'll teach you dif

ferences.

[Erit OSWALD, Gon. [Within.] By day and night! this is insuffer

able;

I will not bear it.

Enter GONERIL, attended.

Lear. Now, daughter, why that frontlet on ? Speak, does that frown become our presence? Gon. Sir, this licentious insolence of your servants Is most unseemly; hourly they break out In quarrels, bred by their unbounded riots; I had fair hope, by making this known to you, To have had a quick redress; but find, too late, That you protect and countenance their outrage; And therefore, I take this freedom, which Necessity makes discreet.

Lear. Are you our daughter?

Gon. Come, sir, let me entreat you to make use Of your discretion, and put off betimes This disposition that of late transforms you From what you rightly are.

Lear. Does any here know me? Why, this is not Lear!

Does Lear walk thus? Speak thus? Where are his

eyes?

Who is it that can tell me who I am?
Your name, fair gentlewoman?

Gon. Come, sir, this admiration's much o'th' sa

vour

Of other your new humours; I beseech you
To understand my purposes aright;
As you are old, you should be staid and wise:
Here do you keep an hundred knights and squires,
Men so debauch'd and bold, that this our palace
Shows like a riotous inn, a tavern, brothel:
Be then advis'd by her, that else will take
That which she hegs, to lessen your attendants;
Take half away, and see that the remainder

Be such as may befit your age, and know
Themselves and you.

Lear. Darkness and devils!-
Saddle my horses, call my train together.
Degenerate viper! - I'll not stay with thee;
I yet have left a daughter-Serpent! Monster!-
Lessen my train, and call them riotous!
All men approv'd, of choice and rarest parts,
That each particular of duty know.

How small, Cordelia, was thy fault!-O Lear,
Beat at this gate that let thy folly in,

And thy dear judgment out!-Go, go, my people.

Enter ALBANY, attended.

Ingrateful duke! - Prepare my horses. - Was this your

will?

Who stirs?

Alb. What, sir?

[Exit Fourth KNIGHT.

Lear. Death! fifty of my followers at a clap?
Alb. The matter, madam?

Gon. Never afflict yourself to know the cause,

But give his dotage way.

Lear. Blasts upon thee!

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

To temper clay. No, Gorgon;-thou shalt find
That I'll resume the shape, which thou dost think
I have cast off for ever.

Gon. Mark ye that?

Alb. I'm ignorant

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;

That from her derogate body never spring

A babe to honour her! - If she must teem,
Create her child of spleen; that it may live,
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,
How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is,
To have a thankless child!-Away, away!

[Exeunt KING LEAR and his ATTENDANTSALBANY, GONERIL, and their ATTENDANTS.

ACT THE SECOND.

SCENE I.

The EARL OF GLOSTER'S Castle.

Enter EDMUND.

Edm. The duke comes here to-night; I'll take ad

vantage

Of his arrival to complete my project.

Brother, a word; come forth! 'tis I, your friend.

Enter EDGAR.

My father watches for you, fly this place;
Intelligence is given where you are hid;
Take the advantage of the night.-Bethink,
Have you not spoke against the Duke of Cornwall

Something might show you a favourer of
Duke Albany's party?

Edg. Nothing; why ask you?

Edm. Because he's coming here to-night in haste,

And Regan with him.

Edg. Let them come on; I'll stay and clear my

self.

Edm. Your innocence at leisure may be heard,
But Gloster's storming rage as yet is deaf,
And you may perish ere allow'd the hearing.
I hear our father coming-Pardon me :-
In cunning I must draw my sword upon you:-
Draw: seem to defend yourself: now quit you well;
Yield: come before my father; -help, ho, here!-
Fly, brother;-help, here, help!-farewell, farewell.-
[Exit EDGAR.

Some blood drawn on me would beget opinion
Of our more fierce encounter-I have seen

Drunkards do more than this in sport.

[Stabs himself in the Arm.

Enter GLOSTER and SERVANTS.

Glost. Now, Edmund, where's the traitor?

Edm. Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword

out,

Mumbling of wicked charms,

Glost. But where is he?

Edm. Look, sir, I bleed.

Glost. Where is the villain, Edmund?

Edm. Sir, he is fled. When by no means he couldGlost. By no means, what?

Edm. Persuade me to the murder of your lordship;

But that I told him the revenging gods
'Gainst parricides did all their thunders bend;
Spoke with how manifold and strong a bond
The child was bound to the father; -sir, in fine,
Seeing how loathly opposite I stood
To his unnatural purpose, in full motion,