Knight. My lord, I know not what the matter is; but, to my judgment, your highness is not entertained with that ceremonious affection as you were wont; there's a great abatement of kindness appears as well in the general dependants as in the duke himself also and your daughter. Lear. Ha! sayest thou so? Knight. I beseech you, pardon me, my lord, if I be mistaken; for my duty cannot be silent when I think your highness wronged. 71 Lear. Fool Lear. Thou but rememberest me of mine own conception: I have perceived a most faint neglect of late; which I have rather blamed as mine own 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 him this two days. Knight. Since my young lady's going into France, sir, the fool hath much pined away. Lear. No more of that; I have noted it well. Go you, and tell my daughter I would speak with her. [Exit an Attendant.] Go you, call hither my fool. [Exit an Attendant. Re-enter OsWALD. O, you sir, you, come you hither, sir: who am I, sir? Osw. My lady's father. Lear. My lady's father'! my lord's knave: your whoreson dog! you slave! you cur! Osw. I am none of these, my lord; I beseech your pardon. 91 Lear. Do you bandy looks with me, you rascal ? [Striking him. Osw. I'll not be struck, my lord. Kent. Nor tripped neither, you base football player. [Tripping up his heels. Lear. I thank thee, fellow; thou servest 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 Oswald out. Lear. Now, my friendly knave, I thank thee: there's earnest of thy service. [Giving Kent money, Sirrah, I'll teach thee a speech. Do. Kent. This is nothing, fool. Fool. 130 140 Then 'tis like the breath of an unfee'd lawyer; you gave me nothing for't. Can you make no use of nothing, nuncle? Lear. Why, no, boy; nothing can be made out of nothing. Fool. [To Kent] Prithee, tell him, so much the rent of his land comes to: he will not believe a fool. would have 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. 171 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 middle, and gavest away both parts, thou borest thy ass on thy back o'er the dirt: thou hadst little wit in thy bald crown, when thou gavest thy golden one away. If speak like myself in this, let him be whipped that first finds it so. 180 [Singing] Fools had ne'er less wit in a year; Lear. When were you wont to be so full of songs, sirrah ? Fool. I have used it, nuncle, ever since thou madest thy daughters thy mothers: for when thou gavest them the rod, and put'st down thine own breeches, 190 [Singing] Then they for sudden joy did weep, And I for sorrow sung, That such a king should play bo-peep, And go the fools among. Prithee, nuncle, keep a schoolmaster that can teach thy fool to lie: I would fain learn to lie. Lear. An you lie, sirrah, wo'll have you whipped. 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' the middle: here comes one o' the parings. Fool. Thou wast a pretty fellow when thou hadst 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. [To Gon.] Yes, forsooth, I will hold my tongue; so your face bids me, though you say nothing. Mum, mum, He that keeps nor crust nor crum, [Pointing to Lear] That's & shealed peascod. Gon. Not only, sir, this your all-licensed fool, But other of your insolent retinue 220 Do hourly carp and quarrel; breaking forth unto you, To have found a safe redress; but now grow fearful, Fool. Which they will make an obedient father. Lear. Your name, fair gentlewoman? savor Of other your new pranks. I do beseech you To understand my purposes aright : 260 As you are old and reverend, you should be wise. Here do you keep a hundred knights and squires; Men so disorder'd, so debosh'd and bold, That this our court, infected with their manners, Shows like a riotous inn: epicurism and lust Make it more like a tavern or a brothel Than a graced palace. The shame itself doth speak 270 For instant remedy: be then desired Lear. Of what hath moved you. 300 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 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 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 310 To have a thankless child! Away, away! [Exit. Alb. Now, gods that we adore, whereof comes this ? Gon. Never afflict yourself to know the hundred knights! 'Tis politic and safe to let him keep At point a hundred knights: yes, that, on every dream, Each buzz, each fancy, each complaint, dis like, He may enguard his dotage with their pow How now, Oswald ! What, have you writ that letter to my sister? Osw. Yes, madam. Gon. Take you some company, and away to horse: 360 Inform her full of my particular fear; no, my lord, This milky gentleness and course of yours Though I condemn not, yet, under pardon, 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. 40 Lear. Because they are not eight? Fool. Yes, indeed: thou wouldst make a good fool. [ingratitude! Lear. To take 't again perforce! Monster Fool. If thou wert my fool, nuncle, I'ld 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? 50 SCENE I. The Earl of Gloucester's castle. Enter EDMUND, and CURAN meets him. Edm. Save thee, Curan. Cur. And you, sir. I have been with your father, and given him notice that the Duke of Cornwall and Regan his duchess will be here with him this night. Edm. How comes that ? Cur. Nay, I know not. You have heard of the news abroad; I mean the whispered ones, for they are yet but ear-kissing arguments? Edm. Not I pray you, what are they? 10 Cur. Have you heard of no likely wars toward, 'twixt the Dukes of Cornwall and Albany? Edm. Not a word. Cur. You may do, then, in time. well, sir. Fare you [Exit. Edm. The duke be here to-night? The better! best! This weaves itself perforce into my business. My father hath set guard to take my brother; And I have one thing, of a queasy question, Which I must act briefness and fortune, work! 20 Brother, a word; descend: brother, I say! My father watches: O sir, fly this place; 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 29 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 well. Yield come before my father. Light, ho, here! Fly, brother. Torches, torches! So, farewell. [Exit Edgar. Some blood drawn on me would beget opinion [Wounds his arm. Of my more fierce endeavor: I have seen drunkards Do more than this in sport. Father, father! Stop, stop! No help? Enter GLOUCESTER, and Servants with torches. Glou. Now, Edmund, where's the villain? Edm. Look, sir, I bleed. Glou Pursue him, ho! Go after. [Exeunt some Servants.] By no means what? Edm. Persuade me to the murder of your lordship; But that I told him, the revenging gods 51 'Gainst parricides did all their thunders bend; Or whether gasted by the noise I made, Glou. master, 60 Make thy words faith'd? No: what I should deny, As this I would ay, though thou didst produce My very character,-I'ld turn it all To thy suggestion, plot, and damned practice: Glou. 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 the due note of him; and of my land, Loyal and natural boy, I'll work the means Enter CORNWALL, REGAN, and Atttendants. Corn. How now, my noble friend! since I came hither, Which I can call but now, I have heard strange news. Reg. If it be true, all vengeance comes too short 90 Which can pursue the offender. How dost, my lord? Glou. O, madam, my old heart is crack'd, it's crack'd! Reg. What, did my father's godson seek your life? He whom my father named? your Edgar? Glou. O, lady, lady, shame would have it hid! Reg. Was he not companion with the riotous knights That tend upon my father? [too bad. Glou. I know not, madam: 'tis too bad, Edm. Yes, madam, he was of that consort. Reg. No marvel, then, though he were ill affected: 100 |