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 I speak like myself in this, let him be whipped that first finds it so. [Singing] Fools had ne'er less wit in a year; For wise men are grown foppish, They know not how their wits to wear, Their manners are so apish. 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 mother: for when thou gavest them the rod, and puttest down thine own breeches, [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, we 'll whipped. have you 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. Enter GONERIL. Lear. How now, daughter! what makes that 189. puttest, i.e. didst put. 180 190 200 frontlet on? Methinks you are too much of late i' the frown. Fool. Thou wast a pretty fellow when thou 210 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, He that keeps nor crust nor crum, Weary of all, shall want some. Mum, [Pointing to Lear] That's a shealed peascod. Gon. Not only, sir, this your all-licensed fool, But other of your insolent retinue Do hourly carp and quarrel; breaking forth 220 In rank and not to be endured riots. Sir, I had thought, by making this well known unto you, fearful, By what yourself too late have spoke and done, Fool. For, you know, nuncle, The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so long, So out went the candle, and we were left darkling. 230 I would you would make use of that good wisdom, 240 Fool. May not an ass know when the cart draws the horse? Whoop, Jug! I love thee. Lear. Doth any here know me? This is not Doth Lear walk thus? speak thus? Where are his eyes? Either his notion weakens, his discernings Are lethargied-Ha! waking? 'tis not so. 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 savour 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 debosh'd and bold, That this our court, infected with their manners, Shows like a riotous inn: epicurism and lust Than a graced palace. speak 245. Whoop, Jug, etc. Intentional nonsense to cloak his plain speaking. 'Jug' was a colloquial term for a mistress. 248. notion, understanding. 252-256. I would learn . The shame itself doth 250 260 father. Omitted in Ff. Perhaps 263. debosh'd, debauched. For instant remedy: be then desired By her that else will take the thing she begs Lear. Darkness and devils! Saddle my horses; call my train together. Degenerate bastard! I'll not trouble thee: Gon. You strike my people, and your disorder'd Make servants of their betters. 270 Enter ALBANY. Lear. Woe, that too late repents,-[To Alb.] O, sir, are you come? Is it your will? Speak, sir. Prepare my horses. 280 Ingratitude, thou marble-hearted fiend, More hideous when thou show'st thee in a child Alb. Pray, sir, be patient. Lear. [To Gon.] 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, How ugly didst thou in Cordelia show! That, like an engine, wrench'd my frame of nature 290 From the fix'd place; drew from my heart all love, 271. still depend, continue to wait on you (the word is suggested by 'train '). 272. besort, sort with, be come. 283. the sea-monster; perhaps the hippopotamus, which according to Egyptian tradition (accessible to Shakespeare in Holland's translation of Plutarch) 'kills its sire and ravishes its dam' (Wright). 285. choice and rarest (the superlative applies to both). And added to the gall. O Lear, Lear, Lear! [Striking his head. It may be so, my lord. Hear, nature, hear; dear goddess, hear! Into her womb convey sterility! Dry up in her the organs of increase ; To have a thankless child! Away, away! [Exit. 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: [To Gon.] Life and death! I am ashamed 302. derogate, degraded. 303. teem, give birth. 305. thwart, cross, perverse. 300 310 |