let me; if I had a monopoly out, they would have part on't and ladies too, they will not let me have all fool to my felf; they'll be fnatching.-Give me an egg, nuncle, and I'll give thee two crowns. Lear. What two crowns fhall they be?

Fool. Why, after I have cut the egg i' the middle, and eat up the meat, the two crowns of the 988 When thou clov't thy crown i' the middle, and gaveft away both parts, thou boreft thine afs on thy back over the dirt: Thou had'ft little wit in thy bald crown, when thou gaveft thy golden one away. If I fpeak like myself in this, let him' be whipp'd that first finds it fo.

Fools ne'er had lefs grace in a year; [Singing.
For wife men are grown foppish:

And know not how their wits to wear,

Their manners are Jo apifh.

Lear. When were you wont to be fo full of fongs, firrah!

Fool. I have used it, nuncle, ever fince thou mad't thy daughters thy mothers: for when thou gaveft them the rod, and put'ft down thine own breeches,

Then they for fudden joy did weep, [Singing.
And I for forrow fung,

That fuch a king fhould play bo-peep,
And go the foals among

Pr'ythee, nuncle, keep a fchool-mafter that can steach thy fool to lie; I would fain learn to lie. Lear. If you lie, firrah, we'll have you whipt.

Fool. I marvel, what kin thou and thy daughters are: they'll have me whipt for fpeaking true, thou'lt have me whipt for lying; and, fometimes, 1 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 haft pared thy wit o both fides, and left nothing in the middle: Here comes one o' the parings.

Enter GONERÍL.

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

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

Fool. Thou waft a pretty fellow, when thou had'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, forfooth, I will hold my tongue; [To GONERIL.] fo your face bids me, though you fay nothing, Mum, mum.

He that keeps not cruft nor crum,
Weary of all fhall want fome.-

That's a fheal'd peafcod!

[Pointing to LEAR Gon. Not only, fir, this your all-licens'd fool, But other of your infolent retinue

Do hourly carp and quarrel; breaking forth
In rank and not-to-be-endur'd riots. Sir,

I had thought, by making this well known unto you
To have found a fafe redrefs; but now grow fearful
By what yourself too late have spoke and done,
That you protect this course, and put it on
By your allowance; which if you should, the faul
C 2
Would

Would not 'fcape cenfure, nor the redreffes fleep;
Which, in the tender of a wholesome weal,
Might in their working do you that offence,
Which elfe were fhame, that then neceffity
Would call difcreet proceeding.

Fool. For you trow, nuncle,

The hedge fparrow fed the cuckoo fo 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, fir,

I would, you would make use of that good wisdom Whereof I know you are fraught; and put away Thefe difpofitions, which of late transform you From what you rightly are.

Fool. May not an afs know when the cart draws the horfe?Whoop, Jug, I love thee. Lear. Does any here know me?

is not Lear:

-Why, this

Does Lear walk thus? fpeak thus?--Where are his eyes?

Either his notion weakens, or his difcernings
Are lethargy'd-Ha! waking?-'Tis not fo.—
Who is it that can tell me who I am?-Lear's fha-
I would learn that: for, by the marks

[dow?
Of fov'reignty, of knowledge, and of reason,
I fhould be falfe perfuaded I had daughters.-
Your name, fair gentlewoman?

Gon. Come, fir:

This admiration is much o' the favour

Of other your new pranks. I do befeech you
To understand my purposes aright:

A;

As you are old and reverend, you should be wife:
Here do you keep a hundred knights and fquires;
Men fo diforder'd, fo 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,
Than a grac'd palace. The shame itself doth speak
For inftant remedy: Be then desir’d

By her, that else will take the thing she begs,
A little to difquantity your train;

And the remainder, that fall till depend,
To be fuch men as may befort your age,
And know themselves and you.

Lear. Darknefs and' devils!

Saddle my horfes; call my train together.-
Degenerate baftard! I'll not trouble thee;
Yet have I left a daughter.

Gon. You ftrike my people; and your diforder'd Maké fervants of their betters.

Enter ALBANY.

[rabble

Lear. Woe that too late repents-O, fir, are

you come?

Is it your will? speak, fir.-Prepare my horfes.[To ALBANY. Ingratitude! thou marble-hearted fiend,

More hideous, when thou fhew'it thee in a child, Than the fea-monster!

Alb. Pray, fir, be patient.

Lear. Detefted kite! thou lieft.

[To GONERIL,

My train are men of choice and rarest parts,

That all particulars of duty know;

And in the moft exact regard fupport

The worfhips of their name.-O most small fault,

C 3

How

How ugly didft thou in Cordelia fhew!

Which, like an engine, wrench'd myframe of nature 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 go 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 mov'd you.

Lear. It may be fo, my lord

Hear, nature, hear! dear goddess, hear!
Sufpend thy purpose, if thou didst intend
To make this creature fruitful!
Into her womb convey fterility;
Dry up in her the organs of increase;
And from her derogate body never fpring
A babe to honour her! If fhe must teem,
Create her child of fpleen; that it may live,
And be a thwart difnatur'd torment to her!
Let it ftamp 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 the may feel
How fharper than a ferpent's tooth it is
To have a thanklefs child!-Away, away! [Exit.
Alb. Now, gods, that we adore, whereof comes
this?

Gon. Never affli& yourself to know the caufe;
But let his difpofition have the scope

That dotage gives it.

Re-enter LEAR.

Lear. What, fifty of my followers at a clap! Within a fortnight!

Alb