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Then they for fudden joy did weep,
And I for forrow fung;

That fuch a King should play bo-peep,
And go the fools among.

Pr'ythee, nuncle, keep a fchool-mafter that can teach 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 speaking true, thou'lt have me whipt for lying; and, fometimes, I am whipt for holding my peace. I had rather be any kind o'thing than a fool, and yet I would not be thee, nuncle; thou haft pared thy wit o'both fides, and left nothing i' th' middle: here comes one o' th' parings.

To them, Enter Gonerill.

Lear. How now, daughter, what makes that frontlet on? you are too much of late i'th' frown.

Fool. Thou wait a pretty fellow, when thou hadft 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 Gonerill. fo your face bids me, tho' you fay nothing.

Mum, mum, he that keeps nor cruft nor trum, [Singing. Weary of all, fhall want fome.

That's a fheal'd peafcod.

Gon. Not only, Sir, 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 endured riots.

I thought, by making this well known unto you,
T'have found a fafe redrefs; but now grow fearful,
By what your felf too late have spoke and done,
That you protect this courfe, and put it on
By your allowance ; if you fhould, the fault
Would not 'fcape cenfure, nor the redreffes fleep;
Which, in the tender of a wholesome weal,

VOL. VI.

B

Might

Might in their working do you that offence, (Which else were shame,) that then neceffity Will call difcreet proceeding.

Fool. For you know, 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?

[dom,
Gon. I would, you would make ufe of your good wif-
Whereof I know you are fraught, and put away
Thefe difpofitions, which of late transport 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? this is not Lear: Does Lear walk thus ? fpeak thus? where are his eyes? Either his notion weakens, his difcernings

Are lethargied

Ha! waking

Who is it that can tell me who I am?

'tis not fo;

Lear's fhadow? I would learn; for by the marks
Of fovereignty, of knowledge, and of reafon,
fhould be falfe perfuaded I had daughters.
Your name, fair gentlewoman?

Gon. This admiration, Sir, is much o'th' favour
Of other your new pranks. I do beseech you,
To understand my purposes aright.

You, as you're old and reverend, fhould be wife.
Here do you keep a hundred Knights and Squires,
Men fo diforder'd, fo debauch'd and bold,

That this our Court, infected with their manners,
Shews like a riotous Inn; Epicurism and luft
Make it more like a tavern or a brothel,
Than a grac'd Palace. Shame itfelf doth speak
For inftant remedy. Be then defir'd

By her, that else will take the thing the begs,
Of fifty to difquantity your train;

A little is the common reading; but it appears, from what
Lear fays in the next Scene, that this number fifty was requir'd to
be cut off, which (as the editions flood) is 'no where specify'd by
Gonerill.
Mr. Pope.

And

And the remainders, that shall still depend,
To be fuch men as may befort your age,
And know themselves and you.

Lear. Darkness and devils!

Saddle my horfes, call my train together.-
Degen'rate bastard! I'll not trouble thee;
Yet have I left a daughter.

Gon. You ftrike my people, and
Make fervants of their betters.

your

To them, Enter Albany.

diforder'd rabble

Lear. Woe! that too late repents-O, Sir, are you

come?

Is it your will, fpeak, Sir? prepare my horfes.

Ingratitude! thou marble-hearted fiend,

[To Albany.

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

Alb. Pray, Sir, be patient.

Lear. Detefted kite! thou lieft.

[To Gonerill.

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 names.

O moft fmall fault!

How ugly didft thou in Cordelia fhew?

Which, like an engine, wrencht my frame 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 in. [Striking his head.
And thy dear judgment out. Go, go, my people.
Alb. My lord, I'm guiltless, as I'm ignorant,
Of what hath moved you.

Lear. It may be so, my

lord

Hear, Nature, hear; dear Goddess, hear a Father!
Sufpend thy purpose, if thou didst intend

To make this creature fruitful:

Into her womb convey fterility,

Dry up
And from her derogate body never spring
A Babe to honour her! If fhe muft teem,

in her the organs of increase,

B 2

Create

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Create her child of spleen, that it may live,
And be a thwart difnatur'd torment to her;
Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth,
With candent tears fret chanels in her cheeks: (5)
Turn all her mother's pains and benefits

To laughter and contempt; that she may feel,
How sharper than a ferpent's tooth it is,

To have a thankless child.

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Go, go, my people.

Alb. Now, Gods, that we adore, whereof comes this? Gon. Never afflict your felf to know of it: But let his difpofition have that scope,

That dotage gives it.

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 afham'd

That thou haft power to fhake my manhood thus ;

[To Gon. That these hot tears, which break from me perforce, Should make thee worth them. blafts and fogs upon

thee!

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Th' untented woundings of a father's curfe
Pierce every sense about thee! Old fond eyes,
Beweep this Caufe again, I'll pluck ye out,
And caft you, with the waters that you lofe,
To temper clay.

Ha! is it come to this?

Let it be fo: I have another daughter,

Who, I am fure, is kind and comfortable;
When the fhall hear this of thee, with her nails
She'll flea thy wolfish vifage. Thou shalt find,
That I'll resume the fhape, which thou dost think

(5) With cadent Tears.] Mr. Warburton very happily here fufpects our Author wrote, candent: as an Epithet of much more Energy, and more likely to effect Lear's Imprecation. He brings in Confirmation, what the King fays prefently after;

That these hot Tears, that break from me perforce, And what he fays towards the End of the 4th A&t: but I am bound

Upon a Wheel of Fire, that mine own Tears

Do fcald like molten Lead.

I have caft off for ever.

[Ex. Lear and attendants.

Gon. Do you mark that?
Alb. I cannot be fo partial, Gonerill,
To the great love I hear you,

Gon. Pray you, be content:

What, Ofswald, ho!

You, Sir, more knave than fool, after your mafter. Fool. Nuncle Lear, nuncle Lear, tarry, take the fool with thee:

A Fox, when one has caught her,

And fuch a daughter,

Should fure to the flaughter,

If my cap would buy a halter,

So the fool follows after.

Gon. This man hath had good counsel,

'Tis politick, and fafe, to let him keep

-

[Exit.

a hundred [Knights!

A hundred Knights; yes, that on ev'ry dream,
Each buz, each fancy, each complaint, diflike,
He may enguard his dotage with their pow'rs,
And hold our lives at mercy: Ofwald, I say.
Alb. Well, you may fear too far;
Gon. Safer than truft too far.

Let me ftill take away the harms I fear,
Not fear ftill to be harm'd. I know his heart;
What he hath utter'd, I have writ my fifter;
If fhe'll fuftain him and his hundred Knights,
When I have fhew'd th' unfitness

Enter Steward.

How now, Ofwald?

What, have you writ that letter to my fifter?

Stew. Ay, Madam.

Gon. Take you fome company, and away to horse; Inform her full of my particular fears,

And thereto add fuch reafons of your own,

As may compact it more. So get you gone,
And haften your return.

No, no, my lord,

[Exit Steward.

This milky gentleness and courfe of yours,
Though I condemn it not, yet, under pardon,

You

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