Lear. Hear me, recreant ! The argument of your praise, balm of your On thine allegiance hear me! age, [time Since thou hast sought to make us break our Most best, most dearest, should in this trice of vow, (pride, Commit a thing so monstrous, to dismantle To speak and purpose pot; since whai I well No unchaste action, or dishonour'd step, favour : [richer; Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here. But even for want of that, for which I am The gods to their dear shelter take thee, maid, A still soliciting eye, and such a tongue, sit, [To CORDELIA. That I am glad I have not, though not to have That justly think’st, and has most rightly Hath lost me in your liking. said ! Lear. Better thou And your large speeches may your deeds ap- Hadst not been born, than not to have pleas'd prove, [To REGAN and GONERIL. me better. Which often leaves the history unspoke, (Exit. When it is mingled with respects, that stand Aloof from the entire point. Will you have Re-enter Gloster; with France, BURGUNDY, She is herself a dowry. (her? and Attendants. Bur. Royal Lear, Give but that portion which yourself propos’d, Duchess of Burgundy. Lear. Nothing: I have sworn; I am firm. We first address towards you, who with this Bur. I am sorry then, you have so lost a king [least, That you must lose a husband. [father, I shall not be bis wife. France. Fairest Cordelia, thou art most rich, (spis'd: Nor will you tender less. Most choice, forsaken ; and most lov'd, de- Thee and thy virtues here I seize upon: neglect chance, Is queen of us, of ours, and our fair France: Not all the dukes of wat'rish Burgundy Shall buy this unpriz'd precious maid of me. Thou losest here, a better where to find. Dower'd with our curse, and stranger'd with Lear. Thou bast her, France : let her be our oath, thine; for we Take her, or leave her? Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see That face of hers again :-Therefore be gone, (Flourish. Exeunt LEAR, BURGUNDY, Corn. I tell you all her wealth.–For you, great king, WALL, ALBANY, Gloster, and Attendunts. (To FRANCE. France. Bid farewell to your sisters. eyes [are; you Cordelia leaves you: I know you what you father: + Reproach or censure. Specious Owns, is possessed of. Because. $“ [l'ho seeks for aught in love but love alone !" I Concludes NOL 9 Turn. Place 1 Blessing I would prefer him to a better place. And the king, gone to-night! subscrib'd' bis So farewell to you both. Confin'd to exhibition !t All this done (power! Gon. Prescribe not us our duties. Upon the gad!- Edmund! How Dow? Reg. Let your study [you what news? Be, to content your lord; who hath receiv'd Edm. So please your lordship, none. At fortune's alms. You have obedience scant [Putting up the Letter. ed, [wanted, Glo. Why so earnestly seek you to put up And well are worth the want that you have that letter? Glo. Wbat paper were you reading? Glo. No? What needed then that terrible France. Come, my fair Cordelia. despatch of it into your pocket? the quality of [ Exeunt FRANCE and CORDELIA. nothing hath not such need to hide itself. Gon. Sister, it is not a little I have to say, of Let's see: Come, if it be nothing, I shall not what most nearly appertains to us both. I need spectacles. think, our father will hence to-night. Edm. I beseech you, Sir, pardon me : it is a Reg. That's most certain, and with you; letter from my brother, that I have not all o'ernext month with us. read; for so much as I have perused, I find it Gon. You see how full of changes his age is; not fit for your over-looking: the observation we have made of it hath not Glo. Give me the letter, Sir. been little: he always loved our sister most; Edm. I shall offend, either to detain or give and with what poor judgement he hath now it. The contents, as in part I understand cast her off, appears too grossly. them, are to blame. Reg. 'Tis the infirmity of his age: yet he Glo. Let's see, let's see. hath ever but slenderly known himself, Edm. I hope, for my brother's justification, Gon. The best and soundest of his time hath he wrote this but as an essay or taste of my been but rash ; then must we look to receive virtue. from his age, not alone the imperfections of Glo. [Reads.] This policy, und reverence of long-engrafted condition,t but therewithal, the age, makes the world bitter to the best of our unruly waywardness that infirm and choleric times, keeps our fortunes from us, till our old Aess years bring with them. cannot relish them. I begin to find in idle und Reg. Such unconstant starts are we like to fond || bondage in the oppression of aged tyranny; have from him, as this of Kent's banishment. who "sways, not as it hath power, but as it is Gon. There is further compliment of leave suffered. Come to me, that of this 1 may speak taking between France and nim. Pray you, more. If our father would sleep till I waked him, let us hit together: It our father carry autho- you should enjoy half his retenue for erer, and rity with such dispositions as he bears, this live the beloved of your brother, Edgar.-Humph last surrender of his will but offend us. --Conspiracy !-Sleep till I waked him-an Reg. We shall further think of it. should enjoy half his revenne ,--My son Edgar! Gon. We must do something, and i'the heat.: Had he a hand to write this? a heart and [Exeunt. brain to breed it in ?-When came this to you! SCENE II.-A Hall in the Earl of GLOSTER's Who brought it? Edm. It was not brought me, my lord, there's Castle. the cunning of it; I found it thrown in at the Enter EDMUND, with a Letter. casement of my closet. Edm. Thou, pature, art my goddess; to thy Glo. You know the character to be your law brother's ? My services are bound: Wherefore should I Edm. If the matter were good, my lord, I Stand in the plagues of custom; and permit durst swear it were bis; but, in respect of The curiosityll of nations to deprive me, that, I would fain think it were not. For that I am some twelve or fourteen moon- Glo. It is his. shines (base ? Edm. It is his hand, my lord; but, I hope, Lag of a brother Why bastard ? wherefore his heart is not in the contents. When my dimensions are as well compact, Glo. Hath he never heretofore sounded you My mind as generous, and my shape as true, in this business? As honest madam's issue? Why brand they Edm. Never, my lord : But I have often [base? heard him maintain it to be fit, that, sons at With base? with baseness? bastardy? base, perfect age, and fathers declining, the father Who, in the lusty stealth of nature, take should be as ward to the son, and the soa More composition and fierce quality, manage bis revenue. Than doth, within a dull, stale, tired bed, Glo. O villain, villain !-His very opinion in Go to the creating a whole tribe of fops, the letter !-Abhorred villain ! Unnatural, Got 'tween asleep and wake?- Well then, detested, brutish villain! worse than brutish! Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land: -Go, sirrah, seek him; I'll apprehend him :Our father's love is to the bastard Edmund, Abominable villain !- Where is he? As to the legitimate : Fine word,- legitimate! Edm. I do not well know, my lord. If it Well, my legitimate, if this letter speed, shall please you to suspend your indignation And my invention thrive, Edmund the base against my brother, till you can derive from Shall top the legitimate. I grow ; I prosper :- bim better testimony of his intent, you shall Now, gods, stand up for bastards! run a certain course; where, { if you violenty Enter GLOSTER. proceed against him, mistaking his purpose, it Glo. Kent banish'd thus! And France in and shake in pieces the heart of his obedience. would make a great gap in your own honour, choler parted! I dare pawn down my life for him, that he * Folded, doubledi. Qualities of mind. 1 Strike while the iron's hot. Yielded, surrendered. + Allowance. 1 Suddenly. ị The injustice, || The nicety of civil institution, # Weak and foolish. 9 Whereas us Trial. hath writ this to feel my affection to your hon- state, menaces and maledictions against king our," and to no other prétencet of danger. and nobles ; needless diffidences, banishment Glo. Think you so? of friends, dissipation of cohorts,* nuptial Edm. If your hunour judge it meet, I will breaches, and I know not what. place you where you shall hear us confer of Edg. How long have you been a sectary asthis, and by an auricular assurance have your tronomical? satisfaction; and that without any further Edm. Come, come; when saw you my father delay than this very evening. last? Glo. He cannot be such a monster. Edg. Why, the night gone by. Edm. Nor is not, sure. Edm. Spake you with him? Glo. To his father, that so tenderly and en- Edg. Ay, two hours together. tirely loves him.--Heaven and earth !- Ed- Edm. Parted you in good terms ? Fonnd you mund, seek him out; wind me into him, I pray no displeasure in him, by word or countenance ? you: frame the business after your own wis- Edg. None at all. dom: I would unstate myself, to be in a due Edm. Bethink yourself, wherein you may resolution.. have offended him : and at my entreaty, forEdm. I will seek him, Sir, presently; conveys bear his presence, till some little time hath the business as I shall find means, and ac- qualified the heat of bis displeasure; which at quaint you withal. this instant so rageth in him, that with the Glo. These late eclipses in the sun and moon mischief of your person it would scarcely allay. portend no good to us: Though the wisdom of Edg. Some villain hath done me wrong. dature can reason it thus and thus, yet nature Edm. That's my fear. I pray you, have a finds itself scourged by the sequent|| effects : continentt forbearance, till the speed of his love cools, friendship falls off, brothers divide : rage goes slower; and, as I say, retire with in cities, mutinies; in countries, discord; in me to my lodging, from whence I will fitly palaces, treason ; and the bood cracked 'be bring you to hear my lord speak : Pray you, tween son and lather, This villain of mine go; there's my key :-If you do stir abroad, go comes under the prediction; there's son against armed. father: the king falls from bias of nature ; Edg. Armed, brother? there's father against child. We have seen Edm. Brother, I advise you to the best : go the best of our time: Machinations, hollowness, armed; I am no honest man, if there be any treachery, and all ruinous disorders, follow us good meaning towards you:'I have told you disquietly to our graves!- Find out this villain, what I have seen and heard, but faintly ; 'doEdmund, it shall lose thee nothing; do it care- thing like the image and horror of it: Pray fully :- And the noble and true hearted Kent you, away. banished ! his offence, honesty !-Strange! Edg. Shall I hear from you anon? strange! [Erit. Edm. I do serve you in this business.Edm. This is the excellent foppery of the [Exit EDGAR. world! that, when we are sick in 'fortune, A credulous father, and a brother noble, (often the surfeit of our own behaviour,) we Whose nature is so far from doing harms, make guilty of our disasters, the sun, the moon, That he suspects none; on whose foolish honand the stars : as if we were villains by ne esty cessity; fools, by heavenly compulsion; knaves, My practices ride easy!-I see the business.thieves, and treachers, by spherical predomi. Let me, if not by birth, have lands by wit: nance; drunkards, liars, and adulterers, by All with me's meet, that I can fashion fit. an enforced obedience of planetary influence; (Exit. and all that we are evil in, by a divine thrust- SCENE III.A Room in the Duke of ALBANY'S ing on: An admirable evasion of whoremaster Palace. man, to lay, his goatish disposition to the Enter GONERIL and STEWARD. charge of a star! My father compounded with my mother under the dragon's tail; and my Gon. Did my father strike my gentleman for nativity was under ursa major ;** so that it fol- chiding of his fool ? lows, I am rough and lecherous.-Tut, I should Stew. Ay, madam. have been that I am, had the maidenliest star Gon. By day and night! he wrongs me; in the firmament twinkled on my bastardizing. He flashes into one gross crime or other, every hour That sets us all at odds : I'll not endure it: and pat he comes, like the catastrophe of the His knights grow riotous, and himself upbraids old comedy: My cue is villapous melancholy, On every trifle :-When he returns from bünt [ing with a sighlike Tom o’Bedlam.--0, these eclip. I will not speak with him; say, I am sick :ses do portend these divisions ! Fa, sol, la, If you come slack of former services, mitt. Edg. How now, brother Edmund ? What se You shall do well; the fault of it I'll answer. rious contemplation are you in? Stew. He's coming, madam ; I hear him. (Horns within. Edm. I am thinking, brother, of a prediction Gon. Put on what weary negligence you I read this other day, what should follow these eclipses. please, [question : You and your fellows; I'd have it come to Edg.' Do you busy yourself with that? If he dislike it, let him to my sister, Edm. I promise you, the effects he writes of Whose mind and mine, I know, in that are one, succeed unhappily; as of unnaturalness be- Not to be over-ruld. Idle old man, tween the child and the parent; death, dearth, That still would manage those authorities, dissolutions of ancient amities; divisions in That he hath given away!--Now, by my life, The usual address to a lord. + Design. Old fools are babes again; and must be us'd. Give all that I am possessed of, to be certain of the With checks, as flatteries, -when they are seen Manage. 11 Following 9 Traitors. Remember what I have said. ** Great Lear, the constellation so named. [abus'd. ++ These sounds are unnatural and offensive in music. For cohorts some editors read courts. + Temperate. us ܀ truth. Stew. Very well, madam. Knight. He says, my lord, your daughter is Gon. And let his knights have colder looks not well. • among you; Leur. Why came not the slave back to me, What grows of it, no matter; advise your fel. when I call'd him? lows so: Knight. Sir, he answer'd me in the roundest I would breed from hence occasions, and I manner, be would not. shall, (sister, Lear. He would not! That I may speak :-I'll write straight to my Knight. My lord, I know not what the mai. To hold my very course :-Prepare for dinner. ter is; but, to my judgement, your highness is (Exeunt. pot entertain'd with that ceremonious affection as you were wont; there's a great abatement SCENE IV. -A Hall in the same. of kindness appears, as well in the general deEnter Kent, disguised. pendants, as in the duke himself also, and Kent. If but as well I other accents borrow, your daughter. That can my speech diffuse,* my good intent Lear. Ha! say'st thou so? May carry through itself to that full issue Knight. I beseech you, pardon me, my lord, For which 1 raz'dt my likeness.—Now, ban- lent, when I think your highness is wrong'd. if I be mistaken; for my duty cannot be siish'a Kept, Lear. Thou but remember'st me of mine Own If thou canst serve where thou dust stand conception; I have perceived a most faint be condemn'd, (So may it come !) thy master, whom thou glect of late ; which I have rather blamed as Shall find thee full of labours. mine own jealous curiosity,* than as a very pretencet and purpose of unkindness : I will Horns within.—Enter LEAR, KNIGHTS, and look further into't.-But where's my fool? I Attendants. have not seen him these two days. K’night. Since my young lady's going into Lear. Let me not stay a jot for dinner: 80, Prance, Sir, the fool bath much pined away, get it ready. (Exit an Åttendunt.] How now, Lear. No more of that; I have noted it well . what art thou ? -Go you, and tell my daughter I would speak Kent. A man, Sir. with her.—Go you, call hither my fool.Lear. What dost thou profess? What wouldst thou with us? Re-enter STEWARD. Kent. I do profess to be no less than I seem; 0, you Sir, you Sir, come you hither: Who to serve him truly, that will put me in trust; am I, Sir? to love him that is honest; to converset with Stew. My lady's father. him that is wise, and says little; to fear judge. Lear. My lady's father! iny lord's knave: ment; to fight, when I cannot choose ; and to you whoreson dog! you slave! you cur! eat no fish. Stew. I am none of this, my lord; I beseech Leur. What art thou ? you, pardon me. Kent. A very honest-hearted fellow, and as Lear. Do you baddy looks with me, you raspoor as the king. cal? [Striking him. Leur. If thou be as poor for a subject, as he Stew. I'll not be struck, my lord. is for a king, thou art poor enough. What Kent. Nor tripped neither; you base footwouldst thou ? ball player. [Tripping up kis Heels. Kent. Service. Lear. I thank thee, fellow; thou servest me, Lear. Who wouldst thou serve? and I'll love thee. Kent. You. Kent. Come, Sir, arise, away; I'll teach you Lear. Dost thou know me, fellow? differences; away, away: If you will measure Kent. No, Sir; but you have that in your your lubber's lengih again, tarry: but away: cuuntenance, which I would fain call master. go to; Have you wisdom ? so. Lear. What's that? [Pushes the STEWARD ont. Kent. Authority Lear. Now, my friendly kpave, I thack Lear. What services canst thou do? thee : there's earnest of thy service. Kent. I can keep honest counsel, ride, run, [Giving Kent Money. mar a curious tale in telling it, and deliver a plain message bluntly: that which ordinary Enter Fool. men are fit for, am qualify'd in; and the best of me is diligence. tool. Let me hire him too ;-Here's my corLear. How old art thou ? comb. (Giving Kent his Ca. Kent. Not so young, Sir, to love a woman Lear. How now, my pretty krave? how dost for singing ; nor so old, to dote on her for any thou? thing: I have years on my back forty-eight. Fool. Sirrah, you were best take my corLear. Follow me; thou shalt serve me; if I comb like thee no worse after dinner, I will not part Kent. Why, fool? from thee yet.-Dinner, ho, dinner! - Where's Fool. Why? For taking one's part that is my knave! my fool? Go you, and call my fool out of favour: Nay, an thou canst not smile as hither: the wind sits, thou'lı catch cold shortly: There, take my coxcomb: Why, this fellow has banEnter STEWARD. ish'd two of his daughters, and did the third a You, you, Sirrah, where's my daughter? blessing against his will; if thou follow him, Stew. So please you, thou must needs wear my coxcomb.-How [. Lear: What says the fellow there? Call the now, puncle ? 'Would I had two coxcombs, and clotpoll back.- Where's my fool, ho!-I think two daughters! Lear. Why, my boy? the world's asleep.—How dow? where's that mongrel ? Pool. If I gave them all my living: I'd keep * Punctilious jealousy. • Disorder, disguise. + Design + Effaced. 5 Keep company. Estate or property. my coxcombs myself: There's mine; beg an- Then they for sudden joy did weep, (Singing other of thy daughters. And I for sorrow sung, Lear. Take heed, Sirrah; the whip. That such a king should play bo-peep, Fool. Truth's a dog that must to kennel? he And go the fools among. must be whipp'd out, when Lady, the brach," Pr’ythee, nuncle, keep a schoolmaster that may stand by the fire, and stink, Lear. A pestilent gall to me! can teach thy fool to lie; I would fain learn to lie. Fool. Sirrah, I'll teach thee a speech. Lear. Do. Lear. If you lie, Sirrah, we'll have you Fool. Mark it, nuncle: whipp'd. Have more than thou showest, Fool. I marvel, what kin thou and thy daughSpeak less than thou knowest, ters are: they'll have me wbipp'd for speaking Lend less than thou owest,t truc, thou'lt have me whipp'd for lying; and, Ride more than thou goest, sometimes, I am whipp'd for holding my peace. Learn more than thou trowest, # I had rather be any kind of thing, than a fool: Set less than thou throwest; and yet I would not be thee, nuncle; thou hast Leave thy drink and thy whore, pared thy wit o'both sides, and left nothing in the middle: Here comes one o'the parings. Enter GONERIL. Lear. How now, daughter! what makes that Fool. Then 'tis like the breath of an unfee'd frontlet* on? Methinks, you are too much of lawyer; you gave me nothing for't: Can you late i'the frown. make no use of nothing, Duncle? Fool. Thou wast a pretty fellow, when thou Lear. Why, no, boy; nothing can be made hadst no need to care for her frowning; now out of nothing. thon art an Ot without a figure: I am better Fool. Pr’ythee, tell him, so much the rent of than thou art pow; I am a tool, thou art nothhis land comes to; he will not believe a fool. ing.-Yes, forsooth, I will hold my tongue; so [To Kent. your face (To Gon.) bids me, though you say Lear. A bitter fool! nothing. Mum, mum, Fool. Dost thou know the difference, my boy, He that keeps nor crust nor crum, between a bitter fool and a sweet fool ? Weary of all, shall want some.Lear. No, lad; teach me. That's a sheal'd peascod. . (Pointing to LEAR, Fool. That lord, that counsel'd tbee Gon. Not only, Sir, this your all-licens'd To give away thy land, But other of your insolent retinue [fool, Come place bim here by me, Do hourly carp and quarrel; breaking forth In rank and not-to-be-endured riots. Sir, I had thought, by making this well known un- [fearful, The one in motley here, To have found a safe redress; but now grow The other found out there. By what yourself too late have spoke and done, Lear. Dost thou call me fool, boy? That you protect this course, and put it on Fool. All thy other titles thou hast given By your allowance;9 which if you should, the away; that thou wast born with. fault (sleep; Kent. This is not altogether fool, my lord. Would not 'scape censure, nor the redresses Fool. No, 'taith, lords and great men will Which, in the tender of a wholesome weal,|| not let me; if I had a monopoly out, they Might in their working do you that offence, would have part on't: and ladies too, they will Which else were shame, that then necessity not let me bave all fool to myself; they'll be Will call discreet proceeding. snatching.--Give me an egg, nuncle, and I'll Fool. For you trow, nuncle, give thee two crowns. The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so long, Lear. What two crowns shall they be? That it had its head bit off by its young. Fool. Why, after I have cut the egg i'the So, out went the candle, and we were left middle, and eat up the meat, the two crowns darkling. of the egg. When thou clovest thy crown i'the Lear. Are you our daughter? middle, and gavest away both parts, thou bor Gon. Come, Sir, I would, you would make est thine ass on thy back over the dirt: Thou use of that good wisdom whereof I know you hadst little wit in thy bald crown, when thou are fraught;f and put away these dispositions, gavest thy golden one away. If I speak like which of late transform you from what you myself in this, let him be whipp'd that first rightly are. finds it so. Fool. May not an ass know when the cart draws the horse?--Whoop, Jug! I love thee. Fools had ne'er less grace in a year; [Singing. not Lear: does Lear walk thus? speak thus? Leur. Does any here know me?-Why this is For wise men are grown foppish; And know not how their wits to wear, Where are his eyes? Either his notion weakTheir manners are so upish. ens, or his discerpivgs are lethargied.--Sleeping or waking ?-Ha! sure 'tis not so.- Who is it that can tell me who I am?-Lear's shadow? Lear. When were you wont to be so full of I would learn that; for by the marks of sove songs, Sirrah? Fool. I have used it, puncle, ever since thou false persuaded I had daughters. reignty, koowledge, and reason, I should be madest thy daughters thy mother: for when Fool. Which they will make an obedient fathou gavest them the rod, and put'st down ther. tbine own breeches, . Part of a woman's head-dress, to which Lear compares her frowning brow. † A cypher. * Bitch hound. + Ownest, possesseth. I A mere husk which contains nothing. · Believest. Favour. Approbation. # Well-governed state. to you, 1 Stored |