He that keeps nor crust nor crum, Weary of all, shall want some. That's a sheal'd peascod. 1 [Pointing to LEAR. Gon. Not only, sir, this your all-licens'd fool, But other of your insolent retinue Do hourly carp and quarrel; breaking forth That 2 I had thought, by making this well known unto you, Fool. For you trow, nuncle, The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so long, So, out went the candle, and we were left darkling. 4 Gon. Come, sir, I would, you would make use of 1 That's a sheal'd peascod.] i. e. Now a mere husk, which contains nothing. The outside of a king remains, but all the intrinsic parts of royalty are gone: he has nothing to give. 2 4 · put it on —] i. e. promote, push it forward. By your allowance ;] By your approbation. were left darkling.] Shakspeare's fools are certainly copied from the life. The originals whom he copied were no doubt men of quick parts; lively and sarcastick. Though they were licensed to say any thing, it was still necessary to prevent giving offence, that every thing they said should have a playful air: we may suppose therefore that they had a custom of taking off the edge of too sharp a speech by covering it hastily with the end of an old song, or any glib nonsense that came into the mind. I know no other way of accounting for the incoherent words with which Shakspeare often finishes this fool's speeches. Sir JOSHUA REYNOLDS. that good wisdom whereof I know you are fraught; and put away these dispositions, which of late transform you from what you rightly are. Fool. May not an ass know when the cart draws the horse? - Whoop, Jug! I love thee. Lear. Does any here know me?— Why this is not Lear: does Lear walk thus? speak thus? Where are his eyes? Either his notion weakens, or his discernings are lethargied. Sleeping or waking? Ha! sure 'tis Who is it that can tell me who I am? Lear's shadow? I would learn that; for by the marks of sovereignty, knowledge, and reason, I should be false persuaded I had daughters. " not so. 5 Fool. Which they will make an obedient father. " Gon. Come, sir; This admiration is much o'the favour 7 Of other your new pranks. I do beseech you As you are old and reverend, you should be wise: By her, that else will take the thing she begs, for by the marks of sovereignty, knowledge, and reason, &c.] Were I to judge from the marks of sovereignty, of knowledge, or reason, I should be induced to think I had daughters, yet that must be a false persuasion; It cannot be. 6 Which they will make an obedient father.] Which, is on this occasion used with two deviations from present language. It is referred, contrary to the rules of grammarians, to the pronoun I, and is employed, according to a mode now obsolete, for whom, the accusative case of who. 7 o'the favour-] i. e. of the complexion. VOL. VIII. D A little to disquantity your train; And the remainder, that shall still depend, Lear. 8 Darkness and devils ! Saddle my horses; call my train together. Gon. You strike my people; and your disorder'd Make servants of their betters. Enter ALBANY. Lear. Woe, that too late repents, O, sir, are you come? Is it your will? [to ALB.] Speak, sir. — horses. Ingratitude! thou marble-hearted fiend, Prepare my More hideous, when thou show'st thee in a child, Alb. Pray, sir, be patient. Lear. Detested kite! thou liest: [to GONERIL.] My train are men of choice and rarest parts, And in the most exact regard support The worships of their name. - O most small fault, How ugly didst thou in Cordelia show! Which, like an engine 1, wrench'd my frame of nature From the fix'd place; drew from my heart all love, And added to the gall. O Lear, Lear, Lear! still depend,] Depend, for continue in service. 9 Than the sea-monster!] Mr. Upton observes, that the sea-monster is the hippopotamus, the hieroglyphical symbol of impiety and ingratitude. 1 like an engine,] By an engine is meant the rack. 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 am guiltless, as I am ignorant Of what hath mov'd you. Lear. It may be so, my lord, Hear, nature, hear; Dear goddess, hear! Suspend thy purpose, if Dry up in her the organs of increase; [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;- Life and death! I am asham'd That thou hast power to shake my manhood thus: [To GONERIL. 2 - from her derogate body-] Derogate for degraded, blasted. 3 cadent tears] i. e. falling tears. 4 Turn all her mother's pains, and benefits,] Her maternal cares and good offices. That these hot tears, which break from me perforce, Should make thee worth them.-Blasts and fogs upon thee! 5 The untented woundings of a father's curse Pierce every sense about thee! - Old fond eyes, Who, I am sure, is kind and comfortable; Gon. Do you mark that, my lord? Alb. I cannot be so partial, Goneril, To the great love I bear you, Gon. Pray you, content. What, Oswald, ho! You, sir, more knave than fool, after your master. [To the Fool. Fool. Nuncle Lear, nuncle Lear, tarry, and take the fool with thee. A fox, when one has caught her, Should sure to the slaughter, So the fool follows after. [Exit. Gon. This man hath had good counsel: - A hundred knights! 'Tis politick, and safe, to let him keep At point, a hundred knights. Yes, that on every dream, 5 The untented woundings] Untented wounds, means wounds in their worst state, not having a tent in them to digest them: and may possibly signify here such as will not admit of having a tent put into them for that purpose. 6 At point,] Completely armed, and consequently ready at ap pointment or command on the slightest notice. |