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Kent. Nor tripped neither, you base football player. [Tripping up his heels.

Lear. I thank thee, fellow: thou servest me, and I'll love thee.

Kent. Why, fool?

Fool. Why? for taking one's part that is out of favour. Nay, an thou canst not smile as the wind sits, thou 'lt catch cold shortly: there, take Kent. Come, sir, arise, away: I'll teach you my coxcomb. Why, this fellow has banished differences: away, away. If you will measure two of his daughters, and did the third a blessyour lubber's length again, tarry; but away: going against his will: if thou follow him, thou must to. Have you wisdom? so.

[Pushing the Steward out. Lear. Now, my friendly knave, I thank thee: there's earnest of thy service.

[Giving KENT money. Enter Fool.

Fool. Let me hire him too:-here's my coxcomb. [Giving KENT his cap. Lear. How now, my pretty knave; how dost thou? Fool. Sirrah, you were best take my coxcomb.

needs wear my coxcomb--How now, nuncle? 'Would I had two coxcombs, and two daughters. Lear. Why, my boy?

Fool. If I gave them all my living, I'd keep my coxcombs myself. There's mine: beg another of thy daughters.

Lear. Take heed, sirrah: the whip.

Fool. Truth's dog that must to kennel: he must be whipped out, when Lady, the brach, may stand by the fire and stink. Lear. A pestilent gall to me!

Fool. Sirrah, I'll teach thee a speech. Lear. Do.

Fool. Mark it, nuncle:

Have more than thou shewest,
Speak less than thou knowest,
Lend less than thou owest,
Ride more than thou goest,
Learn more than thou trowest,
Set less than thou throwest;
Leave thy drink and thy whore,
And keep in-a-door,

And thou shalt have more

Than two tens to a score.

Lear. This is nothing, fool.

Fool. Then 't is like the breath of an unfee'd lawyer: you gave me nothing for 't. Can you make no use of nothing, nuncle?

Lear. Why, no, boy: nothing can be made out of nothing.

Fool. Pr'y thee, tell him, so much the rent of his land comes to: he will not believe a fool. Lear. A bitter fool! [TO KENT. Fool. Dost thou know the difference, my boy, between a bitter fool and a sweet fool? Lear. No, lad: teach me. Fool. That lord that counselled thee

To give away thy land,
Come, place him here by me,-

Or do thou for him stand:
The sweet and bitter fool

Will presently appear;

The one in motley here,

The other found out there!

Lear. Dost thou call me fool, boy?

Fool. All thy other titles thou hast given away: that thou wast born with.

Kent. This is not altogether fool, my lord. Fool. No, 'faith, lords and great men will not 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 myself; they'll be snatching. Give me an egg, nuncle, and I'll give thee two crowns.

Lear. What two crowns shall they be?

Fool. Why, after I have cut the egg i'the middle, and eat up the meat, the two crowns of the egg. When thou clovest thy crown i' the middle, and gavest away both parts, thou borest thine ass on thy back over 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.

Sings.

Fools had ne'er less grace in a year;

For wise men are grown foppish; And 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 putt'st down thine own breeches,

Sings.

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.

Pr'y thee, nuncle, keep a schoolmaster that can teach thy fool to he: I would fain learn to lie.

Lear If you lie, sirrah, we'll have you whipped. 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 of thing than a fool: and yet I would not be thee, nuncle; thou hast 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 frontlet on? Methinks you are too much of late i' the frown.

Fool. Thou wast a pretty fellow when thou 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. Yes, forsooth, I will hold my tongue; so your face [To GONERIL] bids me, though you say nothing. Mum, mum:

He that keeps nor crust nor crum,
Weary of all, shall want some.-

That's a shealed peascod.

[Pointing to LEAr. Gon. Not only, sir, this your all-licensed fool, But other of your insolent retinue

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

I had thought, by making this well known unto you,

To have found a safe redress; 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 fault
Would not 'scape censure, nor the redresses sleep;
Which, in the tender of a wholesome weal,
Might in their working do you that offence,
Which else were shame, that then necessity
Will call discreet proceeding.

Fool. For you trow, nuncle,

The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so 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, sir, I would you would make use of 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 't is not so.-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

Fool. Which they will make an obedient father.
Lear. Your name, fair gentlewoman?
Gon. Come, sir;

This admiration is much o' the favour

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 disordered, so debauched 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 graced palace. The shame itself doth speak
For instant remedy: be then desired

By her that else will take the thing she begs,
A little to disquantity your train:
And the remainder that shall still depend,
To be such men as may besort your age,
And know themselves and you.

Lear.
Saddle my horses; call my train together.—
Degenerate bastard! I'll not trouble thee:
Yet have I left a daughter.

Darkness and devils!—

Gon. You strike my people; and your disordered rabble

Make servants of their betters.

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How ugly didst thou in Cordelia shew!
Which, like an engine, wrenched my frame of

nature

From the fixed 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 am guiltless, as I am ignorant Of what hath moved you.

Lear. It may be so, my lord.— Hear, nature, hear; dear goddess, hear!— Suspend thy purpose, if thou didst intend To make this creature fruitful! Into her womb convey sterility! Dry up in her the organs of increase; And from her derogate body never spring A babe to honour her! If she must teem, Create her child of spleen; that it may live, And be a thwart disnatured torment to her! Let it stamp 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 she may feel How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is 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:-Life and death! I am

ashamed

That thou hast power to shake my manhood thus: [To GONERIL.

That these hot tears, which break from me per

force,

Should make thee worth them.-Blasts and fogs upon thee!

The untented woundings of a father's curse
Pierce every sense about thee!-Old fond eyes,
Beweep this cause again, I'll pluck you out,
And cast you, with the waters that you lose,
To temper clay.-Ha! is it come to this?
Let it be so-yet have I left a daughter,
Who I am sure is kind and comfortable:
When she shall hear this of thee, with her nails
She'll flay thy wolfish visage. Thou shalt find
That I'll resume the shape which thou dost think
I have cast off for ever; thou shalt, I warrant thee.
[Exeunt LEAR, KENT, and Attendants.
Gon. Do you mark that, my lord?

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Gon. This man hath had good counsel!—A hundred knights!

'Tis politic and safe to let him keep

At point a hundred knights! Yes, that on every dream,

Each buz, each fancy, each complaint, dislike,
He may enguard his dotage with their powers,
And hold our lives in mercy.-Oswald, I say!
Alb. Well, you may fear too far.
Gon. Safer than trust too far.

Let me still take away the harms I fear,

Not fear still to be taken. I know his heart:
What he hath uttered I have writ my sister:
If she sustain him and his hundred knights,
When I have shewed the unfitness,-How now,
Oswald?

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Lear. I will forget my nature.-So kind a father!-Be my horses ready?

Fool. Thy asses are gone about 'em.-The reason why the seven stars are no more than seven, is a pretty reason.

Lear. Because they are not eight?

Fool. Yes, indeed :-thou wouldst make a good fool.

Lear. To take it again perforce !-Monster ingratitude!

Fool. If thou wert my fool, nuncle, I'd have thee beaten for being old before thy time. Lear. How's that?

Fool. Thou shouldst not have been old before thou hadst been wise.

Lear. O let me not be mad, not mad, sweet

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SCENE I-A Court within the Castle of the EARL OF GLOSTER.

Enter EDMUND and CURAN, meeting. Edm. Save thee, Curan.

Cur. And you, sir. I have been with your father; and given him notice that the Duke of Cornwall, and Regan his duchess, will be here with him to-night.

Edm. How comes that?

Cur. Nay, 'I know not.-You have heard of the news abroad? I mean the whispered ones, for they are yet but ear-kissing arguments.

Edm. Not I: 'pray you, what are they? Cur. Have you heard of no likely wars toward, 'twixt the Dukes of Cornwall and Albany? Edm. Not a word.

Cur. You may, then, in time. Fare you well, sir. [Exit.

Edm. The duke be here to-night! The better; best:

This weaves itself perforce into my business.
My father hath set guard to take my brother;
And I have one thing, of a queazy question,
Which I must act. Briefness and fortune work!-
Brother, a word: descend.-Brother, I say:

Enter EDGAR.

My father watches.-O sir, fly this place: Intelligence is given where you are hid; You have now the good advantage of the night.Have you not spoken 'gainst the Duke of Cornwall?

He's coming hither; now, i' the night, i' the haste, And Regan with him. Have you nothing said Upon his party, 'gainst the Duke of Albany? Advise yourself.

Edg. I am sure on 't, not a word, Edm. I hear my father coming :-Pardon me: In cunning I must draw my sword upon you: Draw: seem to defend yourself: now quit you well.

Yield; come before my father: light, ho, here!— Fly, brother.-Torches! torches!-So, farewell.[Exit EDGAR.

Some blood drawn on me would beget opinion [Wounds his arm. Of my more fierce endeavour: I have seen drunkards

Do more than this in sport.-Father! father! Stop, stop! No help?

Enter GLOSTER and Servants, with torches.
Glo. Now, Edmund, where 's the villain?
Edm. Here stood he in the dark, his sharp
sword out,

Mumbling of wicked charms, conjuring the moon
To stand his auspicious mistress :-
But where is he?

Glo.

Edm. Look, sir, I bleed.

Glo.

Where is the villain, Edmund? Edm. Fled this way, sir. When by no means he could,

Glo. Pursue him, ho! Go after.-[Exit Servant. By no means, what?

Edm. Persuade me to the murder of your lordship;

But that I told him, the revenging gods
'Gainst parricides did all their thunders bend;
Spoke with how manifold and strong a bond
The child was bound to the father :-Sir, in fine,
Seeing how loathly opposite I stood
To his unnatural purpose, in fell motion,
With his prepared sword, he charges home

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