Edg. Shall I hear from you anon?

Edm. I do serve you in this business.-[Exit Edgar.
A credulous father, and a brother noble,
Whose nature is so far from doing harms,
That he suspects none; on whose foolish honesty
My practices ride easy!-I see the business.-
Let me, if not by birth, have lands by wit:
All with me's meet, that I can fashion fit. [Erit.
SCENE III.-A room in the Duke of ALBANY's palace.
Enter GONERIL and Steward.

tend no good to us: though the wisdom of nature towards you: I have told you what I have seen and can reason it thus and thus, yet nature find itself heard, but faintly; nothing like the image and horscourged by the sequent effects: love cools, friend-ror of it. Pray you, away! ship falls off, brothers divide: in cities, mutinies; in countries, discord; in palaces, treason; and the bond cracked between son and father. This villain of mine comes under the prediction; there's son against father: the king falls from bias of nature: there's fathers against child. We have seen the best of our time. Machination, hollowness, treachery, and all ruinous disorders, follow us disquietly to our graves!Find out this villain, Edmund! it shall lose thee nothing; do it carefully! And the noble and truehearted Kent banished! his offence, honesty!-Strange! Gon. Did my father strike my gentleman for chistrange! [Exit. ding of his fool? Stew. Ay, madam! Edm. This is the excellent foppery of the world! that, when we are sick in fortune, (often the surfeit Gon. By day and night! he wrongs me; everyh of our own behaviour,) we make guilty of our dis- He flashes into one gross crime or other, asters, the sun, the moon, and the stars: as if we That sets us all at odds. I'll not endure it; were villains by necessity; fools, by heavenly com- His knights grow riotous, and himself upbraids us When he returns from hunting pulsion; knaves, thieves, and treachers, by spherical On every trifle. predominance; drunkards, liars, and adulterers, by I will not speak with him; say, I am sick:an enforced obedience of planetary influence; and If you come slack of former services, all that we are evil in,by a divine thrusting on. An ad- You shall do well; the fault of it I'll answer. mirable evasion of whore-master man, to lay his goat- Stew. He's coming, madam! I hear him! ish disposition to the charge of a star! My father compounded with my mother under the dragon's tail; and my nativity was under ursa major; so that it follows, I am rough and lecherous.-Tut, I should have been that I am, had the maidenliest star in the firmament twinkled on my bastardizing. Edgar→ Enter EDGAR.

And pathe comes, like the catastrophe of the old comedy. My cue is villainous melancholy, with a sigh like Tom o'Bedlam. O, these eclipses do portend these divisions! fa, sol, la, mi.

Edg. How now, brother Edmund? What serious comtemplation are you in?

Edm. I am thinking, brother, of a prediction I read this other day, what should follow these eclipses. Edg. Do you busy yourself with that?

Edm. I promise you, the effects he writes of, succeed unhappily; as of unnaturalness between the child and the parent; death, dearth, dissolutions of ancient amities; divisions in state, menaces and maledictions against king and nobles; needless diffidences, banishment of friends, dissipation of cohorts, nuptial breaches, and I know not what.

Edg. How long have you been a sectary astronomical?

Edm. Come, come! when saw you my father last?
Edg. Why, the night gone by.
Edm Spake you with him?

Edg. Ay, two hours together.

Edm. Parted you in good terms? Found you no displeasure in him, by word, or countenance?" Edg. None at all.

Edm. Bethink yourself, wherein you may have offended him and at my entreaty, forbear his presence, till some little time hath qualified the heat of his displeasure; which at this instant so rageth in him, that with the mischief of your person it would scarcely

allay.

Edg. Some villain hath done we wrong.
Edm. That's my fear. I pray you, have a continent

ry hour

[Horns within
Gon. Put on what weary negligence you please,
You and your fellows; I'd have it come to question;
If he dislike it, let him to my sister,
Whose mind and mine, I know, in that are one,
Not to be over-rul'd. Idle old man,
That still would manage those authorities,
That he hath given away! Now, by my life,
Old fools are babes again; and must be us'd
With checks, as flatteries,-when they are seen abusid.

Remember what I have said.
Stew. Very well, madam!

Gon. And let his knights have colder looks among
you;

What grows of it, no matter; advise your fellows so
I would breed from hence occasions, and I shall,
I'll write straight to my sister,
That I may speak :
To hold my very course. Prepare for dinner!

"

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.- A hall in the same.
Enter KENT, disguised.
Kent. If but as well I other accents borrow,
That can my speech diffuse, my good intent
Mar carry through itself to that full issue,
Now, banish'd Kent,
For which I raz'd my likeness.
If thou canst serve where thou dost stand condemn',
(So may it come!) 'thy master, whom thou lov's!,
Shall find thee full of labours.

|Horns within. Enter LEAR, Knights, and Attendants.
Lear. Let me not stay a jot for dinner; go, getit
ready! [Exit an Attendant.] How now,
Kent. A man, sir!

what art thou?

Lear. What dost thou profess? what would'st tho with us?

Kent. I do profess to be no less, than I seem; to serve him truly, that will put me in trust; to lo him that is honest; to converse with him that is to fight, wise, and says little; to fear judgment; when I cannot choose; and to eat no fish. Lear. What art thou?

forbearance, till the speed of his rage goes slower; Kent. A very honest-hearted fellow, and as poor,

and, as I say, retire with me to my lodging, from as the king.

Pray you, go! there's my key !-If you do stir abroad, a king, thou art poor enough. What would'st thou? whence I will fitly bring you to hear my lord speak.] Lear. If thou be as poor for a subject, as he is for

go armed!

Edg. Armed, brother?

Edm. Brother, I advise you to the best; go armed!

I am no honest man, if there be any good meaning

Kent. Service.

Lear. Who would'st thou serve?
Kent. You.

Lear. Dost thou know me, fellow?

Fool. Why? for taking one's part, that is out of favour. Nay, an thou canst not smile as the wind Kent. I can keep honest counsel, ride, run, mar a sits, thou'lt catch cold shortly; there, take my coxcurious tale in telling it, and deliver a plain mes-comb! Why this fellow has banished two of his sage bluntly that which ordinary men are fit for, daughters, and did the third a blessing against his I am qualified in; and the best of me is diligence. will; if thou follow him, thou must needs wear my Lear. How old art thou? coxcomb. How now,nuncle? 'Would, I had two cox

Kent. Not so young, sir, to love a woman for sing-combs, and two daughters!
ing; nor so old, to dote on her for any thing: I Lear. Why, my boy?
have years on my back forty-eight.
Lear. Follow me! thou shalt serve me! if I like
thee no worse after dinner, I will not part from thee
yet. Dinner, ho, dinner! Where's my knave?
my fool? Go you, and call my fool hither!
Enter Steward.

Fool. If I gave them all my living, I'd keep my cox-
combs myself. There's mine; beg another of thy
daughters.

Fool. I have used it, nuncle, ever since thou madest thy daughters thy mother: for when thou gavest them the rod, and put'st down thine own breeches, Then they for sudden joy did [Singing. And I for sorrow sung, That such a king should play bo-peep, And go the fools among.

weep,

Pr'ythee, nuncle, keep a school-master that can teach thy fool to lie; 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 oue o' the parings.

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-licens'd fool,
But other of your insolent retinue,

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

I had thought, by making this well known unto you,
To have found a safe redress; but now grow fear-
ful,

By what yourself too late have spoke and done,
That you protect this course, and put it on

sleep;

(ACT L.

T

T

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 disorder'd, so debauch'd, and bold,
That this our court, infected with their manners,
Shows 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 instant remedy. Be then desir'd
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. Darkness and devils!
Saddle my horses! call my train together!-
Degenerate bastard! I'll not trouble thee;
Yet have I left a daughter.
Gon. You strike my people; and your

rabble

Make servants of their betters.

Enter ALBANY.

1

disorder'd

Ingratitude! thou marble-hearted fiend,
More hideous, when thou show'st thee in a child,
Than the sea-monster!

Alb. Pray, sir, be patient!

Lears Detested kite! thou liest!
[To Goneril
My train are men of choice and rarest parts,
That all particulars of daty know;
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, 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!
Beat at this gate, that let thy folly in,

[Striking his head And thy dear judgment out! - Go, go, my people! By your allowance; which if you should, the faultlb. My lord, I am guiltless, as I am ignorant Would not 'scape censure, nor the redresses Of what hath mov'd you. 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 'tis 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 daugh

ters.

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

Gon. Come, sir!

Lear. It may be so, my lord! - Hear, nature, bear!
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 disnatur'd 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
How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is
Alb. Now, gods, that we adore, whereof comes
To have a thankless child!-Away, away! [Erit

S

T P

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

That these hot tears, which break from me perforce,
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?
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,
And such a daughter,

Should sure to the slaughter,
If my cap would buy a halter;

So the fool follows after.

Gon. This man hath had good counsel. dred 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:

Aud thereto add such reasons of your own,

As may compact it more. Get you gone;

Fool. Thou should'st not have been old, before thou hadst been wise.

Lear. O let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven!
Keep me in temper: I would not be mad!-

Enter Gentleman.
How now! Are the horses ready?

Gent. Ready, my lord!

Lear. Come, boy!

Fool. She that is maid now, and laughs at my departure,

Shall not be a maid long, unless things he cut
shorter.
[Exeunt.

АСТ

II.

And hasten your return. [Exit Stew.] No, no, my SCENE I.-A court within the castle of the Earl

lord!

of GLOSTER.

Enter EDMUND and CURAN, meeting.

Edm. Save thee, Curan!

Cur. And you, sir! I have been with your father;

Alb. How far your eyes may pierce, I cannot tell; and given him notice, that the duke of Cornwall, Striving to better, oft we mar what's well.

Enter LEAR, KENT, and Fool. Lear. Go you before to Gloster with these letters: acquaint my daughter no further with any thing you know, than comes from her demand out of the letter; if your diligence be not speedy,I shall be there

before you.

and Regan his dutchess,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! [Exit. My father hath set guard to take my brother; Fool. If a man's brains were in his heels, were't And I have one thing, of a queazy question,

Kent. I will not sleep, my lord, till I have delivered your letter.

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:
Glo. But where is he?
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 Serv.]
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
My unprovided body, laue'd mine arm:
But when he saw my best alarum'd spirits,

Bold in the quarrel's right, rous'd to the encounter,
Or whether gasted by the noise I made,
Full suddenly he fled.

Glo. Let him fly far:

Not in this land shall he remain uncaught!

And found-Dispatch! - The noble duke my master,
My worthy arch and patron, comes to-night:
By his authority I will proclaim it,

That he, which finds him, shall deserve our thanks,
Bringing the murderous coward to the stake;
He, that conceals him, death.

Edm. When I dissuaded him from his intent,
And found him pight to do it, with curst speech
I threaten'd to discover him: he replied,
Thou unpossessing bastard! dost thou think,
If I would stand against thes, would the reposal
Of any trust, virtue, or worth, in thee

Make thy words faith'd? No: what I should deny,
(As this I would; ay, though thou didst produce
My very character,) I'd turn it all

To thy suggestion, plot, and damned practice:
And thou must make a dullard of the world,
If they not thought the profits of my death
Were very pregnant and potential spurs
To make thee seek it.

Glo. Strong and fasten'd villain!

Would he deny his letter?-I never got him.
[Trumpets within
Hark, the duke's trumpets! I know not why he

comes:

All ports I'll bar; the villain shall not 'scape;
The duke must grant me that: besides, his pictur
I will send far and near, that all the kingdom
May have due note of him; and of my land,
Loyal and natural boy, I'll work the means
To make thee capable.

Enter CORNWALL, REGAN, and Attendants. Corn. How now, my noble friend? since I came hither,

(Which I can call but now,) I have heard strangeners
Reg. If it be true, all vengeance comes too short,
Which can pursue the offender. How dost, my lord?
Glo. O, madam, my old heart is crack'd, is crack'd!
Reg. What, did my father's godson seek your life?
He, whom my father ram'd? your Edgar?
Glo. O, lady, lady, shame would have it hid!
Reg. Was he not companion with the riotous
knights,
That tend upon my
father?
Glo. I know not, madam!
It is too bad, too bad!-

Edm. Yes, madam, he was.

Reg. No marvel then, though he were ill affected;
'Tis they have put him on the old man's death,
To have the waste and spoil of his revenues.
I have this present evening from my sister
Been well inform'd of them; and with such cautions,
That, if they come to sojourn at my house,
I'll not be there.

Corn. Nor I, assure thee, Regan!-
Edmund, I hear that you have shown your father

A child-like office.

Edm. 'Twas my duty, sir!

Glo. He did bewray his practice; and receiv'd
This hurt you see, striving to apprehend him.
Corn. Is he pursued?

Glo. Ay, my good lord, he is.

Corn. If he be taken, he shall never more
Be fear'd of doing harm: make your own purpose
How in my strength you please. For you,
Edmund
Whose virtue and obedience doth this instant
So much commend itself, you shall be ours
Natures of such deep trust we shall much need;

You we first seize on.

Edm. I shall serve you, sir,
Truly, however else.

Glo. For him I thank your grace.
Corn. You know not why we came to visit you,
Reg. Thus out of season; threading darkey'd night.
Occasions, noble Gloster, of some poize,
advice:-
Wherein we must have use of your
Our father he hath writ, so hath our sister,
Of differences, which I best thought it fit
To answer from our home; the several messengers
From hence attend dispatch. Our good old friend,
Lay comforts to your bosom; and bestow
Your needful counsel to our business,
Which craves the instant use.

Glo. I serve you, madam!
Your graces are right welcome!

SCENE II.- Before GLOSTER's castle.
Enter KENT and Steward, severally.

Stew. Good dawning to thee, friend! Art of the

house?

Kent. Ay.

Stew. Where may we set our horses?

Kent. I'the mire.

Stew. Pr'ythee, if thou love me,

tell me!

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