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 feel
How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is
To have a thankless child!-Away, away!
Alb. Now, gods, that we adore, whereof comes
this?

[Exit.

asham'd

force,

Fool. Shalt see, thy other daughter will use thee kindly for though she's as like this as a crab is like an apple, yet I can tell what I can tell.

Lear. Why, what canst thou tell, my boy? Fool. She will taste as like this, as a crab does to crab. Thou canst tell, why one's nose stands i'the middle of his face?

Lear. No.

Fool. Why, to keep his eyes on either side his nose; that what a man cannot smell out, he may spy into.

That thou hast power to shake my manhood thus:
[To Goneril.
That these hot tears, which break from me pera
[upon thee!
Should make thee worth them.-Blasts and fogs
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.

[Exit.

Lear. I did her wrong:

Fool. Can'st tell how an oyster makes his shell?
Lear. No.

Fool. Nor I neither; but I can tell why a snail has a house.

Lear. Why?

Fool. Why, to put his head in; not to give it away to his daughters, and leave his horns without a case.

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

Foul. 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 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!

Edm. How comes that?

Cur. Nay, I know not: You have heard of the news abroad; I mean, the whispered ones, for they are 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 !
This weaves itself perforce into my business! [Best!
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.

All ports I'll bar; the villain shall not 'scape;
The duke must grant me that: besides, his picture
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,
[news.
:-(Which I can call but now,) I have heard strange
Reg. If it be true, all vengeance comes too short,
Which can pursue the offender. How dost, my
lord ?
[crack'd!

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.

Glo. O, madam, my old heart is crack'd, is
Reg. What, did my father's godson seek your life
He whom my father nam'd? your Edgar?
Glo. O, lady, lady, shame would have it hid!
Reg. Was he not companion with the riotous
That tend upon my father?
[knights
Glo.

I know not, madam:

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. 'Tis they have put him on the old man's death,
Of my more fierce endeavour: I have seen drunk-To have the waste and spoil of his revenues.
Do more than this in sport.-Father! father! [ards
Stop, stop! No help?

It is too bad, too bad.-
Edm.
Yes, madam, he was.
Reg. No marvel then, though he were ill af-
fected,

Enter Gloster and Servants with torches.
Glo. Now, Edmund, where's the villain? [out,
Edm. Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword
Mumbling of wicked charms, conjuring the moon
To stand his auspicious mistress :--
Glo.
But where is he?
Where is the villain, Edmund ?
Edm. Fled this way, sir. When by no means he
could-

Edm. Look, sir, I bleed.
Glo.

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

[ship;

Edm. Persuade me to the murder of your lord-
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, lanc'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. བློ་ནི་ཕྱི

Let him fly far:

Glo.
Not in this land shall he remain uncaught;
And found-Despatch.-The noble duke my mas-
My worthy arch and patron, comes to-night: [ter,
By his authority I will proclaim it, [thanks,
That he, which finds him, shall deserve our
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 thee, 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

I have this present evening from my sister [tions,
Been well inform'd of them; and with such cau-
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, Ed-
mund,

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.

I shall serve you, sir,

2

Edm.
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 dark-ey'd
Occasions, noble Gloster, of some poize, [night,
Wherein we must have use of your advice:-
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 despatch. 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.
[Exeunt.

SCENE II. Before Gloster's Castle,
Enter Kent and Steward, severally.

Stew. Good dawning to thee, friend: Art of the
Kent. Ay.
[house?

Stew. Where may we set our horses?
Kent. I'the mire.

Stew. Pr'ythee, if thou love me, tell me.
Kent. I love thee not.

Stew. Why, then I care not for thee.
Kent. If I had thee in Lipsbury pinfold, I would
make thee care for me.

Stew. Why dost thou use me thus? I know thee
Kent. Fellow, I know thee.

Stew. What dost thou know me for ?

[not.

Say that.

Kent. No contraries hold more antipathy,
Than I and such a knave.

[his offence?
Corn. Why dost thou call him knave? What's
Kent. His countenance likes me not. [or hers.
Corn. No more, perchance, does mine, or his,
Kent. Sir, 'tis my occupation to be plain;
Than stands on any shoulder that I see
Before me at this instant.
Corn.

Kent. A knave; a rascal, an eater of broken
meats; a base, proud, shallow, beggarly, three-
suited, hundred-pound, filthy worsted-stocking
knave; a lily-liver'd, action-taking knave; a
whoreson, glass-gazing, superserviceable, finical I have seen better faces in my time,
rogue; one-trunk-inheriting slave; one that
would'st be a bawd, in way of good service, and
art nothing but the composition of a knave, beg-
gar, coward, pander, and the son and heir of a
mongrel bitch: one whom I will beat into clamor-
ous whining, if thou deny'st the least syllable of
thy addition.

Stew. Why, what a monstrous fellow art thou, thus to rail on one, that is neither known of thee, nor knows thee?

Kent. What a brazen-faced varlet art thou, to deny thou know'st me? Is it two days ago, since I tripp'd up thy heels, and beat thee, before the king? Draw, you rogue: for, though it be night, the moon shines; I'll make a sop o'the moonshine of you: Draw, you whoreson cullionly barbermonger, draw. [Drawing his sword. Stew. Away; I have nothing to do with thee. Kent. Draw, you rascal: you come with letters against the king, and take vanity the puppet's part, against the royalty of her father: Draw, you rogue, or I'll so carbonado your shanks-draw, you rascal come your ways.

Stew. Help, ho! murder! help!

Kent, Strike, you slave; stand, rogue, stand; you neat slave, strike. [Beating him. Stem. Help, ho! murder! murder! Enter Edmund, Cornwall, Regan, Gloster, and Servants.

This is some fellow,
Who, having been prais'd for bluntness, doth affect
A saucy roughness; and constrains the garb,
Quite from his nature: He cannot flatter, he!-
An honest mind and plain, he must speak truth:
An they will take it, so; if not, he's plain.
These kind of knaves I know, which in this
plainness

Harbour more craft, and more corrupter ends,
Than twenty silly ducking observants,
That stretch their duties nicely.

Kent. Sir, in good sooth, in sincere verity,
Under the allowance of your grand aspect,
Whose influence, like the wreath of radiant fire
On flickering Phoebus' front,-
Corn.
What mean'st by this '
Kent. To go out of my dialect, which you dis-
commend so much. I know, sir, I am no flat-
terer: he that beguiled you, in a plain accent, was
a plain knave: which, for my part, I will not be,
though I should win your displeasure to entreat
me to it.

Corn. What was the offence you gave him?
Stem.
Never any:

It pleas'd the king his master, very late,
To strike at me, upon his misconstruction:
When he, conjunct, and flattering his displeasure,
Tripp'd me behind: being down, insulted, rail'd,
And put upon him such a deal of man,
That worthy'd him, got praises of the king
For him attempting who was self-subdu'd;
And, in the fleshment of this dread exploit,
Drew on me here.

Edm. How now? What's the matter? Part.
Kent. With you, goodman boy, if you please;
come, I'll flesh you; come on, young master.
Glo. Weapons! arms! What's the matter here?
Corn. Keep peace, upon your lives;
He dies, that strikes again: What is the matter?
Reg. The messengers from our sister and the
Corn. What is your difference? speak. {king.
Stew. I am scarce in breath, my lord.
Kent. No marvel, you have so bestirred your va-We'll teach you-
lour. You cowardly rascal, nature disclaims in
thee; a tailor made thee.

Corn. Thou art a strange fellow: a tailor make a man?

Kent. Ay, a tailor, sir; a stone-cutter, or a painter, could not have made him so ill, though they had been but two hours at the trade.

Corn. Speak yet, how grew your quarrel?
Stew. This ancient ruffian, sir, whose life I have
At suit of his grey beard,-
[spar'd,

Kent. Thou whoreson zed! thou unnecessary letter! My lord, if you will give me leave, I will tread this unbolted villain into mortar, and daub. the wall of a jakes with him.-Spare my grey beard, you wagtail?

Corn. Peace, sirrah!

You beastly knave, know you no reverence ?
Kent. Yes, sir; but anger has a privilege.
Corn. Why art thou angry?.

[sword,
Kent. That such a slave as this should wear a
Who wears no honesty. Such smiling rogues as
Like rats, oft bite the holy cords atwain [these,
Which, are too intrinse t'unloose: smooth every
That in the natures of their lords rebels; [passion
Bring oil to fire, snow to their colder moods;
Renege, affirm, and turn their halcyon beaks
With every gale and vary of their masters,
As knowing nought, like dogs, but following.
A plague upon your epileptick visage!

Kent.
None of these rogues, and cowards,
But Ajax is their fool.
Corn.

Fetch forth the stocks, be! You stubborn ancient knave, you reverend brag[gart,

Kent.

Sir, I am too old to learn:
Call not your stocks for me: I serve the king;
On whose employment I was sent to you:
You shall do small respect, show too bold malice
Against the grace and person of my master,
Stocking his messenger.
Corn.

Fetch forth the stocks:
As I've life and honour, there shall he sit till noon.
Reg. Till noon till night, my lord; and all
night too.

Kent. Why, madam, if I were your father's dog,
You should not use me so.
Reg.

Sir, being his knave, I will
[Stocks brought put.
Corn. This is a fellow of the self-same colour
Our sister speaks of :-Come, bring away the

stocks.

Glo. Let me beseech your grace not to do so:
His fault is much, and the good king his master
Will check him for't: your purpos'd low comm
tion

Is such, as basest and contemned'st wretches,
For pilferings and most common trespasses,
Are punish'd with the king must take it ill, s
That he's so slightly valued in his messenger,
Should have him thus restrain'd.

Corn.
I'll answer thet
Reg. My sister may receive it much more were
To have her gentleman abus'd, assaulted,

How unremoveable and fix'd he is
In his own course.

service:

Most serpent-like, upon the very heart All the stor'd vengeances of heaven fall Lear. Vengeance plague! death! confusion!-On her ingrateful top! Strike her young bones, Fiery? what quality? why, Gloster, Golster, You taking airs, with lameness! Corn. I'd speak with the duke of Cornwall, and his wife. Fye, fye, fye! Glo. Well, my good lord, I have inform'd them Lear. You nimble lightnings, dart your blinding [man ? Into her scornful eyes Infect her beauty, [flames Lear. Inform'd them! Dost thou understand me, You fen-suck'd fogs, drawn by the powerful sun, Glo. Ay, my good lord. [dear father To fall and blast her pride! Lear. The king would speak with Cornwall; the Reg. O the blest gods! Would with his daughter speak, commands her So will you wish on me, when the rash mood's on. [blood! Lear. No, Regan, thou shalt never have my Thy tender-hefted nature shall not give [curse; Thee o'er to harshness; her eyes are fierce, but Do comfort, and not burn: 'Tis not in thee [thine To grudge my pleasures, to cut off my train, To bandy hasty words, to scant my sizes, And, in conclusion, to oppose the bolt Against my coming in: thou better know'st The offices of nature, bond of childhood, Effects of courtesy, dues of gratitude; Thy half o' the kingdom hast thou not forgot, Wherein I thee endow'd. Reg. Good sir, to the purpose. · [Trumpete within. Lear. Who put my man i' the stocks? What trumpet's that? Enter Steward.

Are they inform'd of this?My breath and
Fiery? the fiery duke ?-Tell the hot duke, that
No, but not yet-may be, he is not well:
Infirmity doth still neglect all office,
Whereto our health is bound; we are not ourselves,
When nature, being oppress'd, commands the
To suffer with the body: I'll forbear; [mind
And am fallen out with my more headier will,
To take the indispos'd and sickly fit
For the sound man.-Death on my state! wherefore
[Looking on Kent.
Should he sit here? This act persuades me,
That this remotion of the duke and her
Is practice only. Give me my servant forth :
Go, tell the duke and his wife, I'd speak with them,
Now, presently: bid them come forth and hear me,
Or at their chamber door I'll beat the drum,
Till it cry-Sleep to death.

Glo. I'd have all well betwixt you. [Exit.
Lear. O me, my heart, my rising heart!-but,

down.

Fool. Cry to it, nuncle, as the cockney did to the eels, when she put them i' the paste alive; she rapp'd 'em o' the coxcombs with a stick, and cry'd, Down, wantons, down: 'Twas her brother, that, in pure kindness to his horse, butter'd his hay.

Enter Cornwall, Regan, Gloster, and Servants.
Lear. Good morrow to you both.
Corn.

Hail to your grace!
[Kent is set at liberty.
Reg. I am glad to see your highness. [reason
Lear. Regan, I think you are; I know what
I have to think so if thou should'st not be glad,
I would divorce me from thy mother's tomb,
Sepulch'ring an adultress.-O, are you free?

[To Kent.
Some other time for that.-Beloved Regan,
Thy sister's naught: O Regan, she hath tied
Sharp-tooth'd unkindness, like a vulture, here,-
[Points to his heart.
I can scarce speak to thee; thou'lt not believe,
Of how deprav'd a quality-O Regan!
Reg. I pray you, sir, take patience; I have hope,
You less know how to value her desert,
Than she to scant her duty.

Lear.

Say, how is that?
Reg. I cannot think, my sister in the least
Would fail her obligation: If, sir, perchance,
She have restrain'd the riots of your followers,
'Tis on such ground, and to such wholesome end,
As clears her from all blame.
Lear. My curses on her!
Reg.
O, sir, you are old;
Nature in you stands on the very verge
Of her confine you should be rul'd, and led
By some discretion, that discerns your state
Better than you yourself: Therefore, I pray you,
That to our sister you do make return:
Say, you have wrong'd her, sir.
Lear.
Ask her forgiveness?
Do you but mark how this becomes the house?
Dear daughter, I confess that I am old;
Age is unnecessary: on my knees I beg, [Kneeling.
That you'll vouchsafe me raiment, bed, and food.
Reg. Good sir, no more; these are unsightly
Return you to my sister.
[tricks:

Lear.

Never, Regan:
She hath abated me of half my train;
Look'd black upon me; struck me with her tongue,

Corn.

That she would soon be here. Is your lady come?
Lear. This is a slave, whose easy-borrow'd pride
Dwells in the fickle grace of her he follows:-
Out, varlet, from my sight!

Corn.

What means your grace?
Lear. Who stock'd my servant? Regan, I have
good hope
[heavens,
Thou didst not know of't.-Who comes here? 0,
Enter Goneril.

If you do love old men, if your sweet sway
Allow obedience, if yourselves are old, [part-
Make it your cause; send down, and take my
Art not asham'd to look upon this beard ?—

[To Goneril
O, Regan, wilt thou take her by the hand?
Gon. Why not by the hand, sir? How have I
offended?
All's not offence, that indiscretion finds,
And dotage terms so.

Lear.

O, sides, you are too tough! Will you yet hold ?-How came my man i' the stocks ?

Corn. I set him there, sir: but his own disorders
Deserv'd much less advancement.
Lear.

You did you?
Reg. I pray you, father, being weak, seem so.
If, till the expiration of your month,
You will return and sojourn with my sister,
Dismissing half your train, come then to me:
I am now from home, and out of that provision
Which shall be needful for your entertainment.
Lear. Return to her, and fifty men dismiss'd?
No, rather I abjure all roofs, and choose
To wage against the enmity o'the air;
To be a comrade with the wolf and owl,-
Necessity's sharp pinch !-Return with her?
Why, the hot-blooded France, that dowerless took
Our youngest-born, I could as well be brought
To knee his throne, and, squire-like, pension beg
To keep base life afoot :-Return with her?
Persuade me rather to be slave and sumpter
To this detested groom. [Looking on the Steward.
Gon.
At your choice, sir.
Lear. I pr'ythee, daughter, do not make me mad;
I will not trouble thee, my child: farewell:
We'll no more meet, no more see one another-
But yet thou art my flesh, my blood, my daughter;
Or, rather, a disease that's in my flesh,
Which I must needs call mine; thou art a boil,
A plague-sore, an embossed carbuncle,