on't: nay, the ladies too, they'll not let me have all 'fool to myself, they'll be fnatching.'

Give me an egg, nuncle, and I'll give you two crowns. Lear. What two crowns fhall they be?

Fool. Why, after I have cut the egg i' th' middle, and ate up the meat, the two crowns of the egg; when thou cloveft thy crown i' th' middle, and gav'ft away both parts, thou bor'ft thine afs on thy back o'er the dirt; thou had'ft little wit in thy bald crown, when thou gav'ft thy golden one away. If I fpeak like myself in this,. let him be whipp'd that firft finds it footh.

Fools ne'er had lefs grace in a year,

For wife men are grown foppife,

And know not how their wits to wear,
Their manners are fo apif.

[Singing.

Lear. Since when were you wont to be fo full of fongs, firrah?

Fool. I have used it, nuncle, e'er fince thou mad’ft thy daughters thy mothers: for when thou gav'ft them. the rod, and putt'ft down thy own breeches,

Then they for fudden joy did weep,

And I for forrow fung,

That fuch a King should play bo-peep,

And go the fools among.

[Singing..

Pr'ythee, nuncle, keep a schoolmafter that can teach thy fool to lye; I would fain learn to lye.

Lear. If you lye, firrah, we'll have you whipp'd.

Fool. I marvel what kin thou and thy daughters are: they'll have me whipp'd for speaking true, thou'lt have me whipp'd for lying; and fometimes I am whipp'd for holding my peace. I had rather be any kind o' thing than a fool, and yet I would not be thee, nuncle; thou haft pared thy wit o' both fides, and left nothing i' th middle. Here comes one o' th' parings.

on

SCENE XIV. To them, enter Gonerill.

Lear. How now, daughter, what makes that frontlet ? you are too much of late i' th' frown.

Fool. Thou waft a pretty fellow, when thou hadst no need to care for her frowning; now thou art an O with

out

out a figure; I am better than thou art now; I am a fool, thou art nothing.- -Yes, forfooth, I will hold

my tongue, [To Gonerill.]; so your face bids me, tho' you fay nothing.

Mum, mum, he that keeps nor cruft nor crum, [Singing. Weary of all, shall want fome.

Thou art a fheal'd peafcod.

[Speaking to Lear.

Gon. Not only, Sir, this your all-licens'd fool,
But other of your infolent retinue,

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

I thought, by making this well known unto you
T' have found a fafe redrefs; but now grow fearful,
By what yourself too late hath spoke and done,
That you protect this course, and put it

on

*

By your
allowance. If you should, the fault
Would not 'fcape cenfure, nor the redreffes fleep,
Which, in the tender of a wholesome weal,
Might in their working do you that offence,
(Which elfe were fhame), that then neceffity
Will call difcreet proceeding.
Fool. For you know, nuncle,

The hedge-fparrow fed the cuckoo fo 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. I would you would make use of your good wif-
Whereof I know you are fraught, and put away [dom,
Thefe difpofitions, which of late transport you
From what you rightly are.

Fool. May not an afs know when the cart draws the horfe? whoop, Jug, I love thee.

Lear. Does any here know me? this is not Lear: Does Lear walk thus? fpeak thus? Where are his eyes? Either his notion weakens, his difcernings

Are lethargied-Ha! waking-'tis not fo;

Who is it that can tell me who I am †?

*

i. e. promote, put it forward.

--who I am.

Fool. Lear's fhadow.

Lear. Lear's fhadow? c.

Lear's

Lear's fhadow? I would learn; for by the marks
Of fovereignty of knowledge, and of reafon,
I fhould be falfe perfuaded I had daughters.
Your name, fair gentlewoman?-

Gon. This admiration, Sir, is much o' th' favour
Of other your new pranks. I do befeech you,
To understand my purpofe aright.

You, as you're old and reverend, fhould be wife.
Here do you keep a hundred knights and 'fquires,
Men fo disorder'd, fo debauch'd and bold,
That this our court, infected with their manners,
Shews like a riotous inn; epicurism and luft
Make it more like a tavern or a brothel,

Than a grac'd palace *. Shame itself doth speak
For inftant remedy. Be then defir'd

By her, that else will take the thing she begs,
Of fifty to difquantity your train;

And the remainders, that fhall ftill depend †,
To be fuch men as may befort your age,
'And know themfelves and you.

Lear Darkness and devils!

Saddle my horfes, call my train together.
Degen'rate baftard! I'll not trouble thee;
Yet have I left a daughter.

Gon. You ftrike my people, and your disorder'd rabMake fervants of their betters.

SCENE XV.

[ble

To them, enter Albany.

Lear. Woe! that too late repents-O, Sir, are you

come?

Is it your will, fpeak, Sir? prepare my

Ingratitude! thou marble-hearted fiend,

horfes..

[To Albany.

་

More hideous, when thou fhew'ft thee in a child,
Than the fea-monster.

Alb. Pray you, Sir, be patient.

Lear. Detefted kite! thou lyeft.

[To Gonerill.

My train are men of choice and rareft parts,

That all particulars of duty know;

And in the most exact regard support

i. e. a palace grac'd with the prefence of its fovereign.
depend, for continue in fervice.

The

The worships of their names.

O moft fmall fault! How ugly didft thou in Cordelia fhew?

Which, like an engine, wrench'd my frame of nature

From the fix'd place *;

And added to the gall.

drew from my heart all love,

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'm guiltlefs, as I'm ignorant

Of what hath mov'd you.

Lear. It may be fo, my Lord.

Hear, Nature, hear; dear goddess, hear a father!
Sufpend thy purpose, if thou didst intend
To make this creature fruitful:
Into her womb convey fterility,
Dry up in her the organs of increase,
And from her derogate + body never spring
A babe to honour her! if the muft teem,
Create her child of spleen, that it may live,
And be a thwart difnatur'd torment to her;
Let it ftamp wrinkles in her brow of youth,
With candent tears fret channels in her cheeks:
Turn all her mother's pains and benefits
To laughter and contempt; that the may feel
How fharper than a ferpent's tooth it is,

To have a thanklefs child.-Go, go, my people.

Alb. Now, gods, that we adore, whereof comes this?
Gon. Never afflict yourself to know of what :

But let his difpofition have that scope

That dotage gives it.

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 ash am'd

That thou haft power to shake my manhood thus;

To Goneril That these hot tears, which break from me perforce, Should make thee worth them.- -Blafts and fogs upon thee!

Th' untented woundings of a father's curfe
Pierce every fence about thee! Old fond eyes,

Alluding to the famous boat of Archimedes. t derogate, for unnatural.

Beweep

Beweep this caufe again, I'll pluck ye out,
And caft you, with the waters that you
Ha! is it come to this?

To temper clay.
Let it be fo: I have another daughter,

lofe,

Who I am fure is kind and comfortable;
When the shall hear this of thee, with her nails
She'll flea thy wolfifh visage. Thou shalt find,
That I'll resume the fhape which thou dost think
I have caft off for ever. [Ex. Lear and Attendants.
SCENE XVI.

Gon. Do you mark that?

Alb. I cannot be fo partial,
To the great love I bear you.

Gon. Pray you, be content.

Gonerill,

What, Ofwald, hò!

You, Sir, more knave than fool, after your mafter.

Fool. Nuncle Léar, nuncle Lear, tarry take the fool

A fox, when one has caught her,

And fuch a daughter,

Should fure to the flaughter,

[with thee:

If my tap would buy a halter;

So the fool follows after.

Gon. This man hath had good counfel-
knights?

Is't politic, and fafe, to let him keep

A hundred knights? yes, that on ev'ry dream,
Each buz, each fancy, each complaint, dislike,
He may inguard his dotage with their pow'rs,
And hold our lives at mercy.

Ofwald, I say.

Alb. Well, you may fear too far ;

Gon. Safer than truft too far.

[Exit.

-a hundred

Let me ftill take away the harms I fear,
Not fear ftill to be harm'd. I know his heart;
What he hath utter'd, I have writ my fifter;
If fhe'll fuftain him and his hundred knights,
When I have fhew'd th' unfitnefs-

How now, Ofwald?

Enter Steward.

What, have you writ that letter to my fifter?

Stew. Ay, Madam.

Gon. Take you fome

1

company, and away to horfe;

Inform