to a crab. Thou canst tell why one's nose stands i' the middle on's face?

Lear. No.

Fool. Why, to keep one's eyes of either side's nose, that what a man cannot smell out, he may spy into.

Lear. I did her wrong,

Fool. Canst 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's head in; not to give it away to his daughters, and leave his horns with

out a case.

Lear. I will forget my nature. father! Be my horses ready?

So kind a

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 would'st make a good fool.

Lear. To take't 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 till 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's a maid now, and laughs at my departure,

Shall not be a maid long, unless things be cut

shorter.

ACT II.

[Exeunt.

SCENE I. A Court within the Castle of the Earl of GLOUCESTER.

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 this 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 do 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 queasy 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 GLOUCESTER, and Servants with torches.
Glou. 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 auspicious mistress.

Glou.

Edm. Look, sir, I bleed.

Glou.

But where is he?

Where is the villain, Edmund ?

Edm. Fled this way, sir. When by no means he could

Glou. 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 the thunder 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, lanced mine arm:
But when he saw my best alarum'd spirits
Bold in the quarrel's right, roused to the encounter,
Or whether gasted by the noise I made,
Full suddenly he fled.

Glou.

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 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
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.'

Glou.
Strong and fasten'd villain!
Would he deny his letter? I never got him.
[Tucket 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 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,

Which I can call but now, I have heard strange

news.

Reg. If it be true, all vengeance comes too short Which can pursue the offender. How dost, my lord?