I. ii. Edg. Shall I heare from you anon? A Credulous Father, and a Brother Noble, Scena Tertia. Exit. Exit. I. iii. 10 Enter Gonerill, and Steward. Gon. Did my Father ftrike my Gentleman for chiding of his Foole? Ste. I Madam. Gon. By day and night, he wrongs me, euery howre He flashes into one groffe crime, or other, That fets vs all at ods: Ile not endure it; His Knights grow riotous, and himselfe vpbraides vs On euery trifle. When he returnes fromhunting, I will not speake with him, say I am ficke, If you come flacke of former feruices, You fhall do well, the fault of it Ile answer. Gon. Put on what weary negligence you please, Whofe mind and mine I know in that are one, I. iv. Ste. Well Madam. Gon. And let his Knights haue colder lookes among you what growes of it no matter, aduife your fellowes fo, Ile write ftraight to my Sifter to hold my courfe; prepare for dinner. Exeunt. Scena Quarta. Enter Kent. Kent. If but as will I other accents borrow, I. iv. fue for which I raz'd my likenes, now banifht Kent, if thou canst ferue where thou doft ftand condem'd, thy maifter whom thou loueft fhall find the full of labour: 10 20 30 40 Enter Lear. Lear. Let me not stay a iot for dinner, goe get it readie, how now, what art thou? Kent. A man Sir. Lear. What doft thou profeffe? what would'st thou with vs? Kent. I doe profeffe to be no leffe then I feeme, to ferue him truly that will put me in truft, to loue him that is honeft, to conuerfe with him that is wife, and fayes little, to feare iudgement, to fight when I cannot chufe, and to eate no fishe. Lear. What art thou? Kent. A very honest harted fellow, and as poore as the king. Lear. If thou be as poore for a fubiect, as he is for a King, thar't poore enough, what would'ft thou? Kent. Seruice. Lear. Who would'ft thou ferue? Kent. You. Lear. Do'ft thou know me fellow? Kent. No fir, but you haue that in your countenance, which I would faine call Maifter. Lear. What's that? Kent. Authoritie. Lear. What feruices canft doe? Kent. I can keepe honest counfaile, ride, run, mar a curious tale in telling it, and deliuer a plaine meffage bluntly, that which ordinarie men are fit for, I am qualified in, and the best of me, is diligence. Lear, How old art thou? Kent. Not fo yong to loue a woman for finging, nor so old to dote on her for any thing, I haue yeares on my backe fortie eight. Lear. Follow mee, thou shalt ferue mee, if I like thee no worse after dinner, I will not part from thee yet, dinner, ho dinner, wher's my knaue, my foole, goe you and call my foole hether, you firra, whers my daughter? I. iv. May carry through it felfe to that full iffue For which I raiz'd my likeneffe. Now banisht Kent, Shall find thee full of labours. Hornes within. Enter Lear and Attendants. Lear. Let me not stay a iot for dinner, go get it rea10 dy: hownow, what art thou? 20 30 40 Kent. A man Sir. Lear. What doft thou profeffe? What would'st thou with vs? Kent. I do profeffe to be no leffe then I feeme; to ferue him truely that will put me in truft, to loue him that is honeft, to conuerfe with him that is wife and faies little, to feare iudgement, to fight when I cannot choofe, and to eate no fish. Lear. What art thou? Kent. A very honeft hearted Fellow, and as poore as Lear. If thou be'ft as poore for a fubiect, as hee's for a Kent. Seruice. Lear. Who wouldft thou ferue? Kent. You. Lear. Do'st thou know me fellow? Kent. No Sir, but you haue that in your countenance, which I would faine call Mafter. Lear. What feruices canft thou do? Kent. I can keepe honeft counfaile, ride, run, marre a curious tale in telling it, and deliuer a plaine meffage bluntly that which ordinary men are fit for, I am quallified in, and the best of me, is Dilligence. : Lear. How old art thou? Kent. Not fo young Sir to loue a woman for singing, nor fo old to dote on her for any thing. I haue yeares on my backe forty eight. Lear. Follow me, thou fhalt ferue me, if I like thee no worfe after dinner, I will not part from thee yet. Dinner ho, dinner, where's my knaue? my Foole? Go you and call my Foole hither. You you Sirrah, where's my Daughter? [287b I. iv. 50 60 70 80 Enter Steward. Steward. So please you, Lear. What fay's the fellow there, call the clat-pole backe, whers my foole, ho I thinke the world's afleepe, how now, wher's that mungrel? Kent. He fay's my Lord, your daughter is not well. Lear. Why came not the flaue backe to mee when I cal'd him? feruant. Sir, hee answered mee in the roundest maner, would not. Lear. A would not? hee feruant. My Lord, I know not what the matter is, but to my iudgemēt, your highnes is not ĕtertained with that ceremonious affection as you were wont, ther's a great abatement, apeer's as well in the generall dependants, as in the Duke himselfe also, and your daughter. Lear. Ha, fay'ft thou so? feruant. I beseech you pardon mee my Lord, if I be mistaken, for my dutie cannot bee filent, when I thinke your highnesse wrong'd. Lear. Thou but remember'ft me of mine owne conception, I haue perceived a most faint neglect of late, which I haue rather blamed as mine owne ielous curiofitie, then as a very pretence & purport of vnkindneffe, I will looke further into't, but wher's this foole? I haue not feene him this two dayes. feruant. Since my yong Ladies going into France fir, the foole hath much pined away. Lear. No more of that, I haue noted it, goe you and tell my daughter, I would speake with her, goe you cal hither my foole, O you fir, you fir, come you hither, who am I fir? 90 Steward. My Ladies Father. Lear. My Ladies father, my Lords knaue, you horefon dog, you flaue, you cur. Stew. I am none of this my Lord, I befeech you pardon me. Lear. Doe you bandie lookes with me you rascall? Stew. Ile not be ftruck my Lord, Kent. Nor tript neither, you bafe football player. [17 I. iv. 50 60 70 80 90 Ste. So please you Enter Steward. Lear. What faies the Fellow there? Exit. Call the Clot pole backe: wher's my Foole? Ho, I thinke the world's Knigh. He faies my Lord, your Daughters is not well. Knigh. Sir, he answered me in the roundest manner, he would not.. Lear. He would not? Knight. My Lord, I know not what the matter is, but to my iudgement your Highneffe is not entertain'd with that Ceremonious affection as you were wont, theres a great abatement of kindnesse appeares as well in the generall dependants, as in the Duke himselfe also, and your Daughter. Lear. Ha? Saift thou fo? Knigh. I befeech you pardon me my Lord, if I bee mistaken, for my duty cannot be filent, when I thinke your Highneffe wrong'd. Lear. Thou but remembreft me of mine owne Con- Knight. Since my young Ladies going into France Lear. No more of that, I haue noted it well, goe you Enter Steward. Ste. My Ladies Father. Lear. My Ladies Father? my Lords knaue, you whorfon dog, you flaue, you curre. Ste. I am none of thefe my Lord, I beseech your pardon. Lear. Do you bandy lookes with me, you Rafcall? Ste. Ile not be ftrucken my Lord. Kent. Nor tript neither, you bafe Foot-ball plaier. [288a |