I. iv.

200

210

220

230

And goe the Foole among.

Pry'thy Nunckle keepe a Schoolemafter that
thy Foole to lie, I would faine learne to lie.

can teach

Lear. And you lie firrah, wee'l haue you whipt.

Foole. I maruell what kin thou and thy daughters are, they'l haue me whipt for speaking true: thou'lt haue me whipt for lying, and fometimes I am whipt for holding my peace. I had rather be any kind o'thing then a foole, and yet I would not be thee Nunckle, thou haft pared thy wit o'both fides, and left nothing i'th'middle; heere comes one o'the parings.

Enter Gonerill.

Lear. How now Daughter? what makes that Frontlet on? You are too much of late i'th'frowne.

Foole. Thou waft a pretty fellow when thou hadst no need to care for her frowning, now thou art an O without a figure, I am better then thou art now, I am a Foole, thou art nothing. Yes forfooth I will hold my tongue, fo your face bids me, though you say nothing.

Mum, mum, he that keepes nor cruft, nor crum,

Weary of all, fhall want fome. That's a fheal'd Pefcod.
Gon. Not only Sir this, your all-lycenc'd Foole,

But other of your infolent retinue

Do hourely Carpe and Quarrell, breaking forth

In ranke, and (not to be endur'd) riots Sir.

I had thought by making this well knowne vnto you,
To haue found a safe redreffe, but now grow fearefull
By what your felfe too late haue spoke and done,
That you protect this course, and put it on
By your allowance, which if you should, the fault
Would not fcape cenfure, nor the redreffes fleepe,
Which in the tender of a wholesome weale,
Might in their working do you that offence,
Which elfe were shame, that then neceffitie
Will call difcreet proceeding.

Foole. For you know Nunckle, the Hedge - Sparrow fed the Cuckoo fo long, that it's had it head bit off by it young, fo out went the Candle, and we were left darkling.

Lear. Are you our Daughter?

(dome

240

Gon. I would you would make vfe of your good wife(Whereof I know you are fraught), and put away

I. iv.

difpofitions, that of late transforme you from what you rightly

are.

Foole. May not an Affe know when the cart drawes the horse, whoop Iug I loue thee.

Lear. Doth any here know mee? why this is not Lear, doth Lear walke thus? fpeake thus? where are his eyes, either his notion, weaknes, or his difcernings are lethergie, fleeping, or wake250 ing; ha! fure tis not fo, who is it that can tell me who I am? Lears shadow? I would learne that, for by the markes of foueraintie, knowledge, and reafon, I should bee falfe perfwaded I had daughters.

Foole. Which they, will make an obedient father.

Lear. Your name faire gentlewoman?

Gon. Come fir, this admiration is much of the fauour of other 260 your new prankes, I doe befeech you vnderstand my purposes aright, as you are old and reuerend, should be wise, here do you keepe a 100. Knights and Squires, men fo difordred, fo deboyft and bold, that this our court infected with their manners, fhowes like a riotous Inne, epicurisme, and lust make more like a tauerne [21 or brothell, then a great pallace, the fhame it felfe doth speake for instant remedie, be thou desired by her, that else will take the 270 thing shee begs, a little to difquantitie your traine, and the remainder that shall still depend, to bee fuch men as may befort your age, that know themfelues and you.

280

Lear. Darkenes, and Deuils! faddle my horses, call my traine together, degenerate bastard, ile not trouble thee, yet haue I left a daughter.

Gon. You ftrike my people, and your difordred rabble, make
feruants of their betters.
Enter Duke.

Lear. We that too late repent's, O fir, are you come? is it your will that wee prepare any horfes, ingratitude! thou marble harted fiend, more hideous when thou fhewest thee in a child, then the Sea-monster, detefted kite, thou lift my traine, and men of choise and rareft parts, that all particulars of dutie knowe, and in the most exact regard, fupport the worships of their name, 0

I. iv.

Thefe difpofitions, which of late transport you

From what you rightly are.

Foole. May not an Affe know, when the Cart drawes

the Horfe?

Whoop Iugge I loue thee.

Lear. Do's any heere know me?

This is not Lear:

Do's Lear walke thus? Speake thus? Where are his eies?
Either his Notion weakens, his Difcernings

Are Lethargied. Ha! Waking? "Tis not fo?

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

260

270

280

Foole. Lears shadow.

Lear

Your name, faire Gentlewoman?

Gon. This admiration Sir, is much o'th'fauour
Of other your new prankes. I do befeech you
To vnderstand my purposes aright:

As you are Old, and Reuerend, fhould be Wife.
Heere do you keepe a hundred Knights and Squires,
Men fo diforder'd, fo debofh'd, and bold,
That this our Court infected with their manners,
Shewes like a riotous Inne; Epicurifme and Luft
Makes it more like a Tauerne, or a Brothell,

Then a grac'd Pallace. The shame it felfe doth speake

For iuftant remedy. Be then defir'd

By her, that else will take the thing she begges,

A little to difquantity your Traine,

And the remainders that shall still depend,

To be fuch men as may befort your Age,
Which know themfelues, and you.

Lear. Darknesse, and Diuels.

Saddle my horfes: call my Traine together.
Degenerate Bastard, Ile not trouble thee;

Yet haue I left a daughter.

Gon. You strike my people, and your disorder'd rable, make Seruants of their Betters.

Enter Albany.

Lear. Woe, that too late repents:

Is it your will, fpeake Sir? Prepare my Horfes.

Ingratitude! thou Marble-hearted Fiend,

More hideous when thou fhew'ft thee in a Child,
Then the Sea-monster.

Alb. Pray Sir be patient.

[289a

I. iv.

290 most small fault, how vgly did'ft thou in Cordelia fhewe, that like an engine wrencht my frame of nature from the fixt place, drew from my heart all loue and added to the gall, O Lear. Lear! beat at this gate that let thy folly in, and thy deere iudgement out, goe goe, my people?

300

310

Duke, My Lord, I am giltles as I am ignorant.

Leir. It may be fo my Lord, harke Nature, heare deere Goddeffe, fufpend thy purpofe, if thou did'ft intend to make this creature fruitful into her wombe, conuey fterility, drie vp in hir the organs of increase, and from her derogate body neuer fpring a babe to honour her, if shee must teeme, create her childe of fpleene, that it may liue and bee a thourt difuetur'd torment to her, let it ftampe wrinckles in her brow of youth, with accent teares, fret channels in her cheeks, turne all her mothers paines and benefits to laughter and contempt, that shee may feele, that she may feele, how sharper then a ferpents tooth it is, to haue a thankleffe child, goe, goe, my people?

Duke. Now Gods that we adore, whereof comes this!

Gon. Neuer afflict your felfe to know the cause, but let his disposition haue that scope that dotage giues it.

Lear. What, fiftie of my followers at a clap, within a fortnight?

Lear. Ile tell thee, life and death! I am afham'd that thou hast 320 power to shake my manhood thus, that thefe hot teares that breake from me perforce, fhould make the worft blasts and fogs vpon the vntented woundings of a fathers curffe, pierce euery fence about the old fond eyes, beweepe this caufe againe,

ile.

[22

I. iv.

Lear. Detefted Kite, thou lyeft.

My Traine are men of choice, and rareft parts,

That all particulars of dutie know,

And in the most exact regard, support

The worships of their name. O most small fault,
How vgly did'ft thou in Cordelia shew?

290 Which like an Engine, wrencht my frame of Nature
From the fixt place: drew from my heart all loue,
And added to the gall. O Lear, Lear, Lear!
Beate at this gate that let thy Folly in,

And thy deere Iudgement out. Go, go, my people.
Alb. My Lord, I am guiltleffe, as I am ignorant
Of what hath moued you.

Lear. It may be fo, my Lord.

Heare Nature, heare deere Goddesse, heare:
Sufpend thy purpose, if thou did'st intend
To make this Creature fruitfull:

300 Into her Wombe conuey stirrility,

Drie vp in her the Organs of increase,
And from her derogate body, neuer Spring
A Babe to honor her. If fhe muft teeme,
Create her childe of Spleene, that it may liue
And be a thwart difnatur'd torment to her.
Let it ftampe wrinkles in her brow of youth,
With cadent Teares fret Channels in her cheekes,
Turne all her Mothers paines, and benefits
To laughter, and contempt: That she may feele,

310 How sharper then a Serpents tooth it is,
To haue a thankleffe Childe. Away, away.
Alb. Now Gods that we adore,

320

Whereof comes this?

Gon. Neuer afflict your felfe to know more of it:
But let his difpofition haue that scope

As dotage giues it.

Enter Lear.

Lear. What fiftie of my Followers at a clap?

Within a fortnight?

Alb. What's the matter, Sir?

Lear. Ile tell thee:

Life and death, I am afham'd

That thou haft power to shake my manhood thus,

That thefe hot teares, which breake from me perforce
Should make thee worth them.

Exit.

[289b