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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

Return with her!

pinch!

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. turn with her!

Re

Persuade me rather to be slave and sumpter

To this detested groom.

Gon.

[Pointing at Oswald. At your choice,

sir.

Lear. I prithee, 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,

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In my corrupted blood. But
I'll not chide thee;

Let shame come when it will,
I do not call it :

I do not bid the thunder-
bearer shoot,

Nor tell tales of thee to highjudging Jove.

Mend when thou canst; be better at thy leisure:

I can be patient; I can stay with Regan,

I and my hundred knights.

Reg.

I look'd not for you yet, Not altogether so: nor am provided

For your fit welcome. Give ear, sir, to my sister;

For those that mingle reason with your passion

Must be content to think you old, and so

But she knows what she

does.

Lear.

spoken?

Is this well

Reg. I dare avouch it, sir: what! fifty followers!

Is it not well? What should you need of more?

Yea, or so many, sith that both charge and danger Speak 'gainst so great a number! How, in one house,

Should many people, under two commands,

Hold amity? 'Tis hard; almost impossible.

Gon. Why might not you, my lord, receive attend

ance

From those that she calls servants, or from mine? Reg. Why not, my lord? If then they chanced to slack you

We could control them.

you will come to me,

If

For now I spy a danger, I entreat you

To bring but five-and-twenty;

to no more

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