thrusting on. An admirable evasion of whoremaster man, to lay his goatish disposition on the charge of a star! My father compounded with my mother under the dragon's tail; and my nativity was under ursa major: so that it follows, I am rough and lecherous.-Tut! I should have been that I am, had the maidenliest star in the firmament twinkled on my bastardising Edgar Enter EDGAR And pat he comes, like the catastrophe of the old comedy my cue is villainous melancholy, with a sigh like Tom o' Bedlam.-O! these eclipses do portend these divisions. Fa, sol, la, mi. Edg. How now, brother Edmund, what serious contemplation are you in? Edm. I am thinking, brother, of a prediction I read this other day, what should follow these eclipses. Edg. Do you busy yourself with that? Edm. I promise you, the effects he writes of succeed unhappily as of unnaturalness between the child and the parent; death, dearth, dissolutions of ancient amities; divisions in state; menaces and maledictions against king and nobles; needless diffidences, banishment of friends, dissipation of cohorts, nuptial breaches, and I know not what. Edg. How long have you been a sectary astronomical? Edm. Come, come; when saw you my father last? Edg. The night gone by. Edm. Spake you with him? Edg. Ay, two hours together. Edm. Parted you in good terms? Found you no displeasure in him, by word, or countenance ? Edg. None at all. Edm. Bethink yourself, wherein you may have offended him and at my entreaty forbear his presence, till some little time hath qualified the heat of his displeasure, which at this instant so rageth in him, that with the mischief of your person it would scarce allay. Edg. Some villain hath done me wrong. Edm. That's my fear. I pray you, have a continent forbearance, till the speed of his rage goes slower; and, as I say, retire with me to my lodging, from whence I will fitly bring you to hear my lord speak. Pray you, go: there's my key. If you do stir abroad, go armed. Edg. Armed, brother? Edm. Brother, I advise you to the best; I am no honest man if there be any good meaning towards you: I have told you what I have seen and heard, but faintly; nothing like the image and horror of it. Pray you, away. Edg. Shall I hear from you anon? Edm. I do serve you in this business.— [Exit EDGAR. A credulous father, and a brother noble, That he suspects none; on whose foolish honesty All with me's meet, that I can fashion fit. [Exit. SCENE III-A Room in the Duke of ALBANY'S Palace Enter GONERIL, and OSWALD, her Steward Gon. Did my father strike my gentleman for chiding of his fool? Osw. Ay, madam. Gon. By day and night he wrongs me: every hour He flashes into one gross crime or other, That sets us all at odds: I'll not endure it. His knights grow riotous, and himself upbraids us am sick. If you come slack of former services, You shall do well; the fault of it I'll answer. [Horns within. Gon. Put on what weary negligence you please, You and your fellows; I'd have it come to question. If he distaste it, let him to my sister, Whose mind and mine, I know, in that are one, That still would manage those authorities Old fools are babes again; and must be used With checks, as flatteries, when they are seen What grows of it, no matter; advise your fellows So. I would breed from hence occasions, and I shall, That I may speak. I'll write straight to my sister, To hold my very course.-Prepare for dinner. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-A Hall in the Same Enter KENT, disguised Kent. If but as well I other accents borrow, That can my speech defuse, my good intent May carry through itself to that full issue For which I razed my likeness.-Now, banished Kent, If thou canst serve where thou dost stand con So demned, may it come, thy master whom thou lov'st Shall find thee full of labours. Horns within. Enter LEAR, Knights, and Attendants Lear. Let me not stay a jot for dinner; go, get it ready. [Exit an Attendant.] How now! what art thou? Kent. A man, sir. |