Mum, mum, be that keeps nor cruft nor crum, [Singing, Weary of all, fhall want fome. That's a fheal'd peafcod.

Gon. Not only, Sir, this your all-licenc'd fool,
But other of your infolent retinue,

Do hourly carp and quarrel, breaking forth
In rank and not to be endured riots, Sir.

I thought by making this well known unto you,
T have found a fafe redrefs; but now grow fearful
By what your felf too late have spoke and done,
That you protect this course, and put it on

By your allowance; if you should, the fault,
Would not scape cenfure, nor the redresses fleep,
Which in the tender of a wholsome weal,
Might in their working do you that offence,
Which else were fhame, that then neceffity
Will call difcreet proceeding.

Fool. For you know, nuncle,

The bedge-fparrow fed the Cuckoo fo long,
That it had its head bit off by its young;

So out went the candle, and we were left darkling.
Lear. Are you our daughter?

Gon. I would you would make ufe of your good wifdom, Whereof I know you are fraught, and put away

Thefe difpofitions which of late transport you

From what you rightly are.

Fool. May not an Afs know when the cart draws the horfe? whoop, Jug, I love thee.

Lear. Does any here know me? this is not Lear: Does Lear walk thus? fpeak thus? where are his eyes? Either his notion weakens, his difcernings

Are lethargied

-Ha! waking- 'tis not fo;

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

Lear's fhadow? I would learn; for by the marks
Of fovereignty, of knowledge, and of reafon,
I fhould be falfe perfuaded I had daughters.

Your name, fair gentlewoman?

...who I am.

Fool. Lear's fhadow.

Lear. Your name, fair gentlewoman? ---

Gon.

Gar. This admiration, Sir, is much o'th' favour
Of other your new pranks. I do beseech you
To understand my purposes aright:

You, as you're old and rev'rend, fhould be wife.
Here do you keep a hundred Knights and 'Squires,
Men fo diforder'd, fo debauch'd and bold,
That this our Court, infected with their mann r3,
Shews like a riotous Inn; Epicurism and lust
Make it more like a tavern or a brothel,
Than a grac'd palace. Shame it felf doth speak
For inftant remedy. Be then defir'd

By her, that else will take the thing the begs,
Of fifty to difquantity your train i

And the remainders that fhall ftill depend,
To be fuch men as may befort your age,
And know themselves and you.

Lear. Darkness and devils !

Saddle my horses, call my train together
Degen' rate bastard! I'll not trouble thee;

Yet have I left a daughter.

Gon. You ftrike my people, and your disorder'd rabble Make fervants of their betters.

SCENE XV. To them, Enter Albany.

Lear. Woe! that too late repents-oh, Sir, are you

come?

Is it your will, fpeak, Sir? prepare my horses.- [To Alb. Ingratitude! thou marble-hearted fiend,

More hideous when thou shew't thee in a child,

Than the fea-monster.

Alb. Pray you, Sir, be patient.

Lear. Detefted kite! thou lieft.

My train are men of choice and rarest parts,
That all particulars of duty know,

And in the most exact regard fupport

The worships of their names.

[To Gonerill,

O most small fault,

How ugly didft thou in Cordelia fhew!

Which like an engine wrencht my frame of nature-
From the fixt place; drew from my heart all love,
And added to the gall. O Lear, Lear!

Beat

Beat at this gate that let thy folly in, [Striking his bead,
And thy dear judgment out. Go, go, my people.
Alb. My Lord, I'm guiltless, as I'm ignorant
Of what hath moved you.

Lear. It may be fo, my Lord

Hear, Nature, hear, dear Goddess, hear a father!
Sufpend thy purpose, if thou didft intend
To make this creature fruitful:
Into her womb convey fterility,
Dry up in her the organs of increase,
And from her derogate body never spring
A babe to honour her! If fhe muft teem,
Create her child of fpleen, that it may live,
And be a thwart difnatur'd torment to her ;
Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth,
With cadent tears fret channels in her cheeks,
Turn all her mother's pains and benefits
To laughter and contempt; that the may feel,
How fharper than a ferpent's tooth it is,

To have a thanklefs child.-Go, go, my people.

Ab. Now, Gods, that we adore, whereof comes this? Gon. Never afflict your self to know of what,

But let his difpofition have that scope

As dotage gives it.

Lear. What fifty of my followers at a clap? Within a fortnight ?

Alb. What's the matter, Sir?

Lear. I'll tell thee-life and death! I am afham'd

That thou haft power to shake my manhood thus,

That these hot tears, which break from me perforce,

Should make thee worth them-blafts and fogs upon thee?
Th' untented woundings of a father's curfe
Pierce every fenfe about thee! Old fond eyes,
Beweep her once again, I'll pluck ye out,
And caft you with the waters that you lofe
To temper clay. Ha! is it come to this?
Let it be fo: I have another daughter,
Who I am fure is kind and comfortable;
When the fhall hear this of thee, with her nails
She'll flea thy wolvifh vifage. Thou shalt find,

That

That I'll refume the shape which thou dost think

I have caft off for ever.

[Ex. Lear, and Attendants.

SCENE XVI.

Gon. Do you mark that?

Alb, I cannot be fo partial, Gonerill,

To the great love I bear you

Gon. Pray you, be content. What, Ofwald, ho! You, Sir, more khave than fool, after your mafter. Fool. Nuncle Lear, nuncle Lear, tarry, take the fool with thee:

A Fox, when one has caught her,

And fuch a daughter,

Should fure to the slaughter,

If my cap would buy a halter;

So the fool follows after.

Gon. This, man! hath had good counfel,
Knights!

Is't politick and fafe to let him keep

[Exit.

-a hundred

A hundred Knights? yes, that on ev'ry dream,
Each buz, each fancy, each complaint, dislike,
He may enguard his dotage with their pow'rs,
And hold our lives at mercy. Ofwald, I fay.
Alb. Well, you may fear too far ;
Gon. Safer than truft too far.

Let me ftill take away the harms I fear,
Not fear still to be harm'd. I know his heart
What he hath utter'd, I have writ my fifter;
If fhe'll fuftain him and his hundred Knights,
When I have fhew'd th' unfitness-

How now, Ofwald?

Enter Steward.

What, have you writ that letter to my sister ?
Stew. Ay, Madam.

Gon. Take you fome company, away to horse,

Inform her full of my particular fears;

And thereto add fuch reasons of your own

As may compact it more.

So get you gone.

This milky gentleness and courfe of yours,

[Exit Steward.

L 2

Though

Though I condemn it not, yet under pardon
You are much more at task for want of wisdom,
Than prais'd for harmless mildness.

Alb. How far your eyes may pierce I cannot tell;
Striving to better oft we mar what's well.

Re-enter Lear, Kent, Gentleman and Fool.

[Exeunt.

Lear. Go you before to Glo'fter with thefe letters; acquaint my daughter no further with any thing you know, than comes from her demand out of the letter; if your diligence be not speedy, I fhall be there afore you.

Kent. I will not fleep, my Lord, 'till I have delivered your letter. [Exiti Fool. If a man's brain were in his heels, wer't not in danger of kibe; ?

Lear. Ay, boy.

Fool. Then, I pr'ythee, be merry, thy wit shall not go flipfhod.

Lear. Ha, ha, ha.

Fool. Shalt fee thy other daughter will ufe thee kindly; for though fhe's as like this as a crab's like an apple, yet I can tell what I can tell.

Lear. What canft tell, boy?

Fool. She will taste as like this, as a crab does to a crab. Canft thou tell why one's nofe ftands i'th' middle of one's face?

Lear. No.

Fool. Why, to keep one's eyes of either fide one's nose; that what a man cannot fmell out, he may fpy into.

Lear. I did her wrong!

Fool. Canft tell how an oyfter makes his shell?

Lear. No.

4

Fool. Nor I neither; but I can tell why a fhail has a houfe. Lear. Why?

Fool. Why, to put's head in, not to give it away to his daughters, and leave his horns without a cafe.

Lear. I will forget my nature: fo kind a father! be my borfes ready?

Foal