Re-enter Knight.

How now! where's that mongrel?

Knight. He says, my lord, your daughter is not well. Lear. Why came not the slave back to me when I call'd him?

Knight. Sir, he answer'd 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 judgment, your highness is not entertain'd with that ceremonious affection as you were wont.

Lear. Ha! sayest thou so? Thou but rememb'erst me of mine own conception: I have perceiv'd a most faint neglect of late; which I have rather blam'd as mine own jealous curiosity than as a very pretence and purpose of unkindness: I will look further into't. But where's my fool? I have not seen him this two days.

Knight. Since my young lady's going to France, sir, the fool hath much pined away.

Lear. No more of that; I have noted it well.-Go you, and tell my daughter I would speak with her. [Exit a Knight.]-Go you, call hither my fool.

[Exit a Knight.

Re-enter KENT with OSWALD.

O, you sir, you, come you hither, sir: who am I, sir ? Osw. My lady's father.

Lear. "My lady's father"! my lord's knave: you

dog! you slave! you cur!

Osw. I am none of these, my lord.

Lear. Do you bandy looks with me, you rascal?

[Striking him.

Osw. I'll not be struck, my lord.

Kent. Nor tripp'd neither, you base football player. [Tripping up his heels. Lear. I thank thee, fellow; thou serv'st me, and I'll love thee.

Kent. Come, sir, arise,

away! I'll teach you

[Pushes OSWALD out.

Lear. Now, my friendly knave, I thank thee:

differences away, away!

there's earnest of thy service.

[Giving KENT money.

Enter Fool.

Fool. Let me hire him too :-here's my coxcomb.

[Offering KENT his cap. Lear. How now, my pretty knave! how dost thou?

Fool. Sirrah, you were best take my coxcomb.
Kent. Why, fool?

Fool. Why, for taking one's part that's out of favour there, take my coxcomb. Why, this fellow has banish'd two on's daughters, and did the third a blessing against his will; if thou follow him, thou must needs wear my coxcomb. Sirrah, I'll teach thee a speech.

Lear. Do..

Fool. Mark it, nuncle :

Have more than thou showest,
Speak less than thou knowest,
Lend less than thou owest,
Ride more than thou goest,
Learn more than thou trowest,
Set less than thou throwest;
And thou shalt have more

Than two tens to a score.

Kent. This is nothing, fool.

Fool. Then 'tis like the breath of an unfee'd lawyer; you gave me nothing for 't. I would not be thee, nuncle: thou hast pared thy wit o' both sides, and left nothing i' th' middle. Here comes one o' the parings.

Enter GONERIL.

Lear. How now, daughter! what makes that frontlet on? Methinks you are too much of late i' the frown.

Gon. Not only, sir, this your all-licens'd fool,

But other of your insolent retinue

Do hourly carp and quarrel; breaking forth

In rank and not-to-be-endurèd riots.

Sir,

I had thought, by making this well-known unto you,
T'have found a safe redress; but now grow fearful,
That you protect this course, and put it on
By your allowance.

Fool. For, you trow, nuncle,

The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so 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 use of your good

wisdom,

Whereof I know you're fraught; and put away

These dispositions, that of late transform you
From what you rightly are.

Fool. May not an ass know when the cart draws the horse?

Whoop, Jug! I love thee.

Lear. Doth any here know me ?-Why, this is not

Lear:

Doth Lear walk thus? speak thus? Where are his

eyes?

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

Fool. Lear's shadow.

Lear. I would learn that; for by the marks of sovereignty, knowledge and reason, I should be false persuaded I had daughters. Your name, fair gentlewoman?

Gon. This admiration, sir, is much o' the savour Of other your new pranks. I do beseech you To understand my purposes aright:

As you are old and rev'rend, you should be wise.
Here do you keep a hundred knights and squires;
Men so disorder'd, so debauch'd, and bold,

That this our court, infected with their manners,
Shows like a riotous inn.

Be, then, desir'd

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

A little to disquantity your train;

And the remainder, that shall depend,

To be such men as may besort your age,

Which know themselves and you.

Lear.

Darkness and devils!

Saddle my horses; call my train together.

Degenerate bastard! I'll not trouble thee:

Yet have I left a daughter.

Woe, that too late repents,

O, sir, are you come?

[Enter ALBANY.

Is it your will? Speak, sir.-Prepare my horses.—

Ingratitude, thou marble-hearted fiend,

More hideous when thou show'st thee in a child.

Than the sea-monster!

Alb. Pray, sir, be patient.

Lear. [To GONERIL.] Detested kite! thou liest : My train are men of choice and rarest parts,

That all particulars of duty know,
And in the most exact regard support

The worships of their name.-O most small fault,
How ugly didst thou in Cordelia show,

Which like an engine, wrench'd my frame of nature
From the fix'd place; drew from my heart all love,
And added to the gall. O Lear, Lear, Lear!
Beat at this gate, that let thy folly in,

[Striking his head. And thy dear judgment out!-Go, go, my people. Alb. Now, gods that we adore, whereof comes this?

Lear. I'll tell thee,- [To GONERIL.] Life and death! I am asham'd

That thou hast power to shake my manhood thus ; That these hot tears, which break from me perforce, Should make thee worth them.-Blasts and fogs

upon thee!

Th' untented woundings of a father's curse
Pierce every sense about thee!-Old fond eyes,
Beweep this cause again, I'll pluck ye out,
And cast you, with the waters that you lose,
To temper clay.-Ha, is it come to this?
Let it be so I have another daughter,
Who, I am sure, is kind and comfortable :
When she shall hear this of thee, with her nails.
She'll flay thy wolfish visage. Thou shalt find
That I'll resume the shape which thou dost think
I have cast off for ever; thou shalt, I warrant thee.
Gon. Do you mark that?

Alb. My lord, I'm guiltless, as I'm ignorant

Of what hath mov'd you.

Lear.

It may be so, my lord.

Hear, nature, hear; dear goddess, hear!
Suspend thy purpose, if thou didst intend
To make this creature fruitful!

Into her womb convey sterility!