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Enter EDGAr.

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. When saw you my father last?

Edg. The night gone by.
Edm. Spake you with him?

Edg. Ay, two hours together.

Edm. Found you no displeasure in him by word nor 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.

Edg. Some villain hath done me wrong.

Edm. That's my fear. Retire with me to my lodging, from whence I will fitly bring you to hear my lord speak: pray ye, go; there's my key:—if you do stir abroad, go arm'd.

Edg. Arm'd, brother!

Edm. Brother, I advise you to the best; I am no honest man if there be any good meaning toward you 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,
Whose nature is so far from doing harms,
That he suspects none; on whose foolish honesty
My practices ride easy!-I see the business.-
Let me, if not by birth, have lands by wit:
All with me's meet that I can fashion fit.

[Exit.

SCENE 3.-Before the Duke of ALBANY'S Castle.

D

Enter GONERIL and OSWALD.

Goneril.

ID my father strike my gentleman for chiding of his fool?

Osw. Ay, madam.

Gon. By day and night, he wrongs me;

I'll not endure it :

His knights grow riotous, and himself upbraids us On every trifle.-When he returns from hunting,

I will not speak with him; say I am sick.

[Horns within.

Osw. He's coming, madam; I hear him.

Gon. Put on what weary negligence you please,

You and your fellows; I'd have it come to question. Idle old man. Remember what I've said.

Osw. Very well, madam.

Enter KENT, disguised.

Kent. Now, banish'd Kent,

[Exeunt.

If thou canst serve where thou dost stand condem'nd, (So 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.

How now! what art thou?

Kent. A man, sir.

[Exit a Knight.

Lear. What dost thou profess? What wouldst

thou with us?

Kent. I do profess to be no less than I seem; to serve him truly that will put me in trust; to love him that is honest; to converse with him that is wise, and says little; to fear judgment; to fight when I cannot choose; and to eat no fish.

Lear. What art thou?

Kent. A very honest-hearted fellow, and as poor as the king.

Lear. If thou be as poor for a subject, as he is for a king, thou art poor enough. What wouldst thou? Kent. Service.

Lear. Whom wouldst thou serve?

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Kent. No, sir; but you have that in your countenance which I would fain call master.

Lear. What's that?

Kent. Authority.

Lear. What services canst thou do?

Kent. I can keep honest counsel, ride, run, mar a curious tale in telling it, and deliver a plain message bluntly.

Lear. How old art thou?

Kent. Not so young, sir, to love a woman for singing, nor so old to dote on her for any thing: I have years on my back forty-eight.

Lear. Follow me; thou shalt serve me. If I like thee no worse after dinner, I will not part from thee yet. Dinner, ho, dinner!—Where's my knave? my fool?-Go you, and call my fool hither.

Enter OSWALD.

[Exit a Knight.

[Exit. Call the

You, you, sirrah, where's my daughter?

Osw. So please you,

Lear. What says the fellow there?

clotpoll back. [Exit KENT and a Knight.]-Where's my fool, ho?--I think the world's asleep

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, differences away, away!

away! I'll teach you

[Pushes OSWALD out.

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

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