A little to disquantity your train; And the remainder, that shall still depend, 8 Darkness and devils!· Lear. - Gon. You strike my people; and your disorder'd rabble Make servants of their betters. Enter ALBANY. Lear. Woe, that too late repents, — O, sir, are you come? Is it your will? [to ALB.] Speak, sir. horses. Ingratitude! thou marble-hearted fiend, Prepare my More hideous, when thou show'st thee in a child, Alb. Pray, sir, be patient. Lear. Detested kite! thou liest: [to GONERIL.] 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 1, 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! still depend,] Depend, for continue in service. 9 Than the sea-monster!] Mr. Upton observes, that the sea-monster is the hippopotamus, the hieroglyphical symbol of impiety and ingratitude. 1 like an engine,] By an engine is meant the rack. Beat at this gate, that let thy folly in, [Striking his head. And thy dear judgment out! - Go, go, my people. Alb. My lord, I am guiltless, as I am 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! Dry up in her the organs of increase; And from her derogate body 2 never spring 4 [Exit. Alb. Now, gods, that we adore, whereof comes this? Gon. Never afflict yourself to know the cause; But let his disposition have that scope That dotage gives it. Re-enter LEAR. 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 asham'd That thou hast power to shake my manhood thus: [To GONERIL. 3 from her derogate body-] Derogate for degraded, blasted. cadent tears] i. e. falling tears. + Turn all her mother's pains, and benefits,] Her maternal cares and good offices. That these hot tears, which break from me perforce, Should make thee worth them.-Blasts and fogs upon thee! The untented woundings of a father's curse Gon. Do you mark that, my lord? Alb. I cannot be so partial, Goneril, To the great love I bear you,— Gon. Pray you, content. What, Oswald, ho! You, sir, more knave than fool, after your master. [To the Fool. Fool. Nuncle Lear, nuncle Lear, tarry, and take the fool with thee. A fox, when one has caught her, Should sure to the slaughter, So the fool follows after. [Exit. Gon. This man hath had good counsel:- A hundred knights! 'Tis politick, and safe, to let him keep At point, a hundred knights. Yes, that on every dream, 5 The untented woundings —] Untented wounds, means wounds in their worst state, not having a tent in them to digest them: and may possibly signify here such as will not admit of having a tent put into them for that purpose. 6 At point,] Completely armed, and consequently ready at ap pointment or command on the slightest notice. Each buz, each fancy, each complaint, dislike, Safer than trust:+ Let me still take away the harms I fear, When I have show'd the unfitness.-How now, Oswald? Enter Steward. What, have you writ that letter to my sister? Stew. Ay, madam. Gon. Take you some company, and away to horse: Inform her full of my particular fear; And thereto add such reasons of your own, As may compact it more." Get you gone; And hasten your return. [Exit Stew.] No, no, my lord, Alb. How far your eyes may pierce, I cannot tell; Gon. Nay, then Alb. Well, well; the event. † "trust too far:" - MALONE. [Exeunt. 7 ― compact it more.] Unite one circumstance with another, so as to make a consistent account. 8 —— more attask'd—] To be at task, is to be liable to reprehension and correction. SCENE V. Court before the same. Enter LEAR, KENT, and Fool. Lear. Go you before to Gloster with these 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 shall be there before you. 9 Kent. I will not sleep, my lord, till I have delivered your letter. [Exit. Fool. If a man's brains were in his heels, were't not in danger of kibes? Lear. Ay, boy. Fool. Then, I pr'ythee, be merry; thy wit shall not go slip-shod. Lear. Ha, ha, ha! Fool. Shalt see, thy other daughter will use thee kindly for though she's as like this as a crab is like an apple, yet I can tell what I can tell. Lear. Why, what canst thou tell, my boy? Fool. She will taste as like this, as a crab does to a crab. Thou canst tell, why one's nose stands i'the middle of his face? Lear. No. Fool. Why, to keep his eyes on either side his nose; that what a man cannot smell out, he may spy into. Lear. I did her wrong:2 9 there before you.] He means the town of Gloster. thy other daughter will use thee kindly:] The fool uses the word kindly here in two senses: it means affectionately, and like the rest of her kind. I did her wrong:] He is musing on Cordelia. |