Fool. Can'st tell how an oyster makes his shell?
Lear. No.

Fool. Nor I neither; but I can tell why a snail has a house.

Lear. Why?

Fool. Why, to put his head in; not to give it away to his daughters, and leave his horns without a case. Lear. I will forget my nature.

Be my horses ready?

So kind a father!

Fool. Thy asses are gone about 'em. The reason why the seven stars are no more than seven, is a pretty

reason.

Lear. Because they are not eight?

Fool. Yes, indeed: Thou wouldest make a good fool. Lear. To take it again perforce ! - Monster ingratitude!

Fool. If thou wert my fool, nuncle, I'd have thee beaten for being old before thy time.

Lear. How's that?

Fool. Thou should'st not have been old, before thou hadst been wise.

Lear. O let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven! Keep me in temper; I would not be mad!

Enter Gentleman.

How now! are the horses ready?

Gent. Ready, my lord.

Lear. Come, boy.

Fool. She that is maid now, and laughs at my depar

ture,

Shall not be a maid long, unless things be cut shorter.

[Exeunt.

3 To take it again perforce!] The subject of Lear's meditation is the resumption of that moiety of the kingdom which he had given to Goneril.

ACT II.

SCENE I. — A Court within the Castle of the Earl of Gloster.

Enter EDMUND and CURAN, meeting.

Edm. Save thee, Curan.

Cur. And you, sir. I have been with your father; and given him notice, that the duke of Cornwall, and Regan his duchess, will be here with him to-night.

Edm. How comes that?

Cur. Nay, I know not: You have heard of the news abroad; I mean, the whispered ones, for they are yet but ear-kissing arguments?

Edm. Not I; 'Pray you, what are they?

Cur. Have you heard of no likely wars toward, 'twixt the dukes of Cornwall and Albany?

Edm. Not a word.

Cur. You may then, in time. Fare you well, sir.

[Exit.

Edm. The duke be here to-night? The better! Best!

This weaves itself perforce into my business!

My father hath set guard to take my brother;
And I have one thing, of a queazy question,*

Which I must act:-Briefness, and fortune, work!-
Brother, a word; - descend: - Brother, I say;

Enter EDGAR.

My father watches:-O sir, fly this place;
Intelligence is given where you are hid;

You have now the good advantage of the night:

queazy question,] Queazy, means delicate, unsettled, what requires to be handled nicely.

Have you not spoken 'gainst the duke of Cornwall?
He's coming hither; now, i'the night, i'the haste,
And Regan with him; Have you nothing said
Upon his party 'gainst the duke of Albany?
Advise yourself.

Edg.

5

I am sure on't, not a word.

Edm. I hear my father coming, Pardon me:In cunning, I must draw my sword upon you:Draw: Seem to defend yourself: Now quit you well. Yield come before my father; - Light, ho, here! Fly, brother;- Torches torches! So, farewell.[Exit EDGAR.

Some blood drawn on me would beget opinion

Of

my

[Wounds his arm.

more fierce endeavour: I have seen drunkards

Do more than this in sport.

Stop, stop! No help?

Father! father!

Enter GLOSTER, and Servants with Torches.

Glo. Now, Edmund, where's the villain?

Edm. Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword out Mumbling of wicked charms, conjuring the moon

To stand his auspicious mistress:

Glo.

But where is he?

Where is the villain, Edmund?

Edm. Look, sir, I bleed.

Glo.

Edm. Fled this way, sir. When by no means he

Glo. Pursue him, ho! Go after. -[Exit Servant.]

By no means,

-what?

Edm. Persuade me to the murder of your lordship; But that I told him, the revenging gods

'Gainst parricides did all their thunders bend;
Spoke, with how manifold and strong a bond

The child was bound to the father:-
:- Sir, in fine,

Advise yourself.] i. e. consider, recollect yourself.

Seeing how loathly opposite I stood
To his unnatural purpose, in fell motion,
With his prepared sword, he charges home
My unprovided body, lanc'd mine arm:
But when he saw my best alarum'd spirits,
Bold in the quarrel's right, rous'd to the encounter,
Or whether gasted by the noise I made,
Full suddenly he fled.

Glo.

Let him fly far:

Not in this land shall he remain uncaught;

And found-Despatch. The noble duke my master, My worthy arch and patron, comes to-night:

By his authority I will proclaim it,

That he, which finds him, shall deserve our thanks,
Bringing the murderous coward to the stake;
He, that conceals him, death.

Edm. When I dissuaded him from his intent,
And found him pight to do it, with curst speech 7
I threaten'd to discover him: He replied,
Thou unpossessing bastard! dost thou think,
If I would stand against thee, would the reposal
Of any trust, virtue, or worth, in thee

Make thy words faith'd? No: what I should deny,
(As this I would; ay, though thou didst produce
My very character,) I'd turn it all

To thy suggestion, plot, and damned practice:
And thou must make a dullard of the world,
If they not thought the profits of my death
Were very pregnant and potential spurs
To make thee seek it.

Glo.

Strong and fasten'd villain! Would he deny his letter?- I never got him.

6 gasted —] Frighted.

[Trumpets within.

arch] i. e. chief; a word now used only in composition, as arch-angel, arch-duke.

8 And found him pight to do it, with curst speech-] Pight is pitched, fixed, settled. Curst is severe, harsh, vehemently angry. 9 My very character,-] i. e. my very handwriting.

Hark, the duke's trumpets! I know not why he comes:
All ports I'll bar; the villain shall not 'scape;
The duke must grant me that: besides, his picture
I will send far and near, that all the kingdom
May have due note of him; and of my land,
Loyal and natural boy, I'll work the means
To make thee capable. '

1

Enter CORNWALL, REGAN, and Attendants.

Corn. How now, my noble friend? since I came hither,

(Which I can call but now,) I have heard strange news. Reg. If it be true, all vengeance comes too short, Which can pursue the offender. How dost, my lord? Glo. O, madam, my old heart is crack'd, is crack'd! Reg. What, did my father's godson seek your life! He whom my father nam'd? your Edgar?

Glo. O, lady, lady, shame would have it hid!

Reg. Was he not companion with the riotous knights That tend upon my father?

I know not, madam:

Yes, madam, he was.

Reg. No marvel then, though he were ill affected; 'Tis they have put him on the old man's death, To have the waste and spoil of his revenues. I have this present evening from my sister

Been well inform'd of them; and with such cautions, That, if they come to sojourn at my house,

I'll not be there.

Corn.

Nor I, assure thee, Regan.

Edmund, I hear that you have shown your father

A child-like office.

Edm.

of my land,

'Twas my duty, sir.

To make thee capable.] i. c. capable of succeeding to my land.