and put away these dispositions, which 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. Does any here know me? - Why, this is not Lear; does Lear walk thus? speak thus? Where are his eyes? Either his notion weakens, or his discernings are lethargied.-Sleeping or waking?-Ha! sure 'tis not so. Who is it that can tell me who I am?1

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.

Fool. Which they will make an obedient father.]
Lear. Your name, fair gentlewoman ?

Gon. Come, sir;

This admiration is much o'the favor 2

Of other your new pranks. I do beseech you
To understand my purposes aright;

As you are old and reverend, you should be wise.
Here do you keep a hundred knights and squires,
Men so disordered, so debauched, and bold,
That this our court, infected with their manners,
Shows like a riotous inn; epicurism and lust
Make it more like a tavern or a brothel,

Than a graced palace. The shame itself doth speak
For instant remedy. Be then desired
By her that else will take the thing she begs,
A little to disquantity your train;

And the remainder, that shall still depend,
To be such men as may besort your age,

And know themselves and you.

Lear.

3

Darkness and devils!

Saddle my horses; call my train together.

Degenerate bastard! I'll not trouble thee;

Yet have I left a daughter.

Gon. You strike my people; and your disordered

rabble

Make servants of their betters.

Enter ALBANY.

1

Lear. Woe, that too late repents, - sir, are you

come?

Is it your will? [TO ALB.]

horses.

Speak, sir.-Prepare my

Ingratitude! thou marble-hearted fiend,

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

Than the sea-monster!?

Alb.

'Pray, sir, be patient.

[To GONERIL.

Lear. 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, wrenched my frame of nature From the fixed 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. My lord, I am guiltless, as I am ignorant

Of what hath moved 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 derogate1 body never spring
A babe to honor her! If she must teem,
Create her child of spleen; that it may live,
And be a thwart disnatured 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,3
To laughter and contempt; that she may feel
How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is
To have a thankless child!-Away! away!

[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 ashamed That thou hast power to shake my manhood thus;

[TO GONERIL.

That these hot tears, which break from me perforce, Should make thee worth them.--Blasts and fogs upon

thee!

The untented 4 woundings of a father's curse
Pierce every sense about thee!-Old fond eyes,
Beweep this cause again, I'll pluck you out;

And cast you, with the waters that you lose,

1

Derogate here means degenerate, degraded.

To temper clay.-Ha! is it come to this?
Let it be so. Yet have I left a 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 forever; thou shalt, I warrant thee.1

[Exeunt LEAR, KENT, and Attendants.

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.

Gon. [This man hath had good counsel ;-a hun

dred knights!

'Tis politie, and safe, to let him keep

At point, a hundred knights! Yes, that on every dream, Each buzz, each fancy, each complaint, dislike,

He may enguard his dotage with their powers,

And hold our lives in mercy.) Oswald, I say !

Alb. Well, you may fear too far.

Gon.

Safer than trust too far:

Let me still take away the harms I fear,
Not fear still to be taken. I know his heart;
What he hath uttered, I have writ my sister;

If she sustain him and his hundred knights,

When I have showed the unfitness,-How now, Os

wald?

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,

This milky gentleness, and course of yours,

Though I condemn it not, yet, under pardon,

You are much more attasked1 for want of wisdom,

Than praised for harmful mildness.

Alb. How far your eyes may pierce, I cannot tell ;

Striving to better, oft we mar what's well.

Gon. Nay, then, —

Alb. Well, well; the event.

SCENE V. Court before the same.

Enter LEAR, KENT, and Fool.

[Exeunt.

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.2

Kent. I will not sleep, my lord, till I have delivered your letter. [Exit.