And thy dear judgment out. Go, go,, my people. : Alb. My Lord, I'm guiltless, as I'm ignorant Of what hath moved you. Lear. It may be so, my Lord Hear, Nature, hear, dear Goddess, hear a father- Into her womb convey fterility, To have a thankless child. -Go, go, my people. Alb. Now, Gods, that we adore, whereof comes this? Gon. Never afflict your self to know of what, But let his disposition have that scope As dotage gives it. 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 haft power to shake my manhood thus, That That I'll refume the shape which thou dost think SCENE XVI. Gon. Do you mark that ? Alb. I cannot be so partial, Gonerill, To the great love I bear you Gon. Pray you, becontent. What, Oswald, ho! You, Sir, more knave than fool, after your master. Fool. Nuncle Lear, nuncle Lear, tarry, take the fool with thee: A Fox, when one has caught her, And fuch a daughter, Should sure to the laughter, If my cap would buy a halter; So the fool follows after. [Exit. Gon. This, man! hath had good counsel, - a hundred Knights! Is't politick and safe to let him keep A hundred Knights? yes, that on ev'ry dream, Let me still take away the harms I fear, How now, Ofwald? Enter Steward. What, have you writ that letter to my fister? Stew. Ay, Madam. Gon. Take you some company, away to horfe, Inform her full of my particular fears, As may compact it more. So get you gone, And haften your return. No, no, my Lord, This milky gentleness and course of yours, L2 [Exit Steward. Though Though I condemn it not, yet under pardon Than prais'd for harmless mildness. Alb. How far your eyes may pierce I cannot tell; Striving to better oft we mar what's well. Gon. Nay then Alt. Well, well, th event. SCENE XVII. [Exeunt. Re-enter Lear, Kent, Gentleman and Fool. Lear. Go you before to Glo'ster 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 afore you. Kent. I will not sleep, my Lord, 'till I have delivered [Exit. your letter. Fool. If a man's brain were in his heels, wer't not in Lear. Ay, boy. Fool. Then, I pr'ythee, be merry, thy wit shall not go flipshod. Lear. Ha, ha, ha. Fool. Shalt see thy other daughter will use thee kindly, for though she's as like this as a crab's like an apple, yet I can tell what I can tell. Lear. What canst tell, boy ? Fool. She will taste as like this, as a crab does to a craba Canst thou tell why one's nose stands i'th' middle of one's face? Lear. No. Fool. Why, to keep one's eyes of either fide one's nose; that what a man cannot smell out, he may spy into. Lear. I did her wrong! Fool. Canst tell how an oyster makes his shell? Lear. No. Fool. Nor Ineither; but I can tell why a snail has a house. Lear. Why? Fool. Why, to put's head in, not to give it away to his daughters, and leave his horns without a cafe. Lear. I will forget my nature: so kind a father! be my horses ready? Fool. Fool. Thy affes are gone about 'em; the reafon why the Teven stars are no more than seven, is a pretty reason. Fool. Yes indeed; thou would'st make a good fool. for being old before thy time. Lear. How's that? Fool. Thou should'st not have been old, 'till thou hadst been wife. Lear. O, let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heav'n! Keep me in temper, I would not be mad. How now, are the horses ready? Gent. Ready, my Lord. Lear. Come, boy. Fool. She that's a maid now, and laughs at my departure, Shall not be a maid long, unless things be cut shorter. Baft. A Castle belonging to the Earl of Glo'fter. Ave thee, Curan. SAV [Exeunt Cur. And you, Sir. I have been with your father, and given him notice that the Duke of Cornwall, and Regan his Dutchess, will be here with him this night. Baft. How comes that? Cur. Nay, I know not; you have heard of the news abroad, I mean the whisper'd ones, for they are yet but earkiffing arguments. Baft. Not I; pray you, what are they? Cur. Have yon heard of no likely wars toward, 'twixt the Dukes of Cornwall and Aibany? Baft. Not a word. Cur. You may then in time. Fare you well, Sir. [Exita SCENE И. Baft. The Duke be here to-night! the better! best! This weaves it self perforce into my business. My father hath set guard to take my brother, And I have one thing of a queazy question L3 Whick Which I must act; briefness, and fortune work! To him, Enter Edgar. Edg. I'm sure on't, not a word. Baft. I hear my father coming. Pardon meIn cunning I must draw my sword upon you Draw, seem to defend your self. Now quit you well Yield come before my father-light hoa, here, - Stop, stop, no help? SCENE III. To bim, Enter Glo'ster, and Servants with torches. Glo. Now, Edmund, where's the villain ? Baft. Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword out, Mumbling of wicked charms, conj'ring the moon Baft. Look, Sir, I bleed. Gb. Where is the villain, Edmund ? Baft. Fled this way, Sir, when by no means he could But that I told him the revenging Gods * Meaning, upon the party engaged by him against the Duke of Albany. 7 Seeing |