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King Lear (Modern, Folio)
Good dawning to thee friend. Art of this house?
Ay.
Where may we set our horses?
I'th'mire.
Prithee, if thou lov'st me, tell me.
I love thee not.
Why then, I care not for thee.
If I had thee in Lipsbury Pinfold I would make 1084thee care for me.
Why dost thou use me thus? I know thee not.
Fellow, I know thee.
What dost thou know me for?
A knave, a rascal, an eater of broken meats; a 1089base, proud, shallow, beggarly, three-suited, hundred-1090pound, filthy, worsted-stocking knave; a lily-livered, 1091action-taking, whoreson, glass-gazing, super-serviceable, 1092finical rogue; one-trunk-inheriting slave. One that 1093wouldst be a bawd in way of good service, and art 1094nothing but the composition of a knave, beggar, coward, 1095pander, and the son and heir of a mongrel bitch--1096one whom I will beat into clamorous whining if thou 1097deny'st the least syllable of thy addition.
Why, what a monstrous fellow art thou, thus 1099to rail on one that is neither known of thee, nor 1100knows thee?
What a brazen-faced varlet art thou, to deny 1102thou knowest me! Is it two days since I tripped up thy 1103heels and beat thee before the king? [Drawing his sword] Draw, you rogue, 1104for though it be night yet the moon shines. I'll make a 1105sop o'th'moonshine of you, you whoreson cullionly 1106barber-monger. Draw!
Away, I have nothing to do with thee.
Draw, you rascal. You come with letters 1109against the king, and take Vanity the puppet's part 1110against the royalty of her father. Draw, you rogue, or 1111I'll so carbonado your shanks! Draw, you rascal. Come 1112your ways.
Help, ho! Murder! Help!
Strike, you slave. Stand, rogue. Stand, you neat 1115slave--strike!
Help, ho, murder, murder!
How now, what's the matter? [Drawing his sword] Part.
[To the Bastard] With you, goodman boy, if you please. Come, 1120I'll flesh ye. Come on, young master.
2.2.21.1[They exchange blows.]
Weapons? Arms? What's the matter here?
[Drawing his sword] Keep peace upon your lives. He dies that strikes 1123again. What is the matter?
The messengers from our sister, and the king.
What is your difference? Speak.
I am scarce in breath, my lord.
No marvel. You have so bestirred your valor, 1128you cowardly rascal, nature disclaims in thee. A tailor 1129made thee.
Thou art a strange fellow. A tailor make a man?
A tailor, sir. A stone-cutter or a painter could 1132not have made him so ill though they had been but two 1133years o'th'trade.
Speak yet. How grew your quarrel?
This ancient ruffian, sir, whose life I have spared 1136at suit of his gray beard--
Thou whoreson zed, thou unnecessary letter!--1138My lord, if you will give me leave, I will tread this 1139unbolted villain into mortar, and daub the wall of a 1140jakes with him. [To Oswald] Spare my gray beard, you wagtail?
Peace, sirrah!
Yes, sir, but anger hath a privilege.
Why art thou angry?
That such a slave as this should wear a sword,
What, art thou mad, old fellow?
How fell you out, say that.
No contraries hold more antipathy,
1162Cornwall
Why dost thou call him knave?
1164Kent
His countenance likes me not.
No more perchance does mine, nor his, nor hers.
Sir, 'tis my occupation to be plain.
This is some fellow,
Sir, in good faith, in sincere verity,
1184Cornwall
What mean'st by this?
To go out of my dialect, which you 1186discommend so much. I know, sir, I am no flatterer. He that 1187beguiled you in a plain accent was a plain knave, which 1188for my part I will not be, though I should win your 1189displeasure to entreat me to't.
[To Oswald] What was th'offence you gave him?
I never gave him any.
None of these rogues and cowards
1203Cornwall
Fetch forth the stocks.
Sir, I am too old to learn.
Fetch forth the stocks!
Till noon? Till night, my lord, and all night too.
Why, madam, if I were your father's dog
1217Regan
Sir, being his knave, I will.
2.2.97.1Stocks brought out.
This is a fellow of the self same color
Let me beseech your grace not to do so.
1224Cornwall
I'll answer that.
My sister may receive it much more worse
Come my lord, away.
2.2.106.1Exeunt [all but Gloucester and Kent].
I am sorry for thee, friend. 'Tis the Duke's pleasure,
Pray do not, sir. I have watched and traveled hard.
1235Gloucester
The Duke's to blame in this,
2.2.114.1Exit.
Good king, that must approve the common saw,
2.2.128.1[He sleeps.]
I heard myself proclaimed,
2.2.149.1Exit.
'Tis strange that they should so depart from home,
1276Gentleman
As I learned,
1279Kent
[From the stocks] Hail to thee, noble master.
Ha? Mak'st thou this shame thy pastime?
1281Kent
No, my lord.
Ha, ha! He wears cruel garters. 1093Horses are 1283tied by the heads, dogs and bears 1094by the neck, 1284monkeys by the loins, and men 1095by the legs. When a man's 1285over-lusty at legs, 1096then he wears wooden netherstocks.
[To Kent] What's he 1287that hath so much thy place mistook
It is both he and she, 1290your son and daughter.
No.
Yes.
No I say.
I say yea.
By Jupiter, I swear no.
By Juno, I swear ay.
They durst not do't.
1303Kent
My lord, when at their home
Winter's not gone yet if the wild geese fly that way.
2.2.1961326But for all this thou shalt have as many dolors for thy 1327daughters as thou canst tell in a year.
Oh, how this mother swells up toward my heart!
With the earl, sir, here within.
[To the Fool and Gentleman] Follow me not, stay here.
2.2.201.1Exit [Lear].
Made you no more offence 1334but what you speak of?
None.
An thou hadst been set i'th'stocks for that 1338question, thou'dst well deserved it.
Why, Fool?
We'll set thee to school to an ant, to teach 1341thee there's no laboring i'th'winter. All that follow their 1342noses are led by their eyes but blind men, and there's 1343not a nose among twenty but can smell him that's 1344stinking. Let go thy hold when a great wheel runs down a 1345hill, lest it break thy neck with following. But the 1346great one that goes upward, let him draw thee after. 1347When a wise man gives thee better counsel give me mine 1348again. I would have none but knaves follow it, since a 1349fool gives it.
2.2.207.1[Sings.]
Where learned you this, Fool?
1360Fool
Not i'th'stocks, fool.
Deny to speak with me? 1362They are sick, they are weary,
1366Gloucester
My dear lord,
1370Lear
Vengeance, plague, death, confusion!
Well, my good lord, I have informed them so.
Informed them? Dost thou understand me, man?
Ay, my good lord.
The king would speak with Cornwall. 1377The dear father
2.2.240.1[Notices Kent.]
1177Death on my state! Wherefore
I would have all well betwixt you.
2.2.248.1Exit [Gloucester].
Oh me, my heart, my rising heart! But down.
Cry to it nuncle, as the cockney did to the 1399eels when she put 'em i'th'paste alive. She knapped 'em 1400o'th'coxcombs with a stick and cried "Down, wantons, 1401down!" 'Twas her brother that in pure kindness to his 1402horse buttered his hay.
Good morrow to you both.
1405Cornwall
Hail to your grace.
2.2.251.1Kent here set at liberty.
I am glad to see your highness.
Regan, I think you are. I know what reason
I pray you, sir, take patience. I have hope
1419Lear
Say? How is that?
I cannot think my sister in the least
My curses on her.
1426Regan
O sir, you are old,
1433Lear
Ask her forgiveness?
Good sir, no more. These are unsightly tricks.
1440Lear
[Rising] Never, Regan.
1447Cornwall
Fie sir, fie.
You nimble lightnings dart your blinding flames
O the blest gods!
No Regan, thou shalt never have my curse.
1466Regan
Good sir, to th'purpose.
2.2.120.1Tucket within.
Who put my man i'th'stocks?
1469Cornwall
What trumpet's that?
I know't my sister's. This approves her letter
This is a slave, whose easy-borrowed pride
1475Cornwall
What means your grace?
Who stocked my servant? Regan, I have good hope
Why not by th'hand sir? How have I offended?
1488Lear
O sides, you are too tough.
I set him there, sir, but his own disorders
1493Lear
You? Did you?
I pray you, father, being weak, seem so.
Return to her? And fifty men dismissed?
2.2.341.1[Indicating Oswald]
1511Goneril
At your choice, sir.
I prithee, daughter, do not make me mad.
Not altogether so.
1532Lear
Is this well spoken?
I dare avouch it, sir. What, fifty followers?
Why might not you, my lord, receive attendance
Why not, my lord? 1542If then they chanced to slack ye,
I gave you all.
1548Regan
And in good time you gave it.
Made you my guardians, my depositories,
And speak't again, my lord, no more with me.
Those wicked creatures yet do look well favored
1559Goneril
Hear me, my lord.
1563Regan
What need one?
Oh, reason not the need! Our basest beggars
2.2.411.1Exeunt [Lear, Gloucester, Kent and Fool].
Let us withdraw. 'Twill be a storm.
This house is little. The old man and 's people
'Tis his own blame; hath put himself from rest,
For his particular, I'll receive him gladly,
1594Goneril
So am I purposed.
Followed the old man forth--he is returned.
The king is in high rage.
1599Cornwall
Whither is he going?
He calls to horse, but will I know not whither.
'Tis best to give him way; he leads himself.
My lord, entreat him by no means to stay.
Alack, the night comes on, and the high winds
1606Regan
O sir, to willful men
Shut up your doors, my lord, 'tis a wild night.