If but as well I other accents borrow

532That can my speech 481diffuse, my good intent

533May carry through itself to that full 482issue

534For which I razed my likeness. Now, banished Kent,

535If thou canst 483serve where thou dost stand condemned,

536Thy master whom thou 484lovest 537shall find thee

Full of labor.

Let me not stay a jot for dinner. Go get it ready.

[To Kent] 540How 487now, what art thou?

A man, sir.

What dost thou profess? What wouldst thou 543with us?

I do profess to be no less than I seem, to serve 545him 491truly that will put me in trust, to love him that is 546honest, to 492converse with him that is wise and says little, to 547fear judgment, 493to fight when I cannot choose, and to 548eat no fish.

What art thou?

A very honest-hearted fellow, and as poor as 551the King.

If thou be as poor for a subject as he is for a 553king, th'art 497poor enough. What wouldst thou?

Service.

Who wouldst thou serve?

You.

Dost thou know me, fellow?

No sir, but you have that in your countenance 559which 501I would fain call master.

What's that?

Authority.

What services canst do?

I can keep honest counsel, ride, run, mar a 564curious 505tale in telling it, and deliver a plain message 565bluntly. That 506which ordinary men are fit for I am 566qualified in, and the best 507of me is diligence.

How old art thou?

Not so young to love a woman for singing, 569nor so old to 510dote on her for anything. I have years on 570my back forty-511eight.

Follow me. Thou shalt serve me. If I like thee no 572513worse after dinner I will not part from thee yet. Dinner, 573ho! 514Dinner! Where's my knave, my fool? Go you and call 574my fool 515hither.

You, sirrah, where's my daughter?

So please you--

What says the fellow there? Call the 578clotpoll back.

519Where's my fool? Ho! I think the world's 579asleep.

How now? 520Where's that mongrel?

He says, my lord, your daughter is not well.

Why came not the slave back to me when I 582called 523him?

Sir, he answered me in the roundest manner 584he 525would not.

'A would not?

My lord, I know not what the matter is, 587but to my 527judgment your highness is not entertained 588with that ceremonious 528affection as you were wont. 589There's a great abatement appears as 529well in 590the general dependents as in the duke himself also, 530and 591your daughter.

Ha? Sayest thou so?

I beseech you pardon me, my lord, if I be 594mistaken, 532for my duty cannot be silent when I think 595your highness 533wronged.

Thou but rememberest me of mine own 597conception. I 535have perceived a most faint neglect of late, 598which I have rather 536blamed as mine own jealous 599curiosity than as a very pretense and 537purport of unkindness. 600I will look further into't. But where's 538this fool? I 601have not seen him this two days.

Since my young lady's going into France, 603sir, the fool 540hath much pined away.

No more of that, I have noted it. Go you 605and tell my 542daughter I would speak with her.

Go you, 606call hither my fool.

543O you, sir, you, sir, come you hither. 607Who am I, sir?

My lady's father.

"My lady's father"? My lord's knave, you 611whoreson dog, 546you slave, you cur.

I am none of this, my lord, 613I beseech you, pardon me.

[Striking him] Do you bandy looks with me, you rascal?

I'll not be struck, my lord.

[Tripping him] Nor tripped neither, you base football player.

I thank thee, fellow. 618Thou servest me, and I'll love thee.

[To Oswald] Come sir, I'll teach you differences. 620Away, away! If 553you will measure your lubber's length 621again, tarry; but away, 554you have wisdom.

Now friendly knave, I thank thee. [Giving money] There's 623earnest of 556thy service.

Let me hire him too. [To Kent, holding out his cap] Here's my coxcomb.

How now, my pretty knave, how dost thou?

[To Kent] Sirrah, you were best take my coxcomb.

Why, Fool?

Why, for taking one's part, that's out of favor. 630Nay, an 562thou canst not smile as the wind sits thou'lt catch 631cold shortly. 563There, take my coxcomb. Why, this fellow 632hath banished two 564on's daughters, and done the third a 633blessing against his will. If 565thou follow him, thou must 634needs wear my coxcomb. [To Lear] How 566now, nuncle? Would 635I had two coxcombs and two daughters.

Why, my boy?

If I gave them any living, I'd keep my 638coxcombs 569myself. There's mine; beg another of thy 639daughters.

Take heed, sirrah--the whip.

Truth is a dog that must to kennel. He must be 642whipped 572out, when Lady the brach may stand by the fire 643and stink.

A pestilent gall to me.

Sirrah, I'll teach thee a speech.

Do.

Mark it, nuncle.

This is nothing, fool.

Then, like the breath of an unfee'd lawyer, 660you gave 582me nothing for't. Can you make no use of 661nothing, nuncle?

Why, no, boy. 663Nothing can be made out of nothing.

[To Kent] Prithee tell him, so much the rent of his land 665comes to. 585He will not believe a fool.

A bitter fool.

[To Lear] Dost know the difference, my boy, 668between a bitter 588fool and a sweet fool?

No, lad, teach me.

Dost thou call me fool, boy?

All thy other titles thou hast given away. That thou 669.07596wast born with.

This is not altogether fool, my Lord.

15.1No, faith, lords and great men will not let me. If I had 669.10599a monopoly on't, they would have part on't. And ladies too; they 669.11600will not let me have all the fool to myself, they'll be snatching. 670601Give me an egg, nuncle, and I'll give thee 671two crowns.

What two crowns shall they be?

Why, after I have cut the egg in the middle and 674eat 604up the meat, the two crowns of the egg. When 675thou clovest 605thy crown i'th'middle and gavest away 676both parts, thou borest 606thy ass o'th'back o'er the 677dirt. Thou hadst little wit in thy bald 607crown when thou 678gav'st thy golden one away. If I speak like 608myself in 679this, let him be whipped that first finds it so.

When were you wont to be so full of songs, sirrah?

I have used it, nuncle, ever since thou mad'st 686thy 615daughters thy mother; for when thou gav'st them 687the rod, and puttest 616down thine own breeches,

692Prithee, nuncle, keep a 619schoolmaster that can teach 693thy fool to lie. I would fain learn to lie.

An you lie, we'll have you whipped.

I marvel what kin thou and thy daughters are. 696They'll 622have me whipped for speaking true, thou wilt have me 697whipped for 623lying, and sometime I am whipped for holding 698my peace. I had 624rather be any kind of thing than a fool; 699and yet I would not be 625thee, nuncle. Thou hast pared thy 700wit o'both sides, and left nothing 626in the middle. Here 701comes one of the parings.

How now, daughter? What makes that frontlet 704on? 629Methinks you are too much o'late i'th'frown.

Thou wast a pretty fellow when thou hadst no 706need 631to care for her frown. Now thou art an "O" 707without a figure. I am 632better than thou art now--I am a fool, 708thou art nothing. [To Goneril] Yes, 633forsooth, I will hold my tongue; so 709your face bids me though 634you say nothing.

[Pointing to Lear.] That's a shelled peascod.

Not only, sir, this, your all-licensed fool,

713But other of 638your insolent retinue

714Do hourly carp and quarrel, breaking 639forth

715In rank and not-to-be-endurèd riots. Sir,

716I had thought by 640making this well known unto you

717To have found a safe redress, 641but now grow fearful,

718By what yourself too late have spoke 642and done,

719That you protect this course, and put it on

720By your 643allowance; which, if you should, the fault

721Would not scape censure, 644nor the redress sleep;

722Which in the tender of a wholesome 645weal,

723Might in their working do you that offence,

724That else 646were shame, that then necessity

725Must call discreet proceedings.

For you trow, nuncle,

So out went 649the candle, and we were left 729darkling.

Are you our daughter?

Come, sir.

I would you would make use of that good 652wisdom

732Whereof I know you are fraught, and put away

733These 653dispositions that of late transform you

734From what you rightly 654are.

May not an ass know when the cart draws 736the horse?--

737656Whoop, Jug, I love thee!

Doth any here know me? 739Why, this is not Lear.

740Doth 658Lear walk thus? Speak thus? Where are his eyes?

741Either his 659notion, weakness, or his discernings

742Are lethargied. Sleeping or 660waking? Ha!

Sure 'tis not so.

743Who is it that can tell me who I am?

744Lear's 661shadow? 21I would learn that, for by the marks

16Of sovereignty, 744.1662knowledge, and reason,

16.1I should be false persuaded I had 744.2663daughters.16.2

Which they will make an obedient father.

Your name, fair gentlewoman?

Your name, fair gentlewoman? Come, sir,

This admiration is much of the savor

747Of other 667your new pranks. I do beseech you

748Understand my purposes 668aright.

749As you are old and reverend, should be wise.

750Here do you 669keep a hundred knights and squires,

751Men so disordered, so debauched 670and bold,

752That this our court, infected with their manners,

753Shows 671like a riotous inn. Epicurism

754And lust make more like a tavern 672or brothel

755Than a great palace. The shame itself doth speak

756673For instant remedy. Be thou desired,

757By her that else will take the 674thing she begs,

758A little to disquantity your train;

759And the 675remainder that shall still depend

760To be such men as may besort 676your age,

761That know themselves and you.

That know themselves and you. Darkness and devils!

763Saddle my horses. Call my train 678together.

76412.1Degenerate bastard, I'll not trouble thee.

765Yet have I left 679a daughter.

You strike my people, and your disordered rabble

767Make 681servants of their betters.

We that too late repent us-- [To Albany] Oh, sir, are you come?

770Is it your 683will that we-- [To a servant] Prepare my horses!

771Ingratitude! Thou 684marble-hearted fiend,

772More hideous when thou show'st thee in a child

773Than 685the sea-monster.

19775[To Goneril] Detested kite, thou liest.

776My train are men of 686choice and rarest parts

777That all particulars of duty know,

778And 687in the most exact regard support

779The worships of their name. Oh, 688most small fault,

780How ugly didst thou in Cordelia show,

781That, 689like an engine, wrenched my frame of nature

782From the fixèd place, 690drew from my heart all love

783And added to the gall.

And added to the gall. 14.1O Lear, Lear!

784691Beat at this gate that let thy folly in

785And thy dear judgment 692out. Go, go, my people.

21My lord, I am guiltless as I am ignorant

It may be so, my lord. 789Hark, Nature, hear.

Dear 695goddess,

790Suspend thy purpose if thou didst intend

791To make this 696creature fruitful.

792Into her womb convey sterility,

793Dry up in her 697the organs of increase,

794And from her derogate body never spring

795698A babe to honor her. If she must teem,

796Create her child of 699spleen, that it may live

797And be a thwart, disnatured torment to 700her.

798Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth,

799With cadent 701tears fret channels in her cheeks,

800Turn all her mother's pains 702and benefits

801To laughter and contempt, that she may feel--

That 703she may feel

802How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is

803To have a 704thankless child. Go, go, my people!

Now, gods that we adore, 805whereof comes this?

Never afflict yourself to know the cause,

807But let his 707disposition have that scope

808That dotage gives it.

What? Fifty of my followers at a clap

811Within a fortnight?

Within a fortnight? What is the matter, sir?

I'll tell thee--814life and death! I am ashamed

815That thou hast 711power to shake my manhood thus,

816That these hot tears that 712break from me perforce

817Should make--the worst 818blasts and fogs 713upon thee;

819Untented woundings of a father's curse

820Pierce every 714sense about thee. Old fond eyes,

821Beweep this cause again, I'll 715pluck you out,

822And cast you with the waters that you make

823To 716temper clay. Yea, is't come to this?

824Yet have I left a daughter,

825Who 717I am sure is kind and comfortable.

826When she shall hear this of 718thee, with her nails

827She'll flay thy wolvish visage. Thou shalt 719find

828That I'll resume the shape which thou dost think

829I have cast 720off for ever--thou shalt, I warrant thee.

Do you mark that, my lord?

I cannot be so partial, Goneril,

832To the great love I 723bear you--

To the great love I bear you-- Come, sir, no more.

834[To the Fool] You, more knave than fool, after 725your master!

Nuncle Lear, nuncle Lear, 836tarry and take the fool 727with thee.

What, have you writ this letter to my sister?

Yes, madam.

Take you some company and away to horse.

861Inform 734her full of my particular fears,

862And thereto add such reasons of 735your own

863As may compact it more. Get you gone,

864And hasten your 736return.

And hasten your return. 28.1Now, my lord,

865This milky gentleness and course of yours,

866737Though I dislike not, yet, under pardon,

867Y'are much more attasked for 738want of wisdom

868Than praised for harmful mildness.

How far your eyes may pierce I cannot tell.

870Striving 740to better aught, we mar what's well.

Nay then--

Well, well, the event.