Lear. I would learn that; for, by the marks of sovereignty, Knowledge, and reason, I should be false persuaded I had daughters.(25) Fool. Which they will make an obedient father. Gon. This admiration, sir, is much o' the favour As you are old and reverend, should be wise. Than a grac'd palace. The shame itself doth speak By her, that else will take the thing she begs, A little to disquantity your train; And the remainder, that shall still depend, Lear. Darkness and devils! Saddle my horses; call my train together.- Yet have I left a daughter. Gon. You strike my people; and your disorder'd rabble Make servants of their betters. Enter ALBANY. Lear. Woe, that too late repents,-[to Alb.] O, sir, are you come? Is it your will? Speak, sir.-Prepare my horses.— More hideous when thou show'st thee in a child Than the sea-monster! Alb. Pray, sir, be patient. 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 [To Goneril. The worships of their name.-O most small fault, Which, like an engine, wrench'd my frame of nature Lear.(26) It may be so, my lord.- Into her womb convey sterility! Alb. Now, gods that we adore, whereof comes this? As dotage gives it. Re-enter LEAR. Lear. What, fifty of my followers at a clap! Within a fortnight! Alb. What's the matter, sir? [Exit. Lear. I'll tell thee,-Life and death! I am asham'd [To Goneril. That thou hast power to shake my manhood thus ; That these hot tears, which break from me perforce, Should make thee worth them.-Blasts and fogs upon thee! The untented woundings of a father's curse Pierce every sense about thee!-Old fond eyes, Let it be so:-I have another daughter, [Exeunt Lear, Kent, and Attendants. Gon. Do you mark that? 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,-take the fool with thee. A fox, when one has caught her, And such a daughter, Should sure to the slaughter, If my cap would buy a halter: So the fool follows after. [Exit. Gon. This man hath had good counsel:- a hundred knights! 'Tis politic and safe to let him keep At point a hundred knights: yes, that, on every dream, Safer than trust too far He may enguard his dotage with their powers, : Re-enter Oswald. How now, Oswald! What, have you writ that letter to my sister? Osw. 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 Oswald.] No, no, my lord, This milky gentleness and course of yours Though I condemn not,(7) yet, under pardon, You are much more attask'd for want of wisdom. Than prais'd 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. [Exeunt. SCENE V. Court before the same. Enter LEAR, KENT, and Fool. 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 afore you. Kent. I will not sleep, my lord, till I have delivered your letter. [Exit. Fool. If a man's brains were in's heels, were't not in danger of kibes? Lear. Ay, boy. Fool. Then, I prithee, be merry; thy wit shall not go slip-shod. 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 crab. Thou canst tell why one 's nose stands i' the middle on's face? Lear. No. Fool. Why, to keep one's eyes of either side'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 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. So kind a father!-Be my horses ready? 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 wouldst make a good fool. Lear. To take 't 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 shouldst not have been old till 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's a maid now, and laughs at my departure, Shall not be a maid long, unless things be cut shorter. [Exeunt. |