Kent. This is nothing, fool.

Fool. Then 'tis like the breath of an unfee'd lawyer; you gave me nothing for 't. I would not be thee, nuncle: thou hast pared thy wit o' both sides, and left nothing i’ th' middle. Here comes one o' the parings.

Enter GONERIL.

Lear. How now, daughter! what makes that frontlet on? Methinks you are too much of late i' the frown.

Gon. Not only, sir, this your all-licens'd fool, But other of your insolent retinue Do hourly carp and quarrel ; breaking forth In rank and not-to-be-endurèd riots. Sir, I had thought, by making this well-known unto you, T' have found a safe redress; but now grow fearful, That you protect this course, and put it on By your allowance. Fool. For, you trow, nuncle,

The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so long,

That it had its head bit off by its young. "So out went the candle, and we were left darkling.

Lear. Are you our daughter ?
Gon. I would you would make use of your good

wisdom,
Whereof I know you're fraught; and put away
These dispositions, that 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. Doth any here know me ?—Why, this is not

Lear: Doth Lear walk thus ? speak thus ? Where are his

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

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. Your name, fair gentlewoman?

Gon. This admiration, sir, is much o' the savour Of other your new pranks. I do beseech you To understand my purposes aright: As you are old and rev'rend, you should be wise. Here do you keep a hundred knights and squires; Men so disorder'd, so debauch’d, and bold, That this our court, infected with their manners, Shows like a riotous inn. Be, then, desir'd By her, that else will take the thing she begs, A little to disquantity your train ; And the remainder, that shall depend, To be such men as may besort your age, Which know themselves and you. Lear.

Darkness and devils !Saddle my horses ; call my train together.Degenerate bastard ! I'll not trouble thee : Yet have I left a daughter. Woe, that too late repents,

[Enter ALBANY. O, sir, are you come ? Is it your will ? Speak, sir.—Prepare my horses.Ingratitude, thou marble-hearted fiend, More hideous when thou show'st thee in a child Than the sea-monster!

Alb. Pray, sir, be patient.

Lear. (TO GONERIL.] 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.-0 most small fault,
How ugly didst thou in Cordelia show,
Which like an engine, wrench'd my frame of nature
From the fix'd 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 pecple.

Alb. Now, gods that we adore, whereof comes this? Lear. I'll tell thee,– [TO GONERIL.] Life and

death! I am asham'd 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!
Th' untented woundings of a father's curse
Pierce every sense about thee !-Old fond eyes,
Beweep this cause again, I'll pluck ye out,
And cast you, with the waters that you lose,
To temper clay.-Ha, is it come to this?
Let it be so :-I have another 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 for ever; thou shalt, I warrant thee.
Gon. Do you mark that?

Alb. My lord, I'm guiltless, as I'm ignorant
Of what hath mov'd 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 derogate body never spring
A babe to honour her! If she must teem,
Create her child of spleen; that it may live,
And be a thwart disnatur'd 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
To laughter and contempt; that she may feel
How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is
To have a thankless child !-Away, away!

ACT II.

SCENE 1.-A Court within GLOSTER's Castle.

Enter EDMUND and CURAN, meeting.

Edmund.
VAVE thee, Curan.

Cur. And you, sir. I have been with your father, and given him notice that the

Duke of Cornwall and Regan his duchess will be here with him this night.

Edm. How comes that ?

Cur. Have you heard of no likely wars toward 'twixt the Dukes of Cornwall and Albany ?

Edm. Not a word.

Cur. You may do, then, in time. Fare you well, sir.

[Exit. Edm. The duke be here to-night? The better!

best! This weaves itself perforce into my business. My father hath set guard to take my brother; And I have one thing, of a queasy question, Which I must act :-briefness and fortune, work!Brother, a word ;-descend:-brother, I say !

Enter EDGAR.
My father watches :- sir, fly this place ;
Intelligence is given where you are hid :-
You've now the good advantage of the night:-