itismouad/pythonic-raqa-app
0
1ACT I2SCENE I. King Lear's palace.3Enter KENT, GLOUCESTER, and EDMUND4KENT5I thought the king had more affected the Duke of6Albany than Cornwall.7GLOUCESTER8It did always seem so to us: but now, in the9division of the kingdom, it appears not which of10the dukes he values most; for equalities are so11weighed, that curiosity in neither can make choice12of either's moiety.13KENT14Is not this your son, my lord?15GLOUCESTER16His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge: I have17so often blushed to acknowledge him, that now I am18brazed to it.19KENT20I cannot conceive you.21GLOUCESTER22Sir, this young fellow's mother could: whereupon23she grew round-wombed, and had, indeed, sir, a son24for her cradle ere she had a husband for her bed.25Do you smell a fault?26KENT27I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it28being so proper.29GLOUCESTER30But I have, sir, a son by order of law, some year31elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account:32though this knave came something saucily into the33world before he was sent for, yet was his mother34fair; there was good sport at his making, and the35whoreson must be acknowledged. Do you know this36noble gentleman, Edmund?37EDMUND38No, my lord.39GLOUCESTER40My lord of Kent: remember him hereafter as my41honourable friend.42EDMUND43My services to your lordship.44KENT45I must love you, and sue to know you better.46EDMUND47Sir, I shall study deserving.48GLOUCESTER49He hath been out nine years, and away he shall50again. The king is coming.51Sennet. Enter KING LEAR, CORNWALL, ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, CORDELIA, and Attendants52 53KING LEAR54Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester.55GLOUCESTER56I shall, my liege.57Exeunt GLOUCESTER and EDMUND58 59KING LEAR60Meantime we shall express our darker purpose.61Give me the map there. Know that we have divided62In three our kingdom: and 'tis our fast intent63To shake all cares and business from our age;64Conferring them on younger strengths, while we65Unburthen'd crawl toward death. Our son of Cornwall,66And you, our no less loving son of Albany,67We have this hour a constant will to publish68Our daughters' several dowers, that future strife69May be prevented now. The princes, France and Burgundy,70Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love,71Long in our court have made their amorous sojourn,72And here are to be answer'd. Tell me, my daughters,--73Since now we will divest us both of rule,74Interest of territory, cares of state,--75Which of you shall we say doth love us most?76That we our largest bounty may extend77Where nature doth with merit challenge. Goneril,78Our eldest-born, speak first.79GONERIL80Sir, I love you more than words can wield the matter;81Dearer than eye-sight, space, and liberty;82Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare;83No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour;84As much as child e'er loved, or father found;85A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable;86Beyond all manner of so much I love you.87CORDELIA88[Aside] What shall Cordelia do?89Love, and be silent.90LEAR91Of all these bounds, even from this line to this,92With shadowy forests and with champains rich'd,93With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads,94We make thee lady: to thine and Albany's issue95Be this perpetual. What says our second daughter,96Our dearest Regan, wife to Cornwall? Speak.97REGAN98Sir, I am made99Of the self-same metal that my sister is,100And prize me at her worth. In my true heart101I find she names my very deed of love;102Only she comes too short: that I profess103Myself an enemy to all other joys,104Which the most precious square of sense possesses;105And find I am alone felicitate106In your dear highness' love.107CORDELIA108[Aside] Then poor Cordelia!109And yet not so; since, I am sure, my love's110More richer than my tongue.111KING LEAR112To thee and thine hereditary ever113Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom;114No less in space, validity, and pleasure,115Than that conferr'd on Goneril. Now, our joy,116Although the last, not least; to whose young love117The vines of France and milk of Burgundy118Strive to be interess'd; what can you say to draw119A third more opulent than your sisters? Speak.120CORDELIA121Nothing, my lord.122KING LEAR123Nothing!124CORDELIA125Nothing.126KING LEAR127Nothing will come of nothing: speak again.128CORDELIA129Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave130My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty131According to my bond; nor more nor less.132KING LEAR133How, how, Cordelia! mend your speech a little,134Lest it may mar your fortunes.135CORDELIA136Good my lord,137You have begot me, bred me, loved me: I138Return those duties back as are right fit,139Obey you, love you, and most honour you.140Why have my sisters husbands, if they say141They love you all? Haply, when I shall wed,142That lord whose hand must take my plight shall carry143Half my love with him, half my care and duty:144Sure, I shall never marry like my sisters,145To love my father all.146KING LEAR147But goes thy heart with this?148CORDELIA149Ay, good my lord.150KING LEAR151So young, and so untender?152CORDELIA153So young, my lord, and true.154KING LEAR155Let it be so; thy truth, then, be thy dower:156For, by the sacred radiance of the sun,157The mysteries of Hecate, and the night;158By all the operation of the orbs159From whom we do exist, and cease to be;160Here I disclaim all my paternal care,161Propinquity and property of blood,162And as a stranger to my heart and me163Hold thee, from this, for ever. The barbarous Scythian,164Or he that makes his generation messes165To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom166Be as well neighbour'd, pitied, and relieved,167As thou my sometime daughter.168KENT169Good my liege,--170KING LEAR171Peace, Kent!172Come not between the dragon and his wrath.173I loved her most, and thought to set my rest174On her kind nursery. Hence, and avoid my sight!175So be my grave my peace, as here I give176Her father's heart from her! Call France; who stirs?177Call Burgundy. Cornwall and Albany,178With my two daughters' dowers digest this third:179Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry her.180I do invest you jointly with my power,181Pre-eminence, and all the large effects182That troop with majesty. Ourself, by monthly course,183With reservation of an hundred knights,184By you to be sustain'd, shall our abode185Make with you by due turns. Only we still retain186The name, and all the additions to a king;187The sway, revenue, execution of the rest,188Beloved sons, be yours: which to confirm,189This coronet part betwixt you.190Giving the crown191 192KENT193Royal Lear,194Whom I have ever honour'd as my king,195Loved as my father, as my master follow'd,196As my great patron thought on in my prayers,--197KING LEAR198The bow is bent and drawn, make from the shaft.199KENT200Let it fall rather, though the fork invade201The region of my heart: be Kent unmannerly,202When Lear is mad. What wilt thou do, old man?203Think'st thou that duty shall have dread to speak,204When power to flattery bows? To plainness honour's bound,205When majesty stoops to folly. Reverse thy doom;206And, in thy best consideration, cheque207This hideous rashness: answer my life my judgment,208Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least;209Nor are those empty-hearted whose low sound210Reverbs no hollowness.211KING LEAR212Kent, on thy life, no more.213KENT214My life I never held but as a pawn215To wage against thy enemies; nor fear to lose it,216Thy safety being the motive.217KING LEAR218Out of my sight!219KENT220See better, Lear; and let me still remain221The true blank of thine eye.222KING LEAR223Now, by Apollo,--224KENT225Now, by Apollo, king,226Thou swear'st thy gods in vain.227KING LEAR228O, vassal! miscreant!229Laying his hand on his sword230 231ALBANY CORNWALL232Dear sir, forbear.233KENT234Do:235Kill thy physician, and the fee bestow236Upon thy foul disease. Revoke thy doom;237Or, whilst I can vent clamour from my throat,238I'll tell thee thou dost evil.239KING LEAR240Hear me, recreant!241On thine allegiance, hear me!242Since thou hast sought to make us break our vow,243Which we durst never yet, and with strain'd pride244To come between our sentence and our power,245Which nor our nature nor our place can bear,246Our potency made good, take thy reward.247Five days we do allot thee, for provision248To shield thee from diseases of the world;249And on the sixth to turn thy hated back250Upon our kingdom: if, on the tenth day following,251Thy banish'd trunk be found in our dominions,252The moment is thy death. Away! by Jupiter,253This shall not be revoked.254KENT255Fare thee well, king: sith thus thou wilt appear,256Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here.257To CORDELIA258 259The gods to their dear shelter take thee, maid,260That justly think'st, and hast most rightly said!261To REGAN and GONERIL262 263And your large speeches may your deeds approve,264That good effects may spring from words of love.265Thus Kent, O princes, bids you all adieu;266He'll shape his old course in a country new.267Exit268 269Flourish. Re-enter GLOUCESTER, with KING OF FRANCE, BURGUNDY, and Attendants270 271GLOUCESTER272Here's France and Burgundy, my noble lord.273KING LEAR274My lord of Burgundy.275We first address towards you, who with this king276Hath rivall'd for our daughter: what, in the least,277Will you require in present dower with her,278Or cease your quest of love?279BURGUNDY280Most royal majesty,281I crave no more than what your highness offer'd,282Nor will you tender less.283KING LEAR284Right noble Burgundy,285When she was dear to us, we did hold her so;286But now her price is fall'n. Sir, there she stands:287If aught within that little seeming substance,288Or all of it, with our displeasure pieced,289And nothing more, may fitly like your grace,290She's there, and she is yours.291BURGUNDY292I know no answer.293KING LEAR294Will you, with those infirmities she owes,295Unfriended, new-adopted to our hate,296Dower'd with our curse, and stranger'd with our oath,297Take her, or leave her?298BURGUNDY299Pardon me, royal sir;300Election makes not up on such conditions.301KING LEAR302Then leave her, sir; for, by the power that made me,303I tell you all her wealth.304To KING OF FRANCE305 306For you, great king,307I would not from your love make such a stray,308To match you where I hate; therefore beseech you309To avert your liking a more worthier way310Than on a wretch whom nature is ashamed311Almost to acknowledge hers.312KING OF FRANCE313This is most strange,314That she, that even but now was your best object,315The argument of your praise, balm of your age,316Most best, most dearest, should in this trice of time317Commit a thing so monstrous, to dismantle318So many folds of favour. Sure, her offence319Must be of such unnatural degree,320That monsters it, or your fore-vouch'd affection321Fall'n into taint: which to believe of her,322Must be a faith that reason without miracle323Could never plant in me.324CORDELIA325I yet beseech your majesty,--326If for I want that glib and oily art,327To speak and purpose not; since what I well intend,328I'll do't before I speak,--that you make known329It is no vicious blot, murder, or foulness,330No unchaste action, or dishonour'd step,331That hath deprived me of your grace and favour;332But even for want of that for which I am richer,333A still-soliciting eye, and such a tongue334As I am glad I have not, though not to have it335Hath lost me in your liking.336KING LEAR337Better thou338Hadst not been born than not to have pleased me better.339KING OF FRANCE340Is it but this,--a tardiness in nature341Which often leaves the history unspoke342That it intends to do? My lord of Burgundy,343What say you to the lady? Love's not love344When it is mingled with regards that stand345Aloof from the entire point. Will you have her?346She is herself a dowry.347BURGUNDY348Royal Lear,349Give but that portion which yourself proposed,350And here I take Cordelia by the hand,351Duchess of Burgundy.352KING LEAR353Nothing: I have sworn; I am firm.354BURGUNDY355I am sorry, then, you have so lost a father356That you must lose a husband.357CORDELIA358Peace be with Burgundy!359Since that respects of fortune are his love,360I shall not be his wife.361KING OF FRANCE362Fairest Cordelia, that art most rich, being poor;363Most choice, forsaken; and most loved, despised!364Thee and thy virtues here I seize upon:365Be it lawful I take up what's cast away.366Gods, gods! 'tis strange that from their cold'st neglect367My love should kindle to inflamed respect.368Thy dowerless daughter, king, thrown to my chance,369Is queen of us, of ours, and our fair France:370Not all the dukes of waterish Burgundy371Can buy this unprized precious maid of me.372Bid them farewell, Cordelia, though unkind:373Thou losest here, a better where to find.374KING LEAR375Thou hast her, France: let her be thine; for we376Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see377That face of hers again. Therefore be gone378Without our grace, our love, our benison.379Come, noble Burgundy.380Flourish. Exeunt all but KING OF FRANCE, GONERIL, REGAN, and CORDELIA381 382KING OF FRANCE383Bid farewell to your sisters.384CORDELIA385The jewels of our father, with wash'd eyes386Cordelia leaves you: I know you what you are;387And like a sister am most loath to call388Your faults as they are named. Use well our father:389To your professed bosoms I commit him390But yet, alas, stood I within his grace,391I would prefer him to a better place.392So, farewell to you both.393REGAN394Prescribe not us our duties.395GONERIL396Let your study397Be to content your lord, who hath received you398At fortune's alms. You have obedience scanted,399And well are worth the want that you have wanted.400CORDELIA401Time shall unfold what plaited cunning hides:402Who cover faults, at last shame them derides.403Well may you prosper!404KING OF FRANCE405Come, my fair Cordelia.406Exeunt KING OF FRANCE and CORDELIA407 408GONERIL409Sister, it is not a little I have to say of what410most nearly appertains to us both. I think our411father will hence to-night.412REGAN413That's most certain, and with you; next month with us.414GONERIL415You see how full of changes his age is; the416observation we have made of it hath not been417little: he always loved our sister most; and418with what poor judgment he hath now cast her off419appears too grossly.420REGAN421'Tis the infirmity of his age: yet he hath ever422but slenderly known himself.423GONERIL424The best and soundest of his time hath been but425rash; then must we look to receive from his age,426not alone the imperfections of long-engraffed427condition, but therewithal the unruly waywardness428that infirm and choleric years bring with them.429REGAN430Such unconstant starts are we like to have from431him as this of Kent's banishment.432GONERIL433There is further compliment of leavetaking434between France and him. Pray you, let's hit435together: if our father carry authority with436such dispositions as he bears, this last437surrender of his will but offend us.438REGAN439We shall further think on't.440GONERIL441We must do something, and i' the heat.442Exeunt443 444SCENE II. The Earl of Gloucester's castle.445Enter EDMUND, with a letter446EDMUND447Thou, nature, art my goddess; to thy law448My services are bound. Wherefore should I449Stand in the plague of custom, and permit450The curiosity of nations to deprive me,451For that I am some twelve or fourteen moon-shines452Lag of a brother? Why bastard? wherefore base?453When my dimensions are as well compact,454My mind as generous, and my shape as true,455As honest madam's issue? Why brand they us456With base? with baseness? bastardy? base, base?457Who, in the lusty stealth of nature, take458More composition and fierce quality459Than doth, within a dull, stale, tired bed,460Go to the creating a whole tribe of fops,461Got 'tween asleep and wake? Well, then,462Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land:463Our father's love is to the bastard Edmund464As to the legitimate: fine word,--legitimate!465Well, my legitimate, if this letter speed,466And my invention thrive, Edmund the base467Shall top the legitimate. I grow; I prosper:468Now, gods, stand up for bastards!469Enter GLOUCESTER470 471GLOUCESTER472Kent banish'd thus! and France in choler parted!473And the king gone to-night! subscribed his power!474Confined to exhibition! All this done475Upon the gad! Edmund, how now! what news?476EDMUND477So please your lordship, none.478Putting up the letter479 480GLOUCESTER481Why so earnestly seek you to put up that letter?482EDMUND483I know no news, my lord.484GLOUCESTER485What paper were you reading?486EDMUND487Nothing, my lord.488GLOUCESTER489No? What needed, then, that terrible dispatch of490it into your pocket? the quality of nothing hath491not such need to hide itself. Let's see: come,492if it be nothing, I shall not need spectacles.493EDMUND494I beseech you, sir, pardon me: it is a letter495from my brother, that I have not all o'er-read;496and for so much as I have perused, I find it not497fit for your o'er-looking.498GLOUCESTER499Give me the letter, sir.500EDMUND501I shall offend, either to detain or give it. The502contents, as in part I understand them, are to blame.503GLOUCESTER504Let's see, let's see.505EDMUND506I hope, for my brother's justification, he wrote507this but as an essay or taste of my virtue.508GLOUCESTER509[Reads] 'This policy and reverence of age makes510the world bitter to the best of our times; keeps511our fortunes from us till our oldness cannot relish512them. I begin to find an idle and fond bondage513in the oppression of aged tyranny; who sways, not514as it hath power, but as it is suffered. Come to515me, that of this I may speak more. If our father516would sleep till I waked him, you should half his517revenue for ever, and live the beloved of your518brother, EDGAR.'519Hum--conspiracy!--'Sleep till I waked him,--you520should enjoy half his revenue,'--My son Edgar!521Had he a hand to write this? a heart and brain522to breed it in?--When came this to you? who523brought it?524EDMUND525It was not brought me, my lord; there's the526cunning of it; I found it thrown in at the527casement of my closet.528GLOUCESTER529You know the character to be your brother's?530EDMUND531If the matter were good, my lord, I durst swear532it were his; but, in respect of that, I would533fain think it were not.534GLOUCESTER535It is his.536EDMUND537It is his hand, my lord; but I hope his heart is538not in the contents.539GLOUCESTER540Hath he never heretofore sounded you in this business?541EDMUND542Never, my lord: but I have heard him oft543maintain it to be fit, that, sons at perfect age,544and fathers declining, the father should be as545ward to the son, and the son manage his revenue.546GLOUCESTER547O villain, villain! His very opinion in the548letter! Abhorred villain! Unnatural, detested,549brutish villain! worse than brutish! Go, sirrah,550seek him; I'll apprehend him: abominable villain!551Where is he?552EDMUND553I do not well know, my lord. If it shall please554you to suspend your indignation against my555brother till you can derive from him better556testimony of his intent, you shall run a certain557course; where, if you violently proceed against558him, mistaking his purpose, it would make a great559gap in your own honour, and shake in pieces the560heart of his obedience. I dare pawn down my life561for him, that he hath wrote this to feel my562affection to your honour, and to no further563pretence of danger.564GLOUCESTER565Think you so?566EDMUND567If your honour judge it meet, I will place you568where you shall hear us confer of this, and by an569auricular assurance have your satisfaction; and570that without any further delay than this very evening.571GLOUCESTER572He cannot be such a monster--573EDMUND574Nor is not, sure.575GLOUCESTER576To his father, that so tenderly and entirely577loves him. Heaven and earth! Edmund, seek him578out: wind me into him, I pray you: frame the579business after your own wisdom. I would unstate580myself, to be in a due resolution.581EDMUND582I will seek him, sir, presently: convey the583business as I shall find means and acquaint you withal.584GLOUCESTER585These late eclipses in the sun and moon portend586no good to us: though the wisdom of nature can587reason it thus and thus, yet nature finds itself588scourged by the sequent effects: love cools,589friendship falls off, brothers divide: in590cities, mutinies; in countries, discord; in591palaces, treason; and the bond cracked 'twixt son592and father. This villain of mine comes under the593prediction; there's son against father: the king594falls from bias of nature; there's father against595child. We have seen the best of our time:596machinations, hollowness, treachery, and all597ruinous disorders, follow us disquietly to our598graves. Find out this villain, Edmund; it shall599lose thee nothing; do it carefully. And the600noble and true-hearted Kent banished! his601offence, honesty! 'Tis strange.602Exit603 604EDMUND605This is the excellent foppery of the world, that,606when we are sick in fortune,--often the surfeit607of our own behavior,--we make guilty of our608disasters the sun, the moon, and the stars: as609if we were villains by necessity; fools by610heavenly compulsion; knaves, thieves, and611treachers, by spherical predominance; drunkards,612liars, and adulterers, by an enforced obedience of613planetary influence; and all that we are evil in,614by a divine thrusting on: an admirable evasion615of whoremaster man, to lay his goatish616disposition to the charge of a star! My617father compounded with my mother under the618dragon's tail; and my nativity was under Ursa619major; so that it follows, I am rough and620lecherous. Tut, I should have been that I am,621had the maidenliest star in the firmament622twinkled on my bastardizing. Edgar--623Enter EDGAR624 625And pat he comes like the catastrophe of the old626comedy: my cue is villanous melancholy, with a627sigh like Tom o' Bedlam. O, these eclipses do628portend these divisions! fa, sol, la, mi.629EDGAR630How now, brother Edmund! what serious631contemplation are you in?632EDMUND633I am thinking, brother, of a prediction I read634this other day, what should follow these eclipses.635EDGAR636Do you busy yourself about that?637EDMUND638I promise you, the effects he writes of succeed639unhappily; as of unnaturalness between the child640and the parent; death, dearth, dissolutions of641ancient amities; divisions in state, menaces and642maledictions against king and nobles; needless643diffidences, banishment of friends, dissipation644of cohorts, nuptial breaches, and I know not what.645EDGAR646How long have you been a sectary astronomical?647EDMUND648Come, come; when saw you my father last?649EDGAR650Why, the night gone by.651EDMUND652Spake you with him?653EDGAR654Ay, two hours together.655EDMUND656Parted you in good terms? Found you no657displeasure in him by word or countenance?658EDGAR659None at all.660EDMUND661Bethink yourself wherein you may have offended662him: and at my entreaty forbear his presence663till some little time hath qualified the heat of664his displeasure; which at this instant so rageth665in him, that with the mischief of your person it666would scarcely allay.667EDGAR668Some villain hath done me wrong.669EDMUND670That's my fear. I pray you, have a continent671forbearance till the spied of his rage goes672slower; and, as I say, retire with me to my673lodging, from whence I will fitly bring you to674hear my lord speak: pray ye, go; there's my key:675if you do stir abroad, go armed.676EDGAR677Armed, brother!678EDMUND679Brother, I advise you to the best; go armed: I680am no honest man if there be any good meaning681towards you: I have told you what I have seen682and heard; but faintly, nothing like the image683and horror of it: pray you, away.684EDGAR685Shall I hear from you anon?686EDMUND687I do serve you in this business.688Exit EDGAR689 690A credulous father! and a brother noble,691Whose nature is so far from doing harms,692That he suspects none: on whose foolish honesty693My practises ride easy! I see the business.694Let me, if not by birth, have lands by wit:695All with me's meet that I can fashion fit.696Exit697 698SCENE III. The Duke of Albany's palace.699Enter GONERIL, and OSWALD, her steward700GONERIL701Did my father strike my gentleman for chiding of his fool?702OSWALD703Yes, madam.704GONERIL705By day and night he wrongs me; every hour706He flashes into one gross crime or other,707That sets us all at odds: I'll not endure it:708His knights grow riotous, and himself upbraids us709On every trifle. When he returns from hunting,710I will not speak with him; say I am sick:711If you come slack of former services,712You shall do well; the fault of it I'll answer.713OSWALD714He's coming, madam; I hear him.715Horns within716 717GONERIL718Put on what weary negligence you please,719You and your fellows; I'll have it come to question:720If he dislike it, let him to our sister,721Whose mind and mine, I know, in that are one,722Not to be over-ruled. Idle old man,723That still would manage those authorities724That he hath given away! Now, by my life,725Old fools are babes again; and must be used726With cheques as flatteries,--when they are seen abused.727Remember what I tell you.728OSWALD729Well, madam.730GONERIL731And let his knights have colder looks among you;732What grows of it, no matter; advise your fellows so:733I would breed from hence occasions, and I shall,734That I may speak: I'll write straight to my sister,735To hold my very course. Prepare for dinner.736Exeunt737 738SCENE IV. A hall in the same.739Enter KENT, disguised740KENT741If but as well I other accents borrow,742That can my speech defuse, my good intent743May carry through itself to that full issue744For which I razed my likeness. Now, banish'd Kent,745If thou canst serve where thou dost stand condemn'd,746So may it come, thy master, whom thou lovest,747Shall find thee full of labours.748Horns within. Enter KING LEAR, Knights, and Attendants749 750KING LEAR751Let me not stay a jot for dinner; go get it ready.752Exit an Attendant753 754How now! what art thou?755KENT756A man, sir.757KING LEAR758What dost thou profess? what wouldst thou with us?759KENT760I do profess to be no less than I seem; to serve761him truly that will put me in trust: to love him762that is honest; to converse with him that is wise,763and says little; to fear judgment; to fight when I764cannot choose; and to eat no fish.765KING LEAR766What art thou?767KENT768A very honest-hearted fellow, and as poor as the king.769KING LEAR770If thou be as poor for a subject as he is for a771king, thou art poor enough. What wouldst thou?772KENT773Service.774KING LEAR775Who wouldst thou serve?776KENT777You.778KING LEAR779Dost thou know me, fellow?780KENT781No, sir; but you have that in your countenance782which I would fain call master.783KING LEAR784What's that?785KENT786Authority.787KING LEAR788What services canst thou do?789KENT790I can keep honest counsel, ride, run, mar a curious791tale in telling it, and deliver a plain message792bluntly: that which ordinary men are fit for, I am793qualified in; and the best of me is diligence.794KING LEAR795How old art thou?796KENT797Not so young, sir, to love a woman for singing, nor798so old to dote on her for any thing: I have years799on my back forty eight.800KING LEAR801Follow me; thou shalt serve me: if I like thee no802worse after dinner, I will not part from thee yet.803Dinner, ho, dinner! Where's my knave? my fool?804Go you, and call my fool hither.805Exit an Attendant806 807Enter OSWALD808 809You, you, sirrah, where's my daughter?810OSWALD811So please you,--812Exit813 814KING LEAR815What says the fellow there? Call the clotpoll back.816Exit a Knight817 818Where's my fool, ho? I think the world's asleep.819Re-enter Knight820 821How now! where's that mongrel?822Knight823He says, my lord, your daughter is not well.824KING LEAR825Why came not the slave back to me when I called him.826Knight827Sir, he answered me in the roundest manner, he would828not.829KING LEAR830He would not!831Knight832My lord, I know not what the matter is; but, to my833judgment, your highness is not entertained with that834ceremonious affection as you were wont; there's a835great abatement of kindness appears as well in the836general dependants as in the duke himself also and837your daughter.838KING LEAR839Ha! sayest thou so?840Knight841I beseech you, pardon me, my lord, if I be mistaken;842for my duty cannot be silent when I think your843highness wronged.844KING LEAR845Thou but rememberest me of mine own conception: I846have perceived a most faint neglect of late; which I847have rather blamed as mine own jealous curiosity848than as a very pretence and purpose of unkindness:849I will look further into't. But where's my fool? I850have not seen him this two days.851Knight852Since my young lady's going into France, sir, the853fool hath much pined away.854KING LEAR855No more of that; I have noted it well. Go you, and856tell my daughter I would speak with her.857Exit an Attendant858 859Go you, call hither my fool.860Exit an Attendant861 862Re-enter OSWALD863 864O, you sir, you, come you hither, sir: who am I,865sir?866OSWALD867My lady's father.868KING LEAR869'My lady's father'! my lord's knave: your870whoreson dog! you slave! you cur!871OSWALD872I am none of these, my lord; I beseech your pardon.873KING LEAR874Do you bandy looks with me, you rascal?875Striking him876 877OSWALD878I'll not be struck, my lord.879KENT880Nor tripped neither, you base football player.881Tripping up his heels882 883KING LEAR884I thank thee, fellow; thou servest me, and I'll885love thee.886KENT887Come, sir, arise, away! I'll teach you differences:888away, away! if you will measure your lubber's889length again, tarry: but away! go to; have you890wisdom? so.891Pushes OSWALD out892 893KING LEAR894Now, my friendly knave, I thank thee: there's895earnest of thy service.896Giving KENT money897 898Enter Fool899 900Fool901Let me hire him too: here's my coxcomb.902Offering KENT his cap903 904KING LEAR905How now, my pretty knave! how dost thou?906Fool907Sirrah, you were best take my coxcomb.908KENT909Why, fool?910Fool911Why, for taking one's part that's out of favour:912nay, an thou canst not smile as the wind sits,913thou'lt catch cold shortly: there, take my coxcomb:914why, this fellow has banished two on's daughters,915and did the third a blessing against his will; if916thou follow him, thou must needs wear my coxcomb.917How now, nuncle! Would I had two coxcombs and two daughters!918KING LEAR919Why, my boy?920Fool921If I gave them all my living, I'ld keep my coxcombs922myself. There's mine; beg another of thy daughters.923KING LEAR924Take heed, sirrah; the whip.925Fool926Truth's a dog must to kennel; he must be whipped927out, when Lady the brach may stand by the fire and stink.928KING LEAR929A pestilent gall to me!930Fool931Sirrah, I'll teach thee a speech.932KING LEAR933Do.934Fool935Mark it, nuncle:936Have more than thou showest,937Speak less than thou knowest,938Lend less than thou owest,939Ride more than thou goest,940Learn more than thou trowest,941Set less than thou throwest;942Leave thy drink and thy whore,943And keep in-a-door,944And thou shalt have more945Than two tens to a score.946KENT947This is nothing, fool.948Fool949Then 'tis like the breath of an unfee'd lawyer; you950gave me nothing for't. Can you make no use of951nothing, nuncle?952KING LEAR953Why, no, boy; nothing can be made out of nothing.954Fool955[To KENT] Prithee, tell him, so much the rent of956his land comes to: he will not believe a fool.957KING LEAR958A bitter fool!959Fool960Dost thou know the difference, my boy, between a961bitter fool and a sweet fool?962KING LEAR963No, lad; teach me.964Fool965That lord that counsell'd thee966To give away thy land,967Come place him here by me,968Do thou for him stand:969The sweet and bitter fool970Will presently appear;971The one in motley here,972The other found out there.973KING LEAR974Dost thou call me fool, boy?975Fool976All thy other titles thou hast given away; that977thou wast born with.978KENT979This is not altogether fool, my lord.980Fool981No, faith, lords and great men will not let me; if982I had a monopoly out, they would have part on't:983and ladies too, they will not let me have all fool984to myself; they'll be snatching. Give me an egg,985nuncle, and I'll give thee two crowns.986KING LEAR987What two crowns shall they be?988Fool989Why, after I have cut the egg i' the middle, and eat990up the meat, the two crowns of the egg. When thou991clovest thy crown i' the middle, and gavest away992both parts, thou borest thy ass on thy back o'er993the dirt: thou hadst little wit in thy bald crown,994when thou gavest thy golden one away. If I speak995like myself in this, let him be whipped that first996finds it so.997Singing998 999Fools had ne'er less wit in a year;1000For wise men are grown foppish,1001They know not how their wits to wear,1002Their manners are so apish.1003KING LEAR1004When were you wont to be so full of songs, sirrah?1005Fool1006I have used it, nuncle, ever since thou madest thy1007daughters thy mothers: for when thou gavest them1008the rod, and put'st down thine own breeches,1009Singing1010 1011Then they for sudden joy did weep,1012And I for sorrow sung,1013That such a king should play bo-peep,1014And go the fools among.1015Prithee, nuncle, keep a schoolmaster that can teach1016thy fool to lie: I would fain learn to lie.1017KING LEAR1018An you lie, sirrah, we'll have you whipped.1019Fool1020I marvel what kin thou and thy daughters are:1021they'll have me whipped for speaking true, thou'lt1022have me whipped for lying; and sometimes I am1023whipped for holding my peace. I had rather be any1024kind o' thing than a fool: and yet I would not be1025thee, nuncle; thou hast pared thy wit o' both sides,1026and left nothing i' the middle: here comes one o'1027the parings.1028Enter GONERIL1029 1030KING LEAR1031How now, daughter! what makes that frontlet on?1032Methinks you are too much of late i' the frown.1033Fool1034Thou wast a pretty fellow when thou hadst no need to1035care for her frowning; now thou art an O without a1036figure: I am better than thou art now; I am a fool,1037thou art nothing.1038To GONERIL1039 1040Yes, forsooth, I will hold my tongue; so your face1041bids me, though you say nothing. Mum, mum,1042He that keeps nor crust nor crum,1043Weary of all, shall want some.1044Pointing to KING LEAR1045 1046That's a shealed peascod.1047GONERIL1048Not only, sir, this your all-licensed fool,1049But other of your insolent retinue1050Do hourly carp and quarrel; breaking forth1051In rank and not-to-be endured riots. Sir,1052I had thought, by making this well known unto you,1053To have found a safe redress; but now grow fearful,1054By what yourself too late have spoke and done.1055That you protect this course, and put it on1056By your allowance; which if you should, the fault1057Would not 'scape censure, nor the redresses sleep,1058Which, in the tender of a wholesome weal,1059Might in their working do you that offence,1060Which else were shame, that then necessity1061Will call discreet proceeding.1062Fool1063For, you trow, nuncle,1064The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so long,1065That it's had it head bit off by it young.1066So, out went the candle, and we were left darkling.1067KING LEAR1068Are you our daughter?1069GONERIL1070Come, sir,1071I would you would make use of that good wisdom,1072Whereof I know you are fraught; and put away1073These dispositions, that of late transform you1074From what you rightly are.1075Fool1076May not an ass know when the cart1077draws the horse? Whoop, Jug! I love thee.1078KING LEAR1079Doth any here know me? This is not Lear:1080Doth Lear walk thus? speak thus? Where are his eyes?1081Either his notion weakens, his discernings1082Are lethargied--Ha! waking? 'tis not so.1083Who is it that can tell me who I am?1084Fool1085Lear's shadow.1086KING LEAR1087I would learn that; for, by the1088marks of sovereignty, knowledge, and reason,1089I should be false persuaded I had daughters.1090Fool1091Which they will make an obedient father.1092KING LEAR1093Your name, fair gentlewoman?1094GONERIL1095This admiration, sir, is much o' the savour1096Of other your new pranks. I do beseech you1097To understand my purposes aright:1098As you are old and reverend, you should be wise.1099Here do you keep a hundred knights and squires;1100Men so disorder'd, so debosh'd and bold,1101That this our court, infected with their manners,1102Shows like a riotous inn: epicurism and lust1103Make it more like a tavern or a brothel1104Than a graced palace. The shame itself doth speak1105For instant remedy: be then desired1106By her, that else will take the thing she begs,1107A little to disquantity your train;1108And the remainder, that shall still depend,1109To be such men as may besort your age,1110And know themselves and you.1111KING LEAR1112Darkness and devils!1113Saddle my horses; call my train together:1114Degenerate bastard! I'll not trouble thee.1115Yet have I left a daughter.1116GONERIL1117You strike my people; and your disorder'd rabble1118Make servants of their betters.1119Enter ALBANY1120 1121KING LEAR1122Woe, that too late repents,--1123To ALBANY1124 1125O, sir, are you come?1126Is it your will? Speak, sir. Prepare my horses.1127Ingratitude, thou marble-hearted fiend,1128More hideous when thou show'st thee in a child1129Than the sea-monster!1130ALBANY1131Pray, sir, be patient.1132KING LEAR1133[To GONERIL] Detested kite! thou liest.1134My train are men of choice and rarest parts,1135That all particulars of duty know,1136And in the most exact regard support1137The worships of their name. O most small fault,1138How ugly didst thou in Cordelia show!1139That, like an engine, wrench'd my frame of nature1140From the fix'd place; drew from heart all love,1141And added to the gall. O Lear, Lear, Lear!1142Beat at this gate, that let thy folly in,1143Striking his head1144 1145And thy dear judgment out! Go, go, my people.1146ALBANY1147My lord, I am guiltless, as I am ignorant1148Of what hath moved you.1149KING LEAR1150It may be so, my lord.1151Hear, nature, hear; dear goddess, hear!1152Suspend thy purpose, if thou didst intend1153To make this creature fruitful!1154Into her womb convey sterility!1155Dry up in her the organs of increase;1156And from her derogate body never spring1157A babe to honour her! If she must teem,1158Create her child of spleen; that it may live,1159And be a thwart disnatured torment to her!1160Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth;1161With cadent tears fret channels in her cheeks;1162Turn all her mother's pains and benefits1163To laughter and contempt; that she may feel1164How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is1165To have a thankless child! Away, away!1166Exit1167 1168ALBANY1169Now, gods that we adore, whereof comes this?1170GONERIL1171Never afflict yourself to know the cause;1172But let his disposition have that scope1173That dotage gives it.1174Re-enter KING LEAR1175 1176KING LEAR1177What, fifty of my followers at a clap!1178Within a fortnight!1179ALBANY1180What's the matter, sir?1181KING LEAR1182I'll tell thee:1183To GONERIL1184 1185Life and death! I am ashamed1186That thou hast power to shake my manhood thus;1187That these hot tears, which break from me perforce,1188Should make thee worth them. Blasts and fogs upon thee!1189The untented woundings of a father's curse1190Pierce every sense about thee! Old fond eyes,1191Beweep this cause again, I'll pluck ye out,1192And cast you, with the waters that you lose,1193To temper clay. Yea, it is come to this?1194Let is be so: yet have I left a daughter,1195Who, I am sure, is kind and comfortable:1196When she shall hear this of thee, with her nails1197She'll flay thy wolvish visage. Thou shalt find1198That I'll resume the shape which thou dost think1199I have cast off for ever: thou shalt,1200I warrant thee.