And the remainders, that fhall ftill depend, Lear. Darkness and devils! Saddle my horfes, call my train together. - Gon. You ftrike my people, and your disorder'd rabble Make fervants of their betters. To them, Enter Albany. Lear. Woe! that too late repents-O, Sir, are you come? Is it your will, fpeak, Sir? prepare my horfes. Ingratitude! thou marble-hearted fiend, Alb. Pray, Sir, be patient. Lear. Detefted kite! thou lieft. [To Albany. a child, [To Gonerill. My train are men of choice and rarest parts, That all particulars of duty know; And in the most exact regard fupport The worships of their names. Omoft fmall fault! How ugly didft thou in Cordelia fhew? Which, like an engine, wrencht my frame of nature Beat at this gate that let thy folly in, [Striking his head. Of what hath moved you. Lear. It may be fo, my lord Hear, Nature, hear; dear Goddefs, hear a Father! To make this creature fruitful: Into her womb convey fterility, Create Create her child of fpleen, that it may live, To have a thankless child. — Go, go, my people. Alb. Now, Gods, that we adore, whereof comes this? Gon. Never afflict your felf to know of it: But let his difpofition have that scope, That dotage gives it. Lear. What, fifty of my followers at a clap? Within a fortnight? Alb. What's the matter, Sir? Lear. I'll tell thee life and death! I am afham'd That thou haft power to shake my manhood thus ; [To Gon. That these hot tears, which break from me perforce, Should make thee worth them.- blasts and fogs upon thee! every 'Th' untented woundings of a father's curfe (5) With cadent Tears,] Mr. Warburton very happily here fufpects our Author wrote, candent: as an Epithet of much more Energy, and more likely to effect Lear's Imprecation. He brings in Confirmation, what the King fays presently after; That these hot Tears, that break from me perforce, And what he fays towards the End of the 4th A&t: but I am bound Upon a Wheel of Fire, that mine own Tears De fcald like molten Lead. I I have caft off for ever. Gon. Do you mark that? [Ex. Lear and attendants. Alb. I cannot be fo partial, Gonerill, To the great love I bear you, Gon. Pray you, be content. What, Ofwald, ho! You, Sir, more knave than fool, after your master. Fool. Nuncle Lear, huncle Lear, tarry, take the fool with thee: A Fox, when one has caught her, And fuch a daughter, Should fure to the flaughter, If my cap would buy a halter, Gon. This man hath had good counsel, [Exit a hundred [Knights! 'Tis politick, and fafe, to let him keep Gon. Safer than truft too far. Let me still take away the harms I fear, Not fear ftill to be harm'd. I know his heart; How now, Ofwald? Enter Steward. What, have you writ that letter to my fifter? Gon. Také you fome company, and away to horse; Inform her full of my particular fears, And thereto add fuch reasons of your own, As may compact it more. So get you gone, No, no, my lord, [Exit Steward. This milky gentleness and courfe of yours, B 3 Yor You are much more at task for want of wisdom, Alb. How far your eyes may pierce, I cannot tell; Gon. Nay, then Alb. Well, well, th' event. [Exeunt. SCENE, a Court-Yard belonging to the Duke of Albany's Palace. Lear. Re-enter Lear, Kent, Gentleman and Fool. G O you before to Glofter 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 fhall be there afore you. Kent. I will not fleep, my lord, 'till I have delivered your letter. [Exit. Fool. If a man's brain were in his heels, wer't not indanger of kibes ? Lear. Ay, boy. Fool. Then, I pr'ythee, be merry, thy wit fhall not go flip-fhod. Lear. Ha, ha, ha. Fool. Shalt fee, thy other daughter will use thee kindly; for though fhe's as like this as a crab's like an apple, yet I can tell what I can tell. Lear. What can't tell, boy? Fool. She will taste as like this, as a crab does to a crab. Can't thou tell, why one's nofe ftands i’th' middle of one's face? Lear. No. Fool. Why, to keep one's eyes of either fide one's rofe; that what a man cannot fmell out, he may spy into. Lear. I did her wrong Fool. Can't tell how an oyster makes his shell ? Fool T Fool. Nor I neither; but I can tell, why a fnail has a house. Lear. Why? Fool. Why, to put's head in, not to give it away to his daughters, and leave his horns without a cafe. Lear. I will forget my nature: fo kind a father! be my horses ready ? Fool. Thy affes are gone about 'em; the reafon, why the seven stars are no more than feven, 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 ingra titude! Fool. If you were my fool, nuncle, I'd have thee beaten for being old before thy time. Lear. How's that? Fool. Thou should'it not have been old, 'till thou hadst been wife. Lear. O, let me not be mad, not mad, fweet heav'n! 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 de parture, Shall not be a maid long, unless things be cut shorter. |