I. iv. pluck you out, & you caft with the waters that you make to temper clay, yea, i'ft come to this? yet haue I left a daughter, whom I am fure is kind and comfortable, when shee fhall heare this of 330 thee, with her nailes fhee'l flea thy woluifh visage, thou shalt find that ile resume the shape, which thou doft thinke I haue cast off for euer, thou fhalt I warrant thee. 340 Gon. Doe you marke that my Lord? Duke. I cannot bee fo partiall Gonorill to the great loue I beare you, Gon. Come fir no more, you, more knaue then foole, after your master? Foole. Nunckle Lear, Nunckle Lear, tary and take the foole with a fox when one has caught her, and such a daughter should fure to the flaughter, if my cap would buy a halter, fo the foole followes after. Gon. What Oswald, ho. Ofwald. Here Madam. Gon. What haue you writ this letter to my sister: I. iv. · Blaftes and Fogges vpon thee: Th'vntented woundings of a Fathers curse I haue another daughter, Who I am fure is kinde and comfortable: When she shall heare this of thee, with her nailes 340 350 Gon. Do you marke that? Alb. I cannot be fo partiall Gonerill, To the great loue I beare you. Gon. Pray you content. What Oswald, hoa? Foole. Nunkle Lear, Nunkle Lear, Tarry, take the Foole with thee: A Fox, when one has caught her, And fuch a Daughter, Should fure to the Slaughter, If my Cap would buy a Halter, So the Foole followes after. Gon. This man hath had good Counfell, A hundred Knights? "Tis politike, and safe to let him keepe Exit Exit At point a hundred Knights: yes, that on euerie dreame, He may enguard his dotage with their powres, Alb. Well, you may feare too farre. Gon. Safer then trust too farre; Let me ftill take away the harmes I feare, How now Ofwald? Enter Steward. What haue you writ that Letter to my Sifter? e I. iv. 360 Gon. Take you fome company, and away to horfe, informe her full of my particular feares, and thereto add fuch reafons of your owne, as may compact it more, get you gon, & haften your returne now my Lord, this milkie gentlenes and courfe of yours though I diflike not, yet vnder pardon y'are much more attaskt for want of wifedome, then praise for harmfull mildnes. 370 Duke. How farre your eyes may pearce I cannot tell, ftriuing to better ought, we marre whats well. Gon. Nay then. Duke. Well, well, the euent, Exeunt Lear. Goe you before to Glofter with these letters, acquaint my daughter no further with any thing you know, then comes from her demand out of the letter, if your diligence be not speedie, I fhall be there before you. Kent. I will not fleepe my Lord, till I haue deliuered your [23 letter. Exit. Foole. If a mans braines where in his heeles, wert not in dan10 ger of kibes: 20 Lear. I boy. Foole. Then I prethe be mery, thy wit shall nere goe flipfhod. Lear. Ha ha ha. Foole. Shalt fee thy other daughter will vfe thee kindly, for though shees as like this, as a crab is like an apple, yet I con, what I can tel. Lear. Why what canft thou tell my boy? Foole. Sheel taft as like this, as a crab doth to a crab, thou canst not tell why ones nofe ftande in the middle of his face? Lear. No. Foole. Why, to keep his eyes on either fide's nose, that what a man cannot smell out, a may spie into. Lear. I did her wrong. Foole. Canft tell how an Oyfter makes his shell. Lear. No. I. iv. Gon. Take you fome company, and away to horse, 360 Informe her full of my particular feare, 370 I. v. 10 And thereto adde fuch reafons of your owne, Your are much more at task for want of wifedome, Alb. How farre your eies may pierce I cannot tell; Gon. Nay then Alb. Well, well, the'uent. Scena Quinta. Enter Lear, Kent, Gentleman, and Foole. Exeunt Lear. Go you before to Gloster with these Letters; acquaint my Daughter no further with any thing you know, then comes from her demand out of the Letter, if your Dilligence be not speedy, I fhall be there afore you. Kent. I will not fleepe my Lord, till I haue deliuered your Letter. Exit. Foole. If a mans braines were in's heeles, wert not in danger of kybes? Lear. I Boy. Foole. Then I prythee be merry, thy wit shall not go flip-fhod. Lear. Ha, ha, ha. Fool. Shalt fee thy other Daughter will vse thee kindly, for though fhe's as like this, as a Crabbe's like an Apple, yet I can tell what I can tell. Lear. What can'ft tell Boy? Foole. She will taste as like this as, a Crabbe do's to a 20 Crab: thou canft tell why ones nofe ftands i'th'middle on's face? Lear. No. Foole. Why to keepe ones eyes of either fide's nofe, that what a man cannot fmell out, he may spy into. Lear. I did her wrong. Foole. Can't tell how an Oyfter makes his fhell? [290a I. v. 30 40 50 Foole. Nor I neither, but I can tell why a fnayle has a house. Lear. Why? Foole Why, to put his head in, not to giue it away to his daughter, and leaue his hornes without a cafe. Lear. I will forget my nature, fo kind a father; be my horses Foole. Thy Affes are gone about them; the reafon why the Foole. Yes thou wouldst make a good foole. Lear. To tak't againe perforce, Monster, ingratitude! Fool. If thou wert my foole Nunckle, id'e haue thee beate for being old before thy time. Lear. Hows that? Foole. Thou shouldft not haue beene old, before thou hadft beene wife. Lear. O let me not be mad fweet heauen! I would not be mad, keepe me in temper, I would not be mad, are the horfes readie! Seruant. Readie my Lord. Lear. Come boy. Exit. Foole. Shee that is maide now, and laughs at my departure, Exit II. i. Enter Baft. and Curan meeting. Baft. Saue thee Curan. [24 Curan. And you Sir, I haue beene with your father, and giuen him notice, that the Duke of Cornwall and his Dutches will bee here with him to night. 10 Baft. How comes that? Curan. Nay, I know not, you haue heard of the newes abroad, I meane the whisperd ones, for there are yet but eare-buffing ar- Baft. Not, I pray you what are they? Curan. Haue you heard of no likely warres towards, twixt the two Dukes of Cornwall and Albany? Baft. Not a word. |