You are much more at task for want of wisdom, 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, th' event. [Exeunt. SCENE, a Court-Yard belonging to the Duke Lear. of Albany's Palace. Re-enter Lear, Kent, Gentleman and Fool. G O you before to Glo'fter 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 [Exit. your letter. Fool. If a man's brain were in his heels, wer't not in danger of kibes? Lear. Ay, boy. Fool. Then, I pr'ythee, be merry, thy wit shall not go flip shod. Lear. Ha, ha, ha. Fool. Shalt fee, 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 can'st tell, boy? Fool. She will taste as like this, as a crab does to a crab. Can'ft thou tell, why one's nose stands i'th' middle of one's face? Lear. No. Fool. Why, to keep one's eyes of either fide one's nose; that what a man cannot fmell out, he may fpy into. Lear. I did her wrong Fool. Can'st tell how an oyster makes his shell ? Feel. Fool. Nor I neither; but I can tell, why a snail 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 case. Lear. I will forget my nature: fo kind a father! be my horfes 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 you were my fool, nuncle, I'd have thee beaten for being old before thy time. Lear. How's that? Fool. Thou should'st not have been old, 'till thou hadit been wife. Lear. O, let me not be mad, not mad, sweet 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. [Exeunt S ACTII. SCENE, A Caftte belonging to the Earl of Glo'ster. Enter Edmund and Curan, feverally. EDMUND. AVE thee, Curan. Cur. And you, Sir. I have been with your father, and given him notice that the Duke of Cornwall, and Regan his Dutchess, will be here with him this night. Edm. How comes that? Cur. Nay, I know not; you have heard of the news abroad; I mean the whisper'd ones; for they are yet but ear-kissing arguments. Edm. Not I; pray you, what are they? 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! beft! This weaves itself perforce into my business; My father hath set guard to take my brother, And I have one thing of a queazy question Which I must act: briefness, and fortune work! Brother, a word; descend; Brother, I fay; To him, Enter Edgar. My father watches; O Sir, fly this place, And And Regan with him; have you nothing faid Edg. I'm fure on't, not a word. Edm. I hear my father coming. Pardon me Now quit you well Yield-come before my father-light hoa, here! Fly, brother-Tonches! - fo farewel - [Exit Edg. Some blood, drawn on me, would beget opinion : [Wounds his arm. Of my more fierce endeavour. I've seen drunkards To him, Enter Glo'fter, and fervants with torches.. Glo. Now, Edmund, where's the villain? Edm. Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword out, Mumbling of wicked Charms, conj'ring the moon To ftand 's aufpicious mistress. Glo. But where is he? Edm. Look, Sir, I bleed. Glo. Where is the villain, Edmund? Edm. Fled this way, Sir, when by no means he could Glo. Pursue him, ho! go after. By no means, what? But that, I told him, the revenging Gods Seeing how lothly opposite I stood And when he saw my best alarmed spirits, Full fuddenly he fled. Glo. Let him fly far; Not in this land shall he remain uncaught And found; dispatch-the noble Duke my mafter, Edm. When I disswaded him from his intent, To thy suggestion, plot, and damned practice; Glo. O strange, fasten'd, villain ! Would he deny his letter? [Trumpets within. I never got him. Hark, the Duke's trumpets! I know not why he comes- (6) My worthy Arch and Patron.] I can meet with'no Authority of this Word used in this manner, to fignify, my Prince, my Chief; but always as an epitatic Particle prefix'd and annex'd to another Noun: and therefore I have ventur'd to suppose a Transpofition of the Copulative, and that we ought to read, Arch-patron, as Arch-duke, Arch-angel, Arch-bishop, &c. Enter |