Kent. Caius.

Lear. Follow me; thou shalt serve me.

enter osWALD singing, and passing king Lear carelessly.

Now, sir?

Osw. Sir.-Tol de rol, &c.

[exit singing Lear. What says the fellow ? call the clod pole back. [exeunt Kent and second knight 3 Knight. My lord, I know not; but, methinks, your highness is entertained with slender ceremony. Lear. Say'st thou so? Thou but remember'st me of mine own conception. enter first Knight. Why came not that slave back when I call'd him? 1 Knight. My lord, he answered, i'th' surliest manner, that he would not.

Lear. I hope our daughter did not so instruct him.

OSWALD brought in by KENT and second knight. Now, who am I, sir?

Osw. My lady's father.

Lear. My lady's father'! my lord's knave.

(strikes him)

Osw. I'll not be struck, my lord.
Kent. Nor tripp'd neither, you vile civet-box.

(trips up his heels)
Lear. I thank thee, fellow, thou servest me.
Kent. Come, sir, arise, away; I'll teach you differ-
[exit Oswald
Gon. (within) By day and night! this is insuffer-
able;

ences.

I will not bear it.

enter GONERIL, attended.

Lear. Now, daughter, why that frontlet on?
Speak, does that frown become our presence?

Gon Sir, this licentious insolence of your servants

Is most unseemly; hourly they break out

In quarrels, bred by their unbounded riots;
1 had fair hope, by making this known to you,
To have had a quick redress; but find, too late,
That you protect and countenance their outrage;
And therefore, I take this freedom, which
Necessity makes discreet.

Lear. Are you our daughter?

Gon. Come, sir, let me entreat you to make use Of your discretion, and put off betimes

This disposition that of late transforms you

From what you rightly are.

Lear. Does any here know me? why, this is not
Lear!

Does Lear walk thus ? speak thus ? where are his

eyes ?

Who is it that can tell me who I am?

Your name, fair gentlewoman?

Gon. Come sir, this admiration's much o' th' sa

vor

Of other your new humors; I beseech you
To understand my purposes aright;

As you are old, you should be staid and wise:
Here do you keep an hundred knights and squires,
Men so debauch'd and bold, that this our palace
Shows like a riotous inn, a tavern, brothel :
Be then advised by her, that else will take
That which she begs, to lessen your attendants
Take half away, and see that the remainder
Be such as may befit your age, and know
Themselves and you.

Lear. Darkness and devils!-
Saddle my horses, call my train together.
Degenerate viper!-I'll not stay with thee;
I yet have left a daughter-serpent! monster
Lessen my train, and call them riotous!
All men approved, of choice and rarest parts,
That each particular of duty know.-

How small, Cordelia, was thy fault!-o Lear,
Beat at this gate that let thy folly in.

And this dear judgment out!—go, go, my people.

enter ALBANY, attended.

Ingrateful duke!-prepare my horses.-Was this your

will?

Who stirs ?

Alb. What, sir?

[exit fourth knight

Lear. Death! fifty of my followers at a clap?
Alb. The matter, madam?

Gon. Never afflict yourself to know the cause,
But give his dotage way.

Lear. Blasts 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 ye, with the waters that ye lose,

To temper clay.-No, gorgon ;-thou shalt find
That I'll resume the shape, which thou dost think
I have cast off for ever.

Gon. Mark ye that ?
Alb. I'm-ignorant-

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;
That from her derogate body never spring
A babe to honor her!-if she must teem,
Create her child of spleen; that it may live,
And be a thwart disnatured torment in 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!

[exeunt king Lear and his attendants-
Albany, Goneril, and their attendants

END OF THE FIRST ACT.

ACT II.

SCENE 1-the earl of Gloster's castle.

enter EDMUND.

Edm. The duke comes here to night; I'll take ad vantage

Of his arrival to complete my project,

Brother, a word; come forth! tis 1, your friend.

enter EDGAR.

My father watches for you, fly this place;
Intelligence is given where you are hid;
Take the advantage of the night.- Bethink,
Have you not spoke against the duke of Cornwall
Something might show you a favorer of
Due Albany's party?

Edg. Nothing; why ask you?

Edm. Because he's coming here to-night in haste, And Regan with him.

Edg. Let them come on; I'll stay and clear myself. Edm Your innocence at leisure may be heard, But Gloster's storming rage as yet is deaf, And you may perish ere allow'd the hearing. I hear our father coming-pardon me :In cunning I must draw my sword upon you :Draw; seem to defend yourself: now quit you well; Yield; come before my father ;-help, ho, here! Fly, brother;-help, here, help!-farewell, farewelllexit Edgar Some blood drawn on me would beget opinion Of our more fierce encounter-I have seen Drunkards do more than this in sport.

(stabs himself in the arm)

enter GLOSTER and servants.

Glost. Now, Edmund, where's the traitor?
Edm. Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword

out,

Mumbling of wicked charms,—

Glost. But where is he?

Edm. Look, sir, 1 bleed.

Glost. Where is the villain, Edmund ?

Edm Sir, he is fled. When by no means he could-
Glost. By no means, what?

Edm. Persuade me to the murder of your lordship; But that I told him the revenging gods

'Gainst parricides did all their thunders bend;
Spoke with how manifold and strong a bond
The child was bound to the father ;-sir, in fine,
Seeing how loathly opposite I stood

To his unnatural purpose, in full motion,
With his prepared sword, he charges home
My unprovided body, lanced my arm:
But when he saw my best alarum'd spirits,
Bold in the quarrel's right, roused to the encounter,
Or whether gasted by the noise I made,

Full suddenly he fled.

Glost. Let him fly far, this kingdom shall not hide

him.

The noble duke my patron comes to-night;

By his authority I will proclaim

Rewards for him, that brings him to the stake,

And death for the concealer ;

Then of my lands, loyal and natural boy,

I'll work the means to make thee capable.

[exeunt

SCENE 11-before the earl of Gloster's castle.

enter KENT, in disguise, and osWALD.

Osw. Good morrow, friend; belong'st thou to this house?

Kent. Ask them will answer thee.

Osw. Where may we set our horses?

Kent. I' th' mire.

Osw. I am in haste; pr'ythee, an' thou lov's me, tell me.

Kent. I love thee not.

لم