Fool. Which they will make an obedient father.
Leur. Your name, fair gentlewoman?

Gon. Come, sir;
This admiration is much o'the favour
Of other your new pranks. I do beseech you
To understand my purposes aright:
As you are old and reverend, you should be wise:
Here do you keep a hundred knights and squires;
Men so disorder'd, so debauch'd, and bold,
That this our court, infected with their manners,
Shows like a riotous inn : epicurism and lust
Make it more like a tavern, or a brothel,
Tban a grac'd palace. The shame itself doth speak
For instant remedy: Be then desir'd
By her, that else will take the thing she begs,
A little to disquantity your train;
And the remainder, that shall still depend,
To be such men as may besort your age,
And know themselves and you.
Lear.

Darkness and devils !Saddle my horses; call my train together.Degenerate bastard! I'll not trouble thee; Yet have I left a daughter. Gon. You strike my people; and your disorder'd

rabble Make servants of their betters.

Enter ALBANY.
Lear. Woe, that too late repents,-0, sir, are you

come?

1

Is it your will? [to Alb.] Speak, sir. - Prepare my

horses.
Ingratitude ! thou marble-hearted fiend,
More hideous, when thou show'st thee in a child,
Than the sea-monster 23!
Alb.

Pray, sir, be patient.
Lear. Detested kite! thou liest: [To Goneril.
My train are men of choice and rarest parts,
That all particulars of duty know;
And in the most exact regard support
The worships of their name.-0 most small fault,
How ugly didst thou in Cordelia show!
Which, like an engine, wrench'd my frame of nature
From the fix'd place; drew from my heart all love,
And added to the gall. O Lear, Lear, Lear!
Beat at this gate, that let thy folly in,

(striking his head. And thy dear judgement out!-Go, go, my people.

Alb. My lord, I am guiltless, as I am ignorant Of what hath mov'd you.

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; And from her derogate body never spring A babe to honour her! If she must teem, Create her child of spleen; that it may live, And be a thwart disnatur'd torment to 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! [Exit.
Alb. Now, gods, that we adore, whereof comes

this?
Gon. Never afflict yourself to know the cause;
But let his disposition have that scope
That dotage gives it.

Re-enter LEAR.

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

asham'd That thou hast power to shake my manhood thus:

[To Goneril. 24 That these hot tears, which break from me perforce, Should make thee worth them.-Blasts and fogs upon

thee!
The untented woundings of a father's curse
Pierce every sense about thee!-Old fond eyes,
Beweep this cause again, I'll pluck you out;
And cast you, with the waters that you lose,
To temper clay.-Ha! is it come to this?
Let it be so:-Yet have I left a daughter,
Who, I am sure, is kind and comfortable;
When she shall hear this of thee, with her nails

She'll flay thy wolfish visage. Thou shalt find,
That I'll resume the shape which thou dost think
I have cast off for ever; thou shalt, I warrant thee.

[Exeunt Lear, Kent, and Attendants. Gon. Do you mark that, my lord ?

Alb. I cannot be so partial, Goneril, To the great love I bear you, –

Gon. Pray you, content.-What, Oswald, ho! You sir, more knave than fool, after your master.

[To the Fool. Fool. Nuncle Lear, nuncle Lear, tarry, and take the fool with thee.

A fox, when one has caught her,
And such a daughter,
Should sure to the slaughter,
If my cap would buy a halter;
So the fool follows after.

[Exit. Gon. This man hath had good counsel :- A hundred

knights! "Tis politick, and safe, to let him keep At point, a hundred knights. Yes, that on every

dream,
Each buz, each fancy, each complaint, dislike,
He may enguard his dotage with their powers,
And hold our lives in mercy.--Oswald, I say!-

Alb. Well, you may fear too far.
Gun.

Safer than trust:
Let me still take away the harms I fear,
Not fear still to be taken. I know his heart:
What he hath utter'd, I have writ my sister ;

If she sustain him and his hundred knights,
When I have show'd the unfitness,—How now,

Oswald?

Enter Steward.

What, have you writ that letter to my sister?

Stew. Ay, madam.

Gon. Take you some company, and away to horse; Inform her full of my particular fear; And thereto add such reasons of your own, As may compact it more.

Get you gone;
And hasten your return. [Exit Stew.] No, no, my

lord,
This milky gentleness, and course of yours,
Though I condemn it not, yet, under pardon,
You are much more attask'd for want of wisdom,
Than prais'd for harmful mildness.

Alb. How far your eyes may pierce, I cannot tell; Striving to better, oft we mar whát's well.

Gon. Nay, then=
Alb. Well, well; the event.

[Ereunt.

SCENE V.

Court before the Same.

Enter LEAR, KENT, and Fool. Lear. Go you before to Gloster with these letters: acquaint my daughter no further with any thing you, know, than comes from her demand out of the letter: