Lear. Your name, fair gentlewoman

Gon. This admiration, Sir, is much o'th' favour
Of other your new pranks. I do beseech you,
To understand my purpofes aright.

You, as you're old and reverend, fhould be wife.
Here do you keep a hundred Knights and Squires,
Men fo diforder'd, fo debauch'd and bold,
That this our Court, infected with their manners,
Shews like a riotous Inn, Epicurifin and luft
Make it more like a tavern or a brothel,
Than a grac'd palace. The fhame itfelf doth fpeak
For inftant remedy. Be then defir'd

By her, that elfe will take the thing the begs,
"Of fifty to difquantity your train;

2

And the remainders, that fhall ftill depend,
To be fuch men as may befort your age,
And know themselves and you.

Lear. Darkness and devils!

Saddle my horfes, call my train together.
-Degen'rate baftard! I'll not trouble thee;

Yet have I left a daughter.

Gon. You ftrike my people, and your disorder'd rabble

Make fervants of their betters.

Lear. Woe! that too late repents-O, Sir, are you

Is it

come?

your will? Speak, Sir.-Prepare my horfes.

Ingratitude! thou marble-hearted fiend,

More hideous, when thou fhew'st thee in a child,

Than the fea-monster.

Alb. Pray, Sir, be patient.

Lear. Detefted kite! thou lieft.

[To Gonerill,

My train are men of choice and rareft parts,
That all particulars of duty know;
And in the moft exact regard fupport.
The worships of their names.

O moft fmall fault!

How ugly didft thou in Cordelia fhew?

Which, like an engine, wrencht my frame of nature
From the fixt 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 judgment out.-Go, go, my people.
Alb. My Lord, I'm guiltlefs, as I'm ignorant,
Of what hath moved

you.

Lear. It may be fo, my Lord

Hear, Nature, hear; dear Goddess, hear!
Sufpend thy purpose, if thou didft intend
To make this creature fruitful;
Into her womb convey fterility,
Dry up in her the organs of increase,
And from her derogate body never spring
A Babe to honour her! If fhe muft teem,
Create her child of Spleen, that it may live,
And be a thwart difnatur'd torment to her;
Let it ftamp wrinkles in her brow of youth,
With cadent tears fret channels in her cheeks:

3 from her derogate body] De- ly after, rogate, for unnatural.

WARE. Rather, I think, degraded ; blafted.

4 With cadent tears- -] We fhould read, candent, i. e. hot, fcalding. More agreeable to the paffionate imprecation of the Ipeaker; and to his ufual phrafeology: as where he fays prefent

these hot tears that break from me perforce,

and again,

-my own tears Do fcald like molten lead. WARBURTON. This emendation, if candent be a word any where to be found, is elegant, but not neceffary.

Turn

Turn all her mother's pains and benefits
To laughter and contempt; that she may feel,
How fharper than a ferpent's tooth it is,

To have a thanklefs child.-Go, go, my people.
Alb. Now, Gods, that we adore, wherefore comes
this?

Gon. Never afflict yourself to know more 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 asham'd That thou haft power to shake my manhood thus;

[To Gonerill. 5 That thefe hot tears, which break from me perforce, Should make thee worth them.-blafts and fogs upon

thee!

Th' untented woundings of a father's curfe
Pierce every fenfe about thee! Old fond eyes,
Beweep this caufe again, I'll pluck ye out,
And caft you, with the waters that you lofe,
To temper clay. Ha! is it come to this?

6

Let it be fo: I have another daughter,

Who, I am fure, is kind and comfortable;
When fhe fhall hear this of thçe, with her nails
She'll flea thy wolfifh vifage. Thou shalt find,
That I'll refume the fhape, which thou doft think
I have caft off for ever. [Exeunt Lear and Attendants.

s I will transcribe this paffage from the first edition, that it may appear to those who are unacquainted with old books, what is the difficulty of revifion, and what indulgence is due to thofe that endeavour to restore corrupted paffages.

from me perforce, should make the worst blafts and fogs upon the untender woundings of a father's curje, perufe every fenfe about the old fond eyes, beweep this caufe' again, &c.

The reading is here gleaned up, part from the firft, and part That these hot tears, that breake from the fecond edition.

SCENE

Gon. Do you mark that?

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. [To the Fool. Fool. Nuncle Lear, nuncle 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,

So the fool follows after.

[Exit.

Gon. This man hath had good counfel.-A hundred Knights!

'Tis politick, and fafe, to let him keep

At point a hundred Knights; yes, that on ev'ry dream,'
Each buz, each fancy, each complaint, diflike,
He may enguard his dotage with their pow'rs,
And hold our lives at mercy. Ofwald, I fay.
Alb. Well, you may fear too far-
Gon. Safer than trust too far,

Let me still take away the harms I fear,
Not fear ftill to be taken, I know his heart,
What he hath utter'd, I have writ my fifter;
If she'll sustain him and his hundred Knights,
When I have fhew'd th' unfitness-

Enter Steward.

How now, Ofwald?

What, have you writ that letter to my fifter?

Stew. Ay, Madam.

Gon. Take you fome company, and away to horfe; Inform her full of my particular fear,

And

And thereto add fuch reafons of your own,

As may compact it more. So, get you gone,
And haften your return.

-No, no, my Lord,

[Exit Steward.

This milky gentleness and courfe of yours,
Though I condemn it not, yet, under pardon,
You are much more at task 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 what's well.

Gon. Nay, then

Alb. Well, well, th' event.

SCENE

[Exeunt.

XVII.

A Court-Yard belonging to the Duke of Albany's Palace.

Re-enter Lear, Kent, Gentleman and Fool.

Lear.G Acquaint my daughter no further with any

O you before to Glo'fter with thefe letters.

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, were't not

in danger 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

7 compact it more.] Unite one circumstance with another, fo as to make a confiftent account.

there afore you.] He feems to intend to go to his daughter, but it appears afterwards that he is going to the house of Glofter.

kindly;