KENT:
1. If but as well I other accents borrow
2. That can my speech diffuse, my good intent
3.
May carry through itself to that full issue
4. For which I
razed my likeness. Now, banished Kent,
5. If thou canst serve
where thou dost stand condemned,
6. So may it come thy master,
whom thou lov'st,
7. Shall find thee full of labours.{Horns
within. Enter King Lear and attendants from hunting}
LEAR:
8. Let me not stay a jot for dinner. Go
get it ready.{ [Exit one] }
{(To Kent)}
9. How
now, what art thou?
KENT:
10. A man, sir.
LEAR:
11. What dost thou profess? What
wouldst thou with
12. us?
KENT:
13. I do
profess to be no less than I seem, to serve him
14. truly that
will put me in trust, to love him that is
15. honest, to
converse with him that is wise and says
16. little, to fear
judgement, to fight when I cannot choose,
17. and to eat no
fish.
LEAR:
18. What art thou?
KENT:
19. A very honest-hearted fellow, and as poor
as the
20. King.
LEAR:
21. If
thou be'st as poor for a subject as he's for a king,
22.
thou'rt poor enough. What wouldst thou?
KENT:
23.
Service.
LEAR:
24. Who wouldst thou
serve?
KENT:
25. You.
LEAR:
26. Dost thou know me, fellow?
KENT:
27.
No, sir, but you have that in your countenance
28. which I
would fain call master.
LEAR:
29. What's
that?
KENT:
30. Authority.
LEAR:
31. What services canst do?
KENT:
32. I
can keep honest counsel, ride, run, mar a curious
33. tale in
telling it, and deliver a plain message bluntly.
34. That
which ordinary men are fit for I am qualified in;
35. and the
best of me is diligence.
LEAR:
36. How old
art thou?
KENT:
37. Not so young, sir, to love a
woman for singing, nor
38. so old to dote on her for anything.
I have years on my
39. back forty-eight.
LEAR:
40. Follow me. Thou shalt serve me, if
I like thee no
41. worse after dinner. I will not part from
thee yet. Dinner,
42. ho, dinner! Where's my knave, my fool?
Go you and
43. call my fool hither.{ [Exit one] }
{Enter Oswald the steward}
44. You, you, sirrah, where's
my daughter?
OSWALD:
45. So please you{Exit}
LEAR:
46. What says the fellow there? Call
the clotpoll back.{Exit a knight}
47. Where's my fool?
Ho, I think the world's asleep.{Enter a Knight}
48. How
now? Where's that mongrel?
KNIGHT:
49. He says, my
lord, your daughter is not well.
LEAR:
50.
Why came not the slave back to me when I called
51. him?
KNIGHT:
52. Sir, he answered me in the roundest
manner he
53. would not.
LEAR:
54.
A would not?
KNIGHT:
55. My lord, I know not
what the matter is, but to
56. my judgement your highness is
not entertained with
57. that ceremonious affection as you
were wont. There's
58. a great abatement of kindness appears
as well in the
59. general dependants as in the Duke himself
also, and
60. your daughter.
LEAR:
61. Ha, sayst thou so?
KNIGHT:
62. I
beseech you pardon me, my lord, if I be
63. mistaken, for my
duty cannot be silent when I think
64. your highness wronged.
LEAR:
65. Thou but rememberest me of mine own
conception.
66. I have perceived a most faint neglect of late,
which I
67. have rather blamed as mine own jealous curiosity
than
68. as a very pretence and purpose of unkindness. I will
69. look further into 't. But where's my fool? I have not
70. seen him these two days.
KNIGHT:
71.
Since my young lady's going into France, sir, the
72. fool
hath much pined away.
LEAR:
73. No more of
that, I have noted it well. Go you and
74. tell my daughter I
would speak with her.{ [Exit one] }
75. Go you, call
hither my fool.{ [Exit one] }
{Enter Oswald the steward
[crossing the stage] }
76. O you, sir, you, come you
hither, sir, who am I, sir?
OSWALD:
77. My lady's
father.
LEAR:
78. My lady's father? My
lord's knave, you whoreson
79. dog, you slave, you cur!
OSWALD:
80. I am none of these, my lord, I beseech
your
81. pardon.
LEAR:
82. Do you
bandy looks with me, you rascal?{ [Lear strikes him] }
OSWALD:
83. I'll not be strucken, my lord.
KENT: { [tripping him] }
84. Nor tripped
neither, you base football
85. player.
LEAR:
{(to Kent)}
86. I thank thee, fellow. Thou serv'st me,
and
87. I'll love thee.
KENT: {(to
Oswald)}
88. Come, sir, arise, away. I'll teach you
89. differences. Away, away. If you will measure your
90. lubber's length again, tarry; but away, go to. Have
91. you wisdom? So.{Exit Oswald}
LEAR:
92. Now, my friendly knave, I thank
thee.{Enter Lear's Fool}
93. There's earnest of
thy service.{He gives Kent money}
FOOL:
94.
Let me hire him, too.{(To Kent)}Here's my coxcomb.
LEAR:
95. How now, my pretty knave, how dost
thou?
FOOL: {(to Kent)}
96. Sirrah, you were
best take my coxcomb.
LEAR:
97. Why, my boy?
FOOL:
98. Why? For taking one's part that's out of
favour.{(To}
{Kent)}
99. Nay, an thou canst not
smile as the wind sits,
100. thou'lt catch cold shortly.
There, take my coxcomb.
101. Why, this fellow has banished two
on 's daughters and
102. did the third a blessing against his
will. If thou follow
103. him, thou must needs wear my
coxcomb.{(To Lear)}
104. How now, nuncle? Would
I had two coxcombs and
105. two daughters.
LEAR:
106. Why, my boy?
FOOL:
107. If I gave them all my living I'd keep my coxcombs
108. myself. There's mine; beg another off thy daughters.
LEAR:
109. Take heed, sirrah the whip.
FOOL:
110. Truth's a dog must to kennel. He must be
whipped
111. out when the Lady Brach may stand by th' fire and
112. stink.
LEAR:
113. A
pestilent gall to me!
FOOL: { [to Kent] }
114.
Sirrah, I'll teach thee a speech.
LEAR:
115.
Do.
FOOL:
116. Mark it, nuncle:
117.
Have more than thou showest,
118. Speak less than thou
knowest,
119. Lend less than thou owest,
120. Ride
more than thou goest,
121. Learn more than thou
trowest,
122. Set less than thou throwest,
123.
Leave thy drink and thy whore,
124. And keep in-a-door,
125. And thou shalt have more
126. Than two tens to
a score.
KENT:
127. This is nothing, fool.
FOOL:
128. Then 'tis like the breath of an unfee'd
lawyer: you
129. gave me nothing for 't.{(To
Lear)}Can you make no use
130. of nothing, nuncle?
LEAR:
131. Why no, boy. Nothing can be made
out of nothing.
FOOL: {(to Kent)}
132.
Prithee, tell him so much the rent of his
133. land comes
to. He will not believe a fool.
LEAR:
134. A
bitter fool.
FOOL:
135. Dost know the difference,
my boy, between a bitter
136. fool and a sweet one?
LEAR:
137. No, lad. Teach me.
FOOL:
138. Nuncle, give me an egg, and I'll give
thee two
139. crowns.
LEAR:
140.
What two crowns shall they be?
FOOL:
141. Why,
after I have cut the egg i' th' middle and eat
142. up the
meat, the two crowns of the egg. When thou
143. clovest thy
crown i' th' middle and gavest away both
144. parts, thou
borest thine ass o' th' back o'er the dirt.
145. Thou hadst
little wit in thy bald crown when thou
146. gavest thy golden
one away. If I speak like myself in
147. this, let him be
whipped that first finds it so.
{ [Sings] }
148. Fools
had ne'er less grace in a year,
149. For wise men are grown
foppish,
150. And know not how their wits to wear,
151.
Their manners are so apish.
LEAR:
152.
When were you wont to be so full of songs, sirrah?
FOOL:
153. I have used it, nuncle, e'er since thou madest thy
154. daughters thy mothers; for when thou gavest them the
155. rod and puttest down thine own breeches,
{ [Sings]
}
156. Then they for sudden joy did weep,
157.
And I for sorrow sung,
158. That such a king should play
bo-peep
159. And go the fools among.
160. Prithee,
nuncle, keep a schoolmaster that can teach
161. thy fool to
lie. I would fain learn to lie.
LEAR:
162. An you lie, sirrah, we'll have you whipped.
FOOL:
163. I marvel what kin thou and thy daughters
are.
164. They'll have me whipped for speaking true, thou'lt
165. have me whipped for lying, and sometimes I am
166.
whipped for holding my peace. I had rather be any
167.
kind o' thing than a fool; and yet I would not be thee,
168.
nuncle. Thou hast pared thy wit o' both sides and left
169.
nothing i' th' middle.{Enter Goneril}
170. Here
comes one o' the parings.
LEAR:
171. How
now, daughter? What makes that frontlet on?
172. You are too
much of late i' th' frown.
FOOL:
173. Thou wast a
pretty fellow when thou hadst no need
174. to care for her
frowning. Now thou art an 0 without
175. a figure. I am better
than thou art, now. I am a fool;
176. thou art nothing.{
[To Goneril] }Yes, forsooth, I will hold
177. my tongue;
so your face bids me, though you say
178. nothing.
{
[Sings] }
179. Mum, mum.
180. He that keeps nor
crust nor crumb,
181. Weary of all, shall want some.
182. That's a shelled peascod.
GONERIL: {(to
Lear)}
183. Not only, sir, this your all-licensed
fool,
184. But other of your insolent retinue
185.
Do hourly carp and quarrel, breaking forth
186. In rank
and not-to-be-endurèd riots. Sir,
187. I had thought by
making this well known unto you
188. To have found a safe
redress, but now grow fearful,
189. By what yourself too late
have spoke and done,
190. That you protect this course, and
put it on
191. By your allowance; which if you should, the
fault
192. Would not scape censure, nor the redresses sleep
193. Which in the tender of a wholesome weal
194.
Might in their working do you that offence,
195. Which
else were shame, that then necessity
196. Will call discreet
proceeding.
FOOL: {(to Lear)}
197.
For, you know, nuncle,
{ [Sings] }
198. The
hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so long
199. That it's had it
head bit off by it young;
200. so out went the candle, and we
were left darkling.
LEAR: {(to
Goneril)}
201A. Are you our daughter?
GONERIL:
202. I would you would make use of your good wisdom,
203. Whereof I know you are fraught, and put away
204.
These dispositions which of late transport you
205. From
what you rightly are.
FOOL:
206. May not an ass
know when the cart draws the
207. horse?{ [Sings]
}"Whoop, jug, I love thee!"
LEAR:
208.
Does any here know me? This is not Lear.
209. Does
Lear walk thus, speak thus? Where are his eyes?
210.
Either his notion weakens, his discernings
211. Are
lethargied ha, waking? 'Tis not so.
212. Who is it that can
tell me who I am?
FOOL:
213. Lear's shadow.
LEAR: {(to Goneril)}
214A. Your name,
fair gentlewoman?
GONERIL:
215. This admiration,
sir, is much o' th' savour
216. Of other your new pranks. I do
beseech you
217. To understand my purposes aright,
218.
As you are old and reverend, should be wise.
219. Here do
you keep a hundred knights and squires,
220. Men so
disordered, so debauched and bold
221. That this our court,
infected with their manners,
222. Shows like a riotous inn.
Epicurism and lust
223. Makes it more like a tavern or a
brothel
224. Than a graced palace. The shame itself doth speak
225. For instant remedy. Be then desired,
226. By
her that else will take the thing she begs,
227. A little to
disquantity your train,
228. And the remainders that shall
still depend
229. To be such men as may besort your age,
230B. Which know themselves and you.
LEAR:
230B. Darkness and devils!
231. Saddle my horses,
call my train together!{ [Exit one or more] }
232.
Degenerate bastard, I'll not trouble thee.
233. Yet have I
left a daughter.
GONERIL:
234. You strike my
people, and your disordered rabble
235B. Make servants of
their betters.{Enter the Duke of Albany}
LEAR:
235B. Woe that too late repents!
236. Is it your
will? Speak, sir. Prepare my horses.{ [Exit one or more] }
237. Ingratitude, thou marble-hearted fiend,
238.
More hideous when thou show'st thee in a child
239. Than
the sea-monster
ALBANY:
240A. Pray sir, be patient.
LEAR: {(to Goneril)}
241A. Detested
kite, thou liest.
242. My train are men of choice and rarest
parts,
243. That all particulars of duty know,
244.
And in the most exact regard support
245. The worships of
their name. O most small fault,
246. How ugly didst thou in
Cordelia show,
247. Which, like an engine, wrenched my frame
of nature
248. From the fixed place, drew from my heart all
love,
249. And added to the gall! O Lear, Lear,
Lear!
250. Beat at this gate that let thy folly in
251. And thy dear judgement out. Go, go, my people!
ALBANY:
252. My lord, I am guiltless, as I am
ignorant
253B. Of what hath moved you.
LEAR:
253B. It may be so, my lord.
254. Hear, nature;
hear, dear goddess, hear:
255. Suspend thy purpose if thou
didst intend
256. To make this creature fruitful.
257.
Into her womb convey sterility.
258. Dry up in her the
organs of increase,
259. And from her derogate body never
spring
260. A babe to honour her. If she must teem,
261. Create her child of spleen, that it may live
262.
And be a thwart disnatured torment to her.
263. Let it
stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth,
264. With cadent tears
fret channels in her cheeks,
265. Turn all her mother's pains
and benefits
266. To laughter and contempt, that she may feel
267. That she may feel
268. How sharper than a
serpent's tooth it is
269. To have a thankless child. Away,
away!{Exeunt Lear, [Kent, and attendants] }
ALBANY:
270. Now, gods that we adore, whereof comes
this?
GONERIL:
271. Never afflict yourself to know
more of it,
272. But let his disposition have that scope
273. As dotage gives it.{Enter King Lear}
LEAR:
274. What, fifty of my followers at a
clap?
275B. Within a fortnight?
ALBANY:
275B.
What's the matter, sir?
LEAR:
276. I'll
tell thee.{(To Goneril)}Life and death! I am ashamed
277.
That thou hast power to shake my manhood thus,
278. That
these hot tears, which break from me perforce,
279. Should
make thee worth them. Blasts and fogs upon thee!
280. Th'
untented woundings of a father's curse
281. Pierce every sense
about thee! Old fond eyes,
282. Beweep this cause again I'll
pluck ye out
283. And cast you, with the waters that you
loose,
284. To temper clay. Ha! Let it be so.
285.
I have another daughter
286. Who, I am sure, is kind and
comfortable.
287. When she shall hear this of thee, with her
nails
288. She'll flay thy wolvish visage. Thou shalt find
289. That I'll resume the shape which thou dost think
290B. I have cast off for ever.{Exit}
GONERIL:
290B. Do you mark that?
ALBANY:
291. I cannot be so partial, Goneril,
292. To the
great love I bear you
GONERIL:
293. Pray you,
content. What, Oswald, ho!
294. You, sir, more knave than
fool, after your master.
FOOL:
295. Nuncle
Lear, nuncle Lear,
296. Tarry, take the fool
with thee.
297. A fox when one has caught her,
298.
And such a daughter,
299. Should sure to the slaughter,
300. If my cap would buy a halter.
301. So, the
fool follows after.{Exit}
GONERIL:
302. This
man hath had good counsel a hundred knights?
303. 'Tis politic
and safe to let him keep
304. At point a hundred knights, yes,
that on every dream,
305. Each buzz, each fancy, each
complaint, dislike,
306. He may enguard his dotage with their
powers
307. And hold our lives in mercy. Oswald, I say!
ALBANY:
308B. Well, you may fear too far.
GONERIL:
308B. Safer than trust too far.
309.
Let me still take away the harms I fear,
310. Not fear
still to be taken. I know his heart.
311. What he hath uttered
I have writ my sister.
312. If she sustain him and his hundred
knights
313B. When I have showed th' unfitness{Enter Oswald
the steward}How now, Oswald?
314. What, have you writ that
letter to my sister?
OSWALD:
315A. Ay, madam.
GONERIL:
316. Take you some company, and away to
horse.
317. Inform her full of my particular fear,
318.
And thereto add such reasons of your own
319. As may
compact it more. Get you gone,
320B. And hasten your
return.{Exit Oswald}No, no, my lord,
321. This milky
gentleness and course of yours,
322. Though I condemn not, yet
under pardon
323. You are much more attasked for want of
wisdom
324. Than praised for harmful mildness.
ALBANY:
325. How far your eyes may pierce I cannot
tell.
326. Striving to better, oft we mar what's well.
GONERIL:
327A. Nay, then
ALBANY:
328A. Well, well, th' event.{Exeunt}