That I'll resume the shape which thou dost think [rant thee. I have cast off forever: thou shalt, I war [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!— [To the Fool.] You, sir, more knave than fool, after your master. Fool. Nuncle Lear, nuncle Lear, tarry; take the fool with thee. A fox, when one has caught her, Should sure to the slaughter, If my cap would buy a halter; [Exit. Gon. This man hath had good counsel:— a hundred knights! 'Tis politic and safe to let him keep At point a hundred knights! Yes, that on every dream, 280 Each buz, each fancy, each complaint, dislike, 290 Alb. Well, you may fear too far. Gon. Safer than trust too far. Let me still take away the harms I fear, If she sustain him and his hundred knights, Enter Steward. How now, Oswald? 300 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 This milky gentleness, and course of yours, 310 Than praised for harmful mildness. Alb. How far your eyes may pierce I can not tell : Striving to better, oft we mar what's well. Gon. Nay, then, — Alb. Well, well; the event. [Exeunt. 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 anything 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 your letter. [Exit. Fool, if a man's brains were in's heels, were't not in danger of kibes? Lear. Ay, boy. Fool. Then, I pr'ythee, be merry; thy wit shall not go slip shod. Lear. Ha, ha, ha! Fool. Shalt see 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 canst tell, boy? Fool. She will taste as like this as a crab does to a crab. Thou canst tell why one's nose stands i' the middle on's face? Lear. No. Fool. Why, to keep one's eyes of either side's nose; that what a man cannot smell out he may spy into. Lear. I did her wrong:— Fool. Canst tell how an oyster makes his shell? Lear. No. Fool. Nor I neither; but I can tell why a snail has a house. Lear. Why? Fool. Why, to put his head in; not to give it away to his daughters, and leave his horns without a case. Lear. I will forget my nature. So kind a father!—Be my horses ready? Fool Thy asses are gone about 'em. The 10 20 30 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 thou wert my fool, nuncle, I'd have thee beaten for being old before thy time. Lear. How's that? Fool. Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst been wise. Lear. O let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven! 40 Keep me in temper; I would not be mad! Enter Gentleman. How now! are the horses ready? Gent. Ready, my lord. Lear. Come, boy. [Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE I.—A Court within the Castle of the Earl of Gloster. Enter Edmund and Curan meeting. 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 duchess, 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 whispered ones, for they are yet but ear-kissing arguments? Pray you, what are they? Edm. Not I. 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, best! This weaves itself perforce into my business! |