Kent.
If but as well ^note I other accents borrow,
That can my speech defuse ^note, my good intent
May carry through itself to that full issue
For which I razed ^note my likeness. Now ^note, banish'd Kent,
If thou canst serve where thou dost stand condemn'd,
So may it come, ^note thy master whom thou lovest
Shall find thee full ^note of labours ^note. ^note Horns within. ^note Enter Lear, Knights, and Attendants. ^note

Lear.

Let me not stay a jot for dinner; go get it ready. [Exit an Attendant. ^note] ^noteHow now! what art thou?

Kent.

A man, sir.

Lear.

What dost thou profess? What wouldst thou with us?

Kent.

I do profess to be no less than I seem; to serve him truly that will put me in trust; to love him that is honest; to converse with him that is wise and says ^note little; to fear judgement; to fight when I cannot choose, and to eat no fish.

Lear.

What art ^note thou?

Kent.

A very honest-hearted fellow, and as poor as the king.

Lear.

If thou be ^note as poor for a subject as he is ^note for a king, thou art ^note poor enough. What wouldst thou?

Kent.

Service.

Lear.

Who ^note wouldst thou serve?

Kent.

You.

Lear.

Dost thou know me, fellow?

Kent.

No, sir; but you have that in your countenance which I would fain call master.

Lear.

What's ^note that?

Kent.

Authority.

Lear.

What services ^note canst thou ^note do?

Kent.

I can keep honest counsel ^note, ride, run, mar a curious tale in telling it, and deliver a plain message bluntly: that which ordinary men are fit for, I am qualified in, and the best of me is diligence.

Lear.

How old art thou?

Kent.

Not so young, sir ^note, to love a woman for singing ^note, nor so old to dote on her for any thing: I have years on my back forty eight.

Lear.

Follow me; thou ^note shalt serve me: if I like thee no worse after dinner, I ^note will not part from thee yet. Dinner, ho, dinner ^note! ^note Where's my knave? my fool? Go you, and ^notecall my fool hither ^note.

Enter Oswald. ^note

You, you, ^note sirrah, where's my daughter?

Osw. ^note

So please you,— ^note

Lear.

What says the fellow there? Call the clotpoll ^note back. [Exit a Knight. ^note] Where's my fool, ho? ^note I think the world's ^note asleep.

How now! where's that mongrel?

Knight. ^note

He says, my lord, your daughter ^note is not well.

Lear.

Why came not the slave back to me when I called him?

Knight. ^note

Sir, he answered me ^note in the roundest manner, he would not.

Lear.

He ^note would not!

Knight. ^note

My lord, I know not what the matter is; but, to my judgement, your highness is not entertained with that ceremonious affection as you were wont; there's a great abatement of kindness ^note appears as well in the general dependants ^note as in the duke himself also and your daughter.

Lear.

Ha! sayest thou so?

Knight. ^note

I beseech you, pardon me, my lord, if I be

mistaken; for my duty cannot be silent when I think your highness wronged ^note.

Lear.

Thou but rememberest me of mine ^note own conception: I have perceived a most faint ^note neglect of late; which I have rather blamed as mine own ^note jealous curiosity than as a very pretence and purpose ^note of unkindness: I will look further into't ^note. But where's ^note my ^note fool? I have not seen him this ^note two days.

Knight. ^note

Since my young lady's going into France, sir, the fool hath much pined away.

Lear.

No more of that; I have noted it well ^note. Go you, and tell my daughter I would speak with her. [Exit an Attendant. ^note] ^noteGo you, call hither my fool.

O, you sir, you, come you hither, sir ^note: who am I, sir?

Osw.

My lady's father.

Lear.

My lady's father! my lord's knave: you whoreson dog! you slave! you cur!

Osw.

I am none of these ^note, my lord; I beseech your pardon ^note. ^note

Lear.

Do you bandy looks ^note with me, you rascal?

^note

Osw.

I'll not be struck ^note, my lord.

Kent.

Nor tripped neither, you base foot-ball player. ^note

Lear.

I thank thee, fellow; thou servest me, and I'll love thee. ^note

Kent.

Come, sir, arise, away ^note! I'll teach you differences: away, away! If you will measure your lubber's length ^note again, tarry ^note: but away! go to ^note; have you wisdom? so. ^note

Lear.

Now, my ^note friendly knave, I thank thee: there's ^note earnest of thy service.

Fool.

Let me hire him too: here's my coxcomb.

Lear.

How now, my pretty knave! how dost thou?

Fool.

Sirrah, you were best take my coxcomb.

Kent.

Why, fool? ^note

Fool.

Why, for ^note taking one's ^note part that's ^note out of favour: nay, an ^note thou canst not smile as the wind sits, thou'lt ^note catch

cold shortly: there, take my coxcomb: why, this fellow hath ^note banished two on's ^note daughters, and done ^note the third a blessing against his will; if thou follow him, thou must needs wear my coxcomb. How now, nuncle! Would I had two coxcombs and two ^note daughters!

Lear.

Why, my boy?

Fool.

If I gave ^note them all my ^note living, I'ld ^note keep my coxcombs ^note myself. There's mine; beg another of thy daughters.

Lear.

Take heed, sirrah; the whip.

Fool.

Truth's a ^note dog must to ^note kennel; he must be whipped out, when Lady the brach ^note may stand by the fire and stink.

Lear.

A pestilent gall ^note to me!

Fool.

Sirrah, I'll teach thee a speech.

Lear. ^note

Do.

Fool.

Mark it, nuncle ^note:

  Have more than thou showest,
  Speak less than thou knowest,
  Lend less than thou owest,
  Ride more than thou goest,
  Learn more than thou trowest,
  Set less than thou throwest;
  Leave thy drink and thy whore,
  And keep in-a-door ^note,

  And thou shalt have more
  Than two tens to a score. ^note

Kent. ^note

This is nothing, fool.

Fool.

Then 'tis ^note like the breath of an unfee'd lawyer, you gave ^note me nothing for't. Can you make no use of nothing, nuncle ^note?

Lear.

Why, no, boy; nothing can be made out of nothing.

Fool. [To Kent ^note]

Prithee, tell him, so much the rent of his land comes to: he will not believe a fool.

Lear.

A bitter fool!

Fool.

Dost thou know the difference, my boy ^note, between a bitter fool and a sweet fool ^note?

Lear.

No, lad; teach me. ^note

Fool.
  That lord that counsell'd thee
    To give away thy land,
  Come place him here by me;
    Do ^note thou ^note for him stand:
  The sweet and bitter fool
    Will presently appear;
  The one in motley here,
    The other found out there. ^note

Lear.

Dost thou call me fool, boy ^note?

Fool.

All thy other titles thou hast given away; that thou was born with.

Kent.

This is not altogether fool, my lord.

Fool.

No, faith, lords and great men will not let me; if I had a monopoly out ^note, they would have part on't: and

ladies too, ^note they will ^note not let me have all the fool ^note to myself; they'll be snatching. ^note Give me an egg, nuncle ^note, and I'll give thee two crowns.

Lear.

What two crowns shall they be?

Fool.

Why, after I have cut the egg in the ^note middle and eat up the meat, the two crowns of the egg. When thou clovest thy crown ^note i' the ^note middle and gavest away both parts, thou borest ^note thine ass on thy ^note back o'er ^note the dirt: thou hadst little wit in thy bald crown when thou gavest thy golden one ^note away. If I speak like myself in this, let him be whipped that first finds it so ^note.

[Singing ^note]
  Fools had ne'er ^note less wit ^note in a year;
    For wise men are grown foppish,
  And ^note know not how ^note their wits to ^note wear,
    Their manners are so apish.

Lear.

When ^note were you wont to be so full of songs, sirrah?

Fool.

I have used it, nuncle, ever ^note since thou madest thy daughters thy mother ^note: for when thou gavest them the rod and puttest down thine own breeches,

[Singing ^note]
  Then they ^note for sudden joy did weep,
    And I for sorrow sung,

  That such a king should play bo-peep,
    And go the fools ^note among. ^note

Prithee, nuncle, keep a schoolmaster that can teach thy fool to lie: I would fain learn to lie ^note.

Lear.

An ^note you lie, sirrah ^note, we'll have you whipped.

Fool.

I marvel what kin thou and thy daughters are: they'll have me whipped for speaking true, thou'lt ^note have me whipped for lying, and sometimes ^note I am whipped for holding my peace. I had rather be any kind o' ^note thing than a fool: and yet I would not be thee, nuncle; thou hast pared thy wit o' both ^note sides and left nothing i' the ^note middle. Here ^note comes one o' ^note the ^note parings.

Lear.
How now, daughter ^note! what makes that frontlet on? ^note
Methinks ^note you are too much of late ^note i' the frown. ^note

Fool.

Thou wast a pretty fellow when thou hadst no need to care for her frowning ^note; now thou ^note art an O without a figure: I am better than thou art now; I am a fool, thou art nothing. [To Gon. ^note] Yes, forsooth, I will hold my tongue; so your face bids me, though you say nothing.

^note
  Mum, mum: ^note
  He that keeps nor crust ^note nor crumb,
  Weary of all, shall want some.

[Pointing to Lear ^note]
That's ^note a shealed ^note peascod ^note.

Gon.
Not only, sir, this ^note your all-licensed fool,
But other ^note of your insolent retinue
Do hourly carp and quarrel, breaking forth
In rank and not to be endured riots. Sir, ^{note note}
I had ^note thought, by making this well known unto you,
To have found a safe redress; but now grow fearful,
By what yourself too late have spoke and done,
That you protect this course and put it on ^note
By your allowance; which ^note if you should, the fault
Would ^note not 'scape censure, nor the redresses ^note sleep,
Which, in the tender of a wholesome weal,
Might in their working do you that offence
Which ^note else were shame, that then necessity
Will ^note call discreet proceeding ^note. ^note

Fool.
For, you know ^note, nuncle,

  The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so long,
  That it had it head ^note bit off by it ^note young. ^note
So out went the candle, and we were left darkling.

Lear.
Are you our daughter?

Gon.
Come, sir, ^note

I would you would make use of that ^note good wisdom
Whereof ^note I know you are fraught, and put away
These dispositions that of late transform ^note you
From what you rightly are. ^note

Fool.

May not an ass know when the cart draws the horse? Whoop, Jug! I love thee.

Lear.
Doth ^note any here know me? This ^note is not Lear: ^note
Doth ^note Lear walk thus? speak thus? Where are his eyes?
Either his notion weakens ^note, his discernings ^note
Are lethargied— ^noteHa! waking ^note? ^note 'tis not so.
Who is it that ^note can tell me who I am? ^note

Fool.
Lear's shadow. ^note

Lear.

I would learn that ^note; for, by the marks of sovereignty ^note knowledge and reason, I should be false ^note persuaded I ^note had daughters.

Fool.
Which they will ^note make an obedient father. ^note

Lear. ^note
Your name, fair gentlewoman?

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

Gon.
You strike my people, and your disorder'd rabble
Make servants of their betters. ^note Enter Albany. ^{note note}

Lear.
Woe, that too late repents,— ^note[To Alb. ^note] O, sir, are you come? ^note
Is it your will? Speak, sir. Prepare my ^note horses.
Ingratitude, thou marble-hearted fiend,
More hideous when thou show'st thee in a child
Than the ^note sea-monster!

Alb.
Pray, sir ^note, be patient. ^note

Lear. ^note [To Gon.]
Detested kite! thou liest.
My train are ^note men of choice and rarest parts,
That all particulars of duty know,
And in the most exact regard support
The worships ^note of their name ^note. O most small fault,
How ugly didst thou in Cordelia show!
That ^note, 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! ^note
Beat at this gate, that let thy folly in [Striking his head. ^note

And thy dear ^note judgement out! Go, go, my people. ^note

Alb.
My lord, I am guiltless, as I am ^note ignorant
Of what hath moved you. ^note

Lear.
It may be so, my lord.
Hear ^note, nature, hear; dear ^{note note} goddess, hear! ^note
Suspend thy purpose, if thou didst intend
To make this creature fruitful: ^note
Into her womb convey sterility:
Dry up in her the organs of increase,
And from her derogate ^note 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 ^note disnatured ^note torment to her.
Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth;
With cadent ^note tears fret channels in her cheeks;
Turn all her mother's pains ^note and benefits
To laughter and contempt; that she may feel ^note
How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is
To have a thankless child! Away, away! ^note [Exit. ^note

Alb.
Now, gods that we adore, whereof ^note comes this? ^note

Gon.
Never afflict yourself to know the cause ^note,
But let his disposition have that scope
That ^note dotage ^note gives it. Re-enter Lear. ^note

Lear.
What, fifty of my followers at a clap!
Within a fortnight!

Alb.
What's ^note the matter, sir?

Lear.
I'll tell thee. [To Gon. ^note] Life and death! I am ashamed ^note
That thou hast power to shake my manhood thus;
That these hot tears, which ^note break from me perforce,
Should make thee worth them. Blasts ^note and fogs upon thee! ^note
The untented ^note woundings of a father's curse
Pierce ^note every sense ^note about thee! Old ^note fond eyes,
Beweep this cause ^note again, I'll pluck ye ^note out
And cast you ^note with the waters that you lose ^note,
To temper clay. Yea, is it come to this? ^note
Let it be so: ^note yet have I ^note left a daughter,

Who ^note, I am sure, is kind and comfortable:
When she shall hear this of thee, with her nails
She'll flay ^note thy wolvish ^note 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. ^note [Exeunt ^note Lear, Kent, and Attendants. ^note

Gon.
Do you mark that, my lord ^note?

Alb.
I cannot be so partial, Goneril,
To the great love I bear you,— ^note

Gon.
Pray you, content ^note. What, Oswald, ho! [To the Fool ^note]
You, sir, more ^note knave than fool, after your master. ^note

Fool.

Nuncle Lear, nuncle Lear, tarry; take ^note the fool with thee. ^note

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

Gon.
This man hath had good counsel: a hundred knights! ^note
'Tis ^note politic and safe to let him keep

At point ^note a hundred knights: yes, that on every dream,
Each buzz, each fancy, each complaint, dislike,
He may enguard his dotage with their powers
And hold our lives in mercy ^note. Oswald, I say!

Alb.
Well, you may fear too far ^note.

Gon.
Safer than trust too far:
Let me still take away the harms I fear,
Not fear still to be taken ^note: I know his heart.
What he hath utter'd I have writ my sister:
If she ^note sustain him and his hundred knights,
When I have show'd the unfitness ^note,— ^note Re-enter Oswald. ^note
How now, Oswald!
What ^note, have you writ that ^note letter to my sister?

Osw.
Yes ^note, madam.

Gon.
Take you some company, and ^note away to horse:
Inform her full of my particular fear ^note,
And thereto add such reasons of your own
As may compact it more. Get ^note you gone;
And hasten your return. [Exit Oswald. ^note] No, no, my lord ^note,
This milky ^note gentleness and ^note course of yours

Though I condemn not ^note, yet, under pardon ^note,
You are ^note much more attask'd for ^note want of wisdom
Than ^note praised ^note for harmful ^note mildness.

Alb.
How far your eyes may pierce I cannot tell:
Striving to better, oft ^note we mar what's well. ^note

Gon.
Nay, then— ^note

Alb.
Well, well; the event. ^note [Exeunt. ^{note note}

Previous section

Next section