The Tragedie of King Lear.And hasten your returne; no, no, my Lord,This milky gentlenesse, and course of yours
[835]
Though I condemne not, yet vnder pardonYou are much more at task for want of wisedome,Then prais'd for harmefull mildnesse.Alb.How farre your eies may pierce I cannot tell;Striuing to better, oft we marre what's well.Gon.
[840]
Nay then ———
Alb.
Well, well, th'euent.
Exeunt.
Scena Quinta.
[Act 1, Scene 5]
Enter Lear, Kent, Gentleman,
and Foole.
Lear.
Go you before to Gloster with these Letters;
acquaint
my Daughter no further with any thing you
know, then comes
from her demand out of the Letter,
[845]
if your Dilligence be
not speedy, I shall be there afore
you.
Kent.
I will not sleepe my Lord, till I haue deliuered
your
Letter.
Exit.Foole.
If a mans braines were in's heeles, wert not in
[850]
danger of kybes?
Lear.
I Boy.
Foole.
Then I prythee be merry, thy wit shall not go
slip‐shod.
Lear.
Ha, ha, ha.
Fool.
[855]
Shalt see thy other Daughter will vse thee kindly,
for though she's as like this, as a Crabbe's
like an
Apple, yet I can tell what I can tell.
Lear.
What can'st tell Boy?
Foole.
She will taste as like this as, a Crabbe do's to a
[860]
Crab: thou canst, tell why ones nose stands
i'th' middle
on's face?
Lear.
No.
Foole.
Why to keepe ones eyes of either side's nose,
that
what a man cannot smell out, he may spy into.
Lear.
[865]
I did her wrong.
Foole.
Can'st tell how an Oyster makes his shell?
Lear.
No.
Foole.
Nor I neither; but I can tell why a Snaile ha's
a
house.
Lear.
[870]
Why?
Foole.
Why to put's head in, not to giue it away to his
daughters, and leaue his hornes without a case.
Lear.
I will forget my Nature, so kind a Father? Be
my Horsses
ready?
Foole.
[875]
Thy Asses are gone about 'em; the reason why
the
seuen Starres are no mo then seuen, is a pretty reason.
Lear.
Because they are not eight.
Foole.
Yes indeed, thou would'st make a good Foole.
Lear.
To tak't againe perforce; Monster Ingratitude!
Foole.
[880]
If thou wert my Foole Nunckle, Il'd haue thee
beaten
for being old before thy time.
Lear.
How's that?
Foole.
Thou shouldst not haue bin old, till thou hadst
bin wise.
Lear.
[885]
O let me not be mad, not mad sweet Heauen:
keepe me in
temper, I would not be mad. How now are
She that's a Maid now, & laughs at my departure,Shall not be a Maid long, vnlesse things be cut shorter.Exeunt.
Actus Secundus. Scena Prima.
[Act 2, Scene 1]
Enter Bastard, and
Curan, seuerally.
Bast.
Saue thee
Curan.
Cur.And you Sir, I haue binWith your Father, and giuen him notice
[895]
That the Duke of
Cornwall, and
Regan his Duchesse
Will be here with him this night.Bast.
How comes that?
Cur.
Nay I know not, you haue heard of the newes abroad,
I meane the whisper'd ones, for they are yet but
[900]
ear‐kissing arguments.
Bast.
Not I: pray you what are they?
Cur.Haue you heard of no likely Warres toward,'Twixt the Dukes of
Cornwall, and
Albany?
Bast.
Not a word.
Cur.
[905]
You may do then in time,Fare you well Sir.Exit.Bast.The Duke be here to night? The better best,This weaues it selfe perforce into my businesse,My Father hath set guard to take my Brother,
[910]
And I haue one thing of a queazie questionWhich I must act, Briefenesse, and Fortune
worke.
Enter Edgar.Brother, a word, discend; Brother I say,My Father watches: O Sir, fly this place,Intelligence is giuen where you are hid;
[915]
You haue now the good aduantage of the night,Haue you not spoken 'gainst the Duke of
Cornewall?
Hee's comming hither, now i'th' night,
i'th' haste,
And
Regan with him, haue you nothing
said
Vpon his partie 'gainst the Duke of
Albany?
[920]
Aduise your selfe.Edg.
I am sure on't, not a word.
Bast.I heare my Father comming, pardon me:In cunning, I must draw my Sword vpon you:Draw, seeme to defend your selfe,
[925]
Now quit you well.Yeeld, come before my Father, light hoa, here,Fly Brother, Torches, Torches, so farewell.Exit Edgar.Some blood drawne on me, would beget opinionOf my more fierce endeauour. I haue seene drunkards
[930]
Do more then this in sport; Father, Father,Stop, stop, no helpe?Enter Gloster, and
Seruants with Torches.
Glo.
Now
Edmund, where's the
villaine?
Bast.Here stood he in the dark, his sharpe Sword out,Mumbling of wicked charmes, coniuring the Moone
[935]
To stand auspicious Mistris.Glo.
But where is he?
Bast.
Looke Sir, I bleed.
Glo.
Where is the villaine,
Edmund?
Bast.
Fled this way Sir, when by no meanes he could.
Glo.
[940]
Pursue him, ho: go after. By no meanes, what?
Bast.Perswade me to the murther of your Lordship,Gainst
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<div type="scene" n="5">
<head rend="italic center">Scena Quinta.</head>
<head type="supplied">[Act 1, Scene 5]</head>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Lear, Kent, Gentleman, and Foole.</stage>
<sp who="#F-lr-lea">
<speaker rend="italic">Lear.</speaker>
<p n="842">Go you before to Gloster with these Letters;
<lb n="843"/>acquaint my Daughter no further with any thing you
<lb n="844"/>know, then comes from her demand out of the Letter,
<lb n="845"/>if your Dilligence be not speedy, I shall be there afore
<lb n="846"/>you.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-ken">
<speaker rend="italic">Kent.</speaker>
<p n="847">I will not sleepe my Lord, till I haue deliuered
<lb n="848"/>your Letter.</p>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exit.</stage>
<sp who="#F-lr-foo">
<speaker rend="italic">Foole.</speaker>
<p n="849">If a mans braines were in's heeles, wert not in
<lb n="850"/>danger of kybes?</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-lea">
<speaker rend="italic">Lear.</speaker>
<p n="851">I Boy.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-foo">
<speaker rend="italic">Foole.</speaker>
<p n="852">Then I prythee be merry, thy wit shall not go
<lb n="853"/>slip‐shod.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-lea">
<speaker rend="italic">Lear.</speaker>
<p n="854">Ha, ha, ha.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-foo">
<speaker rend="italic">Fool.</speaker>
<p n="855">Shalt see thy other Daughter will vse thee kindly,
<lb n="856"/>for though she's as like this, as a Crabbe's like an
<lb n="857"/>Apple, yet I can tell what I can tell.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-lea">
<speaker rend="italic">Lear.</speaker>
<p n="858">What can'st tell Boy?</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-foo">
<speaker rend="italic">Foole.</speaker>
<p n="859">She will taste as like this as, a Crabbe do's to a
<lb n="860"/>Crab: thou canst, tell why ones nose stands i'th' middle
<lb n="861"/>on's face?</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-lea">
<speaker rend="italic">Lear.</speaker>
<p n="862">No.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-foo">
<speaker rend="italic">Foole.</speaker>
<p n="863">Why to keepe ones eyes of either side's nose,
<lb n="864"/>that what a man cannot smell out, he may spy into.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-lea">
<speaker rend="italic">Lear.</speaker>
<p n="865">I did her wrong.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-foo">
<speaker rend="italic">Foole.</speaker>
<p n="866">Can'st tell how an Oyster makes his shell?</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-lea">
<speaker rend="italic">Lear.</speaker>
<p n="867">No.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-foo">
<speaker rend="italic">Foole.</speaker>
<p n="868">Nor I neither; but I can tell why a Snaile ha's
<lb n="869"/>a house.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-lea">
<speaker rend="italic">Lear.</speaker>
<p n="870">Why?</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-foo">
<speaker rend="italic">Foole.</speaker>
<p n="871">Why to put's head in, not to giue it away to his
<lb n="872"/>daughters, and leaue his hornes without a case.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-lea">
<speaker rend="italic">Lear.</speaker>
<p n="873">I will forget my Nature, so kind a Father? Be
<lb n="874"/>my Horsses ready?</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-foo">
<speaker rend="italic">Foole.</speaker>
<p n="875">Thy Asses are gone about 'em; the reason why
<lb n="876"/>the seuen Starres are no mo then seuen, is a pretty reason.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-lea">
<speaker rend="italic">Lear.</speaker>
<p n="877">Because they are not eight.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-foo">
<speaker rend="italic">Foole.</speaker>
<p n="878">Yes indeed, thou would'st make a good Foole.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-lea">
<speaker rend="italic">Lear.</speaker>
<p n="879">To tak't againe perforce; Monster Ingratitude!</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-foo">
<speaker rend="italic">Foole.</speaker>
<p n="880">If thou wert my Foole Nunckle, Il'd haue thee
<lb n="881"/>beaten for being old before thy time.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-lea">
<speaker rend="italic">Lear.</speaker>
<p n="882">How's that?</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-foo">
<speaker rend="italic">Foole.</speaker>
<p n="883">Thou shouldst not haue bin old, till thou hadst
<lb n="884"/>bin wise.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-lea">
<speaker rend="italic">Lear.</speaker>
<p n="885">O let me not be mad, not mad sweet Heauen:
<lb n="886"/>keepe me in temper, I would not be mad. How now are
<lb n="887"/>the Horses ready?</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-gen">
<speaker rend="italic">Gent.</speaker>
<p n="888">Ready my Lord.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-lea">
<speaker rend="italic">Lear.</speaker>
<p n="889">Come Boy.</p>
</sp>
<cb n="2"/>
<sp who="#F-lr-foo">
<speaker rend="italic">Fool.</speaker>
<l n="890">She that's a Maid now, & laughs at my departure,</l>
<l n="891">Shall not be a Maid long, vnlesse things be cut shorter.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exeunt.</stage>
</div>
