He that keeps nor crust nor crum,
Weary of all, shall want some.—

That's a sheal'd peascod.1

[Pointing to LEar.

Gon. Not only, sir, this your all-licens'd fool,
But other of your insolent retinue

Do hourly carp and quarrel; breaking forth,
In rank and not-to-be-endured riots.

Sir,

I had 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 on2
By your allowance; which if you should, the fault
Would not 'scape censure, nor the redresses sleep;
Which, in the tender of a wholesome weal,
Might in their working do you that offence,
Which else were shame, that then necessity
Will call discreet proceeding.

Fool. For you trow, nuncle,

The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so long,
That it had its head bit off by its young.

4

So, out went the candle, and we were left darkling."
Lear. Are you our daughter?

Gon. Come, sir, I would, you would make use of

1 That's a sheal'd peascod.] i. e. now a mere husk, which contains nothing. The outside of a king remains, but all the intrinsic parts of royalty are gone: he has nothing to give.

put it on-] i. e. promote, push it forward.

3 By your allowance;] By your approbation.

4

were left darkling.] Shakspeare's fools are certainly copied from the life. The originals whom he copied were no doubt men of quick parts; lively and sarcastick. Though they were licensed to say any thing, it was still necessary to prevent giving offence, that every thing they said should have a playful air; we may suppose therefore that they had a custom of taking off the edge of too sharp a speech by covering it hastily with the end of an old song, or any glib nonsense that came into the mind. I know no other way of accounting for the incoherent words with which Shakspeare often finishes this fool's speeches. Sir JOSHUA REYNOLDS.

that good wisdom whereof I know you are fraught: and put away these dispositions, which of late transform you from what you rightly are.

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

Lear. Does any here know me?— Why this is not Lear: does Lear walk thus? speak thus? Where are his eyes? Either his notion weakens, or his discernings are lethargied.-Sleeping or waking?-Ha! sure 'tis not so.- -Who is it that can tell me who I am?Lear's shadow? I would learn that; for by the marks of sovereignty, knowledge and reason, I should be false persuaded I had daughters."

Fool. Which they will make an obedient father."
Lear. Your name, fair gentlewoman?

Gon. Come, sir;

This admiration is much o'the favour'

Of other your new pranks. I do beseech you
To understand my purposes aright:

As

you are old and reverend, you should be wise:
Here do you keep a hundred knights and squires;
Men so disorder'd, so debauch'd, and bold,
That this our court, infected with their manners,
Shows like a riotous inn: epicurism and lust
Make it more like a tavern, or a brothel,

Than a grac'd palace. The shame itself doth speak
For instant remedy: Be then desir'd

By her, that else will take the thing she begs,

5

- for by the marks of sovereignty, knowledge, and reason, &c.] Were I to judge from the marks of sovereignty, of knowledge, or reason, I should be induced to think I had daughters, yet that must be a false persuasion;-It cannot be.

6 Which they will make an obedient father.] Which, is on this occasion used with two deviations from present language. It is referred, contrary to the rules of grammarians, to the pronoun I, and is employed, according to a mode now obsolete, for whom, the accusative case of who.

7 o'the favour-] i. e. of the complexion.

A little to disquantity your train;
And the remainder, that shall still depend,
To be such men as may besort your age,
And know themselves and you.

Lear.

8

Darkness and devils !

Saddle my horses; call my train together.-
Degenerate bastard! I'll not trouble thee;
Yet have I left a daughter.

Gon. You strike my people; and your disorder'd

rabble

Make servants of their betters.

Enter ALBANY.

Lear. Woe, that too late repents,-O, sir, are you come?

Is it your will? [to ALB.] Speak, sir.-Prepare my

horses.

Ingratitude! thou marble-hearted fiend,

More hideous, when thou show'st thee in a child,
Than the sea-monster !9

Alb.

Pray, sir, be patient.

[To GONERIL.

Lear. Detested kite! thou liest :

My train are men of choice and rarest parts,

That all particulars of duty know:

And in the most exact regard support

The worships of their name. — -O most small fault,
How ugly didst thou in Cordelia show!

Which, 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!

8

still depend,] Depend, for continue in service.

9 Than the sea-monster! Mr. Upton observes, that the sea-monster is the hippopotamus, the hieroglyphical symbol of impiety and ingratitude.

1

- like an engine,] By an engine is meant the rack.

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 am guiltless, as I am ignorant Of what hath mov'd you.

Lear. It may be so, my lord,

Here, nature, hear;

Dear goddess, hear! Suspend thy purpose, if

Thou didst intend to make this creature fruitful!
Into her womb convey sterility!

Dry up in her the organs of increase;

And from her derogate 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 disnatur'd torment to her!
Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth;
With cadent tears fret channels in her cheeks;
Turn all her mother's pains, and benefits,*
To laughter and contempt; that she may feel
How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is
To have a thankless child! Away, away !

[Exit.

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

Gon. Never afflict yourself to know the cause;

But let his disposition have that scope

That dotage gives it.

Re-enter LEAR.

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 hast power to shake my manhood thus:

[To GONERIL.

2 – from her derogate body-] Derogate for degraded, blasted. · cadent tears—] i. e. falling tears.

↑ Turn all her mother's pains, and benefits,] Her maternal cares and good offices.

That these hot tears, which break from me perforce, Should make thee worth them. Blasts and fogs upon

thee!

--

The untented woundings of a father's curse

Pierce every sense about thee! - Old fond eyes,
Beweep this cause again, I'll pluck you out;
And cast you, with the waters that you lose,
To temper clay. Ha! is it come to this?
Let it be so:— Yet have I left a daughter,
Who, I am sure, is kind and comfortable;
When she shall hear this of thee, with her nails
She'll flay thy wolfish 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.
[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!

You, sir, more knave than fool, after

your master.

[To the Fool.

Fool. Nuncle Lear, nuncle Lear, tarry, and take the

fool with thee.

A fox, when one has caught her,
And such a daughter,

Should sure to the slaughter,

If my cap would buy a halter;

So the fool follows after.

[Exit.

Gon. This man hath had good counsel:- A hundred knights!

'Tis politick, and safe, to let him keep

At point, a hundred knights. Yes, that on every dream,

5 The untented woundings-] Untented wounds, means wounds in their worst state, not having a tent in them to digest them: and may possibly signify here such as will not admit of having a tent put into them for that purpose.

6 At point,] Completely armed, and consequently ready at appointment or command on the slightest notice.