Enter Kent, Gloucester, and Edmund.

KENT  FTLN 0001I thought the King had more affected the Duke
FTLN 0002 of Albany than Cornwall.
GLOUCESTER  FTLN 0003It did always seem so to us, but now in
FTLN 0004 the division of the kingdom, it appears not which
FTLN 00055 of the dukes he values most, for equalities are so
FTLN 0006 weighed that curiosity in neither can make choice
FTLN 0007 of either’s moiety.
KENT  FTLN 0008Is not this your son, my lord?
GLOUCESTER  FTLN 0009His breeding, sir, hath been at my
FTLN 001010 charge. I have so often blushed to acknowledge
FTLN 0011 him that now I am brazed to ’t.
KENT  FTLN 0012I cannot conceive you.
GLOUCESTER  FTLN 0013Sir, this young fellow’s mother could,
FTLN 0014 whereupon she grew round-wombed and had indeed,
FTLN 001515 sir, a son for her cradle ere she had a husband
FTLN 0016 for her bed. Do you smell a fault?
KENT  FTLN 0017I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it
FTLN 0018 being so proper.
GLOUCESTER  FTLN 0019But I have a son, sir, by order of law,
FTLN 002020 some year elder than this, who yet is no dearer in
FTLN 0021 my account. Though this knave came something
FTLN 0022 saucily to the world before he was sent for, yet was
FTLN 0023 his mother fair, there was good sport at his making,

---

FTLN 0024 and the whoreson must be acknowledged.—Do you
FTLN 002525 know this noble gentleman, Edmund?
EDMUND  FTLN 0026No, my lord.
GLOUCESTER  FTLN 0027My lord of Kent. Remember him hereafter
FTLN 0028 as my honorable friend.
EDMUND  FTLN 0029My services to your Lordship.
KENT  FTLN 003030I must love you and sue to know you better.
EDMUND  FTLN 0031Sir, I shall study deserving.
GLOUCESTER  FTLN 0032He hath been out nine years, and away he
FTLN 0033 shall again.  (Sennet.) The King is coming.

Enter King Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Goneril, Regan,
Cordelia, and Attendants.

LEAR 
FTLN 0034 Attend the lords of France and Burgundy,
FTLN 003535 Gloucester.
GLOUCESTER  FTLN 0036I shall, my lord. He exits.
LEAR 
FTLN 0037 Meantime we shall express our darker purpose.—
FTLN 0038 Give me the map there. He is handed a map.
FTLN 0039 Know that we have divided
FTLN 004040 In three our kingdom, and ’tis our fast intent
FTLN 0041 To shake all cares and business from our age,
FTLN 0042 Conferring them on younger strengths, while we
FTLN 0043 Unburdened crawl toward death. Our son of
FTLN 0044 Cornwall
FTLN 004545 And you, our no less loving son of Albany,
FTLN 0046 We have this hour a constant will to publish
FTLN 0047 Our daughters’ several dowers, that future strife
FTLN 0048 May be prevented now.
FTLN 0049 The two great princes, France and Burgundy,
FTLN 005050 Great rivals in our youngest daughter’s love,
FTLN 0051 Long in our court have made their amorous sojourn
FTLN 0052 And here are to be answered. Tell me, my
FTLN 0053 daughters—
FTLN 0054 Since now we will divest us both of rule,

---

FTLN 005555 Interest of territory, cares of state—
FTLN 0056 Which of you shall we say doth love us most,
FTLN 0057 That we our largest bounty may extend
FTLN 0058 Where nature doth with merit challenge. Goneril,
FTLN 0059 Our eldest born, speak first.
GONERIL 
FTLN 006060 Sir, I love you more than word can wield the
FTLN 0061 matter,
FTLN 0062 Dearer than eyesight, space, and liberty,
FTLN 0063 Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare,
FTLN 0064 No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honor;
FTLN 006565 As much as child e’er loved, or father found;
FTLN 0066 A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable.
FTLN 0067 Beyond all manner of so much I love you.
CORDELIA , aside 
FTLN 0068 What shall Cordelia speak? Love, and be silent.
LEAR , pointing to the map 
FTLN 0069 Of all these bounds, even from this line to this,
FTLN 007070 With shadowy forests and with champains riched,
FTLN 0071 With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads,
FTLN 0072 We make thee lady. To thine and Albany’s issue
FTLN 0073 Be this perpetual.—What says our second
FTLN 0074 daughter,
FTLN 007575 Our dearest Regan, wife of Cornwall? Speak.
REGAN 
FTLN 0076 I am made of that self mettle as my sister
FTLN 0077 And prize me at her worth. In my true heart
FTLN 0078 I find she names my very deed of love;
FTLN 0079 Only she comes too short, that I profess
FTLN 008080 Myself an enemy to all other joys
FTLN 0081 Which the most precious square of sense
FTLN 0082 possesses,
FTLN 0083 And find I am alone felicitate
FTLN 0084 In your dear Highness’ love.
CORDELIA , aside  FTLN 008585 Then poor Cordelia!
FTLN 0086 And yet not so, since I am sure my love’s
FTLN 0087 More ponderous than my tongue.

---

LEAR 
FTLN 0088 To thee and thine hereditary ever
FTLN 0089 Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom,
FTLN 009090 No less in space, validity, and pleasure
FTLN 0091 Than that conferred on Goneril.—Now, our joy,
FTLN 0092 Although our last and least, to whose young love
FTLN 0093 The vines of France and milk of Burgundy
FTLN 0094 Strive to be interessed, what can you say to draw
FTLN 009595 A third more opulent than your sisters’? Speak.
CORDELIA  FTLN 0096Nothing, my lord.
LEAR  FTLN 0097Nothing?
CORDELIA  FTLN 0098Nothing.
LEAR 
FTLN 0099 Nothing will come of nothing. Speak again.
CORDELIA 
FTLN 0100100 Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave
FTLN 0101 My heart into my mouth. I love your Majesty
FTLN 0102 According to my bond, no more nor less.
LEAR 
FTLN 0103 How, how, Cordelia? Mend your speech a little,
FTLN 0104 Lest you may mar your fortunes.
CORDELIA  FTLN 0105105 Good my lord,
FTLN 0106 You have begot me, bred me, loved me.
FTLN 0107 I return those duties back as are right fit:
FTLN 0108 Obey you, love you, and most honor you.
FTLN 0109 Why have my sisters husbands if they say
FTLN 0110110 They love you all? Haply, when I shall wed,
FTLN 0111 That lord whose hand must take my plight shall
FTLN 0112 carry
FTLN 0113 Half my love with him, half my care and duty.
FTLN 0114 Sure I shall never marry like my sisters,
FTLN 0115115 To love my father all.
LEAR  FTLN 0116But goes thy heart with this?
CORDELIA  FTLN 0117Ay, my good lord.
LEAR  FTLN 0118So young and so untender?
CORDELIA  FTLN 0119So young, my lord, and true.

---

LEAR 
FTLN 0120120 Let it be so. Thy truth, then, be thy dower,
FTLN 0121 For by the sacred radiance of the sun,
FTLN 0122 The mysteries of Hecate and the night,
FTLN 0123 By all the operation of the orbs
FTLN 0124 From whom we do exist and cease to be,
FTLN 0125125 Here I disclaim all my paternal care,
FTLN 0126 Propinquity, and property of blood,
FTLN 0127 And as a stranger to my heart and me
FTLN 0128 Hold thee from this forever. The barbarous
FTLN 0129 Scythian,
FTLN 0130130 Or he that makes his generation messes
FTLN 0131 To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom
FTLN 0132 Be as well neighbored, pitied, and relieved
FTLN 0133 As thou my sometime daughter.
KENT  FTLN 0134 Good my liege—
LEAR  FTLN 0135135Peace, Kent.
FTLN 0136 Come not between the dragon and his wrath.
FTLN 0137 I loved her most and thought to set my rest
FTLN 0138 On her kind nursery.  To Cordelia. Hence and avoid
FTLN 0139 my sight!—
FTLN 0140140 So be my grave my peace, as here I give
FTLN 0141 Her father’s heart from her.—Call France. Who stirs?
FTLN 0142 Call Burgundy.  An Attendant exits. Cornwall and
FTLN 0143 Albany,
FTLN 0144 With my two daughters’ dowers digest the third.
FTLN 0145145 Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry her.
FTLN 0146 I do invest you jointly with my power,
FTLN 0147 Preeminence, and all the large effects
FTLN 0148 That troop with majesty. Ourself by monthly course,
FTLN 0149 With reservation of an hundred knights
FTLN 0150150 By you to be sustained, shall our abode
FTLN 0151 Make with you by due turn. Only we shall retain
FTLN 0152 The name and all th’ addition to a king.
FTLN 0153 The sway, revenue, execution of the rest,

---

FTLN 0154 Belovèd sons, be yours, which to confirm,
FTLN 0155155 This coronet part between you.
KENT  FTLN 0156 Royal Lear,
FTLN 0157 Whom I have ever honored as my king,
FTLN 0158 Loved as my father, as my master followed,
FTLN 0159 As my great patron thought on in my prayers—
LEAR 
FTLN 0160160 The bow is bent and drawn. Make from the shaft.
KENT 
FTLN 0161 Let it fall rather, though the fork invade
FTLN 0162 The region of my heart. Be Kent unmannerly
FTLN 0163 When Lear is mad. What wouldst thou do, old man?
FTLN 0164 Think’st thou that duty shall have dread to speak
FTLN 0165165 When power to flattery bows? To plainness honor’s
FTLN 0166 bound
FTLN 0167 When majesty falls to folly. Reserve thy state,
FTLN 0168 And in thy best consideration check
FTLN 0169 This hideous rashness. Answer my life my
FTLN 0170170 judgment,
FTLN 0171 Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least,
FTLN 0172 Nor are those empty-hearted whose low sounds
FTLN 0173 Reverb no hollowness.
LEAR  FTLN 0174 Kent, on thy life, no more.
KENT 
FTLN 0175175 My life I never held but as a pawn
FTLN 0176 To wage against thine enemies, nor fear to lose
FTLN 0177 it,
FTLN 0178 Thy safety being motive.
LEAR  FTLN 0179 Out of my sight!
KENT 
FTLN 0180180 See better, Lear, and let me still remain
FTLN 0181 The true blank of thine eye.
LEAR  FTLN 0182Now, by Apollo—
KENT  FTLN 0183Now, by Apollo, king,
FTLN 0184 Thou swear’st thy gods in vain.
LEAR  FTLN 0185185O vassal! Miscreant!

---

ALBANY/CORNWALL  FTLN 0186Dear sir, forbear.
KENT 
FTLN 0187 Kill thy physician, and thy fee bestow
FTLN 0188 Upon the foul disease. Revoke thy gift,
FTLN 0189 Or whilst I can vent clamor from my throat,
FTLN 0190190 I’ll tell thee thou dost evil.
LEAR 
FTLN 0191 Hear me, recreant; on thine allegiance, hear me!
FTLN 0192 That thou hast sought to make us break our vows—
FTLN 0193 Which we durst never yet—and with strained pride
FTLN 0194 To come betwixt our sentence and our power,
FTLN 0195195 Which nor our nature nor our place can bear,
FTLN 0196 Our potency made good, take thy reward:
FTLN 0197 Five days we do allot thee for provision
FTLN 0198 To shield thee from disasters of the world,
FTLN 0199 And on the sixth to turn thy hated back
FTLN 0200200 Upon our kingdom. If on the tenth day following
FTLN 0201 Thy banished trunk be found in our dominions,
FTLN 0202 The moment is thy death. Away! By Jupiter,
FTLN 0203 This shall not be revoked.
KENT 
FTLN 0204 Fare thee well, king. Sith thus thou wilt appear,
FTLN 0205205 Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here.
FTLN 0206  To Cordelia. The gods to their dear shelter take
FTLN 0207 thee, maid,
FTLN 0208 That justly think’st and hast most rightly said.
FTLN 0209  To Goneril and Regan. And your large speeches
FTLN 0210210 may your deeds approve,
FTLN 0211 That good effects may spring from words of love.—
FTLN 0212 Thus Kent, O princes, bids you all adieu.
FTLN 0213 He’ll shape his old course in a country new.
He exits.

Flourish. Enter Gloucester with France, and Burgundy,
and Attendants.

GLOUCESTER 
FTLN 0214 Here’s France and Burgundy, my noble lord.

---

LEAR  FTLN 0215215My lord of Burgundy,
FTLN 0216 We first address toward you, who with this king
FTLN 0217 Hath rivaled for our daughter. What in the least
FTLN 0218 Will you require in present dower with her,
FTLN 0219 Or cease your quest of love?
BURGUNDY  FTLN 0220220 Most royal Majesty,
FTLN 0221 I crave no more than hath your Highness offered,
FTLN 0222 Nor will you tender less.
LEAR  FTLN 0223 Right noble Burgundy,
FTLN 0224 When she was dear to us, we did hold her so,
FTLN 0225225 But now her price is fallen. Sir, there she stands.
FTLN 0226 If aught within that little seeming substance,
FTLN 0227 Or all of it, with our displeasure pieced
FTLN 0228 And nothing more, may fitly like your Grace,
FTLN 0229 She’s there, and she is yours.
BURGUNDY  FTLN 0230230 I know no answer.
LEAR 
FTLN 0231 Will you, with those infirmities she owes,
FTLN 0232 Unfriended, new-adopted to our hate,
FTLN 0233 Dowered with our curse and strangered with our
FTLN 0234 oath,
FTLN 0235235 Take her or leave her?
BURGUNDY  FTLN 0236 Pardon me, royal sir,
FTLN 0237 Election makes not up in such conditions.
LEAR 
FTLN 0238 Then leave her, sir, for by the power that made me
FTLN 0239 I tell you all her wealth.—For you, great king,
FTLN 0240240 I would not from your love make such a stray
FTLN 0241 To match you where I hate. Therefore beseech you
FTLN 0242 T’ avert your liking a more worthier way
FTLN 0243 Than on a wretch whom Nature is ashamed
FTLN 0244 Almost t’ acknowledge hers.
FRANCE  FTLN 0245245 This is most strange,
FTLN 0246 That she whom even but now was your best
FTLN 0247 object,
FTLN 0248 The argument of your praise, balm of your age,

---

FTLN 0249 The best, the dearest, should in this trice of time
FTLN 0250250 Commit a thing so monstrous to dismantle
FTLN 0251 So many folds of favor. Sure her offense
FTLN 0252 Must be of such unnatural degree
FTLN 0253 That monsters it, or your forevouched affection
FTLN 0254 Fall into taint; which to believe of her
FTLN 0255255 Must be a faith that reason without miracle
FTLN 0256 Should never plant in me.
CORDELIA , to Lear  FTLN 0257I yet beseech your Majesty—
FTLN 0258 If for I want that glib and oily art
FTLN 0259 To speak and purpose not, since what I well
FTLN 0260260 intend
FTLN 0261 I’ll do ’t before I speak—that you make known
FTLN 0262 It is no vicious blot, murder, or foulness,
FTLN 0263 No unchaste action or dishonored step
FTLN 0264 That hath deprived me of your grace and favor,
FTLN 0265265 But even for want of that for which I am richer:
FTLN 0266 A still-soliciting eye and such a tongue
FTLN 0267 That I am glad I have not, though not to have it
FTLN 0268 Hath lost me in your liking.
LEAR  FTLN 0269 Better thou
FTLN 0270270 Hadst not been born than not t’ have pleased me
FTLN 0271 better.
FRANCE 
FTLN 0272 Is it but this—a tardiness in nature
FTLN 0273 Which often leaves the history unspoke
FTLN 0274 That it intends to do?—My lord of Burgundy,
FTLN 0275275 What say you to the lady? Love’s not love
FTLN 0276 When it is mingled with regards that stands
FTLN 0277 Aloof from th’ entire point. Will you have her?
FTLN 0278 She is herself a dowry.
BURGUNDY , to Lear  FTLN 0279 Royal king,
FTLN 0280280 Give but that portion which yourself proposed,
FTLN 0281 And here I take Cordelia by the hand,
FTLN 0282 Duchess of Burgundy.
LEAR 
FTLN 0283 Nothing. I have sworn. I am firm.

---

BURGUNDY , to Cordelia 
FTLN 0284 I am sorry, then, you have so lost a father
FTLN 0285285 That you must lose a husband.
CORDELIA  FTLN 0286 Peace be with
FTLN 0287 Burgundy.
FTLN 0288 Since that respect and fortunes are his love,
FTLN 0289 I shall not be his wife.
FRANCE 
FTLN 0290290 Fairest Cordelia, that art most rich being poor;
FTLN 0291 Most choice, forsaken; and most loved, despised,
FTLN 0292 Thee and thy virtues here I seize upon,
FTLN 0293 Be it lawful I take up what’s cast away.
FTLN 0294 Gods, gods! ’Tis strange that from their cold’st
FTLN 0295295 neglect
FTLN 0296 My love should kindle to enflamed respect.—
FTLN 0297 Thy dowerless daughter, king, thrown to my
FTLN 0298 chance,
FTLN 0299 Is queen of us, of ours, and our fair France.
FTLN 0300300 Not all the dukes of wat’rish Burgundy
FTLN 0301 Can buy this unprized precious maid of me.—
FTLN 0302 Bid them farewell, Cordelia, though unkind.
FTLN 0303 Thou losest here a better where to find.
LEAR 
FTLN 0304 Thou hast her, France. Let her be thine, for we
FTLN 0305305 Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see
FTLN 0306 That face of hers again.  To Cordelia. Therefore
FTLN 0307 begone
FTLN 0308 Without our grace, our love, our benison.—
FTLN 0309 Come, noble Burgundy.
Flourish. All but France, Cordelia,
Goneril, and Regan exit.
FRANCE  FTLN 0310310Bid farewell to your sisters.
CORDELIA 
FTLN 0311 The jewels of our father, with washed eyes
FTLN 0312 Cordelia leaves you. I know you what you are,
FTLN 0313 And like a sister am most loath to call

---

FTLN 0314 Your faults as they are named. Love well our
FTLN 0315315 father.
FTLN 0316 To your professèd bosoms I commit him;
FTLN 0317 But yet, alas, stood I within his grace,
FTLN 0318 I would prefer him to a better place.
FTLN 0319 So farewell to you both.
REGAN 
FTLN 0320320 Prescribe not us our duty.
GONERIL  FTLN 0321 Let your study
FTLN 0322 Be to content your lord, who hath received you
FTLN 0323 At Fortune’s alms. You have obedience scanted
FTLN 0324 And well are worth the want that you have wanted.
CORDELIA 
FTLN 0325325 Time shall unfold what plighted cunning hides,
FTLN 0326 Who covers faults at last with shame derides.
FTLN 0327 Well may you prosper.
FRANCE  FTLN 0328 Come, my fair Cordelia.
France and Cordelia exit.
GONERIL  FTLN 0329Sister, it is not little I have to say of what
FTLN 0330330 most nearly appertains to us both. I think our
FTLN 0331 father will hence tonight.
REGAN  FTLN 0332That’s most certain, and with you; next month
FTLN 0333 with us.
GONERIL  FTLN 0334You see how full of changes his age is; the
FTLN 0335335 observation we have made of it hath not been
FTLN 0336 little. He always loved our sister most, and with
FTLN 0337 what poor judgment he hath now cast her off
FTLN 0338 appears too grossly.
REGAN  FTLN 0339’Tis the infirmity of his age. Yet he hath ever
FTLN 0340340 but slenderly known himself.
GONERIL  FTLN 0341The best and soundest of his time hath been
FTLN 0342 but rash. Then must we look from his age to
FTLN 0343 receive not alone the imperfections of long-engraffed
FTLN 0344 condition, but therewithal the unruly waywardness
FTLN 0345345 that infirm and choleric years bring with
FTLN 0346 them.

---

REGAN  FTLN 0347Such unconstant starts are we like to have
FTLN 0348 from him as this of Kent’s banishment.
GONERIL  FTLN 0349There is further compliment of leave-taking
FTLN 0350350 between France and him. Pray you, let us sit
FTLN 0351 together. If our father carry authority with such
FTLN 0352 disposition as he bears, this last surrender of his will
FTLN 0353 but offend us.
REGAN  FTLN 0354We shall further think of it.
GONERIL  FTLN 0355355We must do something, and i’ th’ heat.
They exit.

Enter Edmund, the Bastard.

EDMUND 
FTLN 0356 Thou, Nature, art my goddess. To thy law
FTLN 0357 My services are bound. Wherefore should I
FTLN 0358 Stand in the plague of custom, and permit
FTLN 0359 The curiosity of nations to deprive me
FTLN 03605 For that I am some twelve or fourteen moonshines
FTLN 0361 Lag of a brother? why “bastard”? Wherefore “base,”
FTLN 0362 When my dimensions are as well compact,
FTLN 0363 My mind as generous and my shape as true
FTLN 0364 As honest madam’s issue? Why brand they us
FTLN 036510 With “base,” with “baseness,” “bastardy,” “base,”
FTLN 0366 “base,”
FTLN 0367 Who, in the lusty stealth of nature, take
FTLN 0368 More composition and fierce quality
FTLN 0369 Than doth within a dull, stale, tired bed
FTLN 037015 Go to th’ creating a whole tribe of fops
FTLN 0371 Got ’tween asleep and wake? Well then,
FTLN 0372 Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land.
FTLN 0373 Our father’s love is to the bastard Edmund
FTLN 0374 As to th’ legitimate. Fine word, “legitimate.”
FTLN 037520 Well, my legitimate, if this letter speed

---

FTLN 0376 And my invention thrive, Edmund the base
FTLN 0377 Shall top th’ legitimate. I grow, I prosper.
FTLN 0378 Now, gods, stand up for bastards!

Enter Gloucester.

GLOUCESTER 
FTLN 0379 Kent banished thus? And France in choler parted?
FTLN 038025 And the King gone tonight, prescribed his power,
FTLN 0381 Confined to exhibition? All this done
FTLN 0382 Upon the gad?—Edmund, how now? What news?
EDMUND  FTLN 0383So please your Lordship, none.  He puts a
 paper in his pocket.
GLOUCESTER  FTLN 0384Why so earnestly seek you to put up that
FTLN 038530 letter?
EDMUND  FTLN 0386I know no news, my lord.
GLOUCESTER  FTLN 0387What paper were you reading?
EDMUND  FTLN 0388Nothing, my lord.
GLOUCESTER  FTLN 0389No? What needed then that terrible dispatch
FTLN 039035 of it into your pocket? The quality of nothing
FTLN 0391 hath not such need to hide itself. Let’s see. Come, if
FTLN 0392 it be nothing, I shall not need spectacles.
EDMUND  FTLN 0393I beseech you, sir, pardon me. It is a letter
FTLN 0394 from my brother that I have not all o’erread; and
FTLN 039540 for so much as I have perused, I find it not fit for
FTLN 0396 your o’erlooking.
GLOUCESTER  FTLN 0397Give me the letter, sir.
EDMUND  FTLN 0398I shall offend either to detain or give it. The
FTLN 0399 contents, as in part I understand them, are to
FTLN 040045 blame.
GLOUCESTER  FTLN 0401Let’s see, let’s see.
Edmund gives him the paper.
EDMUND  FTLN 0402I hope, for my brother’s justification, he
FTLN 0403 wrote this but as an essay or taste of my virtue.
GLOUCESTER  reads  FTLN 0404This policy and reverence of age
FTLN 040550 makes the world bitter to the best of our times, keeps
FTLN 0406 our fortunes from us till our oldness cannot relish

---

33

King Lear

ACT 1. SC. 2

FTLN 0407 them. I begin to find an idle and fond bondage in the
FTLN 0408 oppression of aged tyranny, who sways not as it hath
FTLN 0409 power but as it is suffered. Come to me, that of this I
FTLN 041055 may speak more. If our father would sleep till I waked
FTLN 0411 him, you should enjoy half his revenue forever and
FTLN 0412 live the beloved of your brother. Edgar.
FTLN 0413 Hum? Conspiracy? “Sleep till I wake him, you
FTLN 0414 should enjoy half his revenue.” My son Edgar! Had
FTLN 041560 he a hand to write this? A heart and brain to breed it
FTLN 0416 in?—When came you to this? Who brought it?
EDMUND  FTLN 0417It was not brought me, my lord; there’s the
FTLN 0418 cunning of it. I found it thrown in at the casement
FTLN 0419 of my closet.
GLOUCESTER  FTLN 042065You know the character to be your
FTLN 0421 brother’s?
EDMUND  FTLN 0422If the matter were good, my lord, I durst
FTLN 0423 swear it were his; but in respect of that, I would
FTLN 0424 fain think it were not.
GLOUCESTER  FTLN 042570It is his.
EDMUND  FTLN 0426It is his hand, my lord, but I hope his heart is
FTLN 0427 not in the contents.
GLOUCESTER  FTLN 0428Has he never before sounded you in this
FTLN 0429 business?
EDMUND  FTLN 043075Never, my lord. But I have heard him oft
FTLN 0431 maintain it to be fit that, sons at perfect age and
FTLN 0432 fathers declined, the father should be as ward to the
FTLN 0433 son, and the son manage his revenue.
GLOUCESTER  FTLN 0434O villain, villain! His very opinion in the
FTLN 043580 letter. Abhorred villain! Unnatural, detested, brutish
FTLN 0436 villain! Worse than brutish!—Go, sirrah, seek
FTLN 0437 him. I’ll apprehend him.—Abominable villain!—
FTLN 0438 Where is he?
EDMUND  FTLN 0439I do not well know, my lord. If it shall please
FTLN 044085 you to suspend your indignation against my brother
FTLN 0441 till you can derive from him better testimony of his
FTLN 0442 intent, you should run a certain course; where, if

---

FTLN 0443 you violently proceed against him, mistaking his
FTLN 0444 purpose, it would make a great gap in your own
FTLN 044590 honor and shake in pieces the heart of his obedience.
FTLN 0446 I dare pawn down my life for him that he hath
FTLN 0447 writ this to feel my affection to your Honor, and to
FTLN 0448 no other pretense of danger.
GLOUCESTER  FTLN 0449Think you so?
EDMUND  FTLN 045095If your Honor judge it meet, I will place you
FTLN 0451 where you shall hear us confer of this, and by an
FTLN 0452 auricular assurance have your satisfaction, and that
FTLN 0453 without any further delay than this very evening.
GLOUCESTER  FTLN 0454He cannot be such a monster.
EDMUND  FTLN 0455100Nor is not, sure.
GLOUCESTER  FTLN 0456To his father, that so tenderly and entirely
FTLN 0457 loves him! Heaven and earth! Edmund, seek him
FTLN 0458 out; wind me into him, I pray you. Frame the
FTLN 0459 business after your own wisdom. I would unstate
FTLN 0460105 myself to be in a due resolution.
EDMUND  FTLN 0461I will seek him, sir, presently, convey the
FTLN 0462 business as I shall find means, and acquaint you
FTLN 0463 withal.
GLOUCESTER  FTLN 0464These late eclipses in the sun and moon
FTLN 0465110 portend no good to us. Though the wisdom of
FTLN 0466 nature can reason it thus and thus, yet nature finds
FTLN 0467 itself scourged by the sequent effects. Love cools,
FTLN 0468 friendship falls off, brothers divide; in cities, mutinies;
FTLN 0469 in countries, discord; in palaces, treason; and
FTLN 0470115 the bond cracked ’twixt son and father. This villain
FTLN 0471 of mine comes under the prediction: there’s son
FTLN 0472 against father. The King falls from bias of nature:
FTLN 0473 there’s father against child. We have seen the best of
FTLN 0474 our time. Machinations, hollowness, treachery, and
FTLN 0475120 all ruinous disorders follow us disquietly to our
FTLN 0476 graves.—Find out this villain, Edmund. It shall
FTLN 0477 lose thee nothing. Do it carefully.—And the noble
FTLN 0478 and true-hearted Kent banished! His offense, honesty!
FTLN 0479 ’Tis strange. He exits.

---

EDMUND  FTLN 0480125This is the excellent foppery of the world, that
FTLN 0481 when we are sick in fortune (often the surfeits of
FTLN 0482 our own behavior) we make guilty of our disasters
FTLN 0483 the sun, the moon, and stars, as if we were villains
FTLN 0484 on necessity; fools by heavenly compulsion; knaves,
FTLN 0485130 thieves, and treachers by spherical predominance;
FTLN 0486 drunkards, liars, and adulterers by an enforced
FTLN 0487 obedience of planetary influence; and all that we
FTLN 0488 are evil in, by a divine thrusting on. An admirable
FTLN 0489 evasion of whoremaster man, to lay his goatish
FTLN 0490135 disposition on the charge of a star! My father
FTLN 0491 compounded with my mother under the Dragon’s
FTLN 0492 tail, and my nativity was under Ursa Major, so that it
FTLN 0493 follows I am rough and lecherous. Fut, I should
FTLN 0494 have been that I am, had the maidenliest star in the
FTLN 0495140 firmament twinkled on my bastardizing. Edgar—

Enter Edgar.

FTLN 0496 and pat he comes like the catastrophe of the old
FTLN 0497 comedy. My cue is villainous melancholy, with a
FTLN 0498 sigh like Tom o’ Bedlam.—O, these eclipses do
FTLN 0499 portend these divisions. Fa, sol, la, mi.
EDGAR  FTLN 0500145How now, brother Edmund, what serious contemplation
FTLN 0501 are you in?
EDMUND  FTLN 0502I am thinking, brother, of a prediction I read
FTLN 0503 this other day, what should follow these eclipses.
EDGAR  FTLN 0504Do you busy yourself with that?
EDMUND  FTLN 0505150I promise you, the effects he writes of succeed
FTLN 0506 unhappily, as of unnaturalness between the
FTLN 0507 child and the parent, death, dearth, dissolutions of
FTLN 0508 ancient amities, divisions in state, menaces and
FTLN 0509 maledictions against king and nobles, needless diffidences,
FTLN 0510155 banishment of friends, dissipation of cohorts,
FTLN 0511 nuptial breaches, and I know not what.
EDGAR  FTLN 0512How long have you been a sectary
FTLN 0513 astronomical?

---

EDMUND  FTLN 0514Come, come, when saw you my father last?
EDGAR  FTLN 0515160The night gone by.
EDMUND  FTLN 0516Spake you with him?
EDGAR  FTLN 0517Ay, two hours together.
EDMUND  FTLN 0518Parted you in good terms? Found you no
FTLN 0519 displeasure in him by word nor countenance?
EDGAR  FTLN 0520165None at all.
EDMUND  FTLN 0521Bethink yourself wherein you may have offended
FTLN 0522 him, and at my entreaty forbear his presence
FTLN 0523 until some little time hath qualified the heat
FTLN 0524 of his displeasure, which at this instant so rageth in
FTLN 0525170 him that with the mischief of your person it would
FTLN 0526 scarcely allay.
EDGAR  FTLN 0527Some villain hath done me wrong.
EDMUND  FTLN 0528That’s my fear. I pray you have a continent
FTLN 0529 forbearance till the speed of his rage goes slower;
FTLN 0530175 and, as I say, retire with me to my lodging, from
FTLN 0531 whence I will fitly bring you to hear my lord speak.
FTLN 0532 Pray you go. There’s my key. If you do stir abroad,
FTLN 0533 go armed.
EDGAR  FTLN 0534Armed, brother?
EDMUND  FTLN 0535180Brother, I advise you to the best. I am no
FTLN 0536 honest man if there be any good meaning toward
FTLN 0537 you. I have told you what I have seen and heard, but
FTLN 0538 faintly, nothing like the image and horror of it. Pray
FTLN 0539 you, away.
EDGAR  FTLN 0540185Shall I hear from you anon?
EDMUND  FTLN 0541I do serve you in this business. Edgar exits.
FTLN 0542 A credulous father and a brother noble,
FTLN 0543 Whose nature is so far from doing harms
FTLN 0544 That he suspects none; on whose foolish honesty
FTLN 0545190 My practices ride easy. I see the business.
FTLN 0546 Let me, if not by birth, have lands by wit.
FTLN 0547 All with me’s meet that I can fashion fit.
He exits.

Enter Goneril and Oswald, her Steward.

GONERIL  FTLN 0548Did my father strike my gentleman for chiding
FTLN 0549 of his Fool?
OSWALD  FTLN 0550Ay, madam.
GONERIL 
FTLN 0551 By day and night he wrongs me. Every hour
FTLN 05525 He flashes into one gross crime or other
FTLN 0553 That sets us all at odds. I’ll not endure it.
FTLN 0554 His knights grow riotous, and himself upbraids us
FTLN 0555 On every trifle. When he returns from hunting,
FTLN 0556 I will not speak with him. Say I am sick.
FTLN 055710 If you come slack of former services,
FTLN 0558 You shall do well. The fault of it I’ll answer.
OSWALD  FTLN 0559He’s coming, madam. I hear him.
GONERIL 
FTLN 0560 Put on what weary negligence you please,
FTLN 0561 You and your fellows. I’d have it come to question.
FTLN 056215 If he distaste it, let him to my sister,
FTLN 0563 Whose mind and mine I know in that are one,
FTLN 0564 Not to be overruled. Idle old man
FTLN 0565 That still would manage those authorities
FTLN 0566 That he hath given away. Now, by my life,
FTLN 056720 Old fools are babes again and must be used
FTLN 0568 With checks as flatteries, when they are seen
FTLN 0569 abused.
FTLN 0570 Remember what I have said.
OSWALD  FTLN 0571 Well, madam.
GONERIL 
FTLN 057225 And let his knights have colder looks among you.
FTLN 0573 What grows of it, no matter. Advise your fellows so.
FTLN 0574 I would breed from hence occasions, and I shall,
FTLN 0575 That I may speak. I’ll write straight to my sister
FTLN 0576 To hold my very course. Prepare for dinner.
They exit in different directions.

Enter Kent in disguise.

KENT 
FTLN 0577 If but as well I other accents borrow
FTLN 0578 That can my speech diffuse, my good intent
FTLN 0579 May carry through itself to that full issue
FTLN 0580 For which I razed my likeness. Now, banished Kent,
FTLN 05815 If thou canst serve where thou dost stand
FTLN 0582 condemned,
FTLN 0583 So may it come thy master, whom thou lov’st,
FTLN 0584 Shall find thee full of labors.

Horns within. Enter Lear, Knights, and Attendants.

LEAR  FTLN 0585Let me not stay a jot for dinner. Go get it ready.
An Attendant exits.
FTLN 058610 How now, what art thou?
KENT  FTLN 0587A man, sir.
LEAR  FTLN 0588What dost thou profess? What wouldst thou with
FTLN 0589 us?
KENT  FTLN 0590I do profess to be no less than I seem, to serve
FTLN 059115 him truly that will put me in trust, to love him that
FTLN 0592 is honest, to converse with him that is wise and says
FTLN 0593 little, to fear judgment, to fight when I cannot
FTLN 0594 choose, and to eat no fish.
LEAR  FTLN 0595What art thou?
KENT  FTLN 059620A very honest-hearted fellow, and as poor as the
FTLN 0597 King.
LEAR  FTLN 0598If thou be’st as poor for a subject as he’s for a
FTLN 0599 king, thou art poor enough. What wouldst thou?
KENT  FTLN 0600Service.
LEAR  FTLN 060125Who wouldst thou serve?
KENT  FTLN 0602You.
LEAR  FTLN 0603Dost thou know me, fellow?
KENT  FTLN 0604No, sir, but you have that in your countenance
FTLN 0605 which I would fain call master.

---

LEAR  FTLN 060630What’s that?
KENT  FTLN 0607Authority.
LEAR  FTLN 0608What services canst do?
KENT  FTLN 0609I can keep honest counsel, ride, run, mar a
FTLN 0610 curious tale in telling it, and deliver a plain message
FTLN 061135 bluntly. That which ordinary men are fit for I
FTLN 0612 am qualified in, and the best of me is diligence.
LEAR  FTLN 0613How old art thou?
KENT  FTLN 0614Not so young, sir, to love a woman for singing,
FTLN 0615 nor so old to dote on her for anything. I have years
FTLN 061640 on my back forty-eight.
LEAR  FTLN 0617Follow me. Thou shalt serve me—if I like thee
FTLN 0618 no worse after dinner. I will not part from thee
FTLN 0619 yet.—Dinner, ho, dinner!—Where’s my knave, my
FTLN 0620 Fool? Go you and call my Fool hither.
An Attendant exits.

Enter Oswald, the Steward.

FTLN 062145 You, you, sirrah, where’s my daughter?
OSWALD  FTLN 0622So please you— He exits.
LEAR  FTLN 0623What says the fellow there? Call the clotpole
FTLN 0624 back.  A Knight exits. Where’s my Fool? Ho! I think
FTLN 0625 the world’s asleep.

Enter Knight again.

FTLN 062650 How now? Where’s that mongrel?
KNIGHT  FTLN 0627He says, my lord, your daughter is not well.
LEAR  FTLN 0628Why came not the slave back to me when I
FTLN 0629 called him?
KNIGHT  FTLN 0630Sir, he answered me in the roundest manner,
FTLN 063155 he would not.
LEAR  FTLN 0632He would not?
KNIGHT  FTLN 0633My lord, I know not what the matter is, but to
FTLN 0634 my judgment your Highness is not entertained
FTLN 0635 with that ceremonious affection as you were wont.
FTLN 063660 There’s a great abatement of kindness appears as

---

FTLN 0637 well in the general dependents as in the Duke
FTLN 0638 himself also, and your daughter.
LEAR  FTLN 0639Ha? Sayst thou so?
KNIGHT  FTLN 0640I beseech you pardon me, my lord, if I be
FTLN 064165 mistaken, for my duty cannot be silent when I think
FTLN 0642 your Highness wronged.
LEAR  FTLN 0643Thou but remembrest me of mine own conception.
FTLN 0644 I have perceived a most faint neglect of late,
FTLN 0645 which I have rather blamed as mine own jealous
FTLN 064670 curiosity than as a very pretense and purpose of
FTLN 0647 unkindness. I will look further into ’t. But where’s
FTLN 0648 my Fool? I have not seen him this two days.
KNIGHT  FTLN 0649Since my young lady’s going into France, sir,
FTLN 0650 the Fool hath much pined away.
LEAR  FTLN 065175No more of that. I have noted it well.—Go you
FTLN 0652 and tell my daughter I would speak with her.  An
 Attendant exits.  FTLN 0653Go you call hither my Fool.
Another exits.

Enter Oswald, the Steward.

FTLN 0654 O you, sir, you, come you hither, sir. Who am I, sir?
OSWALD  FTLN 0655My lady’s father.
LEAR  FTLN 065680“My lady’s father”? My lord’s knave! You whoreson
FTLN 0657 dog, you slave, you cur!
OSWALD  FTLN 0658I am none of these, my lord, I beseech your
FTLN 0659 pardon.
LEAR  FTLN 0660Do you bandy looks with me, you rascal?
Lear strikes him.
OSWALD  FTLN 066185I’ll not be strucken, my lord.
KENT , tripping him  FTLN 0662Nor tripped neither, you base
FTLN 0663 football player?
LEAR  FTLN 0664I thank thee, fellow. Thou serv’st me, and I’ll
FTLN 0665 love thee.
KENT , to Oswald  FTLN 066690Come, sir, arise. Away. I’ll teach you
FTLN 0667 differences. Away, away. If you will measure your
FTLN 0668 lubber’s length again, tarry. But away. Go to. Have
FTLN 0669 you wisdom? So. Oswald exits.

---

LEAR  FTLN 0670Now, my friendly knave, I thank thee. There’s
FTLN 067195 earnest of thy service. He gives Kent a purse.

Enter Fool.

FOOL  FTLN 0672Let me hire him too.  To Kent. Here’s my
FTLN 0673 coxcomb. He offers Kent his cap.
LEAR  FTLN 0674How now, my pretty knave, how dost thou?
FOOL , to Kent  FTLN 0675Sirrah, you were best take my
FTLN 0676100 coxcomb.
LEAR  FTLN 0677Why, my boy?
FOOL  FTLN 0678Why? For taking one’s part that’s out of favor.
FTLN 0679  To Kent. Nay, an thou canst not smile as the
FTLN 0680 wind sits, thou ’lt catch cold shortly. There, take my
FTLN 0681105 coxcomb. Why, this fellow has banished two on ’s
FTLN 0682 daughters and did the third a blessing against his
FTLN 0683 will. If thou follow him, thou must needs wear my
FTLN 0684 coxcomb.—How now, nuncle? Would I had two
FTLN 0685 coxcombs and two daughters.
LEAR  FTLN 0686110Why, my boy?
FOOL  FTLN 0687If I gave them all my living, I’d keep my coxcombs
FTLN 0688 myself. There’s mine. Beg another of thy
FTLN 0689 daughters.
LEAR  FTLN 0690Take heed, sirrah—the whip.
FOOL  FTLN 0691115Truth’s a dog must to kennel; he must be
FTLN 0692 whipped out, when the Lady Brach may stand by th’
FTLN 0693 fire and stink.
LEAR  FTLN 0694A pestilent gall to me!
FOOL  FTLN 0695Sirrah, I’ll teach thee a speech.
LEAR  FTLN 0696120Do.
FOOL  FTLN 0697Mark it, nuncle:
FTLN 0698 Have more than thou showest.
FTLN 0699 Speak less than thou knowest,
FTLN 0700 Lend less than thou owest,
FTLN 0701125 Ride more than thou goest,
FTLN 0702 Learn more than thou trowest,
FTLN 0703 Set less than thou throwest;

---

51

King Lear

ACT 1. SC. 4

FTLN 0704 Leave thy drink and thy whore
FTLN 0705 And keep in-a-door,
FTLN 0706130 And thou shalt have more
FTLN 0707 Than two tens to a score.
KENT  FTLN 0708This is nothing, Fool.
FOOL  FTLN 0709Then ’tis like the breath of an unfee’d lawyer.
FTLN 0710 You gave me nothing for ’t.—Can you make no use
FTLN 0711135 of nothing, nuncle?
LEAR  FTLN 0712Why no, boy. Nothing can be made out of
FTLN 0713 nothing.
FOOL , to Kent  FTLN 0714Prithee tell him, so much the rent of his
FTLN 0715 land comes to. He will not believe a Fool.
LEAR  FTLN 0716140A bitter Fool!
FOOL  FTLN 0717Dost know the difference, my boy, between a
FTLN 0718 bitter fool and a sweet one?
LEAR  FTLN 0719No, lad, teach me.
FOOL  FTLN 0720 That lord that counseled thee
FTLN 0721145  To give away thy land,
FTLN 0722 Come place him here by me;
FTLN 0723  Do thou for him stand.
FTLN 0724 The sweet and bitter fool
FTLN 0725  Will presently appear:
FTLN 0726150 The one in motley here,
FTLN 0727  The other found out there.
LEAR  FTLN 0728Dost thou call me “fool,” boy?
FOOL  FTLN 0729All thy other titles thou hast given away. That
FTLN 0730 thou wast born with.
KENT  FTLN 0731155This is not altogether fool, my lord.
FOOL  FTLN 0732No, faith, lords and great men will not let me. If
FTLN 0733 I had a monopoly out, they would have part on ’t.
FTLN 0734 And ladies too, they will not let me have all the fool
FTLN 0735 to myself; they’ll be snatching.—Nuncle, give me
FTLN 0736160 an egg, and I’ll give thee two crowns.
LEAR  FTLN 0737What two crowns shall they be?
FOOL  FTLN 0738Why, after I have cut the egg i’ th’ middle and eat
FTLN 0739 up the meat, the two crowns of the egg. When thou

---

FTLN 0740 clovest thy crown i’ th’ middle and gav’st away
FTLN 0741165 both parts, thou bor’st thine ass on thy back o’er
FTLN 0742 the dirt. Thou hadst little wit in thy bald crown
FTLN 0743 when thou gav’st thy golden one away. If I speak
FTLN 0744 like myself in this, let him be whipped that first
FTLN 0745 finds it so.  Sings.
FTLN 0746170 Fools had ne’er less grace in a year,
FTLN 0747  For wise men are grown foppish
FTLN 0748 And know not how their wits to wear,
FTLN 0749  Their manners are so apish.
LEAR  FTLN 0750When were you wont to be so full of songs,
FTLN 0751175 sirrah?
FOOL  FTLN 0752I have used it, nuncle, e’er since thou mad’st thy
FTLN 0753 daughters thy mothers. For when thou gav’st them
FTLN 0754 the rod and put’st down thine own breeches,
Sings.
FTLN 0755 Then they for sudden joy did weep,
FTLN 0756180  And I for sorrow sung,
FTLN 0757 That such a king should play bo-peep
FTLN 0758  And go the fools among.
FTLN 0759 Prithee, nuncle, keep a schoolmaster that can teach
FTLN 0760 thy Fool to lie. I would fain learn to lie.
LEAR  FTLN 0761185An you lie, sirrah, we’ll have you whipped.
FOOL  FTLN 0762I marvel what kin thou and thy daughters are.
FTLN 0763 They’ll have me whipped for speaking true, thou ’lt
FTLN 0764 have me whipped for lying, and sometimes I am
FTLN 0765 whipped for holding my peace. I had rather be any
FTLN 0766190 kind o’ thing than a Fool. And yet I would not be
FTLN 0767 thee, nuncle. Thou hast pared thy wit o’ both sides
FTLN 0768 and left nothing i’ th’ middle. Here comes one o’ the
FTLN 0769 parings.

Enter Goneril.

LEAR  FTLN 0770How now, daughter? What makes that frontlet on?
FTLN 0771195 Methinks you are too much of late i’ th’ frown.

---

FOOL  FTLN 0772Thou wast a pretty fellow when thou hadst no
FTLN 0773 need to care for her frowning. Now thou art an O
FTLN 0774 without a figure. I am better than thou art now. I
FTLN 0775 am a Fool. Thou art nothing.  To Goneril. Yes,
FTLN 0776200 forsooth, I will hold my tongue. So your face bids
FTLN 0777 me, though you say nothing.
FTLN 0778 Mum, mum,
FTLN 0779 He that keeps nor crust nor crumb,
FTLN 0780 Weary of all, shall want some.
He points at Lear.
FTLN 0781205 That’s a shelled peascod.
GONERIL 
FTLN 0782 Not only, sir, this your all-licensed Fool,
FTLN 0783 But other of your insolent retinue
FTLN 0784 Do hourly carp and quarrel, breaking forth
FTLN 0785 In rank and not-to-be-endurèd riots. Sir,
FTLN 0786210 I had thought by making this well known unto you
FTLN 0787 To have found a safe redress, but now grow fearful,
FTLN 0788 By what yourself too late have spoke and done,
FTLN 0789 That you protect this course and put it on
FTLN 0790 By your allowance; which if you should, the fault
FTLN 0791215 Would not ’scape censure, nor the redresses sleep
FTLN 0792 Which in the tender of a wholesome weal
FTLN 0793 Might in their working do you that offense,
FTLN 0794 Which else were shame, that then necessity
FTLN 0795 Will call discreet proceeding.
FOOL  FTLN 0796220For you know, nuncle,
FTLN 0797 The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so long,
FTLN 0798 That it’s had it head bit off by it young.
FTLN 0799 So out went the candle, and we were left darkling.
LEAR  FTLN 0800Are you our daughter?
GONERIL 
FTLN 0801225 I would you would make use of your good wisdom,
FTLN 0802 Whereof I know you are fraught, and put away
FTLN 0803 These dispositions which of late transport you
FTLN 0804 From what you rightly are.

---

FOOL  FTLN 0805May not an ass know when the cart draws the
FTLN 0806230 horse? Whoop, Jug, I love thee!
LEAR 
FTLN 0807 Does any here know me? This is not Lear.
FTLN 0808 Does Lear walk thus, speak thus? Where are his
FTLN 0809 eyes?
FTLN 0810 Either his notion weakens, his discernings
FTLN 0811235 Are lethargied—Ha! Waking? ’Tis not so.
FTLN 0812 Who is it that can tell me who I am?
FOOL  FTLN 0813Lear’s shadow.
LEAR  FTLN 0814I would learn that, for, by the marks of
FTLN 0815 sovereignty,
FTLN 0816240 Knowledge, and reason, I should be false persuaded
FTLN 0817 I had daughters.
FOOL  FTLN 0818Which they will make an obedient father.
LEAR  FTLN 0819Your name, fair gentlewoman?
GONERIL 
FTLN 0820 This admiration, sir, is much o’ th’ savor
FTLN 0821245 Of other your new pranks. I do beseech you
FTLN 0822 To understand my purposes aright.
FTLN 0823 As you are old and reverend, should be wise.
FTLN 0824 Here do you keep a hundred knights and squires,
FTLN 0825 Men so disordered, so debauched and bold,
FTLN 0826250 That this our court, infected with their manners,
FTLN 0827 Shows like a riotous inn. Epicurism and lust
FTLN 0828 Makes it more like a tavern or a brothel
FTLN 0829 Than a graced palace. The shame itself doth speak
FTLN 0830 For instant remedy. Be then desired,
FTLN 0831255 By her that else will take the thing she begs,
FTLN 0832 A little to disquantity your train,
FTLN 0833 And the remainders that shall still depend
FTLN 0834 To be such men as may besort your age,
FTLN 0835 Which know themselves and you.
LEAR  FTLN 0836260 Darkness and
FTLN 0837 devils!—
FTLN 0838 Saddle my horses. Call my train together.
Some exit.

---

FTLN 0839 Degenerate bastard, I’ll not trouble thee.
FTLN 0840 Yet have I left a daughter.
GONERIL 
FTLN 0841265 You strike my people, and your disordered rabble
FTLN 0842 Make servants of their betters.

Enter Albany.

LEAR 
FTLN 0843 Woe that too late repents!—O, sir, are you
FTLN 0844 come?
FTLN 0845 Is it your will? Speak, sir.—Prepare my horses.
Some exit.
FTLN 0846270 Ingratitude, thou marble-hearted fiend,
FTLN 0847 More hideous when thou show’st thee in a child
FTLN 0848 Than the sea monster!
ALBANY  FTLN 0849 Pray, sir, be patient.
LEAR , to Goneril  FTLN 0850Detested kite, thou liest.
FTLN 0851275 My train are men of choice and rarest parts,
FTLN 0852 That all particulars of duty know
FTLN 0853 And in the most exact regard support
FTLN 0854 The worships of their name. O most small fault,
FTLN 0855 How ugly didst thou in Cordelia show,
FTLN 0856280 Which, like an engine, wrenched my frame of
FTLN 0857 nature
FTLN 0858 From the fixed place, drew from my heart all love
FTLN 0859 And added to the gall! O Lear, Lear, Lear!
He strikes his head.
FTLN 0860 Beat at this gate that let thy folly in
FTLN 0861285 And thy dear judgment out. Go, go, my people.
Some exit.
ALBANY 
FTLN 0862 My lord, I am guiltless as I am ignorant
FTLN 0863 Of what hath moved you.
LEAR  FTLN 0864 It may be so, my lord.—
FTLN 0865 Hear, Nature, hear, dear goddess, hear!
FTLN 0866290 Suspend thy purpose if thou didst intend

---

FTLN 0867 To make this creature fruitful.
FTLN 0868 Into her womb convey sterility.
FTLN 0869 Dry up in her the organs of increase,
FTLN 0870 And from her derogate body never spring
FTLN 0871295 A babe to honor her. If she must teem,
FTLN 0872 Create her child of spleen, that it may live
FTLN 0873 And be a thwart disnatured torment to her.
FTLN 0874 Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth,
FTLN 0875 With cadent tears fret channels in her cheeks,
FTLN 0876300 Turn all her mother’s pains and benefits
FTLN 0877 To laughter and contempt, that she may feel
FTLN 0878 How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is
FTLN 0879 To have a thankless child.—Away, away!
Lear and the rest of his train exit.
ALBANY 
FTLN 0880 Now, gods that we adore, whereof comes this?
GONERIL 
FTLN 0881305 Never afflict yourself to know more of it,
FTLN 0882 But let his disposition have that scope
FTLN 0883 As dotage gives it.

Enter Lear and the Fool.

LEAR 
FTLN 0884 What, fifty of my followers at a clap?
FTLN 0885 Within a fortnight?
ALBANY  FTLN 0886310 What’s the matter, sir?
LEAR 
FTLN 0887 I’ll tell thee.  To Goneril. Life and death! I am
FTLN 0888 ashamed
FTLN 0889 That thou hast power to shake my manhood thus,
FTLN 0890 That these hot tears, which break from me perforce,
FTLN 0891315 Should make thee worth them. Blasts and fogs upon
FTLN 0892 thee!
FTLN 0893 Th’ untented woundings of a father’s curse
FTLN 0894 Pierce every sense about thee! Old fond eyes,
FTLN 0895 Beweep this cause again, I’ll pluck you out

---

FTLN 0896320 And cast you, with the waters that you loose,
FTLN 0897 To temper clay. Yea, is ’t come to this?
FTLN 0898 Ha! Let it be so. I have another daughter
FTLN 0899 Who, I am sure, is kind and comfortable.
FTLN 0900 When she shall hear this of thee, with her nails
FTLN 0901325 She’ll flay thy wolvish visage. Thou shalt find
FTLN 0902 That I’ll resume the shape which thou dost think
FTLN 0903 I have cast off forever. He exits.
GONERIL  FTLN 0904 Do you mark that?
ALBANY 
FTLN 0905 I cannot be so partial, Goneril,
FTLN 0906330 To the great love I bear you—
GONERIL  FTLN 0907Pray you, content.—What, Oswald, ho!—
FTLN 0908 You, sir, more knave than Fool, after your master.
FOOL  FTLN 0909Nuncle Lear, Nuncle Lear, tarry. Take the Fool
FTLN 0910 with thee.
FTLN 0911335 A fox, when one has caught her,
FTLN 0912 And such a daughter,
FTLN 0913 Should sure to the slaughter,
FTLN 0914 If my cap would buy a halter.
FTLN 0915 So the Fool follows after. He exits.
GONERIL 
FTLN 0916340 This man hath had good counsel. A hundred
FTLN 0917 knights!
FTLN 0918 ’Tis politic and safe to let him keep
FTLN 0919 At point a hundred knights! Yes, that on every
FTLN 0920 dream,
FTLN 0921345 Each buzz, each fancy, each complaint, dislike,
FTLN 0922 He may enguard his dotage with their powers
FTLN 0923 And hold our lives in mercy.—Oswald, I say!
ALBANY  FTLN 0924Well, you may fear too far.
GONERIL  FTLN 0925Safer than trust too far.
FTLN 0926350 Let me still take away the harms I fear,
FTLN 0927 Not fear still to be taken. I know his heart.
FTLN 0928 What he hath uttered I have writ my sister.
FTLN 0929 If she sustain him and his hundred knights
FTLN 0930 When I have showed th’ unfitness—

---

Enter Oswald, the Steward.

FTLN 0931355 How now, Oswald?
FTLN 0932 What, have you writ that letter to my sister?
OSWALD  FTLN 0933Ay, madam.
GONERIL 
FTLN 0934 Take you some company and away to horse.
FTLN 0935 Inform her full of my particular fear,
FTLN 0936360 And thereto add such reasons of your own
FTLN 0937 As may compact it more. Get you gone,
FTLN 0938 And hasten your return.  Oswald exits. No, no, my
FTLN 0939 lord,
FTLN 0940 This milky gentleness and course of yours,
FTLN 0941365 Though I condemn not, yet, under pardon,
FTLN 0942 You are much more at task for want of wisdom
FTLN 0943 Than praised for harmful mildness.
ALBANY 
FTLN 0944 How far your eyes may pierce I cannot tell.
FTLN 0945 Striving to better, oft we mar what’s well.
GONERIL  FTLN 0946370Nay, then—
ALBANY  FTLN 0947Well, well, th’ event.
They exit.

Enter Lear, Kent in disguise, Gentleman, and Fool.

LEAR , to Kent  FTLN 0948Go you before to Gloucester with these
FTLN 0949 letters. Acquaint my daughter no further with anything
FTLN 0950 you know than comes from her demand out of
FTLN 0951 the letter. If your diligence be not speedy, I shall be
FTLN 09525 there afore you.
KENT  FTLN 0953I will not sleep, my lord, till I have delivered
FTLN 0954 your letter. He exits.
FOOL  FTLN 0955If a man’s brains were in ’s heels, were ’t not in
FTLN 0956 danger of kibes?
LEAR  FTLN 095710Ay, boy.

---

FOOL  FTLN 0958Then, I prithee, be merry; thy wit shall not go
FTLN 0959 slipshod.
LEAR  FTLN 0960Ha, ha, ha!
FOOL  FTLN 0961Shalt see thy other daughter will use thee kindly,
FTLN 096215 for, though she’s as like this as a crab’s like an
FTLN 0963 apple, yet I can tell what I can tell.
LEAR  FTLN 0964What canst tell, boy?
FOOL  FTLN 0965She will taste as like this as a crab does to a crab.
FTLN 0966 Thou canst tell why one’s nose stands i’ th’ middle
FTLN 096720 on ’s face?
LEAR  FTLN 0968No.
FOOL  FTLN 0969Why, to keep one’s eyes of either side ’s nose,
FTLN 0970 that what a man cannot smell out he may spy into.
LEAR  FTLN 0971I did her wrong.
FOOL  FTLN 097225Canst tell how an oyster makes his shell?
LEAR  FTLN 0973No.
FOOL  FTLN 0974Nor I neither. But I can tell why a snail has a
FTLN 0975 house.
LEAR  FTLN 0976Why?
FOOL  FTLN 097730Why, to put ’s head in, not to give it away to his
FTLN 0978 daughters and leave his horns without a case.
LEAR  FTLN 0979I will forget my nature. So kind a father!—Be
FTLN 0980 my horses ready? Gentleman exits.
FOOL  FTLN 0981Thy asses are gone about ’em. The reason why
FTLN 098235 the seven stars are no more than seven is a pretty
FTLN 0983 reason.
LEAR  FTLN 0984Because they are not eight.
FOOL  FTLN 0985Yes, indeed. Thou wouldst make a good Fool.
LEAR  FTLN 0986To take ’t again perforce! Monster ingratitude!
FOOL  FTLN 098740If thou wert my Fool, nuncle, I’d have thee
FTLN 0988 beaten for being old before thy time.
LEAR  FTLN 0989How’s that?
FOOL  FTLN 0990Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst
FTLN 0991 been wise.
LEAR 
FTLN 099245 O, let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven!
FTLN 0993 Keep me in temper. I would not be mad!

---

Enter Gentleman.

FTLN 0994 How now, are the horses ready?
GENTLEMAN  FTLN 0995Ready, my lord.
LEAR  FTLN 0996Come, boy.
FOOL 
FTLN 099750 She that’s a maid now and laughs at my departure,
FTLN 0998 Shall not be a maid long, unless things be cut
FTLN 0999 shorter.
They exit.

Enter Edmund, the Bastard and Curan, severally.

EDMUND  FTLN 1000Save thee, Curan.
CURAN  FTLN 1001And you, sir. I have been with your father and
FTLN 1002 given him notice that the Duke of Cornwall and
FTLN 1003 Regan his duchess will be here with him this night.
EDMUND  FTLN 10045How comes that?
CURAN  FTLN 1005Nay, I know not. You have heard of the news
FTLN 1006 abroad—I mean the whispered ones, for they are
FTLN 1007 yet but ear-kissing arguments.
EDMUND  FTLN 1008Not I. Pray you, what are they?
CURAN  FTLN 100910Have you heard of no likely wars toward ’twixt
FTLN 1010 the dukes of Cornwall and Albany?
EDMUND  FTLN 1011Not a word.
CURAN  FTLN 1012You may do, then, in time. Fare you well, sir.
He exits.
EDMUND 
FTLN 1013 The Duke be here tonight? The better, best.
FTLN 101415 This weaves itself perforce into my business.
FTLN 1015 My father hath set guard to take my brother,
FTLN 1016 And I have one thing of a queasy question
FTLN 1017 Which I must act. Briefness and fortune work!—
FTLN 1018 Brother, a word. Descend. Brother, I say!

Enter Edgar.

FTLN 101920 My father watches. O sir, fly this place!

---

FTLN 1020 Intelligence is given where you are hid.
FTLN 1021 You have now the good advantage of the night.
FTLN 1022 Have you not spoken ’gainst the Duke of Cornwall?
FTLN 1023 He’s coming hither, now, i’ th’ night, i’ th’ haste,
FTLN 102425 And Regan with him. Have you nothing said
FTLN 1025 Upon his party ’gainst the Duke of Albany?
FTLN 1026 Advise yourself.
EDGAR  FTLN 1027 I am sure on ’t, not a word.
EDMUND 
FTLN 1028 I hear my father coming. Pardon me.
FTLN 102930 In cunning I must draw my sword upon you.
FTLN 1030 Draw. Seem to defend yourself. Now, quit you
FTLN 1031 well. They draw.
FTLN 1032 Yield! Come before my father! Light, hoa, here!
FTLN 1033  Aside to Edgar. Fly, brother.—Torches, torches!
FTLN 103435 —So, farewell. Edgar exits.
FTLN 1035 Some blood drawn on me would beget opinion
FTLN 1036 Of my more fierce endeavor. I have seen drunkards
FTLN 1037 Do more than this in sport. He wounds his arm.
FTLN 1038 Father, father!
FTLN 103940 Stop, stop! No help?

Enter Gloucester, and Servants with torches.

GLOUCESTER  FTLN 1040 Now, Edmund, where’s the
FTLN 1041 villain?
EDMUND 
FTLN 1042 Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword out,
FTLN 1043 Mumbling of wicked charms, conjuring the moon
FTLN 104445 To stand auspicious mistress.
GLOUCESTER  FTLN 1045 But where is he?
EDMUND 
FTLN 1046 Look, sir, I bleed
GLOUCESTER  FTLN 1047 Where is the villain,
FTLN 1048 Edmund?
EDMUND 
FTLN 104950 Fled this way, sir, when by no means he could—

---

GLOUCESTER 
FTLN 1050 Pursue him, ho! Go after.  Servants exit. By no
FTLN 1051 means what?
EDMUND 
FTLN 1052 Persuade me to the murder of your Lordship,
FTLN 1053 But that I told him the revenging gods
FTLN 105455 ’Gainst parricides did all the thunder bend,
FTLN 1055 Spoke with how manifold and strong a bond
FTLN 1056 The child was bound to th’ father—sir, in fine,
FTLN 1057 Seeing how loathly opposite I stood
FTLN 1058 To his unnatural purpose, in fell motion
FTLN 105960 With his preparèd sword he charges home
FTLN 1060 My unprovided body, lanced mine arm;
FTLN 1061 And when he saw my best alarumed spirits,
FTLN 1062 Bold in the quarrel’s right, roused to th’ encounter,
FTLN 1063 Or whether ghasted by the noise I made,
FTLN 106465 Full suddenly he fled.
GLOUCESTER  FTLN 1065 Let him fly far!
FTLN 1066 Not in this land shall he remain uncaught,
FTLN 1067 And found—dispatch. The noble duke my master,
FTLN 1068 My worthy arch and patron, comes tonight.
FTLN 106970 By his authority I will proclaim it
FTLN 1070 That he which finds him shall deserve our thanks,
FTLN 1071 Bringing the murderous coward to the stake;
FTLN 1072 He that conceals him, death.
EDMUND 
FTLN 1073 When I dissuaded him from his intent
FTLN 107475 And found him pight to do it, with curst speech
FTLN 1075 I threatened to discover him. He replied
FTLN 1076 “Thou unpossessing bastard, dost thou think
FTLN 1077 If I would stand against thee, would the reposal
FTLN 1078 Of any trust, virtue, or worth in thee
FTLN 107980 Make thy words faithed? No. What I should
FTLN 1080 deny—
FTLN 1081 As this I would, though thou didst produce

---

FTLN 1082 My very character—I’d turn it all
FTLN 1083 To thy suggestion, plot, and damnèd practice.
FTLN 108485 And thou must make a dullard of the world
FTLN 1085 If they not thought the profits of my death
FTLN 1086 Were very pregnant and potential spirits
FTLN 1087 To make thee seek it.”
GLOUCESTER  FTLN 1088 O strange and fastened villain!
FTLN 108990 Would he deny his letter, said he?
FTLN 1090 I never got him. Tucket within.
FTLN 1091 Hark, the Duke’s trumpets. I know not why he
FTLN 1092 comes.
FTLN 1093 All ports I’ll bar. The villain shall not ’scape.
FTLN 109495 The Duke must grant me that. Besides, his picture
FTLN 1095 I will send far and near, that all the kingdom
FTLN 1096 May have due note of him. And of my land,
FTLN 1097 Loyal and natural boy, I’ll work the means
FTLN 1098 To make thee capable.

Enter Cornwall, Regan, and Attendants.

CORNWALL 
FTLN 1099100 How now, my noble friend? Since I came hither,
FTLN 1100 Which I can call but now, I have heard strange
FTLN 1101 news.
REGAN 
FTLN 1102 If it be true, all vengeance comes too short
FTLN 1103 Which can pursue th’ offender. How dost, my
FTLN 1104105 lord?
GLOUCESTER 
FTLN 1105 O madam, my old heart is cracked; it’s cracked.
REGAN 
FTLN 1106 What, did my father’s godson seek your life?
FTLN 1107 He whom my father named, your Edgar?
GLOUCESTER 
FTLN 1108 O lady, lady, shame would have it hid!
REGAN 
FTLN 1109110 Was he not companion with the riotous knights
FTLN 1110 That tended upon my father?

---

GLOUCESTER 
FTLN 1111 I know not, madam. ’Tis too bad, too bad.
EDMUND 
FTLN 1112 Yes, madam, he was of that consort.
REGAN 
FTLN 1113 No marvel, then, though he were ill affected.
FTLN 1114115 ’Tis they have put him on the old man’s death,
FTLN 1115 To have th’ expense and waste of his revenues.
FTLN 1116 I have this present evening from my sister
FTLN 1117 Been well informed of them, and with such cautions
FTLN 1118 That if they come to sojourn at my house
FTLN 1119120 I’ll not be there.
CORNWALL  FTLN 1120 Nor I, assure thee, Regan.—
FTLN 1121 Edmund, I hear that you have shown your father
FTLN 1122 A childlike office.
EDMUND  FTLN 1123 It was my duty, sir.
GLOUCESTER 
FTLN 1124125 He did bewray his practice, and received
FTLN 1125 This hurt you see striving to apprehend him.
CORNWALL  FTLN 1126Is he pursued?
GLOUCESTER  FTLN 1127Ay, my good lord.
CORNWALL 
FTLN 1128 If he be taken, he shall never more
FTLN 1129130 Be feared of doing harm. Make your own purpose,
FTLN 1130 How in my strength you please.—For you, Edmund,
FTLN 1131 Whose virtue and obedience doth this instant
FTLN 1132 So much commend itself, you shall be ours.
FTLN 1133 Natures of such deep trust we shall much need.
FTLN 1134135 You we first seize on.
EDMUND  FTLN 1135 I shall serve you, sir,
FTLN 1136 Truly, however else.
GLOUCESTER  FTLN 1137For him I thank your Grace.
CORNWALL 
FTLN 1138 You know not why we came to visit you—
REGAN 
FTLN 1139140 Thus out of season, threading dark-eyed night.

---

FTLN 1140 Occasions, noble Gloucester, of some poise,
FTLN 1141 Wherein we must have use of your advice.
FTLN 1142 Our father he hath writ, so hath our sister,
FTLN 1143 Of differences, which I best thought it fit
FTLN 1144145 To answer from our home. The several messengers
FTLN 1145 From hence attend dispatch. Our good old friend,
FTLN 1146 Lay comforts to your bosom and bestow
FTLN 1147 Your needful counsel to our businesses,
FTLN 1148 Which craves the instant use.
GLOUCESTER  FTLN 1149150 I serve you, madam.
FTLN 1150 Your Graces are right welcome.
Flourish. They exit.

Enter Kent in disguise and Oswald, the Steward,
severally.

OSWALD  FTLN 1151Good dawning to thee, friend. Art of this
FTLN 1152 house?
KENT  FTLN 1153Ay.
OSWALD  FTLN 1154Where may we set our horses?
KENT  FTLN 11555I’ th’ mire.
OSWALD  FTLN 1156Prithee, if thou lov’st me, tell me.
KENT  FTLN 1157I love thee not.
OSWALD  FTLN 1158Why then, I care not for thee.
KENT  FTLN 1159If I had thee in Lipsbury pinfold, I would make
FTLN 116010 thee care for me.
OSWALD  FTLN 1161Why dost thou use me thus? I know thee not.
KENT  FTLN 1162Fellow, I know thee.
OSWALD  FTLN 1163What dost thou know me for?
KENT  FTLN 1164A knave, a rascal, an eater of broken meats; a
FTLN 116515 base, proud, shallow, beggarly, three-suited, hundred-pound,
FTLN 1166 filthy worsted-stocking knave; a lily-livered,
FTLN 1167 action-taking, whoreson, glass-gazing, superserviceable,
FTLN 1168 finical rogue; one-trunk-inheriting

---

FTLN 1169 slave; one that wouldst be a bawd in way of good
FTLN 117020 service, and art nothing but the composition of a
FTLN 1171 knave, beggar, coward, pander, and the son and heir
FTLN 1172 of a mongrel bitch; one whom I will beat into
FTLN 1173 clamorous whining if thou deny’st the least syllable
FTLN 1174 of thy addition.
OSWALD  FTLN 117525Why, what a monstrous fellow art thou thus
FTLN 1176 to rail on one that is neither known of thee nor
FTLN 1177 knows thee!
KENT  FTLN 1178What a brazen-faced varlet art thou to deny thou
FTLN 1179 knowest me! Is it two days ago since I tripped up
FTLN 118030 thy heels and beat thee before the King?  He draws
 his sword.  FTLN 1181Draw, you rogue, for though it be night,
FTLN 1182 yet the moon shines. I’ll make a sop o’ th’ moonshine
FTLN 1183 of you, you whoreson, cullionly barbermonger.
FTLN 1184 Draw!
OSWALD  FTLN 118535Away! I have nothing to do with thee.
KENT  FTLN 1186Draw, you rascal! You come with letters against
FTLN 1187 the King and take Vanity the puppet’s part against
FTLN 1188 the royalty of her father. Draw, you rogue, or I’ll so
FTLN 1189 carbonado your shanks! Draw, you rascal! Come
FTLN 119040 your ways.
OSWALD  FTLN 1191Help, ho! Murder! Help!
KENT  FTLN 1192Strike, you slave! Stand, rogue! Stand, you neat
FTLN 1193 slave! Strike! He beats Oswald.
OSWALD  FTLN 1194Help, ho! Murder, murder!

Enter Bastard Edmund, with his rapier drawn,
Cornwall, Regan, Gloucester, Servants.

EDMUND  FTLN 119545How now, what’s the matter? Part!
KENT  FTLN 1196With you, goodman boy, if you please. Come, I’ll
FTLN 1197 flesh you. Come on, young master.
GLOUCESTER 
FTLN 1198 Weapons? Arms? What’s the matter here?
CORNWALL  FTLN 1199Keep peace, upon your lives! He dies that
FTLN 120050 strikes again. What is the matter?

---

REGAN 
FTLN 1201 The messengers from our sister and the King.
CORNWALL  FTLN 1202What is your difference? Speak.
OSWALD  FTLN 1203I am scarce in breath, my lord.
KENT  FTLN 1204No marvel, you have so bestirred your valor.
FTLN 120555 You cowardly rascal, nature disclaims in thee; a
FTLN 1206 tailor made thee.
CORNWALL  FTLN 1207Thou art a strange fellow. A tailor make a
FTLN 1208 man?
KENT  FTLN 1209A tailor, sir. A stonecutter or a painter could not
FTLN 121060 have made him so ill, though they had been but two
FTLN 1211 years o’ th’ trade.
CORNWALL  FTLN 1212Speak yet, how grew your quarrel?
OSWALD  FTLN 1213This ancient ruffian, sir, whose life I have
FTLN 1214 spared at suit of his gray beard—
KENT  FTLN 121565Thou whoreson zed, thou unnecessary letter!
FTLN 1216 —My lord, if you will give me leave, I will tread
FTLN 1217 this unbolted villain into mortar and daub the wall
FTLN 1218 of a jakes with him.—Spare my gray beard, you
FTLN 1219 wagtail?
CORNWALL  FTLN 122070Peace, sirrah!
FTLN 1221 You beastly knave, know you no reverence?
KENT 
FTLN 1222 Yes, sir, but anger hath a privilege.
CORNWALL  FTLN 1223Why art thou angry?
KENT 
FTLN 1224 That such a slave as this should wear a sword,
FTLN 122575 Who wears no honesty. Such smiling rogues as
FTLN 1226 these,
FTLN 1227 Like rats, oft bite the holy cords atwain
FTLN 1228 Which are too intrinse t’ unloose; smooth every
FTLN 1229 passion
FTLN 123080 That in the natures of their lords rebel,
FTLN 1231 Being oil to fire, snow to the colder moods,
FTLN 1232 Renege, affirm, and turn their halcyon beaks
FTLN 1233 With every gale and vary of their masters,

---

FTLN 1234 Knowing naught, like dogs, but following.—
FTLN 123585 A plague upon your epileptic visage!
FTLN 1236 Smile you my speeches, as I were a fool?
FTLN 1237 Goose, if I had you upon Sarum plain,
FTLN 1238 I’d drive you cackling home to Camelot.
CORNWALL  FTLN 1239What, art thou mad, old fellow?
GLOUCESTER  FTLN 124090How fell you out? Say that.
KENT 
FTLN 1241 No contraries hold more antipathy
FTLN 1242 Than I and such a knave.
CORNWALL 
FTLN 1243 Why dost thou call him “knave”? What is his fault?
KENT  FTLN 1244His countenance likes me not.
CORNWALL 
FTLN 124595 No more, perchance, does mine, nor his, nor hers.
KENT 
FTLN 1246 Sir, ’tis my occupation to be plain:
FTLN 1247 I have seen better faces in my time
FTLN 1248 Than stands on any shoulder that I see
FTLN 1249 Before me at this instant.
CORNWALL  FTLN 1250100 This is some fellow
FTLN 1251 Who, having been praised for bluntness, doth affect
FTLN 1252 A saucy roughness and constrains the garb
FTLN 1253 Quite from his nature. He cannot flatter, he.
FTLN 1254 An honest mind and plain, he must speak truth!
FTLN 1255105 An they will take it, so; if not, he’s plain.
FTLN 1256 These kind of knaves I know, which in this
FTLN 1257 plainness
FTLN 1258 Harbor more craft and more corrupter ends
FTLN 1259 Than twenty silly-ducking observants
FTLN 1260110 That stretch their duties nicely.
KENT 
FTLN 1261 Sir, in good faith, in sincere verity,
FTLN 1262 Under th’ allowance of your great aspect,
FTLN 1263 Whose influence, like the wreath of radiant fire
FTLN 1264 On flick’ring Phoebus’ front—

---

CORNWALL  FTLN 1265115 What mean’st by this?
KENT  FTLN 1266To go out of my dialect, which you discommend
FTLN 1267 so much. I know, sir, I am no flatterer. He that
FTLN 1268 beguiled you in a plain accent was a plain knave,
FTLN 1269 which for my part I will not be, though I should
FTLN 1270120 win your displeasure to entreat me to ’t.
CORNWALL , to Oswald  FTLN 1271What was th’ offense you gave
FTLN 1272 him?
OSWALD  FTLN 1273I never gave him any.
FTLN 1274 It pleased the King his master very late
FTLN 1275125 To strike at me, upon his misconstruction;
FTLN 1276 When he, compact, and flattering his displeasure,
FTLN 1277 Tripped me behind; being down, insulted, railed,
FTLN 1278 And put upon him such a deal of man
FTLN 1279 That worthied him, got praises of the King
FTLN 1280130 For him attempting who was self-subdued;
FTLN 1281 And in the fleshment of this dread exploit,
FTLN 1282 Drew on me here again.
KENT  FTLN 1283None of these rogues and cowards
FTLN 1284 But Ajax is their fool.
CORNWALL  FTLN 1285135 Fetch forth the stocks.—
FTLN 1286 You stubborn ancient knave, you reverent braggart,
FTLN 1287 We’ll teach you.
KENT  FTLN 1288 Sir, I am too old to learn.
FTLN 1289 Call not your stocks for me. I serve the King,
FTLN 1290140 On whose employment I was sent to you.
FTLN 1291 You shall do small respect, show too bold
FTLN 1292 malice
FTLN 1293 Against the grace and person of my master,
FTLN 1294 Stocking his messenger.
CORNWALL 
FTLN 1295145 Fetch forth the stocks.—As I have life and honor,
FTLN 1296 There shall he sit till noon.
REGAN 
FTLN 1297 Till noon? Till night, my lord, and all night, too.

---

KENT 
FTLN 1298 Why, madam, if I were your father’s dog,
FTLN 1299 You should not use me so.
REGAN  FTLN 1300150Sir, being his knave, I will.
CORNWALL 
FTLN 1301 This is a fellow of the selfsame color
FTLN 1302 Our sister speaks of.—Come, bring away the stocks.
Stocks brought out.
GLOUCESTER 
FTLN 1303 Let me beseech your Grace not to do so.
FTLN 1304 His fault is much, and the good king his master
FTLN 1305155 Will check him for ’t. Your purposed low correction
FTLN 1306 Is such as basest and contemned’st wretches
FTLN 1307 For pilf’rings and most common trespasses
FTLN 1308 Are punished with. The King must take it ill
FTLN 1309 That he, so slightly valued in his messenger,
FTLN 1310160 Should have him thus restrained.
CORNWALL  FTLN 1311 I’ll answer that.
REGAN 
FTLN 1312 My sister may receive it much more worse
FTLN 1313 To have her gentleman abused, assaulted
FTLN 1314 For following her affairs.—Put in his legs.
Kent is put in the stocks.
CORNWALL  FTLN 1315165Come, my good lord, away.
All but Gloucester and Kent exit.
GLOUCESTER 
FTLN 1316 I am sorry for thee, friend. ’Tis the Duke’s
FTLN 1317 pleasure,
FTLN 1318 Whose disposition all the world well knows
FTLN 1319 Will not be rubbed nor stopped. I’ll entreat for thee.
KENT 
FTLN 1320170 Pray, do not, sir. I have watched and traveled hard.
FTLN 1321 Some time I shall sleep out; the rest I’ll whistle.
FTLN 1322 A good man’s fortune may grow out at heels.
FTLN 1323 Give you good morrow.

---

GLOUCESTER 
FTLN 1324 The Duke’s to blame in this. ’Twill be ill taken.
He exits.
KENT 
FTLN 1325175 Good king, that must approve the common saw,
FTLN 1326 Thou out of heaven’s benediction com’st
FTLN 1327 To the warm sun. He takes out a paper.
FTLN 1328 Approach, thou beacon to this under globe,
FTLN 1329 That by thy comfortable beams I may
FTLN 1330180 Peruse this letter. Nothing almost sees miracles
FTLN 1331 But misery. I know ’tis from Cordelia,
FTLN 1332 Who hath most fortunately been informed
FTLN 1333 Of my obscurèd course, and shall find time
FTLN 1334 From this enormous state, seeking to give
FTLN 1335185 Losses their remedies. All weary and o’erwatched,
FTLN 1336 Take vantage, heavy eyes, not to behold
FTLN 1337 This shameful lodging.
FTLN 1338 Fortune, good night. Smile once more; turn thy
FTLN 1339 wheel.
Sleeps.