William Shakespeare - The Complete Works

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KING LEAR [THE FOLIO TEXT] Act 1 Scene 4 (Enter the Earl of Kent, disguised) l1l Kent If but as well I other accents borrow l2l That can my speech diffuse, my good intent l3l May carry through itself to that full issue l4l For which I razed my likeness. Now, banished Kent, l5l If thou canst serve where thou dost stand condemned, l6l So may it come thy master, whom thou lovÆst, l7l Shall find thee full of labours. (Horns within. Enter King Lear and attendants from hunting) l8l Lear Let me not stay a jot for dinner. Go get it ready. (Exit one) l9l (To Kent) How now, what art thou? l10l Kent A man, sir. l11l Lear What dost thou profess? What wouldst thou with l12l us? l13l Kent I do profess to be no less than I seem, to serve him l14l truly that will put me in trust, to love him that is l15l honest, to converse with him that is wise and says l16l little, to fear judgement, to fight when I cannot choose, l17l and to eat no fish. l18l Lear What art thou? l19l Kent A very honest-hearted fellow, and as poor as the l20l King. l21l Lear If thou beÆst as poor for a subject as heÆs for a king, l22l thouÆrt poor enough. What wouldst thou? l23l Kent Service. l24l Lear Who wouldst thou serve? l25l Kent You. l26l Lear Dost thou know me, fellow? l27l Kent No, sir, but you have that in your countenance l28l which I would fain call master. l29l Lear WhatÆs that? l30l Kent Authority. l31l Lear What services canst do? l32l Kent I can keep honest counsel, ride, run, mar a curious l33l tale in telling it, and deliver a plain message bluntly. l34l That which ordinary men are fit for I am qualified in# l35l and the best of me is diligence. l36l Lear How old art thou? l37l Kent Not so young, sir, to love a woman for singing, nor l38l so old to dote on her for anything. I have years on my l39l back forty-eight. l40l Lear Follow me. Thou shalt serve me, if I like thee no l41l worse after dinner. I will not part from thee yet. Dinner, l42l ho, dinner! WhereÆs my knave, my fool? Go you and l43l call my fool hither. (Exit one) (Enter Oswald the steward) l44l You, you, sirrah, whereÆs my daughter? l45l Oswald So please youù (Exit) l46l Lear What says the fellow there? Call the clotpoll back. (Exit a knight) l47l WhereÆs my fool? Ho, I think the worldÆs asleep. (Enter a knight) l48l How now? WhereÆs that mongrel? l49l Knight He says, my lord, your daughter is not well. l50l Lear Why came not the slave back to me when I called l51l him? l52l Knight Sir, he answered me in the roundest manner he l53l would not. l54l Lear A would not? l55l Knight My lord, I know not what the matter is, but to l56l my judgement your highness is not entertained with l57l that ceremonious affection as you were wont. ThereÆs l58l a great abatement of kindness appears as well in the l59l general dependants as in the Duke himself also, and l60l your daughter. l61l Lear Ha, sayst thou so? l62l Knight I beseech you pardon me, my lord, if I be l63l mistaken, for my duty cannot be silent when I think l64l your highness wronged. l65l Lear Thou but rememberest me of mine own conception. l66l I have perceived a most faint neglect of late, which I l67l have rather blamed as mine own jealous curiosity than l68l as a very pretence and purpose of unkindness. I will l69l look further into Æt. But whereÆs my fool? I have not l70l seen him these two days. l71l Knight Since my young ladyÆs going into France, sir, the l72l fool hath much pined away. l73l Lear No more of that, I have noted it well. Go you and l74l tell my daughter I would speak with her. (Exit one) l75l Go you, call hither my fool. (Exit one) (Enter Oswald the steward crossing the stage) l76l O you, sir, you, come you hither, sir, who am I, sir? l77l Oswald My ladyÆs father. l78l Lear My ladyÆs father? My lordÆs knave, you whoreson l79l dog, you slave, you cur! l80l Oswald I am none of these, my lord, I beseech your l81l pardon. l82l Lear Do you bandy looks with me, you rascal? (Lear strikes him) l83l Oswald IÆll not be strucken, my lord. l84l Kent (tripping him) Nor tripped neither, you base football l85l player. l86l Lear (to Kent) I thank thee, fellow. Thou servÆst me, and l87l IÆll love thee. l88l Kent (to Oswald) Come, sir, arise, away. IÆll teach you l89l differences. Away, away. If you will measure your l90l lubberÆs length again, tarry# but away, go to. Have l91l you wisdom? So. (Exit Oswald) l92l Lear Now, my friendly knave, I thank thee. (Enter Lear's Fool) l93l ThereÆs earnest of thy service. (He gives Kent money) l94l Fool Let me hire him, too. (To Kent) HereÆs my coxcomb. l95l Lear How now, my pretty knave, how dost thou? l96l Fool (to Kent) Sirrah, you were best take my coxcomb. l97l Lear Why, my boy? l98l Fool Why? For taking oneÆs part thatÆs out of favour. (To l99l Kent) Nay, an thou canst not smile as the wind sits, l100l thouÆlt catch cold shortly. There, take my coxcomb. l101l Why, this fellow has banished two on Æs daughters and l102l did the third a blessing against his will. If thou follow l103l him, thou must needs wear my coxcomb. (To Lear) l104l How now, nuncle? Would I had two coxcombs and l105l two daughters. l106l Lear Why, my boy? l107l Fool If I gave them all my living IÆd keep my coxcombs l108l myself. ThereÆs mine; beg another off thy daughters. l109l Lear Take heed, sirrahùthe whip. l110l Fool TruthÆs a dog must to kennel. He must be whipped l111l out when the Lady Brach may stand by thÆ fire and l112l stink. l113l Lear A pestilent gall to me! l114l Fool (to Kent) Sirrah, IÆll teach thee a speech. l115l Lear Do. l116l Fool Mark it, nuncle: l117l Have more than thou showest, l118l Speak less than thou knowest, l119l Lend less than thou owest, l120l Ride more than thou goest, l121l Learn more than thou trowest, l122l Set less than thou throwest, l123l Leave thy drink and thy whore, l124l And keep in-a-door, l125l And thou shalt have more l126l Than two tens to a score. l127l Kent This is nothing, fool. l128l Fool Then Ætis like the breath of an unfeeÆd lawyer: you l129l gave me nothing for Æt. (To Lear) Can you make no use l130l of nothing, nuncle? l131l Lear Why no, boy. Nothing can be made out of nothing. l132l Fool (to Kent) Prithee, tell him so much the rent of his l133l land comes to. He will not believe a fool. l134l Lear A bitter fool. l135l Fool Dost know the difference, my boy, between a bitter l136l fool and a sweet one? l137l Lear No, lad. Teach me. l138l Fool Nuncle, give me an egg, and IÆll give thee two l139l crowns. l140l Lear What two crowns shall they be? l141l Fool Why, after I have cut the egg iÆ thÆ middle and eat l142l up the meat, the two crowns of the egg. When thou l143l clovest thy crown iÆ thÆ middle and gavest away both l144l parts, thou borest thine ass oÆ thÆ back oÆer the dirt. l145l Thou hadst little wit in thy bald crown when thou l146l gavest thy golden one away. If I speak like myself in l147l this, let him be whipped that first finds it so. l148l (Sings) Fools had neÆer less grace in a year, l149l For wise men are grown foppish, l150l And know not how their wits to wear, l151l Their manners are so apish. l152l Lear When were you wont to be so full of songs, sirrah? l153l Fool I have used it, nuncle, eÆer since thou madest thy l154l daughters thy mothers; for when thou gavest them the l155l rod and puttest down thine own breeches, l156l (Sings) Then they for sudden joy did weep, l157l And I for sorrow sung, l158l That such a king should play bo-peep l159l And go the fools among. l160l Prithee, nuncle, keep a schoolmaster that can teach l161l thy fool to lie. I would fain learn to lie. l162l Lear An you lie, sirrah, weÆll have you whipped. l163l Fool I marvel what kin thou and thy daughters are. l164l TheyÆll have me whipped for speaking true, thouÆlt l165l have me whipped for lying, and sometimes I am l166l whipped for holding my peace. I had rather be any l167l kind oÆ thing than a fool; and yet I would not be thee, l168l nuncle. Thou hast pared thy wit oÆ both sides and left l169l nothing iÆ thÆ middle. (Enter Goneril) l170l Here comes one oÆ the parings. l171l Lear How now, daughter? What makes that frontlet on? l172l You are too much of late iÆ thÆ frown. l173l Fool Thou wast a pretty fellow when thou hadst no need l174l to care for her frowning. Now thou art an 0 without l175l a figure. I am better than thou art, now. I am a fool; l176l thou art nothing. (To Goneril) Yes, forsooth, I will hold l177l my tongue; so your face bids me, though you say l178l nothing. l179l (Sings) Mum, mum. l180l He that keeps nor crust nor crumb, l181l Weary of all, shall want some. l182l ThatÆs a shelled peascod. l183l Goneril (to Lear) Not only, sir, this your all-licensed fool, l184l But other of your insolent retinue l185l Do hourly carp and quarrel, breaking forth l186l In rank and not-to-be-endurΦd riots. Sir, l187l I had thought by making this well known unto you l188l To have found a safe redress, but now grow fearful, l189l By what yourself too late have spoke and done, l190l That you protect this course, and put it on l191l By your allowance; which if you should, the fault l192l Would not scape censure, nor the redresses sleep l193l Which in the tender of a wholesome weal l194l Might in their working do you that offence, l195l Which else were shame, that then necessity l196l Will call discreet proceeding. l197l Fool (to Lear) For, you know, nuncle, l198l (Sings) The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so long l199l That itÆs had it head bit off by it young; l200l so out went the candle, and we were left darkling. l201l Lear (to Goneril) Are you our daughter? l202l Goneril I would you would make use of your good wisdom, l203l Whereof I know you are fraught, and put away l204l These dispositions which of late transport you l205l From what you rightly are. l206l Fool May not an ass know when the cart draws the l207l horse? (Sings) ôWhoop, jug, I love thee!ö l208l Lear Does any here know me? This is not Lear. l209l Does Lear walk thus, speak thus? Where are his eyes? l210l Either his notion weakens, his discernings l211l Are lethargiedùha, waking? ÆTis not so. l212l Who is it that can tell me who I am? l213l Fool LearÆs shadow. l214l Lear (to Goneril) Your name, fair gentlewoman? l215l Goneril This admiration, sir, is much oÆ thÆ savour l216l Of other your new pranks. I do beseech you l217l To understand my purposes aright, l218l As you are old and reverend, should be wise. l219l Here do you keep a hundred knights and squires, l220l Men so disordered, so debauched and bold l221l That this our court, infected with their manners, l222l Shows like a riotous inn. Epicurism and lust l223l Makes it more like a tavern or a brothel l224l Than a graced palace. The shame itself doth speak l225l For instant remedy. Be then desired, l226l By her that else will take the thing she begs, l227l A little to disquantity your train, l228l And the remainders that shall still depend l229l To be such men as may besort your age, l230l Which know themselves and you. Lear Darkness and devils! l231l Saddle my horses, call my train together!ù (Exit one or more) l232l Degenerate bastard, IÆll not trouble thee. l233l Yet have I left a daughter. l234l Goneril You strike my people, and your disordered rabble l235l Make servants of their betters. (Enter the Duke of Albany) Lear Woe that too late repents! l236l Is it your will? Speak, sir.ùPrepare my horses. (Exit one or more) l237l Ingratitude, thou marble-hearted fiend, l238l More hideous when thou showÆst thee in a child l239l Than the sea-monsterù l240l Albany Pray sir, be patient. l241l Lear (to Goneril) Detested kite, thou liest. l242l My train are men of choice and rarest parts, l243l That all particulars of duty know, l244l And in the most exact regard support l245l The worships of their name. O most small fault, l246l How ugly didst thou in Cordelia show, l247l Which, like an engine, wrenched my frame of nature l248l From the fixed place, drew from my heart all love, l249l And added to the gall! O Lear, Lear, Lear! l250l Beat at this gate that let thy folly in l251l And thy dear judgement out.ùGo, go, my people! l252l Albany My lord, I am guiltless, as I am ignorant l253l Of what hath moved you. Lear It may be so, my lord. l254l Hear, nature; hear, dear goddess, hear: l255l Suspend thy purpose if thou didst intend l256l To make this creature fruitful. l257l Into her womb convey sterility. l258l Dry up in her the organs of increase, l259l And from her derogate body never spring l260l A babe to honour her. If she must teem, l261l Create her child of spleen, that it may live l262l And be a thwart disnatured torment to her. l263l Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth, l264l With cadent tears fret channels in her cheeks, l265l Turn all her motherÆs pains and benefits l266l To laughter and contempt, that she may feelù l267l That she may feel l268l How sharper than a serpentÆs tooth it is l269l To have a thankless child. Away, away! (Exeunt Lear, Kent, and attendants) l270l Albany Now, gods that we adore, whereof comes this? l271l Goneril Never afflict yourself to know more of it, l272l But let his disposition have that scope l273l As dotage gives it. (Enter King Lear) l274l Lear What, fifty of my followers at a clap? l275l Within a fortnight? Albany WhatÆs the matter, sir? l276l Lear IÆll tell thee. (To Goneril) Life and death! I am ashamed l277l That thou hast power to shake my manhood thus, l278l That these hot tears, which break from me perforce, l279l Should make thee worth them. Blasts and fogs upon thee! l280l ThÆ untented woundings of a fatherÆs curse l281l Pierce every sense about thee! Old fond eyes, l282l Beweep this cause again IÆll pluck ye out l283l And cast you, with the waters that you loose, l284l To temper clay. Ha! Let it be so. l285l I have another daughter l286l Who, I am sure, is kind and comfortable. l287l When she shall hear this of thee, with her nails l288l SheÆll flay thy wolvish visage. Thou shalt find l289l That IÆll resume the shape which thou dost think l290l I have cast off for ever. (Exit) Goneril Do you mark that? l291l Albany I cannot be so partial, Goneril, l292l To the great love I bear youù l293l Goneril Pray you, content. What, Oswald, ho!ù l294l You, sir, more knave than fool, after your master. l295l Fool Nuncle Lear, nuncle Lear, l296l Tarry, take the fool with thee. l297l A fox when one has caught her, l298l And such a daughter, l299l Should sure to the slaughter, l300l If my cap would buy a halter. l301l So, the fool follows after. (Exit) l302l Goneril This man hath had good counselùa hundred knights? l303l ÆTis politic and safe to let him keep l304l At point a hundred knights, yes, that on every dream, l305l Each buzz, each fancy, each complaint, dislike, l306l He may enguard his dotage with their powers l307l And hold our lives in mercy.ùOswald, I say! l308l Albany Well, you may fear too far. Goneril Safer than trust too far. l309l Let me still take away the harms I fear, l310l Not fear still to be taken. I know his heart. l311l What he hath uttered I have writ my sister. l312l If she sustain him and his hundred knights l313l When I have showed thÆ unfitnessù (Enter Oswald the steward) How now, Oswald? l314l What, have you writ that letter to my sister? l315l Oswald Ay, madam. l316l Goneril Take you some company, and away to horse. l317l Inform her full of my particular fear, l318l And thereto add such reasons of your own l319l As may compact it more. Get you gone, l320l And hasten your return. (Exit Oswald) No, no, my lord, l321l This milky gentleness and course of yours, l322l Though I condemn not, yet under pardon l323l You are much more attasked for want of wisdom l324l Than praised for harmful mildness. l325l Albany How far your eyes may pierce I cannot tell. l326l Striving to better, oft we mar whatÆs well. l327l Goneril Nay, thenù l328l Albany Well, well, thÆ event. (Exeunt)