1

ordinary Men are fit for, I am qualified in; and the best of me is Diligence.

Lear. Follow me; thou fhalt ferve me.
Enter one of Goneril's Gentlemen.

Now, Sir?

Gent. Sir

[Exit; Kent runs after him. Lear. What fays the Fellow? Call me the Clodpole back. Att. My Lord, I know not; but methinks your Highnefs is entertain'd with flender Ceremony.

Servant. He fays, my Lord, your Daughter is not well. Lear. Why came not the Slave back when I called him?

Serv. My Lord, he anfwered me i'th' furlieft Manner, that he would not.

Re-enter Gentleman brought in by Kent.

Lear. I hope our Daughter did not fo inftruct him. Now, who am I, Sir?

Gent. My Lady's Father. Lear. My Lord's Knave.

Strikes him.

Goneril at the Entrance.
Gon. By Day and Night; this is infufferable,
I will not bear it.

Lear. Now, Daughter, why that Frontlet on ? Speak, does that Frown become our Prefence? Gent. I'll not be ftruck, my Lord.

Kent. Nor tript neither, thou vile Civet-box.
[Strikes up his Heels.
Gon. Sir, this licentious Infolence of your Servants
Is moft unfeemly: hourly they break out

In Quarrels bred; by making this known to you,
I thought to have had Redreis, but find too late
That you protect and countenance their Outrage;
And therefore, Sir, I take this Freedom, which
Neceffity makes difcreet.

Lear. Are you our Daughter?

Gon. Come, Sir, let me intreat you to make ufe
Of y your Difcretion, and put off betimes
This Difpofition that of late transforms you
From what you rightly are,

Lear. Does any here know me? Why, this is not Lear.

Does

Does Lear walk thus ? Speak thus? Where are his Eyes? Who is it that can tell me who I am?

Gon. Come, Sir, this Admiration's much o'th' Savour.
Of other your new Humours; I beseech you'
To understand my Purposes aright;

As you are old, you should be ftaid and wife :
Here do you keep an hundred Knights and Squires,
Men fo debauch'd and bold, that this our Palace
Shews like a riotous Inn, a Tavern, Brothel;
Be then advis'd by her that else will take
That which the begs, to leffen your Attendance,
Take half away, and fee that the Remainder
Be fuch as may befit your Age, and know

Themselves and You.

Lear. Darkness and Devils!

Saddle my Horfes, call my Train together;
Degenerate Viper, I'll not ftay with Thee!
I yet have left a Daughter-Serpent, Monster!
Leffen my Train, and call 'em riotous !
All Men approv'd, of choice and rareft Parts
That each Particular of Duty know.-

How fmall, Cordelia, was thy Fault? O Lear,
Beat at this Gate that let thy Folly in,

And thy dear Judgment out; Go, go, my People.
Going off, meets Albany entring.

ngrateful Duke, was this your Will?

Alb. What, Sir?

Lear. Death! fifty of my Followers at a Clap!'
Alb. The Matter, Madam ?

Gon. Never afflict yourself to know the Cause,
But give his Dotage Way.

Lear. Blaits upon thee,

Th' untented Woundings of a Father's Curfe
Pierce every Senfe about thee; old fond Eyes,
Lament this Caufe again, I'll pluck ye out,
And caft ye with the Waters that ye lofe
To temper Clay.--No, Gorgon, thou shalt find
That I'll refume the Shape which thou doft think..
I have caft off for ever.

Gon. Mark ye that.
Lear. Hear Nature!

B 3

Dear:

Dear Goddefs hear; and if thou doft intend
To make that Creature fruitful, change thy Purpofe;
Pronounce upon her Womb the barren Curfe,
That from her blafted Body never spring

A Babe to honour her ;-But if fhe muft bring forth,
Defeat her Joy with fome diftorted Birth,
Or monftrous Form, the Prodigy o' th' Time;
And fo perverfe of Spirit, that it may live
Her Torment as 'twas born, to fret her Cheeks
With conftant Tears, and wrinkle her
young Brow.
Turn all her Mother's Pains to Shame and Scorn,
That he may curfe her Crime too late, and feel
How fharper than a Serpent's Tooth it is

To have a thanklefs Child: Away, away. [Exit cum fuis.
Gon. Prefuming thus upon his numerous Train,
He thinks to play the Tyrant here, and hold
Our Lives at Will.

Alb. Well, you may bear too far.

Baft.

End of the First A&t.

A C T. II.

SCENE Glofter's Houfe.

Enter Baftard.

HE Duke comes here to Night, I'll take the Advantage

Of his Arrival to complete my Project: Brother, a Word, come forth; 'tis I your Friend, [Enter Edgar. My Father watches for you, fly thisPlace. Intelligence is giv'n where you're hid; Take the Advantage of the Night; bethink ye,

Τ

[Exit.

Have you not spoke against the Duke of Cornwal
Something might fhew you a Favourer of
Duke Albany's Party?

Edg. Nothing; why ask you?

Baft. Because he's coming here to Night in hafte,
And Regan with him-Hark! the Guards; away.
Edg. Let 'em come on, I'll stay and clear myself.
Baft. Your Innocence at Leifure may be heard,
But Glofter's forming Rage as yet is deaf,
And you may perish e'er allow'd the Hearing. [Ex.Edgar.
Glafter comes yonder: Now to my feign'd Scuffle-
Yield, come before my Father! Lights here, Lights!
Some Blood drawn on me wou'd beget Opinion
Of our more fierce Encounter.-I have feen
Drunkards do more than this in Sport.

Enter Glofter and Servants.

Gloft. Now, Edmund, where's the Traitor ?
Baft. That Name, Sir,

Strikes Horror through me; but my Brother, Sir,
Stood here i'th' dark.

Gloft. Thou bleed'it! purfue the Villain,

And bring him piece-meal to me.

Baft. Sir, he's fled.

[Stabs [bis Arm.

Gloft. Let him fly far, this Kingdom shall not hide him :
The noble Duke my Patron comes to-night;
By his Authority I will proclaim

Rewards for him that brings him to the Stage,

And Death for the Concealer.

Then of my Lands, loyal and natural Boy,
I'll work the Means to make thee capable.

[Exeunt.

Enter Kent (difguised still) and Goneril's Gentleman,
Severally.

Gent. Where may we fet our Horfes?

Kent. I'th' Mire.

Gent. Good morrow, Friend, belong'ft thou to this
Kent. Afk them will answer thee.

[Houfe?

Gent. I am in hafte, prithee an' thou lov'ft me, tell me.
Kent.. I love thee not.

Gent. Why then I care not for thee.

Kent. An' I had thee in Lipfbury Pinfold, I'd make thee

care for me.

Gent

Gent. What doft thou mean? I know thee not.
Kent. But, Minion, I know thee.

Gent. What doft thou know me for?

Kent. For a base, proud, beggarly, white-liver'd, glassglaring, fuper-ferviceable, finical Rogue; one that wou'd be a Pimp in Way of good Service, and art nothing but a Compofition of Knave, Beggar, Coward, Pandar

Gent. What a monftrous Fellow art thou to rail at One that is neither known of thee, nor knows thee.

Kent. Impudent Slave! not know me, who but two Days fince tript up thy Heels before the King: Draw, Mifcreant, or I'll make the Moon fhine through thee.

Gent. What means the Fellow? Why, prithee, prithee; I tell thee I have nothing to do with thee.

Kent. I know your Roguefhip's Office; you come with Letters against the King, taking my young Lady Vanity's Part against her Royal Father: Draw, Rafcal.

Gent. Murder, Murder, help. [Exit. Kent after him. Flourish. Enter Duke of Cornwal, Regan, attended; Glofter, Baftard.

Gloft. All Welcome to your Graces, you do me Honour.
Duke. Glofler, We've heard with Sorrow that your Life
Has been attempted by your impious Son;
But Edmund here has paid you ftrictest Duty.

Gloft. He did betray his Practice, and receiv'd
The Hurt you fee, ftriving to apprehend him.
Duke. Is he pursued ?
Gloft. He is, my Lord.

Reg. Ufe our Authority to apprehend The Traitor, and do Justice on his Head ;For you, Edmund, that have fo fignaliz'd

Your Virtue, you from henceforth fhall be ours;
Natures of fuch firm I ruft we much fhall need.

A charming Youth, and worth my farther Thought. [Afide..
Duke. Lay Comforts, noble Glofter, to your Breast,,
As we to ours. This Night be spent in Revels.

We chufe you, Glofter, for our Host to-night,
A troublefome Expreffion of our Love.
On, to the Sports before us,-Who are these?

Enter