Gon. This man hath had good counsel: a hundred knights! 'Tis politic and safe to let him keep At point a hundred knights: yes, that, on every dream, He may enguard his dotage with their powers, Alb. Well, you may fear too far. Gon. Safer than trust too far: Let me still take away the harms I fear, Re-enter OSWALD. How now, Oswald! What, have you writ that letter to my sister? Osw. Yes, madam. Gon. Take you some company, and away to horse: Inform her full of my particular fear; And thereto add such reasons of your own As may compact it more. And hasten your return. Get you gone; 321 330 [Exit Oswald.] No, no, my lord, This milky gentleness and course of yours You are much more attask'd for want of wisdom Alb. How far your eyes may pierce I cannot tell: Gon. Nay, then Alb. Well, well; the event. 339 [Exeunt. SCENE V. Court before the same. Enter LEAR, KENT, and Fool. Lear. Go you before to Gloucester with these letters. Acquaint my daughter no further with any thing you know than comes from her demand out of the letter. If your diligence be not speedy, I shall be there afore you. Kent. I will not sleep, my lord, till I have delivered your letter. [Exit. Fool. If a man's brains were in 's heels, were 't not in danger of kibes? Lear. Ay, boy. Fool. Then, I prithee, be merry; thy wit shall ne'er go slip-shod. Lear. Ha, ha, ha! II Fool. Shalt see thy other daughter will use thee kindly; for though she's as like this as a crab's like an apple, yet I can tell what I can tell. Lear. Why, what canst thou tell, my boy? Fool. She will taste as like this as a crab does to a crab. Thou canst tell why one's nose stands i̇' the middle on's face? Lear. No. 20 Fool. Why, to keep one's eyes of either side's nose; that what a man cannot smell out, he may spy into. Lear. I did her wrong Fool. Canst tell how an oyster makes his shell? Lear. No. Fool. Nor I neither; but I can tell why a snail has a house. Lear. Why? Fool. Why, to put his head in; not to give it away to his daughters, and leave his horns without a case. 30 Lear. I will forget my nature. So kind a father! Be my horses ready? Fool. Thy asses are gone about 'em. The reason why the seven stars are no more than seven is a pretty reason. Lear. Because they are not eight? Fool. Yes, indeed: thou wouldst make a good fool. Lear. To take 't again perforce! Monster ingratitude! Fool. If thou wert my fool, nuncle, I'ld have thee beaten for being old before thy time. Lear. How's that? 40 Fool. Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst been wise. Lear. O, let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven! Keep me in temper: I would not be mad! Enter Gentleman. How now! are the horses ready? Gent. Ready, my lord. Lear. Come, boy. [Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE I. The Earl of Gloucester's castle. Enter EDMUND, and CURAN meets him. Edm. Save thee, Curan. Cur. And you, sir. I have been with your father, and given him notice that the Duke of Cornwall and Regan his duchess will be there with him this night. Edm. How comes that? Cur. Nay, I know not. You have heard of the news abroad; I mean the whispered ones, for they are yet but ear-kissing arguments? Edm. Not I pray you, what are they? Cur. Have you heard of no likely wars toward, 'twixt the Dukes of Cornwall and Albany? Edm. Not a word. Cur. You may do then in time. Fare you well, sir. II [Exit. Edm. The duke be here to-night? The better! best! This weaves itself perforce into my business. My father hath set guard to take my brother; And I have one thing, of a queasy question, Which I must act: briefness and fortune, work! Brother, a word; descend: brother, I say! Enter EDGAR. My father watches: O sir, fly this place; You have now the good advantage of the night: Edg. I am sure on't, not a word. Edm. I hear my father coming: pardon me; Some blood drawn on me would beget opinion 20 30 [Exit Edgar. [Wounds his arm. Of my more fierce endeavour: I have seen drunkards Enter GLOUCESTER, and Servants with torches. Edm. Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword out, Mumbling of wicked charms, conjuring the moon To stand's auspicious mistress. Edm. Persuade me to the murder of your lordship; 'Gainst parricides did all their thunders bend; Bold in the quarrel's right, roused to the encounter, Full suddenly he fled. Glou. Let him fly far: And found-dispatch. The noble duke my master, That he which finds him shall deserve our thanks, Edm. When I dissuaded him from his intent, 'Thou unpossessing bastard! dost thou think, Make thy words faith'd? No: what I should deny 50 60 70 |