And be a thwart, difnatur'd torment to her; Whereof comes this? Gon. Never afflict your felf to know of it: Enter Lear. Lear. What, fifty of my Followers at a clap ? Within a fortnight? Alb. What's the matter, Sir? Lear. I'll tell thee [Exit. Life and Death, I am afham'd. That thou haft power to shake my Manhood thus, That thefe hot Tears, which break from me perforce, Should make thee worth them -- Blafts and Fogs upon thee; Th' untented Woundings of a Father's Curfe Pierce every Senfe about thee. Old fond Eyes, Beweep her once again, I'll pluck ye out, And caft you with the Waters that you lofe I have another Daughter, Who I am fure is kind and comfortable; [Exit Lear and Attendants, Gon. Do you mark that? Gon. Pray you be content. What Oswald, ho! You, Sir, more Knave than Fool, after your Master. Fool. Nuncle Lear, Nuncle Lear Tarry, take the Fool with thee: A Fox, when one has caught her, Should fure to the Slaughter, if E e こ If my Cap would buy a Halter, So the Fool follows after. Gon. This Man hath had good Counsel, 'Tis politick, and fafe to let him keep At point a hundred Knights; yes, that on every Dream, Gon, Safer than truft too far; Let me ftill take away the harms I fear, How now, Ofwald:?" Enter Steward. What, have your writ that Letter to my Sifter? Gon. Take you fome Company, and away to Horse, Inform her full of my particular Fear, And thereto add fuch Reafons of your own As may compact it more. Get you gone, And haften your return. No, no, my Lord, Exit Steward. This milky Gentleness, and course of yours, Alb. How far your Eyes may pierce I cannot tell; Gon. Nay then Alh. Well, well, the 'vent. Enter Lear, Kent, Gentleman, and Fool. [Exeunt. Lear. Go you before to Glofter with thefe 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 fhall be there afore you. Kent. Kent. I will not fleep, my Lord, 'till I have delivered your Letter. [Exit. Fool. If a Man's Brains were in his Heels, wer't not in danger of Kibes ? Lear. Ay Boy. Fool. Then I prethee be merry, thy Wit fhall not go flip-fhod. Lear. Ha, ha, ha. Fool. Shalt fee thy other Daughter will ufe 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. What canft tell, Boy? Fool. She will tafte as like this, as a Crab do's to a Crab canft thou tell why ones Nofe ftands i'th' middle on's Face? ; Lear. No. Fool. Why, to keep ones Eyes of either fide one's Nofe; that what a Man cannot fmell out, he may fpy into. Lear. I did her wrong. Fool. Canft tell how an Oyster makes his Shell ? Fool. Nor I neither; but I can tell why a Snail has a House. Lear. Why? Fool. Why to put's Head in, not to give it away to his Daughters, and leave his Horns without a Cafe. Lear. I will forget my Nature, fo kind a Father! Be my Horses ready? Fool. Thy Affes are gone about 'em; the reafon why the seven Stars are no more than feven, is a pretty Reafon. 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 you were my Fool, Nuncle, I'd have thee beaten for being old before thy time. Lear. How's that? Fool. Thou fhouldft not have been Old, 'till thou hadft been Wife. Lear. O let me not be mad, not mad, fweet Heav'n! keep me in temper, I would not be mad. How now, are the Horfes ready? Ee 2 Gent. Gent. Ready, my Lord. Lear. Come, Boy. Fool. She that's a Maid now, and laughs at my departure, Shall not be a Maid long, unless things be cut fhorter. ACT II. SCENE I. [Exeunt. SCENE A Caftle belonging to the Earl of Glofter. Enter Baftard, and Curan, Severally. Baft. 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 Dutchefs Baft. How comes that ? Cur. Nay I know not; you have heard of the News abroad, I mean the whisper'd ones, for they are yet but Ear-kiffing Arguments. Baft. Not I pray you what are they? Cur. Have you heard of no likely Wars toward, 'Twixt the Dukes of Cornwall and Albany? Baft. Not a word. Cur. You may do then in time. Fare you well, Sir." [Exit. Baft. The Duke be here to Night! the better, beft, This weaves it felf perforce into my Bufinefs. Enter Edgar. Brother, a word, defcend, Brother, I fay, He's He's coming hither, now i'th' Night, i'th' hafte, Edg. I am fure on't, not a word. Baft. I hear my Father coming, pardon me In cunning, I muft draw my Sword upon you. Draw, feem to defend your felf. Now quit you well Yield come before my Father light hoa, here, Fly, Brother Torches ! -fo farewel---- [Exit Edgar. Some blood drawn on me would beget Opinion [Wounds his Arm. Of my more fierce endeavour. I have feen Drunkards Do more than this in Sport; Father! Father! Stop, ftop, no help? Enter Glofter, and Servants with Torches. Glo. Now Edmund, where's the Villain? Baft. Here ftood he in the dark, his fharp Sword out, Mumbling of wicked Charms, conjuring the Moon To ftand his aufpicious Miftrefs. Glo. But where is he? Baft. Look, Sir, I bleed. Glo. Where is the Villain, Edmund ? Baft. Fled this way, Sir, when by no means he could Glo. Purfue him, ho! go after. By no means, what ?---Baft. Perfwade me to the Murther of your Lordship; But that I told him the revenging Gods, 'Gainft Parricides did all the Thunder bend, Spoke with how manifold, and ftrong a Bond 3 The Child was bound to th' Father. Seeing how lothly oppofite I flood Sir, in fine, To his unnatural purpose, in fell Motion Gl. Let him fly far; Not in this Land fhall he remain uncaught Ee 3 And |