Edg. Shall I hear from you anon?
Edm. I do serve you in this business.-

[Exit Edgar.

A credulous father, and a brother noble,
Whose nature is so far from doing barms,
That he suspects none; on whose foolish honesty
My practices ride easy!--I see the business.-
Let me, if not by birth, have lands by wit:
All with me's meet, that I can fashion fit. (Exit.

SCENE III. A room in the Duke of Albany's palace. Enter Goneril and Steward.

Gon. Did my father strike my gentleman for chiding of his fool?

Stew. Ay, madam.

Gon. By day and night! he wrongs me; every

hour

He flashes into one gross crime or other,
That sets us all at odds: I'll not endure it:

His knights grow riotous, and himself upbraids us
On every trifle:- When he returns from hunting,
I will not speak with him; say, I am sick :-
If you come slack of former services,
You shall do well; the fault of it I'll answer.
Stew. He's coming, madam; I hear him.

[Horns within.

Gon. Put on what weary negligence you please, You and your fellows; I'd have it come to question; If he dislike it, let him to my sister,

Whose mind and mine, I know, in that are one,
Not to be over-rul'd. Idle old man,
That still would manage those authorities,
That he hath given away!--Now, by my life,
Old fools are babes again; and must be us'd
With checks, as flatteries, when they are seen

abus'd.

Remember what I have said.

Stew.

Very well, madam.

Gon. And let his knights have colder looks among

.

What grows of it, no matter; advise your fellows so: I would breed from hence occasions, and I shall, That I may speak :-I'll write straight to my sister, To hold my very course:-Prepare for dinner.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.----A hall in the same. Enter Kent,

disguised.

Kent. If but as well I other accents borrow, That can my speech diffuse, my good intent May carry through itself to that full issue For which I raz'd2 my likeness. Now, banish'd

Kent,

If thou canst serve where thou dost stand condernn'd (So may it come!) thy master, whom thou lov'st, Shall find thee full of labours.

Horns within. Enter Lear, Knights, and Attend

ants.

Lear. Let me not stay a jot for dinner; go, get it ready. [Exit an Attendant.] How now, what

art thou?

Kent. A man, sir.

Lear. What dost thou profess? What wouldest thou with us?

Kent. I do profess to be no less than I seem; to serve him truly, that will put me in trust; to love him that is honest; to converse with him that is wise, and says little; to fear judgment; to fight, when I cannot choose; and to eat no fish. Lear. What art thou?

Kent. A very honest-hearted fellow, and as poor as the king.

Lear. If thou be as poor for a subject, as he is for a king, thou art poor enough. What wouldest

thou?

Kent. Service.

(1) Disorder, disguise. (2) Effaced.
(3) Keep company.

Lear. Who wouldest thou serve?
Kent. You.

Lear. Dost thou know me, fellow?
Kent. No, sir; but you have that in your coun-

tenance, which I would fain call master.
Lear. What's that?

Kent. Authority.

Lear. What services canst thou do?

Kent. I can keep honest counsel, ride, run, mar a curious tale in telling it, and deliver a plain message bluntly: that which ordinary men are fit for, I am qualified in; and the best of me is diligence. Lear. How old art thou ?

Kent. Not so young, sir, to love a woman for singing; nor so old, to dote on her for any thing: I have years on my back forty-eight.

Lear. Follow me; thou shalt serve me; if I like thee no worse after dinner, I will not part from thee yet. Dinner, ho, dinner! Where's my knave? my fool? Go you, and call my fool hither :

Enter Steward.

You, you, sirrah, where's my daughter?
Stew. So please you,-

[Exit.

Lear. What says the fellow there? Call the clotpoll back. Where's my fool, ho?-I think the world's asleep.-How now? where's that mongrel? Knight. He says, my lord, your daughter is not well.

Lear. Why came not the slave back to me, when 1 call'd him?

Knight. Sir, he answer'd me in the roundest manner, he would not.

Lear. He would not!

Knight. My lord, I know not what the matter is; but, to my judgment, your highness is not entertained with that ceremonious affection as you were wont; there's a great abatement of kindness appears, as well in the general dependants, as in the duke himself also, and your daughter.

Lear. Ha! sayest thou so? Knight. I beseech you, pardon me, my lord, if I be mistaken; for my duty cannot be silent, when I think your highness is wronged.

Lear. Thou but rememberest me of mine own conception; I have perceived a most faint neglect of late; which I have rather blamed as mine own jealous curiosity, than as a very pretence2 and purpose of unkindness: I will look further into't.But where's my fool? I have not seen him these two days.

Knight. Since my young lady's going into France. sir, the fool hath much pined away.

Lear. No more of that; I have noted it well.Go you, and tell my daughter, I would speak with her.-Go you, call hither my fool.

Re-enter Steward.

O, you sir, you sir, come you hither: Who am I, sir?

Stew. My lady's father.

Lear. My lady's father! my lord's knave: you whoreson dog! you slave! you cur!

Stew. I am none of this, my lord; I beseech you, pardon me.

Lear. Do you bandy looks with me, you rascal? [Striking him.

Stew. I'll not be struck, my lord. Kent. Nor tripped neither; you base foot-ball player. [Tripping up his heels. Lear. I thank thee, fellow; thou servest me, and I'll love thee.

Kent. Come, sir, arise, away: I'll teach you differences; away, away: If you will measure your lubber's length again, tarry: but away: go to; Have you wisdom? so. [Pushes the Steward out. Lear. Now, my friendly knave, I thank thee: there's earnest of thy service.

(1) Punctiliona jealousy.

[Giving Kent money. (2) Design.

Enter Fool.

Fool. Let me hire him too; -Here's my coxcomb. [Giving Kent his cap. Lear. How now, my pretty knave? how dost

thou?

Fool. Sirrah, you were best take my coxcomb.
Kent. Why, fool?

Fool. Why? For taking one's part that is out of favour: Nay, an thou canst not smile as the wind sits, thou'lt catch cold shortly: There, take my coxcomb: Why, this fellow has banished two of his daughters, and did the third a blessing against his will; if thou follow him, thou must needs wear my coxcomb.-How now, nuncle? 'Would I had two coxcombs, and two daughters!

Lear. Why, my boy?

Fool. If I gave them all my living,1 I'd keep my coxcombs myself: There's mine; beg another of thy daughters.

Lear. Take heed, sirrah; the whip.

Fool. Truth's a dog that must to kennel; he must be whipped out, when Lady, the brach,2 may stand by the fire, and stink.

Lear. A pestilent gall to me!

Fool. Sirrah, I'll teach thee a speech.

Lear. Do.

Fool. Mark it, nuncle:

Have more than thou showest,
Speak less than thou knowest,
Lend less than thou owest,
Ride more than thou goest,
Learn more than thou trowest,4
Set less than thou throwest;
Leave thy drink and thy whore,
And keep in-a-door,

(1) Estate or property.
(3) Ownest, possessest.

VOL. VIII.

B

(2) Bitch hound. (4) Believest.