Upon the gad! Edmund! How now? what the letter!Abhorred villain! Unnatural, de news? Edm. So please your lordship, none. [Putting up the letter. Glo. Why so earnestly seek you to put up that 5 Edm. I know no news, my lord. Glo. No? What needed then that terrible dis-10 patch of it into your pocket? The quality of nothing hath not such need to hide itself. Let's see: Come, if it be nothing, I shall not need spectacles. Edm. I beseech you, sir, pardon me : it is a letter from my brother, that I have not all o'er-read;15 and for so much as I have perus'd, I find it not fit for your overlooking. Glo. Give me the letter, sir. Edm. I shall offend, either to detain or give it The contents, as in part I understand them, are 20 to blame. Glo. Let's see, let's see. Edm. I hope, for my brother's justification, he wrote this but as an assay or taste of my virtue. Glo. [reads.] "This policy, and reverence of 25 age, makes the world bitter to the best of our "times; keeps our fortunes from us, 'till our old"ness cannot relish them. I begin to find an idle "and fond 'bondage in the oppression of aged ty " ranny; who sways, not as it hath power, but 30 "as it is suffered. Come to me, that of this I may "speak more. If our father would sleep 'till I "wak'd him, you should enjoy half his revenue "for ever, and live the beloved of your brother, Edgar."---Hum!--Conspiracy!-- Sleep, 'till 135 "wak'd him!-you shall enjoy half his reve"nue!"My son Edgar! Had he a hand to write this? a heart and brain to breed it in?-When came this to you? Who brought it? Edm. It was not brought me, my lord, there's the cunning of it; I found it thrown in at the casement of my closet, Glo. You know the character to be your brother's? tested, brutish villain! worse than brutish!-Go, sirrah, seek him; I'll apprehend him :-Abominable villain!-Where is he? Edm. I do not well know, my lord. If it shall please you to suspend your indignation against my brother, 'till you can derive from him better testimony of his intent, you should run a certain course; where, if you violently proceed against him, mistaking his purpose, it would make a great gap in your own honour, and shake in pieces the heart of his obedience. I dare pawn down my life for him, that he hath writ this to feel my affection to your honour, and to no other pretence' of danger. Glo. Think you so? Edm. If your honour judge it meet, I will place you where you shall hear us confer of this, and by an auricular assurance have your satisfaction; and that without any further delay than this very evenGlo. He cannot be such a monster.Edm. Nor is not, sure. [ing. Glo. To his father, that so tenderly and entirely loves him.-Heaven and earth!-Edmund, seek him out; wind me into him, I pray you: frame the business after your own wisdom: I would unstate myself, to be in a due resolution *. Edm. I will seek him, sir, presently; convey the business as I shall find means, and acquaint you withal. Glo. These late eclipses in the sun and moon portend no good to us: Though the wisdom of nature can reason it thus and thus, yet nature finds itself scourg'd by the frequent effects; love cools, riendship falls off, brothers divide: in cities, mutinies; in countries, discord; in palaces, treason; and the bond crack'd 'twixt son and father. This villain of mine comes under the prediction; there's son against father: the king falls from bias of na40ture; there's father against child. We have seen the best of our time: Machinations, hollowness, treachery, and all ruinous disorders, follow us disquietly to our graves!-Find out this villain, Edmund; it shall lose thee nothing; do it carefully: Edm. If the matter were good, my lord, I durst 45 swear it were his; but, in respect of that, I would! fain think it were not. Glo. It is his. And the noble and true-hearted Kent banish'd! his offence, honesty!-Strange! strange! [Exit. Edm. This is the excellent foppery of the world! that, when we are sick in fortune, (often the surfeit of our own behaviour) we make guilty of our disasters, the sun, the moon, and the stars: as if we were villains, by necessity; fools by heavenly compulsion; knaves, thieves, and treachers, by spherical predominance; drunkards, lyars, and adulterers, by an enforc'd obedience of planetary influence; and all that we are evil in, by a divine thrusting on: An admirable evasion of whore 4 The To do upon the gad, is, to act by the sudden stimulation of caprice, as cattle run madding when they are stung by the gad-fly. 2 i. e. weak and foolish. 3 Pretence is design, purpose. meaning is, according to Dr. Johnson, Do you frame the business, who can act with less emotion; I would unstate myself; it would in me be a departure from the paternal character, to be in a due resolution, to be settled and composed on such an occasion. Mr. Steevens comments on this passage thus: "Edgar has been represented as wishing to possess his father's fortune, i. c. to unstate him; and therefore his father says, he would unstate himself to be sufficiently resolved to punish him."-To enstate is to confer a fortune. 'To convey, here means to manage artfully. That is, though natural philosophy can give account of eclipses, yet we feel their consequences. 303 master and pat he comes, like the catastrophe of the old comedy. My cue is villainous melancholy, with a sigh like Tom o'Bedlam.-O,these eclipses do portend these divisions! fa, sol, la, mi Edg. How now, brother Edmund? What serious contemplation are you in? 10 Edm. I am thinking, brother, of a prediction I15 read this other day, what should follow these eclipses. Edg. Do you busy yourself with that? Edm. I promise you, the effects he writes of, succeed unhappily; as of unnaturalness between 20 the child and the parent; death, dearth, dissolutions of ancient amities, divisions in state, menaces and maledictions against king and nobles; needless diffidences, banishment of friends, dissipation of cohorts, nuptial breaches, and I know not what. Edg. How long have you been a sectary astronomical? Edm. Come, come; when saw you my father last? Edg. Why, the night gone by. Edm. Parted you in good terms? Found you no displeasure in him, by word or countenance? Edg. None at all. Gon. Did my father strike my gentleman for chiding of his fool? Stew. Ay, madam. [hour Gon. Put on what weary negligence you please, Stew. Very well, madam, [us'd'. Gen. And let his knights have colder looks among you; [sa: 35 What grows of it, no matter; advise your fellows I would breed from hence occasions, and I shall, That I may speak:-I'll write straight to my Edm. Bethink yourself, wherein you may have offended him: and at my entreaty, forbear his presence, until some little time hath qualified the heat of his displeasure; which at this instant so rageth in him, that with the mischief of your person it 40 would scarcely allay. Edg. Some villain hath done me wrong. Edm. That's my fear. I pray you have a continent forbearance, 'till the speed of his rage goes slower; and, as I say, retire with me to my lod-45 ging, from whence I will fitly bring you to hear my lord speak: Pray you, go; there's my key:-If you do stir abroad, go arm'd. Edg. Arm'd, brother! Edm. Brother, I advise you to the best; go50 arm'd; I am no honest man, if there be any good meaning towards you: I have told you what I have seen and heard, but faintly; nothing like the image and horror of it: Pray you, away. Edg. Shall I hear from you anon? Edm. I do serve you in this business. [Exit Edgar. A credulous father, and a brother noble, 1 55 The sense, according to Dr. Johnson, is this: "Old men must be treated with checks, when as they are seen to be deceived with flatteries: or, when they are weak enough to be seen abused by flatteries, they are then weak enough to be used with checks. There is a play on the words used and abused. To abuse is, 2 That is, If I can change my speech as in our author, very requently the same as to deceive. well as I have changed my dress.To diffuse speech, signifies to disorder it, and so to disguise it. Lear, Lear. What dost thou profess? What would'st 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 5 wise, and says little; to fear judgement; 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 would'st thou? jappears, as well in the general dependents, as in the duke himself also, and your daughter. Lear. Ha! say'st 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 wrong'd. Lear. Thou but remember'st me of mine own conception: I have perceived a most faint neglect of late; which I have rather blamed as mine own 10 jealous curiosity, than as a very pretence 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 15 France, sir, the fool hath much pin'd away. Lear. No more of that; I have noted it well. 200, you sir, you sir, come you hither: Who am I, 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 25 for, I am qualify'd in; and the best of me is diligence. Lear. How old art thou? Lear. What says the fellow there?-Call the 40 clotpole back. Where's my fool, ho?—I think the world's asleep.-How now? where's that mungrel? Knight. He says, my lord, your daughter is not well, Lear. Why came not the slave back to me, when I call'd him? Knight. Sir, he answer'd me in the roundest manner, he would not. 2 Stew. I am none of these, 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 tript neither; you base foot-ball player. [Tripping up his heels. Lear. I thank thee, fellow; thou serv'st 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 carnest of thy service. [Giring Kent money. Enter Fool. Fool. Let me hire him too;-Here's my cox- Fool. Sirrah, you were best take my coxcomb. 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 banish'd two of nis daughters, and did the third a blessing against his will; it thou follow him, thou must needs wear my coxcomb -How now, nuncle? 'Would I had two coxcombs, and two daughters! To converse signifies immediately and properly to keep company, not to discourse or talk --His meaning is, that he chooses for his companions men of reserve and caution; men who are no tattlers nor tale-bearers. * In Queen Elizabeth's time, the Papists were esteemed, and with good reason, enemies to the government.-Hence the proverbial phrase of He's an honest man, and eats no fish; to signify he is a friend to the government, and a Protestant; the eating fish, on a religious account, being then esteemed such a badge of popery, that when it was enjoin'd for a season by act of parliament, for the encouragement of the fish-towns, it was thought necessary to declare the reason; hence it was called Cecil's fast. 3 Pretence for design. Meaning his cap, called so because on the top of the fool's or jester's cap was sewed a piece of red cloth, resembling the comb of a cock.--The word, afterwards, was used to denote a vain, conceited, meddling fellow. Two toolscaps, in 4 tended, as it seems, to mark double folly in the man that gives all to his daughters. 304 Lear. Lear. What two crowns shall they be? Fool. Why, after I have cut the egg i' the middle, and eat up the meat, the two crowns of the egg. When thou clovest thy crown i' the 5 middle, and gavest away both parts, thou borest thine ass on thy back over the dirt: Thou had'st little wit in thy bald crown, when thou gavest thy golden one away. If I speak like myself in this, let him be whipp'd that first finds it so. Fool. Sirrah, I'll teach thee a speech, [To Kent, 10 Fool. Mark it, nuncle: Have more than thou showest, And thou shalt have more Fool's ne'er had less grace in a year; [Singing. Lear. When were you wont to be so full of 15 songs, sirrah? 20 -Can you 25 Lear. Why, no, boy; nothing can be made out of nothing. Fool, Pr'ythee, tell him, so much the rent of his land comes to; he will not believe a fool, Lear, A bitter fool! [To Kent. Fool, Dost thou know the difference, my boy, Fool. That lord, that counsell'd thee The other found out there. Lear. Dost thou call me fool, boy? Fool. All thy other titles thou hast given away; that thou wast born with. Fool. I have used it, nuncle, ever since thou mad'st thy daughters thy mothers: for when thou gav'st them the rod, and putt'st down thine own breeches, Then they for sudden joy did weep, [Singing. That such a king should play bo-peep, And go the fools among. Pr'ythee, nuncle, keep a school-master that can teach thy fool to lie; I would fain learn to lie. Lear. If you lie, sirrah, we'll have you whipt, Fool. I marvel, what kin thou and thy daughters are: they'll have me whipt for speaking true, thou 'It have me whipt for lying; and, sometimes, 30I am whipt for holding my peace, I had rather be any kind of thing, than a fool: and yet I would not be thee, nuncle; thou hast pared thy wit o' both sides, and left nothing in the middle: Here comes one of the parings. 135 Enter Goneril. Lear. How now, daughter? what makes that frontlet' on? Methinks, you are too much of late i' the frown. Fool. Thou wast a pretty fellow, when thou 40 had'st no need to care for her frowning; now thou art an O without a figure; I am better than thou art now; I am a fool, thou art nothing.— Yes, forsooth, I will hold my tongue; [to Goneril.] so your face bids me, though you say nothing. 45 Mum, mum, Kent. This is not altogether fool, my lord. Fool. No, 'faith, lords and great men will not let me; if I had a monopoly on't, they would have 50 part on 't*: and ladies too, they will not let me have all fool to myself; they'll be snatching.-Give me an egg, nuncle, and I'll give thee two crowns. 1 Brach is a bitch of the hunting-kind. He that keeps nor crust nor crum, [Pointing to Lear. "That is, do not lend all that thou hast.-To owe, in old English, is to possess. To trow, is an old word which signifies to believe. A satire on the gross abuses of monopolies at that time; and the corruption and avarice of the courtiers, who commonly went shares with the patentee.-Monopolies were, in Shakspeare's time, the common objects of satire. The meaning is, There never was a time when fools were less in favour; and the reason is, that they were never so little wanted, for wise men now supply their place. Both the quarto editions read-less wit for less grace. • Lear alludes to the frontlet, which was anciently part of a woman's dress. ie now a mere husk, which contains nothing. By By what yourself too late have spoke and done, Fool. For you trow, nuncle, The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so long, Gon, Come, sir, Gon. Come, sir, This admiration is much o' the favour Of other your new pranks, I do beseech you As you are old and reverend, you should be wise: By her, that else will take the thing she begs, Lear. Darkness and devils! Saddle my horses; call my train together. [rabble Gon. You strike my people; and your disorder'd Make servants of their betters. Enter Albany. Lear, Woe, that too late repents,O, sir, are you come? Is it your will? speak, sir.-Prepare my horses.— 10 Albany Ingratitude! thou marble-hearted fiend, More hideous, when thou shew'st thee in a child 5 Than the sea-monster' ! Alb. Pray, sir, be patient. Lear. Detested kite! thou liest: [To Goneril My train are men of choice and rarest parts, That all particulars of duty know; 10 And in the most exact regard support 15 The worships of their name.-O most small fault, Lear. It may be so, my lord. Hear, nature! hear; dear goddess, hear! 25 Into her womb convey sterility; Dry up in her the organs of increase; Gon. Never afflict yourself to know the cause; upon thee! The untented 10 woundings of a father's curse i. e. promote, push it forward. from the burthen of an old song. Depend, for continue in service. 'Mr. Upton observes, that the sea-monster is the Hippopotamus, the hieroglyphical symbol of impiety and ingratitude.-Sandys, in his Travels, says "that he killeth his sire, and ravisheth his own dam." By an engine is meant the rack. Derogate here means de graded, blasted. • Disnatur'd is wanting in natural affection. 9 i. e. falling tears. 10 Unteated wounds, means wounds in their worst state, not having a tent in thein to digest them. 2 Mr. Steevens has been informed, that this is a quotation A palace grac'd by the presence of a sovereign. 7 |