thee nothing, do it carefully: and the Noble & true-harted Kent banish'd; his offence, honesty. 'Tis strange. Exit Bast. This is the excellent foppery of the world, that when we are sicke in fortune, often the surfets of our own behaviour, we make guilty of our disasters, the Sun, the Moone, and Starres, as if we were villaines on necessitie, Fooles by heavenly compulsion, Knaves, Theeves, and Treachers1 by Sphericall predominance. Drunkards, Lyars, and Adulterers by an inforc'd obedience of Planatary influence; and all that we are evill in, by a divine thrusting on. An admirable evasion of Whore-master-man, to lay his Goatish disposition on the charge of a Starre, My father compounded with my mother under the Dragons taile, and my Nativity was under Ursa Major, so that it followes, I am rough and Leacherous. I should have bin that I am, had the maidenlest Starre in the Firmament twinkled on my bastardizing. Enter Edgar. 1 traitors 130 Pat: he comes like the Catastrophe of the old Comedie: my Cue is villanous Melancholly, with a sighe like Tom o' Bedlam.. O these Eclipses do portend these divi sions. Fa, Sol, La, Me. Edg. How now Brother Edmond, what serious contemplation are you in? Bast. I am thinking Brother of a prediction I read this other day, what should follow these Eclipses. Edg. Do you busie your selfe with that? 139 116. surfets: surfeit-QQ. 118. and Starres: and the stars-QQ. 118. on necessitie: by necessity-QQ. 124. on the: to the-Q0. 127. I should: Tut, I should (Fut-20.)-JENNENS. 131. Pat: be: Edgar-and pat he (out he-Qo.)-STEEVENS. 139. with: about-QQ. Bast. I promise you, the effects he writes of, succeede unhappily. [as of unnaturalnesse betweene the child and the parent, death, | dearth, dissolutions of ancient amities, divisions in state, mena- |ces and maledictions against king and nobles, needles diffiden- | ces, banishment of friends, dissipation of Cohorts, nuptial breach- | es and I know not what. | Edg. How long have you beene a sectary Astronomicall? Bast. Come, Come,] When saw you my Father last? Edg. The night gone by. Bast. Spake you with him? Edg. I, two houres together. Bast. Parted you in good termes? Found you no displeasure in him, by word, nor countenance? Edg. None at all, 148 Bast. Bethink your selfe wherein you may have offended him: and at my entreaty forbeare his presence, untill some little time hath qualified the heat of his displeasure, which at this instant so rageth in him, that with the mischiefe of your person, it would scarsely alay. Edg. Some Villaine hath done me wrong. Edm. That's my feare, I pray you have a continent1 forbearance till the speed of his rage goes slower: and as I say, retire with me to my lodging, from whence I will fitly bring you to heare my Lord speake: pray ye goe, there's my key: if you do stirre abroad, goe arm'd. Edg. Arm'd, Brother? 1restrained 160 Edm. Brother, I advise you to the best, I am no honest man, if ther be any good meaning toward you: I have told 141-2. bracketed 11.-QQ. 143. The: Why, the-Q 161. best, I: best; go armed: I-QQ. you what I have seene, and heard: But faintly. Nothing like the image, and horror of it, pray you away. Edg. Shall I heare from you anon? Edm. I do serve you in this businesse: Exit. A Credulous Father, and a Brother Noble, That he suspects none: on whose foolish honestie 170 Let me, if not by birth, have lands by wit, Exit. Scena Tertia. [The Duke of Albany's palace.] Enter Gonerill, and [Oswald her] Steward. Gon. Did my Father strike my Gentleman for chiding of his Foole? Ste. [Osw.] I Madam. Gon. By day and night, he wrongs me, every howre He flashes into one grosse crime, or other, That sets us all at ods: Ile not endure it; His Knights grow riotous, and himselfe upbraides us If you come slacke of former services, [Horns within.] Gon. Put on what weary negligence you please, You and your Fellowes: I'de have it come to question; If he distaste it, let him to my Sister, 5. I Madam: Yes, madam-Qe. 16. I'de: I'ld-THEOBALD. 17. distaste.. my: dislike our-Q0. Whose mind and mine I know in that are one, [not to be overruld; idle old man that still would manage those authorities that hee hath given away, now by my | life old fooles are babes again, & must be us'd with checkes as flatteries, when they are seene abus'd,] Remember what I have said. Ste. Well Madam. 20 Gon. And let his Knights have colder lookes among you: what growes of it no matter, advise your fellowes so, [I would breed from hence occasions, and I shall, that I may speake,] Ile write straight to my Sister to hold my course; pre- | pare for dinner. Scena Quarta. [A ball in the same. Enter Kent [disguised]. Kent. If but as will I other accents borrow, That can my speech defuse, my good intent May carry through it selfe to that full issue Exeunt. For which I raiz'd my likenesse. Now banisht Kent, Hornes within. Enter Lear and Attendants. 10 Lear. Let me no stay a jot for dinner, go get it ready: [Exit an Atten ant.] hownow, what art thou? Kent. A man Sir. 18-19. bracketed 11.-Qo. (5 five-accent ll.-THEOBALD.) 19. have said: tell you-Q0. 21-3. And let .. so: 2 ll. ending you, so-HANmer. 23-4. I'll.. dinner: 2 ll. ending sister, dinner-HANMER. 23. my course: my very course- 3. will: well-Qo. Lear. What dost thou professe? What would'st thou with us? Kent. I do professe to be no lesse then I seeme; to serve him truely that will put me in trust, to love him that is honest, to converse with him that is wise and saies little, to feare judgement, to fight when I cannot choose, and to eate no fish. Lear. What art thou? 20 Kent. A very honest hearted Fellow, and as poore as the King. Lear. If thou be'st as poore for a subject, as hee's for a King, thou art poore enough. Kent. Service. What wouldst thou? Lear. Who wouldst thou serve? Kent. You. Lear. Do'st thou know me fellow? Kent. No Sir, but you have that in your countenance, which I would faine call Master. Lear. What's that? Kent. Authority. Lear. What services canst thou do? I Kent. I can keepe honest counsaile, ride, run, marre a curious tale in telling it, and deliver a plaine message bluntly: that which ordinary men are fit for, I am quallified in, and the best of me, is Dilligence. Lear. How old art thou? 39 Kent. Not so young Sir to love a woman for singing, nor so old to dote on her for any thing. I have my backe forty eight. yeares on 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 Foole? Go you and call my Foole hither. [Exit an Attendant.] You you Sirrah, where's my Daughter? | |