READ STUDY GUIDE: Act I, scenes iii–v |
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Act I, Scene iv:
A Hall in Albany's Palace.
A Hall in Albany's Palace.
| [Enter Kent, disguised.] |
| Kent.: |
| If but as well I other accents borrow, |
| That can my speech defuse, my good intent |
| May carry through itself to that full issue |
| For which I rais'd my likeness.—Now, banish'd Kent, |
| If thou canst serve where thou dost stand condemn'd, |
| So may it come, thy master, whom thou lov'st, |
| Shall find thee full of labours. |
| [Horns within. Enter King Lear, Knights, and Attendants.] |
| 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 wouldst 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'st as poor for a subject as he's for a king, thou art |
| poor enough. What wouldst thou? |
| Kent.: |
| Service. |
| Lear.: |
| Who wouldst thou serve? |
| Kent.: |
| You. |
| Lear.: |
| Dost thou know me, fellow? |
| Kent.: |
| No, sir; but you have that in your countenance 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 anything: 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. |
| [Exit an attendant.] |
| [Enter Oswald.] |
| You, you, sirrah, where's my daughter? |
| Osw.: |
| So please you,— |
| [Exit.] |
| Lear.: |
| What says the fellow there? Call the clotpoll back.— |
| [Exit a Knight.] |
| Where's my fool, ho?—I think the world's asleep. |
| [Re-enter Knight.] |
| 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 I called him? |
| Knight.: |
| Sir, he answered 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! 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 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 pretence and purpose of |
| unkindness: I will look further into't.—But where's my fool? I |
| have not seen him this 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.— |
| [Exit Attendant.] |
| Go you, call hither my fool. |
| [Exit another Attendant.] |
| [Re-enter Oswald.] |
| O, you, sir, you, come you hither, sir: who am I, sir? |
| Osw.: |
| My lady's father. |
| Lear.: |
| My lady's father! my lord's knave: you whoreson dog! you slave! |
| you cur! |
| Osw.: |
| I am none of these, my lord; I beseech your pardon. |
| Lear.: |
| Do you bandy looks with me, you rascal? |
| [Striking him.] |
| Osw.: |
| I'll not be struck, my lord. |
| Kent.: |
| Nor tripp'd neither, you base football 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 Oswald out.] |
| Lear.: |
| Now, my friendly knave, I thank thee: there's earnest of thy |
| service. |
| [Giving Kent money.] |
| [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's 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 hath banish'd two on's |
| 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, 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 must to kennel; he must be whipped out, when |
| the lady brach 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, |
| Set less than thou throwest; |
| Leave thy drink and thy whore, |
| And keep in-a-door, |
| And thou shalt have more |
| Than two tens to a score. |
| Kent.: |
| This is nothing, fool. |
| Fool.: |
| Then 'tis like the breath of an unfee'd lawyer,—you gave me |
| nothing for't.—Can you make no use of nothing, nuncle? |
| Lear.: |
| Why, no, boy; nothing can be made out of nothing. |
| Fool.: |
| [to Kent] Pr'ythee tell him, so much the rent of his land |
| comes to: he will not believe a fool. |
| Lear.: |
| A bitter fool! |
| Fool.: |
| Dost thou know the difference, my boy, between a bitter fool and |
| a sweet one? |
| Lear.: |
| No, lad; teach me. |
| Fool.: |
| That lord that counsell'd thee |
| To give away thy land, |
| Come place him here by me,— |
| Do thou for him stand: |
| The sweet and bitter fool |
| Will presently appear; |
| The one in motley here, |
| 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. |
| Kent.: |
| This is not altogether fool, my lord. |
| Fool.: |
| No, faith; lords and great men will not let me: if I had a |
| monopoly out, they would have part on't and loads too: they |
| will not let me have all the fool to myself; they'll be |
| snatching.—Nuncle, give me an egg, and I'll give thee two |
| crowns. |
| 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 middle and gav'st away both parts, thou borest thine ass on |
| thy back o'er the dirt: thou hadst little wit in thy bald crown |
| when thou gavest thy golden one away. If I speak like myself in |
| this, let him be whipped that first finds it so. |
| [Singing.] |
| Fools had ne'er less grace in a year; |
| For wise men are grown foppish, |
| And know not how their wits to wear, |
| Their manners are so apish. |
| Lear.: |
| When were you wont to be so full of songs, sirrah? |
| Fool.: |
| I have used it, nuncle, e'er since thou mad'st thy daughters thy |
| mothers; for when thou gav'st them the rod, and puttest down |
| thine own breeches, |
| [Singing.] |
| Then they for sudden joy did weep, |
| And I for sorrow sung, |
| That such a king should play bo-peep |
| And go the fools among. |
| Pr'ythee, nuncle, keep a schoolmaster that can teach thy fool to |
| lie; I would fain learn to lie. |
| Lear.: |
| An you lie, sirrah, we'll have you whipped. |
| Fool.: |
| I marvel what kin thou and thy daughters are: they'll have me |
| whipped for speaking true; thou'lt have me whipped for lying; |
| and sometimes I am whipped for holding my peace. I had rather be |
| any kind o' thing than a fool: and yet I would not be thee, |
| nuncle: thou hast pared thy wit o' both sides, and left nothing |
| i' the middle:—here comes one o' the parings. |
| [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 hadst no need to care for |
| her frowning. Now thou art an O without a figure: I am better |
| than thou art; I am a fool, thou art nothing.—Yes, forsooth, I |
| will hold my tongue. So your face[To Goneril.]bids me, though |
| you say nothing. Mum, mum, |
| He that keeps nor crust nor crum, |
| Weary of all, shall want some.— |
| [Pointing to Lear.] That's a shealed peascod. |
| Gon.: |
| Not only, sir, this your all-licens'd fool, |
| But other of your insolent retinue |
| Do hourly carp and quarrel; breaking forth |
| In rank and not-to-be-endured riots. Sir, |
| I had thought, by making this well known unto you, |
| To have found a safe redress; but now grow fearful, |
| By what yourself too late have spoke and done, |
| That you protect this course, and put it on |
| By your allowance; which if you should, the fault |
| Would not scape censure, nor the redresses sleep, |
| Which, in the tender of a wholesome weal, |
| Might in their working do you that offence |
| Which else were shame, that then necessity |
| Will call discreet proceeding. |
| Fool.: |
| For you know, nuncle, |
| The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so long |
| That it had it head bit off by it young. |
| So out went the candle, and we were left darkling. |
| Lear.: |
| Are you our daughter? |
| Gon.: |
| Come, sir, |
| I would you would make use of that good wisdom, |
| Whereof I know you are fraught; and put away |
| These dispositions, that of late transform you |
| From what you rightly are. |
| Fool.: |
| May not an ass know when the cart draws the horse?—Whoop, Jug! I |
| love thee! |
| Lear.: |
| Doth any here know me?—This is not Lear; |
| Doth Lear walk thus? speak thus? Where are his eyes? |
| Either his notion weakens, his discernings |
| Are lethargied.—Ha! waking? 'Tis not so!— |
| Who is it that can tell me who I am? |
| Fool.: |
| Lear's shadow. |
| Lear.: |
| I would learn that; for, by the marks of sovereignty, |
| Knowledge, and reason, |
| I should be false persuaded I had daughters. |
| Fool.: |
| Which they will make an obedient father. |
| Lear.: |
| Your name, fair gentlewoman? |
| Gon.: |
| This admiration, sir, is much o' the favour |
| Of other your new pranks. I do beseech you |
| To understand my purposes aright: |
| As you are old and reverend, you should be wise. |
| Here do you keep a hundred knights and squires; |
| Men so disorder'd, so debosh'd, and bold |
| That this our court, infected with their manners, |
| Shows like a riotous inn: epicurism and lust |
| Make it more like a tavern or a brothel |
| Than a grac'd palace. The shame itself doth speak |
| For instant remedy: be, then, desir'd |
| By her that else will take the thing she begs |
| A little to disquantity your train; |
| And the remainder, that shall still depend, |
| To be such men as may besort your age, |
| Which know themselves, and you. |
| Lear.: |
| Darkness and devils!— |
| Saddle my horses; call my train together.— |
| Degenerate bastard! I'll not trouble thee: |
| Yet have I left a daughter. |
| Gon.: |
| You strike my people; and your disorder'd rabble |
| Make servants of their betters. |
| [Enter Albany.] |
| Lear.: |
| Woe that too late repents!— |
| [To Albany.] O, sir, are you come? |
| Is it your will? Speak, sir.—Prepare my horses.— |
| Ingratitude, thou marble-hearted fiend, |
| More hideous when thou show'st thee in a child |
| Than the sea-monster! |
| Alb.: |
| Pray, sir, be patient. |
| Lear.: |
| [to Goneril] Detested kite, thou liest!: |
| My train are men of choice and rarest parts, |
| That all particulars of duty know; |
| And in the most exact regard support |
| The worships of their name.—O most small fault, |
| How ugly didst thou in Cordelia show! |
| Which, like an engine, wrench'd my frame of nature |
| From the fix'd place; drew from my heart all love, |
| And added to the gall. O Lear, Lear, Lear! |
| Beat at this gate that let thy folly in[Striking his head.] |
| And thy dear judgment out!—Go, go, my people. |
| Alb.: |
| My lord, I am guiltless, as I am ignorant |
| Of what hath mov'd you. |
| Lear.: |
| It may be so, my lord. |
| Hear, nature, hear; dear goddess, hear |
| Suspend thy purpose, if thou didst intend |
| To make this creature fruitful! |
| Into her womb convey sterility! |
| Dry up in her the organs of increase; |
| And from her derogate body never spring |
| A babe to honour her! If she must teem, |
| Create her child of spleen, that it may live |
| And be a thwart disnatur'd torment to her! |
| Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth; |
| With cadent tears fret channels in her cheeks; |
| Turn all her mother's pains and benefits |
| To laughter and contempt; that she may feel |
| How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is |
| To have a thankless child!—Away, away! |
| [Exit.] |
| Alb.: |
| Now, gods that we adore, whereof comes this? |
| Gon.: |
| Never afflict yourself to know more of it; |
| But let his disposition have that scope |
| That dotage gives it. |
| [Re-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.—Life and death!—[To Goneril]I am asham'd |
| That thou hast power to shake my manhood thus; |
| That these hot tears, which break from me perforce, |
| Should make thee worth them.—Blasts and fogs upon thee! |
| Th' untented woundings of a father's curse |
| Pierce every sense about thee!—Old fond eyes, |
| Beweep this cause again, I'll pluck you out, |
| And cast you, with the waters that you lose, |
| To temper clay. Ha! |
| Let it be so: I have another daughter, |
| Who, I am sure, is kind and comfortable: |
| When she shall hear this of thee, with her nails |
| She'll flay thy wolvish visage. Thou shalt find |
| That I'll resume the shape which thou dost think |
| I have cast off for ever. |
| [Exeunt Lear, Kent, and Attendants.] |
| Gon.: |
| Do you mark that? |
| Alb.: |
| I cannot be so partial, Goneril, |
| To the great love I bear you,— |
| Gon.: |
| Pray you, content.—What, Oswald, ho! |
| [To the Fool] 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, |
| And such a daughter, |
| Should sure to the slaughter, |
| If my cap would buy a halter; |
| So the fool follows after. |
| [Exit.] |
| 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, |
| Each buzz, each fancy, each complaint, dislike, |
| He may enguard his dotage with their powers, |
| And hold our lives in mercy.—Oswald, I say!— |
| Alb.: |
| Well, you may fear too far. |
| Gon.: |
| Safer than trust too far: |
| Let me still take away the harms I fear, |
| Not fear still to be taken: I know his heart. |
| What he hath utter'd I have writ my sister: |
| If she sustain him and his hundred knights, |
| When I have show'd th' unfitness,— |
| [Re-enter Oswald.] |
| How now, Oswald! |
| What, have you writ that letter to my sister? |
| Osw.: |
| Ay, 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. Get you gone; |
| And hasten your return. |
| [Exit Oswald.] |
| No, no, my lord! |
| This milky gentleness and course of yours, |
| Though I condemn it not, yet, under pardon, |
| You are much more attask'd for want of wisdom |
| Than prais'd for harmful mildness. |
| Alb.: |
| How far your eyes may pierce I cannot tell: |
| Striving to better, oft we mar what's well. |
| Gon.: |
| Nay then,— |
| Alb.: |
| Well, well; the event. |
| [Exeunt.] |
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