Your name, fair gentlewoman?

Gon. This admiration, Sir, is much o'th' favour
Of other your new humours. I beseech you
To understand my purposes aright.

You, as you're old and reverend, fhould be wife.
Here do you keep an hundred knights and fquires,
Men fo diforder'd, fo debauch'd and bold,
That this our court, infected with their manners,
Shews like a riotous inn. Be then defir'd
By her, that else will take the thing she begs,
Of fifty to difquantity your train;

And the remainders,

To be fuch men as may befort your age,
And know themselves and you.

Lear. Darkness and devils!

Saddle my horses, call my train together.
Degen'rate viper! I'll not trouble thee;
Yet have I left a daughter.

Gon. You ftrike my people, and your disorder'd

rabble

Make fervants of their betters.

To them, Enter Albany.

Lear. Woe! that too late repents Oh, Sir,

are you come?

Is it your will? fpeak, Sir. Prepare my horfes.→

[To Alb.

Ingratitude! thou marble-hearted fiend,

More hideous when thou shew'ft thee in a child,

Than the fea-monster.

Alb. Pray, Sir, be patient.

Lear. Detefted kite! thou lieft.

[To Gon.

My train are men of choice and rareft parts,

That all particulars of duty know.

Oh, most small fault!

How ugly didft thou in Cordelia fhew!

Which, like an engine, wrencht my frame of nature From the fix'd place; drew from my heart all

love,

And added to the gall. Oh, 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. Now, gods that we adore, whereof comes this?

Gon. Never afflict yourself to know of it; But let his difpofition have that scope

That dotage gives it.

Lear. What, fifty of my followers at a clap? Alb. What's the matter, Sir?

Lear. I tell thee-life and death! I am afham'd

That thou haft power to shake my manhood thus ;

[To Gon.

That these 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 fense about thee! old fond eyes,
Beweep this cause again, I'll pluck ye out,
And caft you, with the waters that you lose,
To temper clay. No, gorgon, thou shalt find,
That I'll refume the fhape, which thou doft think
I have caft off for ever.

Alb. My lord, I'm guiltlefs, as I'm ignorant,
Of what hath mov'd you.

Lear. It may be fo, my lord

Hear, nature, hear; dear goddefs, hear a father! If thou didft intend

To make this creature fruitful, change thy purpose; Into her womb convey fterility,

Dry up in her the organs of increase,

And from her derogate body never spring
A babe to honour her! If the muft teem,
Create her child of fpleen, that it may live,
And be a thwart difnatur'd torment to her;
Let it ftamp 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 ferpent's tooth it is,

To have a thanklefs child!--Go, go, my people. [Exe.
ACT

SCENE, an apartment in the caftle belonging to the earl of Glocefter.

Enter Edmund.

HE duke be here to-night! the better ! beft! weaves itself into my oufinefs,

Which I must act: briefnefs and fortune, work! Brother, a word; defcend; brother, I say !—

To him, enter Edgar.

༢

My father watches; oh, Sir, fly this place,
Intelligence is giv'n where you are hid;
You've now the good advantage of the night-
Have you not spoken 'gainst the duke of Cornwall?
He's coming hither now i' th' night, i' th' hafte,
And Regan with him; have you nothing said
Upon his party 'gainst the duke of Albany?
Advise yourself.

Edgar. I'm fure on't, not a word,

Edm. I hear my father coming. 'Tis not fafe

To tarry here. Fly, brother! hence! away.
[Exit Edgar.
Glo'fter approaches.-Now for a feigned fcuffle!
-Yield! come before my father! lights, here,
lights!

Some blood drawn on me, would beget opinion
[Wounds his arm.
Of my more fierce encounter. I've seen drunkards
Do more than this in fport.
Stop, ftop, no help ?—

Father! father!

To him, enter Glocester and fervants with torches. Gloc. Now, Edmund, where's the villain? Edm. Here ftood he in the dark, his fharp fword

out,

Mumbling of wicked charms, conj'ring the moon To ftand's aufpicious mistress.

Gloc. But where is he?

Edm. Look, Sir, I bleed.

Gloc. Where is the villain, Edmund?

Edm. Fled this way, Sir, when by no means he

could

Gloc. Purfue him, ho! go after. By no means, what?

Edm. Perfuade me to the murder of your lord

fhip;

But