King Lear by William Shakespeare

Act 1 - Scene 4

The Duke of Albany’s Palace. Enter Kent, [disguised].

Earl of Kent : If but as well I other accents borrow, [p]That can my speech defuse,
my good intent [p]May carry through itself to that full issue [p]For
which I raz'd my likeness. Now, banish'd Kent, [p]If thou canst serve
where thou dost stand condemn'd, [p]So may it come, thy master, whom
thou lov'st, [p]Shall find thee full of labours. [p] Horns within.
Enter Lear, [Knights,] and Attendants.

Lear : Let me not stay a jot for dinner; go get it ready. [Exit [p]an
Attendant.] How now? What art thou?

Earl of Kent : A man, sir.

Lear : What dost thou profess? What wouldst thou with us?

Earl of Kent : I do profess to be no less than I seem, to serve him truly [p]that
will put me in trust, to love him that is honest, to [p]converse with
him that is wise and says little, to fear [p]judgment, to fight when I
cannot choose, and to eat no fish.

Lear : What art thou?

Earl of 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 [p]art
poor enough. What wouldst thou?

Earl of Kent : Service.

Lear : Who wouldst thou serve?

Earl of Kent : You.

Lear : Dost thou know me, fellow?

Earl of Kent : No, sir; but you have that in your countenance which I would [p]fain
call master.

Lear : What's that?

Earl of Kent : Authority.

Lear : What services canst thou do?

Earl of Kent : I can keep honest counsel, ride, run, mar a curious tale in [p]telling
it and deliver a plain message bluntly. That which [p]ordinary men are
fit for, I am qualified in, and the best of me [p]is diligence.

Lear : How old art thou?

Earl of Kent : Not so young, sir, to love a woman for singing, nor so old to [p]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 [p]dinner, I will not part from thee yet. Dinner, ho,
dinner! [p]Where's my knave? my fool? Go you and call my fool
hither. [p][Exit an attendant.] [p][Enter [Oswald the]
Steward.] [p]You, you, sirrah, where's my daughter?

Oswald : So please you- Exit.

Lear : What says the fellow there? Call the clotpoll back. [p][Exit a
Knight.] Where's my fool, ho? I think the world's [p]asleep. [p][Enter
Knight] [p]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 call'd 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 [p]your
Highness is not entertain'd with that ceremonious affection [p]as you
were wont. There's a great abatement of kindness appears [p]as well in
the general dependants as in the Duke himself also [p]and your
daughter.

Lear : Ha! say'st thou so?

Knight : I beseech you pardon me, my lord, if I be mistaken; for [p]my duty
cannot be silent when I think your Highness wrong'd.

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

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

Lear : No more of that; I have noted it well. Go you and tell my [p]daughter
I would speak with her. [Exit Knight.] Go you, call [p]hither my
fool. [p][Exit an Attendant.] [p][Enter [Oswald the] Steward.] [p]O,
you, sir, you! Come you hither, sir. Who am I, sir?

Oswald : My lady's father.

Lear : 'My lady's father'? My lord's knave! You whoreson dog! you [p]slave!
you cur!

Oswald : I am none of these, my lord; I beseech your pardon.

Lear : Do you bandy looks with me, you rascal?

Oswald : I'll not be strucken, my lord.

Earl of Kent : Nor tripp'd neither, you base football player?

Lear : I thank thee, fellow. Thou serv'st me, and I'll love thee.

Earl of Kent : Come, sir, arise, away! I'll teach you differences. Away, [p]away! If
you will measure your lubber's length again, tarry; but [p]away! Go
to! Have you wisdom? So.

Lear : Now, my friendly knave, I thank thee. There's earnest of
thy [p]service. [Gives money.]

Fool : Let me hire him too. Here's my coxcomb.

Lear : How now, my pretty knave? How dost thou?

Fool : Sirrah, you were best take my coxcomb.

Earl of Kent : Why, fool?

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

Lear : Why, my boy?

Fool : If I gave them all my living, I'ld keep my coxcombs myself. [p]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 whipp'd out, when [p]Lady the
brach may stand by th' fire and stink.

Lear : A pestilent gall to me!

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

Lear : Do.

Fool : Mark it, nuncle. [p] Have more than thou showest, [p] Speak
less than thou knowest, [p] Lend less than thou owest, [p]
Ride more than thou goest, [p] Learn more than thou trowest, [p]
Set less than thou throwest; [p] Leave thy drink and thy
whore, [p] And keep in-a-door, [p] And thou shalt have
more [p] Than two tens to a score.

Earl of Kent : This is nothing, fool.

Fool : Then 'tis like the breath of an unfeed lawyer- you gave me [p]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] Prithee tell him, so much the rent of his land [p]comes to.
He will not believe a fool.

Lear : A bitter fool!

Fool : Dost thou know the difference, my boy, between a bitter [p]fool and a
sweet fool?

Lear : No, lad; teach me.

Fool : That lord that counsell'd thee [p] To give away thy land, [p]
Come place him here by me- [p] Do thou for him stand. [p]
The sweet and bitter fool [p] Will presently appear; [p] The
one in motley here, [p] The other found out there.

Lear : Dost thou call me fool, boy?

Fool : All thy other titles thou hast given away; that thou wast [p]born
with.

Earl of Kent : This is not altogether fool, my lord.

Fool : No, faith; lords and great men will not let me. If I had a [p]monopoly
out, they would have part on't. And ladies too, they [p]will not let
me have all the fool to myself; they'll be [p]snatching. Give me an
egg, nuncle, and I'll give thee two [p]crowns.

Lear : What two crowns shall they be?

Fool : Why, after I have cut the egg i' th' middle and eat up the [p]meat,
the two crowns of the egg. When thou clovest thy crown i' [p]th'
middle and gav'st away both parts, thou bor'st thine ass on [p]thy
back o'er the dirt. Thou hadst little wit in thy bald crown [p]when
thou gav'st thy golden one away. If I speak like myself in [p]this,
let him be whipp'd that first finds it so. [p][Sings] Fools had
ne'er less grace in a year, [p] For wise men are grown
foppish; [p] They know not how their wits to wear, [p]
Their manners are so apish.

Lear : When were you wont to be so full of songs, sirrah?

Fool : I have us'd it, nuncle, ever since thou mad'st thy daughters [p]thy
mother; for when thou gav'st them the rod, and put'st down [p]thine
own breeches, [p][Sings] Then they for sudden joy did weep, [p]
And I for sorrow sung, [p] That such a king should
play bo-peep [p] And go the fools among. [p]Prithee,
nuncle, keep a schoolmaster that can teach thy fool to [p]lie. I would
fain learn to lie.

Lear : An you lie, sirrah, we'll have you whipp'd.

Fool : I marvel what kin thou and thy daughters are. They'll have
me [p]whipp'd for speaking true; thou'lt have me whipp'd for
lying; [p]and sometimes I am whipp'd for holding my peace. I had
rather be [p]any kind o' thing than a fool! And yet I would not be
thee, [p]nuncle. Thou hast pared thy wit o' both sides and left
nothing [p]i' th' middle. Here comes one o' the parings.

Lear : How now, daughter? What makes that frontlet on? Methinks you [p]are
too much o' late i' th' frown.

Fool : Thou wast a pretty fellow when thou hadst no need to care for [p]her
frowning. Now thou art an O without a figure. I am better [p]than thou
art now: I am a fool, thou art nothing. [p][To Goneril] Yes, forsooth,
I will hold my tongue. So your face [p]bids me, though you say
nothing. Mum, mum! [p] He that keeps nor crust nor crum, [p]
Weary of all, shall want some.- [p][Points at Lear] That's a sheal'd
peascod.

Goneril : Not only, sir, this your all-licens'd fool, [p]But other of your
insolent retinue [p]Do hourly carp and quarrel, breaking forth [p]In
rank and not-to-be-endured riots. Sir, [p]I had thought, by making
this well known unto you, [p]To have found a safe redress, but now
grow fearful, [p]By what yourself, too, late have spoke and
done, [p]That you protect this course, and put it on [p]By your
allowance; which if you should, the fault [p]Would not scape censure,
nor the redresses sleep, [p]Which, in the tender of a wholesome
weal, [p]Might in their working do you that offence [p]Which else were
shame, that then necessity [p]Must call discreet proceeding.

Fool : For you know, nuncle, [p] The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so
long [p] That it had it head bit off by it young. [p]So out went
the candle, and we were left darkling.

Lear : Are you our daughter?

Goneril : Come, sir, [p]I would you would make use of that good
wisdom [p]Whereof I know you are fraught, and put away [p]These
dispositions that of late transform you [p]From what you rightly are.

Fool : May not an ass know when the cart draws the horse? [p]Whoop, Jug, I
love thee!

Lear : Doth any here know me? This is not Lear. [p]Doth Lear walk thus? speak
thus? Where are his eyes? [p]Either his notion weakens, his
discernings [p]Are lethargied- Ha! waking? 'Tis not so! [p]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, [p]Knowledge,
and reason, I should be false persuaded [p]I had daughters.

Fool : Which they will make an obedient father.

Lear : Your name, fair gentlewoman?

Goneril : This admiration, sir, is much o' th' savour [p]Of other your new
pranks. I do beseech you [p]To understand my purposes aright. [p]As
you are old and reverend, you should be wise. [p]Here do you keep a
hundred knights and squires; [p]Men so disorder'd, so debosh'd, and
bold [p]That this our court, infected with their manners, [p]Shows
like a riotous inn. Epicurism and lust [p]Make it more like a tavern
or a brothel [p]Than a grac'd palace. The shame itself doth
speak [p]For instant remedy. Be then desir'd [p]By her that else will
take the thing she begs [p]A little to disquantity your train, [p]And
the remainder that shall still depend [p]To be such men as may besort
your age, [p]Which know themselves, and you.

Lear : Darkness and devils! [p]Saddle my horses! Call my train
together! [p]Degenerate bastard, I'll not trouble thee; [p]Yet have I
left a daughter.

Goneril : You strike my people, and your disorder'd rabble [p]Make servants of
their betters.

Lear : Woe that too late repents!- O, sir, are you come? [p]Is it your will?
Speak, sir!- Prepare my horses. [p]Ingratitude, thou marble-hearted
fiend, [p]More hideous when thou show'st thee in a child [p]Than the
sea-monster!

Duke of Albany : Pray, sir, be patient.

Lear : [to Goneril] Detested kite, thou liest! [p]My train are men of choice
and rarest parts, [p]That all particulars of duty know [p]And in the
most exact regard support [p]The worships of their name.- O most small
fault, [p]How ugly didst thou in Cordelia show! [p]Which, like an
engine, wrench'd my frame of nature [p]From the fix'd place; drew from
my heart all love [p]And added to the gall. O Lear, Lear,
Lear! [p]Beat at this gate that let thy folly in [Strikes his
head.] [p]And thy dear judgment out! Go, go, my people.

Duke of Albany : My lord, I am guiltless, as I am ignorant [p]Of what hath mov'd you.

Lear : It may be so, my lord. [p]Hear, Nature, hear! dear goddess,
hear! [p]Suspend thy purpose, if thou didst intend [p]To make this
creature fruitful. [p]Into her womb convey sterility; [p]Dry up in her
the organs of increase; [p]And from her derogate body never
spring [p]A babe to honour her! If she must teem, [p]Create her child
of spleen, that it may live [p]And be a thwart disnatur'd torment to
her. [p]Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth, [p]With cadent
tears fret channels in her cheeks, [p]Turn all her mother's pains and
benefits [p]To laughter and contempt, that she may feel [p]How sharper
than a serpent's tooth it is [p]To have a thankless child! Away, away!
Exit.

Duke of Albany : Now, gods that we adore, whereof comes this?

Goneril : Never afflict yourself to know the cause; [p]But let his disposition
have that scope [p]That dotage gives it.

Lear : What, fifty of my followers at a clap? [p]Within a fortnight?

Duke of Albany : What's the matter, sir?

Lear : I'll tell thee. [To Goneril] Life and death! I am asham'd [p]That thou
hast power to shake my manhood thus; [p]That these hot tears, which
break from me perforce, [p]Should make thee worth them. Blasts and
fogs upon thee! [p]Th' untented woundings of a father's
curse [p]Pierce every sense about thee!- Old fond eyes, [p]Beweep this
cause again, I'll pluck ye out, [p]And cast you, with the waters that
you lose, [p]To temper clay. Yea, is it come to this? [p]Let it be so.
Yet have I left a daughter, [p]Who I am sure is kind and
comfortable. [p]When she shall hear this of thee, with her
nails [p]She'll flay thy wolvish visage. Thou shalt find [p]That I'll
resume the shape which thou dost think [p]I have cast off for ever;
thou shalt, I warrant thee.

Goneril : Do you mark that, my lord?

Duke of Albany : I cannot be so partial, Goneril, [p]To the great love I bear you--

Goneril : Pray you, content.- What, Oswald, ho! [p][To the Fool] You, sir, more
knave than fool, after your master!

Fool : Nuncle Lear, nuncle Lear, tarry! Take the fool with thee. [p] A
fox when one has caught her, [p] And such a daughter, [p]
Should sure to the slaughter, [p] If my cap would buy a
halter. [p] So the fool follows after. Exit.

Goneril : This man hath had good counsel! A hundred knights? [p]'Tis politic and
safe to let him keep [p]At point a hundred knights; yes, that on every
dream, [p]Each buzz, each fancy, each complaint, dislike, [p]He may
enguard his dotage with their pow'rs [p]And hold our lives in mercy.-
Oswald, I say!

Duke of Albany : Well, you may fear too far.

Goneril : Safer than trust too far. [p]Let me still take away the harms I
fear, [p]Not fear still to be taken. I know his heart. [p]What he hath
utter'd I have writ my sister. [p]If she sustain him and his hundred
knights, [p]When I have show'd th' unfitness- [Enter [Oswald the]
Steward.] [p]How now, Oswald? [p]What, have you writ that letter to my
sister?

Oswald : Yes, madam.

Goneril : Take you some company, and away to horse! [p]Inform her full of my
particular fear, [p]And thereto add such reasons of your own [p]As may
compact it more. Get you gone, [p]And hasten your return. [Exit
Oswald.] No, no, my lord! [p]This milky gentleness and course of
yours, [p]Though I condemn it not, yet, under pardon, [p]You are much
more at task for want of wisdom [p]Than prais'd for harmful mildness.

Duke of Albany : How far your eyes may pierce I cannot tell. [p]Striving to better, oft
we mar what's well.

Goneril : Nay then-

Duke of Albany : Well, well; th' event. Exeunt.

Previous: Act 1 - Scene 3

Next: Act 1 - Scene 5

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