He that keeps nor crust nor crum, That's a sheal'd peascod1. [Pointing to LEAR. Gon. Not only, sir, this your all-licens'd fool, But other of your insolent retinue Do hourly carp and quarrel; breaking forth 2 I had thought, by making this well known unto you, Fool. For you trow, nuncle, The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so long, So, out went the candle, and we were left darkling *. Gon. Come, sir, I would, you would make use of 1 That's a sheal'd peascod.] i. e. Now a mere husk, which contains nothing. The outside of a king remains, but all the intrinsic parts of royalty are gone: he has nothing to give. 2 · put it on ] i. e. promote, push it forward. - 3 By your allowance ;] By your approbation. 4 were left darkling.] Shakspeare's fools are certainly copied from the life. The originals whom he copied were no doubt men of quick parts; lively and sarcastick. Though they were licensed to say any thing, it was still necessary to prevent giving offence, that every thing they said should have a playful air we may suppose therefore that they had a custom of taking off the edge of too sharp a speech by covering it hastily with the end of an old song, or any glib nonsense that came into the mind. I know no other way of accounting for the incoherent words with which Shakspeare often finishes this fool's speeches. : Sir JOSHUA REYNOLDS. that good wisdom whereof I know you are fraught; and put away these dispositions, which 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. Does any here know me ?-Why this is not Lear does Lear walk thus? speak thus? Where are his eyes? Either his notion weakens, or his discernings are lethargied.-Sleeping or waking?-Ha! sure 'tis not so.-Who is it that can tell me who I am?— Lear's shadow? 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“. Gon. Come, sir; This admiration 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: Shows like a riotous inn: epicurism and lust Than a grac'd palace. The shame itself doth speak By her, that else will take the thing she begs, 5 - -for by the marks of sovereignty, knowledge, and reason, &c.] Were I to judge from the marks of sovereignty, of knowledge, or reason, I should be induced to think I had daughters, yet that must be a false persuasion ;-It cannot be. 6 Which they will make an obedient father.] Which, is on this occasion used with two deviations from present language. It is referred, contrary to the rules of grammarians, to the pronoun I, and is employed, according to a mode now obsolete, for whom, the accusative case of who. 7 o'the favour] i. e. of the complexion. VOL. VIII. D A little to disquantity your train ; And the remainder, that shall still depend3, And know themselves and you. Lear. Darkness and devils! Gon. You strike my people; and your disorder'd rabble Make servants of their betters. Enter ALBANY. Lear. Woe, that too late repents,-O, sir, are you come? Is it your will? [to ALB.] Speak, sir.-Prepare my horses. Ingratitude! thou marble-hearted fiend, More hideous, when thou show'st thee in a child, 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: 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, still depend,] Depend, for continue in service. 9 Than the sea-monster!] Mr. Upton observes, that the seamonster is the hippopotamus, the hieroglyphical symbol of impiety and ingratitude. 1 like an engine,] By an engine is meant the rack. 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; Dry up in her the organs of increase; 3 To have a thankless child!-Away, away! [Exit. Alb. Now, gods, that we adore, whereof comes this? Gon. Never afflict yourself to know the cause; 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! I am asham'd That thou hast power to shake my manhood thus: ▲ Turn all her mother's pains, and benefits,] Her maternal cares and good offices. That these hot tears, which break from me perforce, Should make thee worth them.-Blasts and fogs upon thee! 5 The untented woundings of a father's curse Pierce every sense about thee ;-Old fond eyes, Gon. Do you mark that, my lord? Alb. I cannot be so partial, Goneril, To the great love I bear you, Gon. Pray you, content.-What, Oswald, ho! You, sir, more knave than fool, after your master. [To the Fool. Fool. Nuncle Lear, nuncle Lear, tarry, and take the fool with thee. A fox, when one has caught her, 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 politick, and safe, to let him keep At point, a hundred knights. Yes, that on every dream, 5 The untented woundings] Untented wounds, means wounds in their worst state, not having a tent in them to digest them: and may possibly signify here such as will not admit of having a tent put into them for that purpose. At point,] Completely armed, and consequently ready at appointment or command on the slightest notice. |