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 counseled 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 motleydeg here,
The other found outdeg there.deg
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.deg If I had a monopolydeg out, they would have part
on't. And ladies 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.
132 unfeed unpaid for
140 bitter satirical
150 motley the drab costume of the professional jester
151 found out revealed
151 there (the Fool points at Lear, as a fool in the grain)
156 let me (have all the folly to myself)
157 monopoly (James I gave great scandal by granting to his "snatching" courtiers royal patents to deal exclusively in some commodity)
Lear. What two crowns shall they be?
Fool. Why, after I have cut the egg i' th' middle and eat up the meat, the two crowns of the egg. When thou clovest thy crown i' th' middle and gav'st away both parts, thou bor'st thine ass on thy back o'er the dirt.deg Thou hadst little wit in thy bald crown when thou gav'st thy golden one away. If I speak like myselfdeg m this, let him be whippeddeg 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.deg
Lear. When were you wont to be so full of songs, sirrah?
Fool. I have useddeg it, Nuncle, e'er since thou mad'st thy daughters thy mothers; for when thou gav'st them the rod, and put'st down thine own breeches, [Singing] Then they for sudden joy did weep, And I for sorrow sung,
That such a king should play bo-peepdeg
And go the fools among.
Prithee, Nuncle, keep a schoolmaster that can teach
thy Fool to lie. I would fain learn to lie.
Lear. Anddeg 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 165-66 bor'st ... dirt (like the foolish and unnatural countryman in Aesop's fable)
168 like myself like a Fool
168 let him be whipped i.e., let the man be whipped for a Fool who thinks my true saying to be foolish
170-73 Fools ... apish i.e., fools were never in less favor than now, and the reason is that wise men, turning foolish, and not knowing how to use their intelligence, imitate the professional fools and so make them unnecessary
176 used practiced
181 play bo-peep (1) act like a child (2) blind himself
185 And if
thee, Nuncle: thou hast pared thy wit o' both sides
and left nothing i' th' middle. Here comes one o'
the parings. Enter Goneril.
Enter Goneril.
Lear. How now, daughter? What makes that frontletdeg on? Methinks you are too much of late i' th' 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.deg I am better than thou art now: I am a Fool, thou art nothing. [To Goneril.] Yes, forsooth, I will hold my tongue. So your face bids me, though you say nothing. Mum, mum, He that keeps nor crust nor crum,deg
Weary of all, shall wantdeg some.
[Pointing to Lear] That's a shealed peascod.deg
Goneril. Not only, sir, this your all-licenseddeg Fool, But otherdeg of your insolent retinue
Do hourly carp and quarrel, breaking forth
In rankdeg and not-to-be-endured riots. Sir,
I had thought by making this well known unto you
To have found a safedeg redress, but now grow
fearful,
By what yourself too latedeg have spoke and done,
That you protect this course, and put it on
By your allowance;deg which if you should, the fault
Would not 'scape censure, nor the redresses sleep,deg
Which, in the tender ofdeg a wholesome weal,deg
Might in their working do you that offense,
Which else were shame, that then necessity
Will call discreet proceeding.deg
194 frontlet frown (lit., ornamental band)
199 figure digit, to give value to the cipher (Lear is a nought)
203 crum soft bread inside the loaf
204 want lack
205 shealed peascod empty pea pod
206 all-licensed privileged to take any liberties
207 other others
209 rank gross
211 safe sure
212 too late lately
213-14 put... allowance promote it by your approval
214 allowance approval
215 redresses sleep correction fail to follow
216 tender of desire for
216 weal state
217-19 Might ... proceeding as I apply it, the correction might humiliate you; but the need to take action cancels what would otherwise be unfilial conduct in me
Fool. For you know, Nuncle, The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoodeg so long
That it had it head bit off by itdeg young.
So out went the candle, and we were left darkling.deg
Lear. Are you our daughter?
Goneril. Come, sir, I would you would make use of your good wisdom
Whereof I know you are fraughtdeg and put away
These dispositionsdeg which of late transport you
From what you rightly are.
Fool. May not an ass know when the cart draws the horse? Whoop, Jug,deg I love thee!
Lear. Does any here know me? This is not Lear. Does Lear walk thus? Speak thus? Where are his
eyes?
Either his notiondeg weakens, or his discerningsdeg
Are lethargieddeg--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, deg knowledge, and reason, I should be falsedeg persuaded I had daughters.
Fool. Whichdeg they will make an obedient father.
Lear. Your name, fair gentlewoman?
Goneril. This admiration,deg sir, is much o' th' savordeg Of other yourdeg new pranks. I do beseech you
To understand my purposes aright.
As you are old and reverend, should be wise.
Here do you keep a hundred knights and squires, 221 cuckoo (who lays its eggs in the nests of other birds)
222 it its
223 darkling in the dark
227 fraught endowed
228 dispositions moods
231 Jug Joan (? a quotation from a popular song)
234 notion understanding 234 discernings faculties
235 lethargied paralyzed
238-39 marks of sovereignty i.e., tokens that Lear is king, and hence father to his daughters
239 false falsely
241 Which whom (Lear)
243 admiration (affected) wonderment
243 is much o' th' savor smacks much
244 other your others of your
Men so disordered, so deboshed,deg and bold,
That this our court, infected with their manners,
Showsdeg like a riotous inn. Epi
curismdeg and lust
Makes it more like a tavern or a brothel
Than a graceddeg palace. The shame itself doth speak
For instant remedy. Be then desireddeg
By her, that else will take the thing she begs,
A little to disquantity your train,deg
And the remaindersdeg that shall still depend,deg
To be such men as may besortdeg your age,
Which know themselves, and you.
Lear. Darkness and devils! Saddle my horses; call my train together.
Degeneratedeg bastard, I'll not trouble thee:
Yet have I left a daughter.
Goneril. You strike my people, and your disordered rabble Make servants of their betters.
Enter Albany.
Lear. Woe, that too late repents. 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.
Albany. Pray, sir, be patient.
Lear. Detested kite,deg thou liest. My train are men of choice and rarest parts,deg
That all particulars of duty know,
And, in the most exact regard,deg support
The worshipsdeg of their name. O most small fault, 248 deboshed debauched
250 Shows appears
250 Epicurism riotous living
252 graced dignified
253 desired requested
255 disquantity your train reduce the number of your dependents
256 remainders those who remain
256 depend attend on you
257 besort befit
260 Degenerate unnatural
269 kite scavenging bird of prey
270 parts accomplishments
272 exact regard strict attention to detail
273 worships honor
How ugly didst thou in Cordelia show!
Which, like an engine,deg wrenched my frame of
nature
From the fixed place;deg drew from my heart all love,
And added to the gall.deg 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.
Albany. My lord, I am guiltless, as I am ignorant Of what hath moved 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,deg
And from her derogatedeg body never spring
A babe to honor her. If she must teem,deg
Create her child of spleen,deg that it may live
And be a thwart disnatureddeg torment to her.
Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth,
With cadentdeg tears fretdeg channels in her cheeks,
Turn all her mother's pains and benefitsdeg
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.
Albany. Now, gods that we adore, whereof comes this?
Goneril. Never afflict yourself to know the cause, But let his dispositiondeg have that scope
Asdeg dotage gives it.
Enter Lear.
Lear. What, fifty of my followers at a clap?deg 275 engine destructive contrivance
274-76 wrenched ... place i.e., disordered my natural self
277 gall bitterness
286 increase childbearing
287 derogate degraded
288 teem conceive
289 spleen ill humor
290 thwart disnatured perverse unnatural
292 cadent falling
292 fret wear
293 benefits the mother's beneficent care of her child
299 disposition mood
300 As that
301 at a ciap at one stroke
Within a fortnight?
Albany. What's the matter, sir?
Lear. I'll tell thee. [To Goneril] Life and death, I am ashamed That thou hast power to shake my manhooddeg
thus!
That these hot tears, which break from me
perforce,deg
Should make thee worth them. Blasts and fogs
upon thee!
Th' untented woundingsdeg of a father's curse
Pierce every sense about thee! Old fonddeg eyes,
Beweepdeg this cause again, I'll pluck ye out
And cast you, with the waters that you loose,deg
To temperdeg clay. Yea, is it come to this?
Ha! Let it be so. I have another daughter,
Who I am sure is kind and comfortable.deg
When she shall hear this of thee, with her nails
She'll flay thy wolvish visage. Thou shalt find
That I'll resume the shapedeg which thou dost think
I have cast off for ever.
Exit [Lear with Kent and Attendants].
Goneril. Do you mark that?
Albany. I cannot be so partial, Goneril, To the great love I bear youdeg--
Goneril. 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 Fooldeg with thee. 304 shake my manhood i.e., with tears
305 perforce involuntarily, against my will
307 untented woundings wounds too deep to be probed with a tent (a roll of lint)
308 fond foolish
309 Beweep if you weep over
310 loose (1) let loose (2) lose, as of no avail
311 temper mix with and soften
313 comfortable ready to comfort
316 shape i.e., kingly role
318-19 I cannot ... you i.e., even though my love inclines me to you, I must protest
322 Fool (1) the Fool himself (2) the epithet or character of "fool"
A fox, when one has caught her,
And such a daughter,
Should sure to the slaughter,
If my cap would buy a halter.deg
So the Fool follows after.deg Exit.
Goneril. This man hath had good counsel. A hundred knights! 'Tis politicdeg and safe to let him keep
At pointdeg a hundred knights: yes, that on every
dream,
Each buzz,deg each fancy, each complaint, dislike,
He may enguarddeg his dotage with their pow'rs
And hold our lives in mercy.deg Oswald, I say!
Albany. Well, you may fear too far.
Goneril. Safer than trust too far. Let me still take away the harms I fear,
Not fear still to be taken.deg I know his heart.
What he hath uttered I have writ my sister.
If she sustain him and his hundred knights,
When I have showed-th' unfitness--
Enter Oswald.
How now, Oswald?
What, have you writ that letter to my sister?
Oswald. Ay, madam.
Goneril. Take you some company,deg and away to horse. Inform her full of my particulardeg fear,
And thereto add such reasons of your own
As may compactdeg it more. Get you gone,
And hasten your return. [Exit Oswald.] No, no,
my lord,
This milky gentleness and coursedeg of yours,
Though I condemn not,deg yet under pardon, 327-28 halter, after pronounced "hauter," "auter"
330 politic good policy
331 At point armed
332 buzz rumor
333 enguard protect
334 in mercy at his mercy
337 Not ... taken rather than remain fearful of being overtaken by them
343 company escort 344 particular own
346 compact strengthen
348 milky ... course mild an
d gentle way (hendiadys)
349 condemn not condemn it not
You are much more attaskeddeg for want of wisdom
Than praised for harmful mildness.deg
Albany. How far your eyes may pierce I cannot tell; Striving to better, oft we mar what's well.
Goneril. Nay then--
Albany. Well, well, th' event.deg Exeunt.
Scene 5. [Court before the same.]
Enter Lear, Kent, and Fool.
Lear. Go you before to Gloucester with these letters. Acquaint my daughter no further with anything you know than comes from her demand out of the letter.deg If your diligence be not speedy, I shall be there afore you.
Kent. I will not sleep, my lord, till I have delivered your letter. Exit.
Fool. If a man's brains were in's heels, were'tdeg not in danger of kibes?deg
Lear. Ay, boy.
Fool. Then I prithee be merry. Thy wit shall not go slipshod.deg
Lear. Ha, ha, ha.
Fool. Shaltdeg see thy other daughter will use thee kindly;deg for though she's as like this as a crab'sdeg like an apple, yet I can tell what I can tell.
350 attasked taken to task, blamed
351 harmful mildness dangerous indulgence
355 th' event i.e., we'll see what happens
1.5.3-4 than ... letter than her reading of the letter brings her to ask
8 were't i.e., the brains
9 kibes chilblains
11-12 Thy ... slipshod your brains shall not go in slippers (because you have no brains to be protected from chilblains)
14 Shalt thou shalt
15 kindly (1) affectionately (2) after her kind or nature
15 crab crab apple
Lear. Why, what canst thou tell, my boy?
Fool. She will taste as like this as a crab does to a crab. Thou canst tell why one's nose stands i' th' middle on'sdeg face?
Lear. No.
Fool. Why, to keep one's eyes ofdeg either side's nose, that what a man cannot smell out, he may spy into.
Lear. I did her wrong.
Fool. Canst tell how an oyster makes his shell?
Lear. No.
Fool. Nor I neither; but I can tell why a snail has a house.
Lear. Why?
Fool. Why, to put 's head in; not to give it away to his daughters, and leave his hornsdeg without a case.
Lear. I will forget my nature.deg So kind a father! Be my horses ready?
Fool. Thy asses are gone about 'em. The reason why the seven starsdeg are no moedeg than seven is a prettydeg reason.