kindly; for though fhe's as like this as a crab's like an apple, yet I can tell what I can tell. Lear. What can't tell, boy? Fool. She will tafte as like this, as a crab does to a crab. Can't thou tell, why one's nofe stands i' th' middle of one's face? Lear. No. Fool. Why, to keep one's eyes of either fide one's nofe, that what a man cannot fmell out, he may spy into. 8 Lear. I did her wrong Fool. Can't tell how an oyfter makes his shell? Fool. Nor I neither; but I can tell, why a fnail has a house. Lear. Why? Fool. Why, to put's head in, not to give it away to his daughters, and leave his horns without a cafe. Lear. I will forget my nature.-So kind a father!Be my horfes ready? Fool. Thy affes are gone about 'em. The reason, why the seven stars are no more than seven, is a pretty reafon. Lear. Because they are not eight. Fool. Yes, indeed. Thou wouldst make a good fool. Lear. To tak't again perforce !-Monfter ingratitude! Fool. If you were my fool, nuncle, I'd have thee beaten for being old before thy time. Lear. How's that? Fool. Thou shouldft not have been old, 'till thou hadft been wife. Lear. O, let me not be mad, not mad. Sweet heav'n, Keep me in temper; I would not be mad. 8 I did her wrong.] He is mufing on Cordelia. 9 To tak't again perforce!] He is meditating on the refumption of his royalty. 7 Enter Enter Gentleman. How now, are the horfes ready? Gent. Ready, my Lord. Lear. Come, boy. Fool. She that's a maid now, and laughs at my de parture, Shall not be a maid long, unless things be cut shorter. [Exeunt. ACT II. SCENE Í. A Caftle belonging to the Earl of Glo'fter. Enter Edmund and Curan, feverally. EDMUND. AVE thee, Curan. SA Cur. And you, Sir. I have been with your father, and given him notice that the Duke of Cornwall, and Regan his Dutchefs, will be here with him this night. Edm. How comes that! Cur. Nay, I know not; you have heard of the news abroad; I mean the whisper'd ones; for they are yet but ear-kiffing arguments. * Edm. Not I; pray you, what are they? Cur. Have you heard of no likely wars toward twixt the Dukes of Cornwall and Albany? Edm. Not a word. Cur. You may do then in time. Fare you well, Sir. Edm. The Duke be here to-night! The better! best! This weaves itself perforce into my bufinefs; Subjects of difcourfe; topicks. My * My father hath fet guard to take my brother, Defcend. Brother, I fay ;- Enter Edgar. My father watches; O Sir, fly this place, You've now the good advantage of the night- Edg. I'm fure on't, not a word. Pardon me. In cunning, I must draw my fword upon you-- Now, quit you well—— Yield-Come before my father-Light hoa, here! Fly, brother Torches !-So farewel [Ex. Edgar. Some blood, drawn on me, would beget opinion [Wounds his arm. Of my more fierce endeavour. I've feen drunkards. Do more than this in fport. Father! father! Stop, ftop. No help? To him, Enter Glo'fter, and fervants with torches. Glo. Now, Edmund, where's the villain? Edm. Here ftood he in the dark, his fharp fword out, -queazy question] Something of a fufpicious, questionable This is, I and uncertain nature. think, the meaning. -bave you nothing faid Upon his party 'gainst the Duke of Albany?] The meaning. is, have you faid nothing upon the party formed by him against the Duke of Albany? HANMER. I cannot but think the line corrupted, and would read, Against his party, for the Duke of Albany? Mumb 2 * Mumbling of wicked Charms, conj'ring the moon: To ftand's aufpicious miftrefs. Glo. But where is he? Edm. Look, Sir, I bleed. Glo. Where is the villain, Edmund ? Edm. Fled this way, Sir, when by no means he could- Glo. Purfue him, ho. Go after.-By no means, what? Edm. Perfuade me to the murther of your lordship; 'Gainft Parricides did all 3 their thunder bend, To his unnat'ral purpofe in fell motion And when he faw my beft alarmed fpirits, 4 Full fuddenly he fled. Glo. Let him fly far; 5 Not in this land fhall he remain uncaught; And found.-Defpatch. The noble Duke my mafter; My worthy arch and patron, comes to-night; ble Duke, &c.] This nonfenfe fhould be read and pointed thus, Not in this land shall be remain And found, difpatch'd.- I do not fee how this change mends the fenfe: I think it may -be better regulated as in the page above. The fenfe is interrupted. He fhall be caught--and found be fhall be punished. Defpatch. By By his authority I will proclaim it. That he, who finds him, fhall deferve our thanks, Edm. When I diffwaded him from his intent, Make thy words faith'd? no; when I should deny, To thy fuggeftion, plot, and damned practice; [Trumpets within. Glo. Oftrange, faften'd villain! comes. -All Ports I'll bar; the villain fhall not 'fcape; |