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.