This look of thine will hurl my soul from heaven, O cursed, cursed slave!--Whip me, ye devils, Lod. O thou Othello, that was once so good, Oth. Why, any thing: An honourable murtherer, if you will; Lod. This wretch hath part confess'd his villainy: Cas. Dear general, I never gave you cause. Cas. I found it in my chamber; And he himself confess'd, but even now, That there he dropp'd it, for a special purpose, Which wrought to his desire. Oth. O fool! fool! fool! Cas. There is, besides, in Roderigo's letter,How he upbraids Iago, that he made him Brave me upon the watch; whereon it came That I was cast: And even but now he spake, After long-seeming dead,-Iago hurt him, Iago set him on. Lod. You must forsake this room, and go with us; Your power and your command is taken off, And Cassio rules in Cyprus. For this slave,If there be any cunning cruelty, That can torment him much, and hold him long, It shall be his: You shall close prisoner rest, Till that the nature of your fault be known To the Venetian state: Come, bring away. Oth. Soft you; a word or two, before you go. I have done the state some service, and they know't; No more of that:-I pray you, in your letters, When you shall these unlucky deeds relate, Speak of me as I am; nothing extenuate, Nor set down aught in malice: then must you speak Of one that lov'd not wisely, but too well; Of one, not easily jealous, but, being wrought, Perplex'd in the extreme; of one, whose hand, Like the base Indian, threw a pearl away, Richer than all his tribe; of one, whose subdu'd eyes, Albeit unused to the melting mood, Drop tears as fast as the Arabian trees Their medicinable gum: Set you down this: And say, besides,-that in Aleppo once, Where a malignant and a turban'd Turk Beat a Venetian, and traduc'd the state, I took by the throat the circumcised dog, And smote him-thus. Lod. O bloody period! Gra. [Stabs himself. All that is spoke is marr'd. Oth. I kiss'd thee, ere I kill'd thee;-No way but this, Killing myself to die upon a kiss, [Dies. [pon; Cas. This did I fear, but thought he had no wea [Exeunt. a son for her cradle, ere she had a husband for her | My heart into my mouth; I love your majesty bed. Do you smell a fault? According to my bond; no more, nor less. Lear. How, how, Cordelia? mend your speech a Lest you may mar your fortunes. [little, Cor Good my lord, Kent. I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it being so proper. Glo. But I have a son, sir, by order of law, some year elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account: though this knave came somewhat saucily to the world before he was sent for, yet was his mother fair; there was good sport at his making, and the whoreson must be acknowledged.-Do you know this noble gentleman, Edmund? Edm. No, my lord. You have begot me, bred me, lov'd me: I Glo. My lord of Kent: remember him hereafter as Half my love with him, half my care, and duty: my honourable friend. Edm. My services to your lordship. [Trumpets sound within. Enter Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Goneril, Regan, Cordelia, and Attendants. Lear. Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Glo. I shall, my liege. [Exeunt Glo. and Edm. [ters, Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love, With shadowy forests and with champains rich'd, Reg. I am made of that self metal as my sister, Which the most precious square of sense possesses; Lear. To thee, and thine, hereditary ever, Lear. Nothing will come of nothing: speak again. Sure, I shall never marry like my sisters, Lear. But goes thy heart with this? Ay, my good lord. Lear. Peace, Kent! Come not between the dragon and his wrath: Revenue, execution of the rest, Kent. Let it fall rather, though the fork invade Think'st thou that duty shall have dread to speak, our 's bound, On thine allegiance, hear me !- Kent. Fare thee well, king: sith thus thou wilt appear, Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here.- Glo. Here's France and Burgundy, my noble lord. We first address toward you, who with this king Bur. Most royal majesty, I crave no more than hath your highness offer'd, Nor will you tender less. Lear. Right noble Burgundy, When she was dear to us, we did hold her so; But now her price is fall'n: Sir, there she stands; If aught within that little, seeming substance, Or all of it, with our displeasure piec'd, And nothing more, may fitly like your grace, She's there, and she is yours. Bur. Bur. I tell you all her wealth.-For you, great king, I would not from your love make such a stray, That monsters it, or your fore-vouch'd affection I yet beseech your majesty, That I am glad I have not, though not to have it Hath lost me in your liking. France. Is it but this? a tardiness in nature, Which often leaves the history unspoke That it intends to do?-My lord of Burgundy, What say you to the lady? Love's not love, When it is mingled with regards that stand Aloof from the entire point. Will you have her? She is herself a dowry. Bur. Royal king, Lear. Nothing: I have sworn; I am firm. My love should kindle to inflam'd respect.- [we [Flourish. Exeunt Lear, Burgundy, Cornwall, Albany, Gloster, and Attendants. France. Bid farewell to your sisters. Cor. The jewels of our father, with wash'd eyes Cordelia leaves you: I know you what you are; And, like a sister, am most loath to call Your faults as they are nam'd. Love well our To your professed bosoms I commit him: [father: But yet, alas! stood I within his grace, I would prefer him to a better place. So farewell to you both. Let your study Reg. Prescribe not us our duties. Who covers faults at last with shame derides. Come, my fair Cordelia. [Exeunt France and Cordelia. Gon. Sister, it is not little I have to say, of what most nearly appertains to us both. I think our father will hence to-night. Reg. That 's most certain, and with you; next month with us. Gon. You see how full of changes his age is; the observation we have made of it hath not been little: he always loved our sister most; and with what poor judgment he hath now cast her off appears too grossly. Reg. T is the infirmity of his age: yet he hath ever but slenderly known himself. Gon. The best and soundest of his time hath been but rash: then must we look from his age to receive not alone the imperfections of long-engraffed condition, but, therewithal, the unruly waywardness that infirm and choleric years bring with them. Reg. Such unconstant starts are we like to have from him, as this of Kent's banishment. Gon. There is further compliment of leave-taking between France and him. Pray you, let us sit together: if our father carry authority with such dispositions as he bears, this last surrender of his will but offend us. Reg. We shall further think of it. Gon. We must do something, and i' the heat. [Exe. SCENE II.-A Hall in the Earl of Gloster's Castle. Edm. Thou, nature, art my goddess; to thy law Enter Gloster. Glo. Kent banish'd thus! and France in choler parted! Edm. I do not well know, my lord. If it shall please Edm. If your honour judge it meet, I will place Edm. Nor is not, sure. Glo. To his father, that so tenderly and entirely loves him.-Heaven and earth!-Edmund, seek him out; wind me into him, I pray you; frame the business after your own wisdom: I would unstate myself, to be in a due resolution. Edm. I will seek him, sir, presently; convey the business as I shall find means, and acquaint you withal. Glo. These late eclipses in the sun and moon portend no good to us: Though the wisdom of nature can reason it thus and thus, yet nature finds itself And the king gone to-night! prescrib'd his power! scourged by the sequent effects: love cools, friendConfin'd to exhibition! All this done ship falls off, brothers divide: in cities, mutinies; Upon the gad!--Edmund! How now; what in countries, discord; in palaces, treason; and the Edm. So please your lordship, none. [news? bond cracked 'twixt son and father. This villain of [Putting up the letter. mine comes under the prediction; there 's son up that against father: the king falls from bias of nature; [letter? there 's father against child. We have seen the best of our time: Machinations, hollowness, treachery, and all ruinous disorders, follow us disquietly to our graves! Find out this villain, Edmund; it shall lose thee nothing; do it carefully-And the noble and true-hearted Kent banished! his offence, honesty! -T is strange! [Exit. Glo. Why so earnestly seek you to put Glo. No? what needed then that terrible despatch Glo. Let's see, let 's see. Edm. I hope, for my brother's justification, he wrote this but as an essay or taste of my virtue. Edm. This is the excellent foppery of the world! that, when we are sick in fortune, (often the surfeit of our own behaviour,) we make guilty of our disas ters the sun, the moon, and stars: as if we were villains on necessity; fools by heavenly compulsion; knaves, thieves, and treachers, by spherical predominance; drunkards, liars, and adulterers, by an enforced obedience of planetary influence; and all that we are evil in, by a divine thrusting on: An admirable evasion of whoremaster man, to lay his goatish disposition on the charge of a star! My father Glo. [Reads.] This policy, and reverence of age, makes the world bitter to the best of our times; keeps our fortunes from us, till our oldness cannot compounded with my mother under the dragon's relish them. I begin to find an idle and fond bond-tail; and my nativity was under ursa major: so age in the oppression of aged tyranny; who sways, that it follows, I am rough and lecherous.-I should not as it hath power, but as it is suffered. Come to have been that I am, had the maidenliest star in the me, that of this I may speak more. If our father firmament twinkled on my bastardizing. would sleep till I waked him, you should enjoy half) his revenue for ever, and live the beloved of your brother, Edgar.' Humph-Conspiracy! 'Sleep till I waked him,-you should enjoy half his revenue, My son Edgar! Had he a hand to write this? a heart and brain to breed it in? When came you to this? Who brought it? Edm. It was not brought me, my lord; there's the Glo. You know the character to be your brother's? Edm. It is his hand, my lord; but I hope his heart Glo. O villain, villain!-His very opinion in the letter-Abhorred villain! Unnatural, detested, brutish villain worse than brutish!-Go, sirrah, seek him; I'll apprehend him:-Abominable villain!-Where is he? Enter Edgar. Pat: he comes like the catastrophe of the old comedy: My cue is villainous melancholy, with a sigh like Tom o' Bedlam.-O, these eclipses do portend these divisions! fa, sol, la, ini. Edg. How now, brother Edmund? What serious contemplation are you in? Edm. I am thinking, brother, of a prediction I read this other day, what should follow these eclipses. Edg. Do you busy yourself with that? Edm. I promise you, the effects he writes of succeed unhappily; as of unnaturalness between the child and the parent; death, dearth, dissolutions of ancient amities; divisions in state, menaces and maledictions against king and nobles; needless dif fidences, banishment of friends, dissipation of cohorts, nuptial breaches, and I know not what. Edg. How long have you been a sectary astronomical? Edm. Come, come; when saw you my father last? Edg. The night gone by. Edm. Spake you with him? Edg. Ay, two hours together. Edin. Parted you in good terms? Found you no displeasure in him, by word, or countenance? Edg. None at all. Edm. Bethink yourself wherein you may have offended him: and at my entreaty forbear his 485 presence, till some little time hath qualified the for a king, thou art poor enough. What would'st heat of his displeasure; which at this instant so thou? Kent. Service. rageth in him, that with the mischief of your per- Lear. Who would'st thou serve? son it would scarcely allay. Lear. Dost thou know ine, fellow? Kent. You. Kent. Authority. Edg. Some villain hath done me wrong. Kent. No, sir; but you have that in your counteEdm. That's my fear. I pray you have a con-nance which I would fain call master. tinent forbearance, till the speed of his rage goes Lear. What's that? shower; and, as I say, retire with me to my fodging, from whence I will fitly bring you to hear my lord speak: Pray you, go; there's my key:-If you do stir abroad go armed. Edg. Armed, brother? Edm. Brother, I advise you to the best. I am no honest man if there be any good meaning toward you: I have told you what I have seen and heard, but faintly; nothing like the image and horror of it: Pray you, away. Edg. Shall I hear from you anon? Lear. What services canst thou do? Kent. I can keep honest counsel, ride, run, mar a curious tale in telling it, and deliver a plain message bluntly; that which ordinary men are fit for 1 am qualified in: and the best of me is diligence. Lear. How old art thou? Kent. Not so young, sir, to love a woman for singing, nor so old to 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 dinner, I will not part from thee Edm. I do serve you in this business.- [Ex. Edg. yet.-Dinner, hoa, dinner. - Where's my knave? That he suspects none; on whose foolish honesty [Exit. Enter Goneril and Steward. Gon. Did my father strike my gentleman for His knights grow riotous, and himself upbraids us [Horns within. Stew. dinner. SCENE IV.-A Hall in the same. So may it come thy master, whom thou lov'st, Horns within. Enter Lear, Knights, and Lear. Let me not stay a jot for dinner; go, get it Kent. I do profess to be no less than I seem; to serve him truly that will put me in trust; to love him that is honest; to converse with him that is wise and says little; to fear judgment; to fight when I cannot choose; and to eat no fish. Lear. What art thou? 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 my fool? Go you, and call my fool hither. Enter Steward. You, you, sirrah, where 's my daughter? Lear. What says the fellow there? Call the clot[Exit. poll back. Where's my fool, hoa?-1 think the world's asleep.-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 called him? Lear. He would not! Knight. Sir, he answered me in the roundest man[ner, he would not. Knight. My lord, I know not what the matter is; but, to my judgment, your highness is not entertained with that ceremonious affection as you were wont; there's a great abatement of kindness appears, as well in the general dependants, as in the duke himself also, and your daughter. Lear. Ha! say'st thou so? Knight. I beseech you, pardon me, my lord, if I be mistaken: for my duty cannot be silent when I think your highness wronged. Lear. Thou but remember'st me of mine own conception: I have perceived a most faint neglect of late; which I have rather blamed as mine own jealous curiosity, than as a very pretence and purpose of unkindness: I will look further into 't.-But where my fool? I have not seen him this two days. sir, the fool hath much pined away. Knight. Since my young lady's going into France, Lear. No more of that; I have noted it well.-Go O, you sir, you, come you hither, sir: Who am I, Steu. I am none of these, my lord: I beseech your Stew. I'll not be strucken, my lord. Kent, Come, sir, arise, away; I'll teach you dif- Enter Fool. Fool. Why? For taking one's part that 's out of favour: Nay, an thou canst not smile as the wind sits, thou 'It catch cold shortly: There, take my coxcomb: Why, this fellow has banish'd two of his will; if thou follow him, thou must needs wear my daughters, and did the third a blessing against his |