King Lear : Act 1, Scene 4
Enter KENT [disguised as Caius].
KENT
1 If but as well I other accents borrow,
2 That can my speech defuse, my good intent
1-2. If . . . defuse: i.e., if I can disguise my voice as well as I have disguised my appearance.
3 May carry through itself to that full issue
3. issue: result.
4 For which I raz'd my likeness. Now, banish'd Kent,
4. raz'd my likeness: erased my true appearance.
5 If thou canst serve where thou dost stand condemn'd,
5. serve . . . condemn'd: i.e., serve King Lear, who condemned you to exile.
6 So may it come, thy master, whom thou lovest,
7 Shall find thee full of labours.
7. full of labours: excellent in performing services.
Horns within. Enter LEAR, [Knights,] and
Horns within: —The king and his court have been out hunting, and we hear the hunting horns just before we see the king. The "within" means within the backstage area, out of sight.
Attendants.
KING LEAR
8 Let me not stay a jot for dinner; go get it ready.
8. stay: wait. dinner: lunch.
[One of Lear's attendants hurries away
to see about the food. Kent approaches
King Lear.]
9 How now! what art thou?
9. what art thou?: who are you?
KENT
10 A man, sir.
KING LEAR
11 What dost thou profess? what wouldst thou
11. What dost thou profess?: what is your trade?
12 with us?
11-12. what wouldst thou with us?: what do you want from me?
KENT
13 I do profess to be no less than I seem; to serve
13. profess: promise, vow.
14 him truly that will put me in trust: to love him
14. put me in trust: believe me to be trustworthy.
15 that is honest; to converse with him that is wise,
15. honest: honorable. converse: associate.
16 and says little; to fear judgment; to fight when I
16. judgment: i.e., God's judgment.
17 cannot choose; and to eat no fish.
16-17. when I cannot choose: when I must. eat no fish: always be a true beef-eating Englishman (?).
KING LEAR
18 What art thou?
KENT
19 A very honest-hearted fellow, and as poor as
20 the king.
KING LEAR
21 If thou be'st as poor for a subject as he's for a
22 king, thou art poor enough. What wouldst thou?
KENT
23 Service.
KING LEAR
24 Who wouldst thou serve?
KENT
25 You.
KING LEAR
26 Dost thou know me, fellow?
KENT
27 No, sir; but you have that in your countenance
28 which I would fain call master.
28. fain: gladly.
KING LEAR
29 What's that?
KENT
30 Authority.
KING LEAR
31 What services canst thou do?
KENT
32 I can keep honest counsel, ride, run, mar a curious
32. keep honest counsel: keep confidences.
33 tale in telling it, and deliver a plain message
32-33. mar a curious tale in telling it: spoil an elaborate story by attempting to tell it. — This little joke at his own expense underlines what Kent says next, which is that he can "deliver a plain message bluntly."
34 bluntly: that which ordinary men are fit for, I am
35 qualified in; and the best of me is diligence.
KING LEAR
36 How old art thou?
KENT
37 Not so young, sir, to love a woman for singing, nor
38 so old to dote on her for any thing: I have years
39 on my back forty eight.
KING LEAR
40 Follow me. Thou shalt serve me: if I like thee no
41 worse after dinner, I will not part from thee yet.
42 Dinner, ho, dinner! Where's my knave? my fool?
43 Go you, and call my fool hither.
[Exit an Attendant to fetch the Fool.]
Enter Steward [OSWALD].
44 You, you, sirrah, where's my daughter?
OSWALD
45 So please you,—
Exit.
45. So please you: if you don't mind. —This is a deliberately insulting brush-off.
KING LEAR
46 What says the fellow there? Call the clotpoll
46. clotpoll: blockhead.
47 back.
[Exit a Knight.]
48 Where's my fool, ho? I think the world's asleep.
[Re-enter Knight.]
49 How now! where's that mongrel?
Knight
50 He says, my lord, your daughter is not well.
KING LEAR
51 Why came not the slave back to me when I called
52 him?
Knight
53 Sir, he answered me in the roundest manner, he
53. roundest: bluntest, impolite.
54 would not.
KING LEAR
55 He would not!
Knight
56 My lord, I know not what the matter is; but, to my
57 judgment, your highness is not entertained with that
58 ceremonious affection as you were wont; there's a
58. wont: accustomed to.
59 great abatement of kindness appears as well in the
59. kindness: natural respect.
60 general dependants as in the duke himself also and
58-59. the general dependants: the staff and hangers-on of the house.
61 your daughter.
KING LEAR
62 Ha! sayest thou so?
Knight
63 I beseech you, pardon me, my lord, if I be mistaken;
64 for my duty cannot be silent when I think your
65 highness wronged.
KING LEAR
66 Thou but rememberest me of mine own conception:
66. Thou . . . conception: you are only reminding me of what I have already thought of.
67 I have perceived a most faint neglect of late; which
67. faint: indolent, careless.
68 I have rather blamed as mine own jealous curiosity
68. jealous curiosity: suspicious inquisitiveness.
69 than as a very pretense and purpose of unkindness:
69. very pretense and purpose: deliberate intention. unkindness: unnatural treatment. — Because he is king, Lear expects to be treated as a king is naturally treated, with the greatest attentiveness and respect.
70 I will look further into't. But where's my fool? I
71 have not seen him this two days.
Knight
72 Since my young lady's going into France, sir, the
72. young lady's: Cordelia's.
73 fool hath much pined away.
KING LEAR
74 No more of that; I have noted it well. Go you, and
75 tell my daughter I would speak with her.
[Exit an Attendant.]
76 Go you, call hither my fool.
[Exit another Attendant.]
Enter Steward [OSWALD].
77 O, you sir, you, come you hither, sir: who
78 am I, sir?
Illustrator: Sir John Gilbert
OSWALD
79 My lady's father.
KING LEAR
80 'My lady's father'! my lord's knave: you
81 whoreson dog! you slave! you cur!
OSWALD
82 I am none of these, my lord; I beseech your
83 pardon.
KING LEAR
84 Do you bandy looks with me, you rascal?
[Striking him.]
OSWALD
85 I'll not be struck, my lord.
KENT
86 Nor tripped neither, you base football player.
86. base football player: low-class ruffian. >>>
[Tripping up his heels.]
KING LEAR
87 I thank thee, fellow; thou servest me, and I'll
88 love thee.
KENT
89 Come sir, arise, away! I'll teach you differences.
89. differences: distinctions of rank.
90 Away, away! if you will measure your lubber's
91 length again, tarry; but away! Go to; have you
90-91. measure your lubber's length again: i.e., have your loutish body again lying on the ground.
92 wisdom? so.
[Pushes OSWALD out.]
KING LEAR
93 Now, my friendly knave, I thank thee; there's
94 earnest of thy service.
94. earnest of: a down payment on.
[Giving KENT money.]
Enter Fool.
Fool
95 Let me hire him too: here's my coxcomb.
[Offering KENT his fool's cap.]
KING LEAR
96 How now, my pretty knave! how dost thou?
Fool
97 Sirrah, you were best take my coxcomb.
KENT
98 Why, fool?
Fool
99 Why, for taking one's part that's out of favour.
100 Nay, an thou canst not smile as the wind sits,
100. an thou: if thou. smile as the wind sits: i.e., suck up to whoever has power.
101 thou'lt catch cold shortly: there, take my coxcomb.
101. catch cold: find yourself out in the cold.
102 Why, this fellow has banished two on's daughters,
103 and did the third a blessing against his will; if thou
102. banished two on's daughters: banished two of his daughters. >>>
104 follow him, thou must needs wear my coxcomb.
105 How now, nuncle! Would I had two coxcombs and
105. nuncle: mine uncle —This was a common form of address from a Fool to his lord. Of course, no other person could address a king as "nuncle," or refer to him as a "fellow," as the Fool just did.
106 two daughters!
KING LEAR:
107 Why, my boy?
Fool
108 If I gave them all my living, I'ld keep my coxcombs
108. all my living: i.e., all the property which produces the income that I live on. I'ld keep my coxcombs: I would keep my coxcombs [in order to show what a fool I was].
109 myself. There's mine; beg another of thy daughters.
KING LEAR:
110 Take heed, sirrah; the whip.
Fool
111 Truth's a dog must to kennel; he must be whipped
112 out, when Lady the brach may stand by the fire
112. brach: hound bitch
113 and stink.
KING LEAR
114 A pestilent gall to me!
114. gall: source of irritation, like an open sore.
Fool
115 Sirrah, I'll teach thee a speech.
KING LEAR
116 Do.
Fool
117 Mark it, nuncle:
117. Mark it: i.e., pay close attention.
118 Have more than thou showest,
119 Speak less than thou knowest,
120 Lend less than thou owest,
120. owest: own.
121 Ride more than thou goest,
121. goest: walk.
122 Learn more than thou trowest,
122. Learn: listen to, study. trowest: believe.
123 Set less than thou throwest;
123. Set less than thou throwest: bet less than your all on one throw of the dice.
124 Leave thy drink and thy whore,
125 And keep in-a-door,
125. in-a-door: indoors.
126 And thou shalt have more
127 Than two tens to a score.
126-127. thou shalt have more / Than two tens to a score : i.e., you will prosper.
KENT
128 This is nothing, fool.
Fool
129 Then 'tis like the breath of an unfee'd lawyer;
129. breath: speech. unfee'd: unpaid.
130 you gave me nothing for't. Can you make no
131 use of nothing, nuncle?
KING LEAR
132 Why, no, boy; nothing can be made out of
133 nothing.
Fool: [To KENT.]
134 Prithee, tell him, so much the rent of his
135 land comes to: he will not believe a fool.
KING LEAR
136 A bitter fool!
136. bitter: vexatious.
Fool
137 Dost thou know the difference, my boy,
138 between a bitter fool and a sweet one?
KING LEAR
139 No, lad; teach me.
Fool
140 That lord that counsell'd thee
141 To give away thy land,
140-141. That lord that counsell'd thee / To give away thy land:—The only "lord" who advised Lear to give away his land was Lear himself; it was all his own idea. The point of the Fool's little ditty is underline the fact that it is Lear who is the "bitter fool."
142 Come place him here by me,
143 Do thou for him stand:
144 The sweet and bitter fool
145 Will presently appear;
146 The one in motley here,
146. motley: the traditional fool's costume. >>>
147 The other found out there.
146-147. The one . . . there: i.e., me [the sweet fool] and you [the bitter fool].
KING LEAR
148 Dost thou call me fool, boy?
Fool
149 All thy other titles thou hast given away; that
149. that: that title [of "Fool"].
150 thou wast born with.
150. thou wast born with: —In Shakespeare's time "fool" could be used as a term of endearment for a baby or toddler.
KENT
151 This is not altogether fool, my lord.
151. This is not altogether fool: this that the Fool is saying is not totally foolish.
Fool
152 No, faith, lords and great men will not let me; if
152. lords . . . me: i.e., lords and great men will not allow me to have a monopoly on foolishness.
153 I had a monopoly out, they would have part on't:
152-153. if I had a monopoly out: an officially granted monopoly.
154 and ladies too, they will not let me have all fool
155 to myself; they'll be snatching. Give me an egg,
155. they'll be snatching: —The Fool is also satirizing the intense competition among the great lords of England for lucrative royal monopolies, such as the exclusive right to import a certain kind of wine.
156 nuncle, and I'll give thee two crowns.
KING LEAR
157 What two crowns shall they be?
Fool
158 Why, after I have cut the egg i' the middle, and eat
159 up the meat, the two crowns of the egg. When thou
160 clovest thy crown i' the middle, and gavest away
161 both parts, thou bor'st thy ass on thy back o'er
161. thou bor'st thy ass on thy back: i.e., you reversed the order of nature.
162 the dirt. Thou hadst little wit in thy bald crown,
163 when thou gav'st thy golden one away. If I speak
164 like myself in this, let him be whipt that first
165 finds it so.
163-165. If I speak . . . finds it so: I think this means "If anyone thinks I am speaking like what I appear to be, a fool, let him be whipped."
[Sings.]
166 "Fools had ne'er less grace in a year;
167 For wise men are grown foppish,
166-167. Fools . . . foppish: i.e., fools are no longer in demand since wise men now consider it fashionable to act and look like fools. >>>
168 And know not how their wits to wear,
169 Their manners are so apish."
169. apish : stupid, imitative.
KING LEAR
170 When were you wont to be so full of songs,
170. wont : accustomed.
171 sirrah?
Fool
172 I have used it, nuncle, e'er since thou madest thy
172. used it: made it my practice.
173 daughters thy mothers: for when thou gavest them
174 the rod, and put'st down thine own breeches,
[Sings.]
175 "Then they for sudden joy did weep,
176 And I for sorrow sung,
175-176. Then . . . sung: This is an ironic allusion to a pious song. >>>
177 That such a king should play bo-peep,
177. bo-peep: a game played with very young children, also known as "peek-a-boo."
178 And go the fools among."
179 Prithee, nuncle, keep a schoolmaster that can teach
180 thy fool to lie—I would fain learn to lie.
KING LEAR
181 An you lie, sirrah, we'll have you whipped.
181. An: if.
Fool
182 I marvel what kin thou and thy daughters are. They'll
182. what kin: how alike.
183 have me whipped for speaking true, thou'lt have
184 me whipped for lying; and sometimes I am whipped
185 for holding my peace. I had rather be any kind o'
186 thing than a fool: and yet I would not be thee, nuncle;
187 thou hast pared thy wit o' both sides, and left nothing
187. pared: sliced off.
188 i' the middle: here comes one o' the parings.
Enter GONERIL.
KING LEAR
189 How now, daughter! what makes that frontlet on?
189. frontlet: band worn on the forehead. —This is King Lear's jesting metaphor for Goneril's frown.
190 Methinks you are too much of late i' the frown.
Fool
191 Thou wast a pretty fellow when thou hadst no need to
192 care for her frowning; now thou art an O without a
193 figure: I am better than thou art now; I am a fool,
193. an O without a figure: a zero without another digit in front of it; i.e., nothing.
194 thou art nothing.
[To GONERIL.]
195 Yes, forsooth, I will hold my tongue; so your face
196 bids me, though you say nothing.
197 Mum, mum,
198 He that keeps nor crust nor crum,
199 Weary of all, shall want some.
198-199. He . . . some: i.e., he who gives everything away because he's tired of it all, will later find himself in need of some of what he gave away.
[Pointing to KING LEAR.]
200 That's a sheal'd peascod.
200. sheal'd peascod: shelled [empty] pea pod; nothing.
GONERIL
201 Not only, sir, this your all-licens'd fool,
201.all-licens'd fool: fool who is allowed to say anything and everything. >>>
202 But other of your insolent retinue
203 Do hourly carp and quarrel; breaking forth
204 In rank and not-to-be endur'd riots. Sir,
204. rank: foul, stinking, blatant.
205 I had thought, by making this well known unto you,
206 To have found a safe redress; but now grow fearful,
206. found a safe redress: seen you solve the problem.
207 By what yourself too late have spoke and done,
207. too late: all too recently.
208 That you protect this course, and put it on
208. this course: this kind of behavior.
209 By your allowance; which if you should, the fault
208-209. put it on . . . allowance: encourage it by allowing it to happen. if you should: if that is what you are doing.
210 Would not 'scape censure, nor the redresses sleep,
211 Which, in the tender of a wholesome weal,
211. tender of: care for. weal: commonwealth.
212 Might in their working do you that offence,
213 Which else were shame, that then necessity
214 Will call discreet proceeding.
213-214. Which . . . proceeding. : which under other circumstances would be shameful [to you], [but] that in this instance would by necessity be called a prudent proceeding.
Fool
For, you know, nuncle,
[Sings.]
215 "The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so long,
215. The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo: >>>
216 That it had it head bit off by it young."
217 So, out went the candle, and we were left darkling.
217. darkling: in the dark.
KING LEAR
218 Are you our daughter?
GONERIL
219 Come sir,
220 I would you would make use of that good wisdom,
221. fraught: freighted with; i.e., amply provided with.
221 Whereof I know you are fraught; and put away
222 These dispositions, that of late transport you
222. these dispositions: i.e., the capricious moods you have lately shown.
223 From what you rightly are.
Fool
224 May not an ass know when the cart draws the horse?
[Sings.]
225 "Whoop, Jug! I love thee."
225. "Whoop, Jug! I love thee.": "Jug" is a nickname for "Joan," which is a typical name for a female servant. The Fool is aiming another barb at Goneril, who is probably still frowning and expecting to be taken very seriously.
KING LEAR
226 Doth any here know me? This is not Lear:
227 Doth Lear walk thus? speak thus? Where are his eyes?
228 Either his notion weakens, his discernings
228-229. Either . . . lethargied: Either his intellect weakens or his senses are falling into a lethargy. waking?: am I awake?
229 Are lethargied—Ha! waking? 'tis not so.
230 Who is it that can tell me who I am?
Fool
231 Lear's shadow.
KING LEAR
232 I would learn that; for, by the marks of
232. that: i.e., who I am. —Lear doesn't hear or ignores the Fool's "Lear's shadow."
233 sovereignty, knowledge, and reason,
233. by the marks of . . . and reason: by the evidence supplied by my kingly nature, my memory, and my common sense.
234 I should be false persuaded I had daughters.
Fool
235 Which they will make an obedient father.
235. Which: Whom.
KING LEAR
236 Your name, fair gentlewoman?
GONERIL
237 This admiration, sir, is much o' the savour
237. admiration: [pretended] wonderment.
238 Of other your new pranks. I do beseech you
239 To understand my purposes aright:
240 As you are old and reverend, should be wise.
240. should: you should.
241 Here do you keep a hundred knights and squires;
242 Men so disorder'd, so debosh'd and bold,
242. disorder'd: disorderly. debosh'd: debauched.
243 That this our court, infected with their manners,
244 Shows like a riotous inn. Epicurism and lust
244. Shows: appears. Epicurism: devotion to the party-hearty life.
245 Make it more like a tavern or a brothel
246 Than a grac'd palace. The shame itself doth speak
246. a grac'd: an honored.
247 For instant remedy: be then desired
246-247. doth . . . remedy: shows the need for an immediate remedy.
248 By her, that else will take the thing she begs,
248. her: me.
249 A little to disquantity your train;
249. disquantity your train: reduce the size of your retinue.
250 And the remainders, that shall still depend,
250. still depend: continue to be retained.
251 To be such men as may besort your age,
251. besort: befit.
252 Which know themselves and you.
252. Which know themselves and you: i.e., who know their place and yours. — Goneril is forcibly reminding King Lear that he is no longer a king, but only an old man who should be grateful for anything he gets.
KING LEAR
Darkness and devils!
253 Saddle my horses; call my train together:
254 Degenerate bastard! I'll not trouble thee.
255 Yet have I left a daughter.
255. Yet have I left a daughter.: I still have a [true] daughter [Regan].
GONERIL
You strike my people
256 And your disorder'd rabble make servants of their betters.
Enter ALBANY.
ALBANY: i.e., the Duke of Albany, Goneril's husband.
KING LEAR
257 Woe, that too late repents,—
257. Woe, that too late repents: Woe to him who repents [of his decisions] too late. —King Lear is justifying his sudden decision to go to Regan's palace.
[To ALBANY.]
O, sir, are you come?
258 Is it your will? Speak, sir. Prepare my horses.
258. Is it your will?: i.e., Do you approve of your wife's treatment of me?
259 Ingratitude, thou marble-hearted fiend,
260 More hideous when thou show'st thee in a child
261 Than the sea-monster!
ALBANY
Pray, sir, be patient.
261. patient: calm. 
KING LEAR: [To GONERIL.]
262 Detested kite! thou liest.
262. kite: a kind of hawk that feeds on carrion, including the bodies of dead soldiers.
263 My train are men of choice and rarest parts,
263. parts: qualities, accomplishments.
264 That all particulars of duty know,
265 And in the most exact regard support
266 The worships of their name. O most small fault,
266. The worships of their name: Their honorable reputations.
267 How ugly didst thou in Cordelia show!
268 Which, like an engine, wrench'd my frame of nature
268. engine: i.e., the rack 
269 From the fix'd place; drew from heart all love,
270 And added to the gall. O Lear, Lear, Lear!
271 Beat at this gate, that let thy folly in,
271. this gate: i.e., Lear's head
[Striking his head.]
272 And thy dear judgment out! Go, go, my people.
272. dear: precious.
ALBANY
273 My lord, I am guiltless, as I am ignorant
274 Of what hath moved you.
274. moved: angered.
Illustrator: H.C. Selous
KING LEAR
274 It may be so, my lord.
275 Hear, nature, hear; dear goddess, hear!
276 Suspend thy purpose, if thou didst intend
277 To make this creature fruitful!
278 Into her womb convey sterility!
279 Dry up in her the organs of increase;
280 And from her derogate body never spring
280. derogate: debased.
281 A babe to honour her! If she must teem,
281. teem: breed.
282 Create her child of spleen; that it may live,
282. spleen: malice, spitefulness.
283 And be a thwart disnatur'd torment to her!
283. a thwart disnatur'd torment: a frustrating, unnatural torment.
284 Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth;
285 With cadent tears fret channels in her cheeks,
285. cadent: falling. fret: gnaw.
286 Turn all her mother's pains and benefits
286. mother's pains and benefits: maternal care and nurturing.
287 To laughter and contempt; that she may feel
287. laughter: mockery.
288 How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is
288. sharper than a serpent's tooth: i.e., more painful than the bite of a serpent.289 To have a thankless child!— Away, away!
Exit.
ALBANY
290 Now, gods that we adore, whereof comes this?
GONERIL
291 Never afflict yourself to know more of it;
292 But let his disposition have that scope
293 That dotage gives it.
293. let his disposition have that scope /
That dotage gives it: i.e., let him be the foolish old man that he is.
Enter [KING] LEAR.
KING LEAR
294 What, fifty of my followers at a clap!
295 Within a fortnight!
ALBANY
What's the matter, sir?
KING LEAR
296 I'll tell thee:
[To GONERIL.]
Life and death! I am asham'd
297 That thou hast power to shake my manhood thus;
298 That these hot tears, which break from me perforce,
298. perforce: against my will.
299 Should make thee worth them. Blasts and fogs
299. Should . . . them: i.e., should reveal that I care enough about you to shed tears. Blasts . . . thee: plagues upon you. >>>
upon thee!
300 The untented woundings of a father's curse
300. untented: incurable.
301 Pierce every sense about thee! Old fond eyes,
301. fond: foolish.
302 Beweep this cause again, I'll pluck ye out,
302. Beweep this cause again: if you weep again for the same reason.
303 And cast you, with the waters that you loose,
304 To temper clay. Yea, is't come to this?
304. temper clay: i.e., mix with dirt.
305 Ha? Let it be so: I have another daughter,
306 Who, I am sure, is kind and comfortable.
306. comfortable: ready to offer comfort.
307 When she shall hear this of thee, with her nails
308 She'll flay thy wolvish visage. Thou shalt find
309 That I'll resume the shape which thou dost think
308. I'll resume the shape: i.e., I will once again be an honored king.
310 I have cast off for ever.
Exit [King Lear and all of his followers
except the Fool].
GONERIL
310 Do you mark that, my lord?
ALBANY
311 I cannot be so partial, Goneril,
311. partial: biased.
312 To the great love I bear you,—
312. To: Because of.
GONERIL
313 Pray you, content. What, Oswald, ho!
313. Pray you, content: i.e., please don't worry about a thing and please shut up.
[To the Fool.]
314 You, sir, more knave than fool, after your master.
314. after your master: i.e., go follow Lear.
Fool
315 Nuncle Lear, nuncle Lear, tarry and take the fool
316 with thee.
317 A fox, when one has caught her,
318 And such a daughter,
319 Should sure to the slaughter,
319. sure: surely be sent.
320 If my cap would buy a halter:
320. halter: hangman's noose.
321 So the fool follows after.
Exit.
GONERIL
322 This man hath had good counsel—a hundred knights!
323 'Tis politic and safe to let him keep
323. politic: prudent. — Goneril is being sarcastic.
324 At point a hundred knights: yes, that, on every 324. At point: armed.
dream,
325 Each buzz, each fancy, each complaint, dislike,
325. buzz: rumor.
326 He may enguard his dotage with their pow'rs,
326. enguard his dotage: protect himself in his old age.
327 And hold our lives in mercy. Oswald, I say!
327. in mercy: at his mercy.
ALBANY
328 Well, you may fear too far.
328. you may fear too far: your fears may be overblown.
GONERIL
Safer than trust too far:
329 Let me still take away the harms I fear,
329. still: always.
330 Not fear still to be taken. I know his heart.
330. Not fear still to be taken: and not always fear to be captured in a surprise attack.
331 What he hath utter'd I have writ my sister
332 If she sustain him and his hundred knights
333 When I have show'd the unfitness,—
Enter Steward [Oswald].
333 How now, Oswald?
334 What, have you writ that letter to my sister?
OSWALD
335 Ay, madam.
GONERIL
336 Take you some company, and away to horse:
337 Inform her full of my particular fear;
337. particular: specific.
338 And thereto add such reasons of your own
339 As may compact it more. Get you gone;
339. compact: compound.
340 And hasten your return.
[Exit Oswald.]
340 No, no, my lord,
341 This milky gentleness and course of yours
341. milky . . . course: mildly gentle course of action.
342 Though I condemn not, yet, under pardon,
342. under pardon: if you will allow me to say so.
343 You are much more attask'd for want of wisdom
343. attask'd: criticized.
344 Than praised for harmful mildness.
ALBANY
345 How far your eyes may pierce I can not tell:
346 Striving to better, oft we mar what's well.
GONERIL
347 Nay, then—
ALBANY
348 Well, well; th' event.
348. th' event: i.e., we'll see what the outcome is.
Exeunt.