Page:King Lear (1917) Yale.djvu/45

King Lear, I. iv

By your allowance; which if you should, the fault

Would not 'scape censure, nor the redresses sleep,

Which, in the tender of a wholesome weal,

Might in their working do you that offence,

Which else were shame, that then necessity

Will call discreet proceeding.

Fool. For you trow, nuncle,

The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so long,

That it had it head bit off by it young.

So out went the candle, and we were left darkling.

Lear. Are you our daughter?

Gon. I would you would make use of your good wisdom,

Whereof I know you are fraught; and put away

These dispositions which of late transform you

From what you rightly are.

Fool. May not an ass know when the cart

draws the horse? Whoop, Jug! 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 notion weakens, his discernings

Are lethargied. 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, knowledge and reason, I should

be false persuaded I had daughters.

Fool. Which they will make an obedient

father.]

Lear. Your name, fair gentlewoman?

 231 allowance: approval

233 tender: care

weal: commonwealth

239 it: its

240 darkling: in the dark

243 fraught: stored

247 Jug; cf. n.

250 notion: understanding

257 Which they: who

