Page 1864 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

LEAR

I’ll see their trial first. Bring in their evidence. [35]
(To Edgar.) Thou robed man of justice, take thy place;
(To the Fool.) And thou, his yoke-fellow of equity,

Bench by his side. (To Kent.) You are o’th’commission,
Sit you too.

EDGAR
Let us deal justly. [40]
Sleepest or wakest thou, jolly shepherd?
Thy sheep be in the corn;

And for one blast of thy minikin mouth,
Thy sheep shall take no harm.
Purr, the cat is grey. [45]

LEAR
Arraign her first; ’tis Goneril. I here take my oath before this honourable

assembly, she kick’d the poor King her father.

FOOL

Come hither, mistress. Is your name Goneril?

LEAR
She cannot deny it. [50]

FOOL
Cry you mercy, I took you for a joint-stool.

LEAR
And here’s another, whose warp’d looks proclaim
What store her heart is made on. Stop her there!
Arms, arms, sword, fire! Corruption in the place!

False justicer, why hast thou let her ’scape? [55]

EDGAR
Bless thy five wits!