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King Lear, I. iv

Gon. This admiration, sir, is much o' the favour 260
Of other your 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; 264
Men so disorder'd, so debosh'd, and bold,
That this our court, infected with their manners,
Shows like a riotous inn: epicurism and lust
Make it more like a tavern or a brothel 268
Than a grac'd palace. The shame itself doth speak
For instant remedy; be then desir'd,
By her that else will take the thing she begs,
A little to disquantity your train; 272
And the remainder, that shall still depend,
To be such men as may besort your age,
Which know themselves and you.

Lear. Darkness and devils!
Saddle my horses; call my train together. 276
Degenerate bastard! I'll not trouble thee:
Yet have I left a daughter.

Gon. You strike my people, and your disorder'd rabble
Make servants of their betters. 280

Enter Albany.

Lear. Woe, that too late repents;
[To Albany.] 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.


260 admiration: sign of wonder
265 disorder'd: disorderly
debosh'd: debauched
272 disquantity: reduce
273 depend: remain dependants
274 besort: befit