Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst been wise.
Lear wanted to take all of the benefits from being a king without having to do anything. Lear did not see what would happen when giving his kingdom up to Regan and Goneril and because of this blindness he portrays, the fool foreshadows that because the King was not wise, he should not have given up and "retired" so early. Because he did, he will now lose everything.
Why, after I have cut the egg i' the middle, and eat up the meat, the two crowns of the egg. When thou clovest thy crown i' the middle, and gavest away both parts, thou borest thy ass on thy back o'er the dirt: thou hadst little wit in thy bald crown, when thou gavest thy golden one away. If I speak like myself in this, let him be whipped that first finds it so.
This seems to be very important to me as it seems as if the fool knows what Lear did much sooner than Lear realizes it. Throughout the reading the fool is the one to tell Lear of his wrong doing, but because of Lear's arrogance, is does not listen to the fool until the end. (Connects to Twelfth Night Clown) -Chris Tanner
Pray, do not mock me: I am a very foolish fond old man, Fourscore and upward, not an hour more nor less; And, to deal plainly, I fear I am not in my perfect mind.
I think that this part of the text is very important as it seems to be the one of the biggest turning points for Lear in the play. He is willing to admit to his insanity and I this was the first portion of the play where I truly began to feel bad for him. Towards the beginning I could place blame on him however the helplessness and sadness portrayed by his character makes the reader feel sorrow for him. -Chris Tanner
This Nicholas gan mercy for to crye, This Nicholas began to cry for mercy, 3289 And spak so faire, and profred him so faste, And spoke so fair, and pressed his suit so fast, 3290 That she hir love hym graunted atte laste, That she granted him her love at the last, 3291 And swoor hir ooth, by Seint Thomas of Kent, And swore her oath, by Saint Thomas of Kent, 3292 That she wol been at his comandement, That she will be at his commandment, 3293 Whan that she may hir leyser wel espie. When she may well espy her opportunity. 3294 "Myn housbonde is so ful of jalousie "My husband is so full of jealousy 3295 That but ye wayte wel and been privee, That unless you wait patiently and are secretive, 3296 I woot right wel I nam but deed," quod she. I know right well I am as good as dead," said she. 3297 "Ye moste been ful deerne, as in this cas." "You must been very secret in this matter."
This seems like an important piece of the work to me as it shows a major theme in British Literature. Deception is something that I have found to be predominant in many works that we have read. I also think this becomes a major turning point in the story where the plot thickens and the main conflict will occur.
This carpenter hadde wedded newe a wyf, This carpenter had recently wedded a wife, 3222 Which that he lovede moore than his lyf; Whom he loved more than his life; 3223 Of eighteteene yeer she was of age. She was eighteen years of age. 3224 Jalous he was, and heeld hire narwe in cage, Jealous he was, and held her narrowly in confinement, 3225 For she was wylde and yong, and he was old For she was wild and young, and he was old 3226 And demed hymself been lik a cokewold. And believed himself likely to be a cuckold.
This portion kind of called out to me because of it's difference to today's society. This kind of thing being brought up that makes me remember that I am reading something that is from the past and it keeps me involved in the story because of it.