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Home : King Lear : Act 1, scene i : page 26 Read the Study Guide: King Lear
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King Lear
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 REGAN
300 'Tis the infirmity of his age. Yet he hath ever but slenderly
  known himself.
REGAN
He's going senile. But then again he's never really understood his own feelings very well.
 GONERIL
  The best and soundest of his time hath been but rash. Then
  must we look from his age to receive not alone the
  imperfections of long-engrafted condition, but therewithal
305 the unruly waywardness that infirm and choleric years
  bring with them.
GONERIL
Yes, he was hotheaded even in the prime of his life. Now that he's old, we can expect to have to deal not only with his old character flaws, which have turned into deep-rooted habits, but also with the uncontrollable crabbiness that comes with old age.
 REGAN
  Such unconstant starts are we like to have from him as this
  of Kent's banishment.
REGAN
We'll probably witness many more outbursts from him, like banishing Kent.
 GONERIL
  There is further compliment of leave-taking between
310 France and him. Pray you, let's sit together. If our father
  carry authority with such dispositions as he bears, this last
  surrender of his will but offend us.
GONERIL
There's still the King of France's farewell ceremony. Let's put our heads together. If our father continues to use his authority as usual, then his recent abdication of the kingdom will just hurt us.
 REGAN
  We shall further think on 't.
REGAN
We'll have to think about it carefully.
 GONERIL
  We must do something, and i' th' heat.
GONERIL
We have to strike while the iron's hot.
Exeunt
They exit.

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