A credulous88 father, and a brother noble, Whose nature is so far from doing harms That he suspects none;89 on whose foolish honesty My practices ride easy.90 I see the business,91 Let me, if not by birth, have lands by wit: All with me’s meet that I can fashion fit.92
Exit. 88. credulous: gullible; too trusting 175
89. Whose nature … suspects none: who is so good that he does not suspect others of behaving badly
90. My practices ride easy: My treacheries are easily carried out.
91. I see the business: I know exactly what I need to do.
92. Let me … fashion fit: If I cannot inherit lands because of my illegitimate birth, I will get them by being clever: whatever I need to do to achieve my goal is right and proper.
Let me, if not by birth, have lands by wit (Edmund, line 177)
King Lear, directed by Trevor Nunn, Royal Shakespeare Company, 2007
