But I will tarry; the fool will stay, The knave turns fool that runs away; Kent. Where learn'd you this, fool? Fool. Not i' the stocks, fool. Re-enter LEAR, with GLOSTER. My dear lord, You know the fiery quality of the duke; Lear. Vengeance! plague! death! confusion! I'd speak with the Duke of Cornwall and his wife. Lear. The king would speak with Cornwall; the dear father Would with his daughter speak, commands her service: Infirmity doth still neglect all office Whereto our health is bound; we are not ourselves When nature, being oppress'd, commands the mind And am fall'n out with my more headier will For the sound man. -Death on my state! wherefore [Looking on Kent. Should he sit here? This act persuades me That this remotion of the duke and her Is practice only. Give me my servant forth. Go tell the duke and 's wife I'd speak with them, Till it cry Sleep to death. Glo. I would have all well betwixt you. [Exit. Lear. O me, my heart, my rising heart!-but, down! Fool. Cry to it, nuncle, as the cockney did to the eels when she put them i' the paste alive; she knapped 'em o' the coxcombs with a stick, and cried, Down, wantons, down! 'Twas her brother that, in pure kindness to his horse, buttered his hay. Enter CORNWALL, REGAN, GLOSTER, and Servants. Hail to your grace! [KENT is set at liberty. Reg. I am glad to see your highness. [TO KENT. Lear. Regan, I think you are; I know what reason [Points to his heart. I can scarce speak to thee; thou'lt not believe Lear. Say, how is that? Reg. I cannot think my sister in the least Lear. My curses on her! Reg. Of her confine: you should be rul'd and led Say you have wrong'd her, sir. Lear. Ask her forgiveness? Do you but mark how this becomes the house: Dear daughter, I confess that I am old; Age is unnecessary: on my knees I beg That you'll vouchsafe me raiment, bed, and food. [Kneeling. Reg. Good sir, no more; these are unsightly tricks: Return you to my sister. Lear. [rising.] Never, Regan: Look'd black upon me; struck me with her tongue, All the stor❜d vengeances of heaven fall On her ingrateful top! Strike her young bones, Corn. Fie, sir, fie! Lear. You nimble lightnings, dart your blinding flames Into her scornful eyes! Infect her beauty, You fen-suck'd fogs, drawn by the powerful sun, O the blest gods! Reg. Thee o'er to harshness: her eyes are fierce; but thine To grudge my pleasures, to cut off my train, Thy half o' the kingdom hast thou not forgot, Reg. Good sir, to the purpose. [Tucket within. What trumpet's that? Lear. Who put my man i' the stocks? Corn. Reg. I know't,-my sister's: this approves her letter, That she would soon be here. Enter OSWALD. Is your lady come? Lear. This is a slave whose easy-borrow'd pride Dwells in the fickle grace of her he follows. Out, varlet, from my sight! Corn. What means your grace? Lear. Who stock'd my servant? Regan, I have good hope Thou didst not know on't.-Who comes here? O heavens, Enter GONERIL. If you do love old men, if your sweet sway Allow obedience, if yourselves are old, Make it your cause; send down, and take my part!— Art not asham'd to look upon this beard? O Regan, wilt thou take her by the hand? [To GONERIL Gon. Why not by the hand, sir? How have I offended? All's not offence that indiscretion finds, And dotage terms so. Lear. Lear. You! did you? Reg. I pray you, father, being weak, seem so. Gon. [Pointing to OSWALD. Which I must needs call mine: thou art a boil, In my corrupted blood. But I'll not chide thee; Nor tell tales of thee to high-judging Jove: Reg. Not altogether so: I look'd not for you yet, nor am provided Lear. Is this well spoken? Hold amity? Tis hard; almost impossible. Gon. Why might not you, my lord, receive attendance From those that she calls servants, or from mine? Reg. Why not, my lord? If then they chanc'd to slack you, We could control them. If you will come to me, For now I spy a danger,-I entreat you Lear. I gave you all,— Reg. With such a number. What, must I come to you Reg. And speak't again, my lord; no more with me. Lear. Those wicked creatures yet do look well-favour'd When others are more wicked; not being the worst Stands in some rank of praise.—I'll go with thee: Thy fifty yet doth double five-and-twenty, [To GONERIL. Gon. Reg. What need one? Lear. O, reason not the need: our basest beggars Are in the poorest thing superfluous: Allow not nature more than nature needs, Man's life is cheap as beast's: thou art a lady; If only to go warm were gorgeous, Why, nature needs not what thou gorgeous wear'st, |