Should sure to the slaughter, "Tis politick, and safe, to let him keep Each buz, each fancy, each complaint, dislike, Enter Steward. What, have you writ that letter to my sister? Gon. Take you some company, and away to Inform her full of my particular fear; This milky gentleness, and course of yours, Alb. How far your eyes may pierce, I cannot Striving to better oft we mar what's well. Alb. Well, well; the event. [Exeunt. SCENE V. Court before the same. • Enter Lear, Kent, and Fool. Lear. Go you before to Gloster, with these letters: acquaint my daughter no further with any thing you know, than comes from her demand out of the letter: If your diligence be not speedy, I shall be there before you. Lear. Because they are not eight? fool. Lear. To take it again perforce !-Monster, ingratitude! Fool. If thou wert my fool, nuncle, I'd have thee beaten for being old before thy time. Lear. How's that? Fool. Thou should't not have been old, before thou hadst been wise. Lear. O let me not be mad, not mad, sweet Keep me in temper; I would not be mad!- How now! Are the horses ready? Fool. She that is maid now, and laughs at my Shall not be a maid long, unless things be cut shorter. Exeunt ACT II. SCENE I. A Court within the Castle of the Enter Edmund and Curan, meeting. Edm. Save thee, Curan. Cur. And you, Sir. I have been with your father; and given him notice, that the Duke of Cornwall, and Regan his duchess, will be here with him to-night. Edm. How comes that? Cur. Nay, I know not: You have heard of the news abroad; I mean, the whispered ones, for they are yet but ear-kissing arguments? Edm. Not I; 'Pray you, what are they? Cur. Have you heard of no likely wars toward, 'twixt the Dukes of Cornwall and Albany 7 Edm. Not a word. Cur. You may then, in time. Fare you well, sir. (Erit Edm. The duke be here to-night ? The better Best! This weaves itself perforce into my business! My father hath set guard to take my brother; And I have one thing, of a queasy question, [Exit. Which I must act :-Briefness, and fortune, work! Kent. I will not sleep, my lord, till I have delivered your letter. Fool. If a man's brains were in his heels, were't not in danger of kibes ? Lear. Ay, boy. Fool. Then, I pr'y thee, be merry; thy wit shall not go slip-shod. Lear. Ha, ha, ha! Fool. Shalt see, thy other daughter will use thee kindly; for though she's as like this as a crab is like an apple, yet I can tell what I can tell. Lear. Why, what canst thou tell, my boy? Fool. She will taste as like this, as a crab does to a crab. Thou can'st tell, why one's nose stands i' the middle of his face?" Brother, a word; descend:-Brother, I say; My father watches:-O sir, fly this place; wall? He's coming hither; now, i' the night, i' the And Regan with him; Have you nothing said Edg. I am sure on't, not a word Yield :-Come before my father;-Light, ba, well. Fly, brother;-Torches! torches!-So, fare Do more than this in sport.-Father! Father! Enter Gloster, and Servants with Torches Edm. Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword out, Mumbling of wicked charms, conjuring the moon To stand his auspicious mistress :-Glo. But where is he? Edm. Look, sir, I bleed. Glo. Pursue him, ho,-Go after.-[Erit Serv.] Edm. Persuade me to the murder of your But that I told him, the revenging gods. Or whether gasted by the noise I made, Glo. Let him fly far: Not in this land shall he remain uncaught; And found-Despatch.-The noble duke my master, My worthy arch and patron, comes to-night: By his authority I will proclaim it, That he, which finds him, shall deserve our thanks, Bringing the murderous coward to the stake; He, that conceals him, death. Edm. When I dissuaded him from his intent, And found him pight to do it, with curst speech;| I threatened to discover him: He replied, Thou unpossessing bastard! dost thou think If I would stand against thee, would the reposal Of any trust, virtue, or worth, in thee Make thy words faith'd! No: what I should deny, As this I would; ay, though thou didst produce My very character). I'd turn it all To thy suggestion, plot, and damned practice: Glo. comes All ports I'll bar; the villain shall not 'scape; The dike must grant me that: besides, his pic ture I will send far and near, that a'l the kingdom May have due note of him; and of my land, Loyal and natural boy, I'll work the means" To make thee capable. Enter Cornwall, Regan, and Attendants. Corn. How now, my noble friend? since I came hither (Which I can call but now) 1 have heard strange news. Reg. If it be true, all vengeance comes too short, Which can pursue the offender. How dost, lord ? my Glo. O, madam, my old heart is crack'd, is crack'd! Reg. What, did my father's godson seek your life ? He whom my father nam'd? your Edgar? Glo. O lady, lady, shame would have it hid! Reg. Was he not companion with the riotous knights That tend upon my father? It is too bad, too bad.- I know not, madam: Yes, madam, he was. Reg. No marvel then, though he were ill affected; "Tis they have put him on the old man's death, That, if they come to sojourn at my house, Glo. How in my strength you please.-For you, Edmund, Whose virtue and obedience doth this instant So much commend itself, you shall be ours; Natures of such deep trust we shall much need; You we first seize on. Edm. Truly, however else. I shall serve you, sir, Glo. For him I thank your grace. you, Reg. Thus out of season; threading dark-ey'd night. Occasions, noble Gloster, of some poize, gers From hence attend despatch. friend, Our good old Lay comforts to your bosom; and bestow Your needful counsel to our business, Which craves the instant use. Glo. I serve you, madam: Kent. Ay. Stew. Where may we set our horses ? Stew. 'Pr' ythee, if thou love me, tell me. Stew. Why, then I care not for thee. Kent. If I had thee in Lipsbury pinfold, I would make thee care for me. Stew. Why dost thou use me thus? I know thee not. Kent. Fellow, I know thee. Stew. What dost thou know me for? Kent. A knave; a rascal, an eater of broken meats; a base, proud, shallow, beggarly, three suited, hundred-pound, filthy worsted-stocking knave; a lily-liver'd, action-taking knave; a whorson, glass-gazing, superserviceable, finical rogue; one-trunk-inheriting slave; one that would'st be a bawd, in way of good-service, and art nothing but the composition of a knave, beggar, coward, pander, and the son and heir of a mongrel bitch: one whom I will beat into clamorous whining, if thou deny'st the least syllable of thy addition. Stew. Why, what a monstrous fellow art thou, Than stands on any shoulder that I see This is some fellow, Who, having been prais'd for bluntness, doth affect Harbour more craft, and more corrupter ends, Kent. What a brazen faced varlet art thou, to deny thou know'st me? Is it two days ago, since I tripp'd up thy heels, and beat thee, before the A saucy roughness; and constrains the garb, king Draw, you rogue: for though it be night, Quite from his nature; He cannot flatter, hethe moon shines; I'll make a sop o' the moon- An honest mind and plain, he must speak truth: shine of you: Draw, you whorson cullionly An they will take it, so; if not, he's plain. barber-monger, draw. [Drawing his Sword. These kind of knaves I know, which in this Stew. Away; I have nothing to do with thee. plainness Kent. Draw, you rascal: you come with letters against the king; and take vanity the puppet's part, against the royalty of her father: Draw, you rogue, or I'll so carbonado your shanks:draw, you rascal: come your ways. Stew. Help, ho! murder! help! Kent. Strike, you slave; stand, rogue, stand: you neat slave, strike. [Beating him. Stew. Help, ho! murder! murder! Enter Edmund, Cornwall, Regan, Gloster, and Servants. Edm. How now? What's the matter? Part. Corn. What is your difference? speak. Corn. Thou art a strange fellow : a tailor make a man? Kent. Sir, in good sooth, in sincere verity, Corn. What was the offence you gave him? It pleas'd the king his master, very late, Kent. None of these rogues, and cowards, Kent. Ay, a tailor, sir; a stone-cutter, or a painter, could not have made him so ill, though they had been but two hours at the trade. Corn. Speak yet, how grew your quarrel? Stew. This ancient ruffian, sir, whose life 1 Kent. have spar'd, At suit of his gray beard, Kent. Thou whorson zed! thou unnecessary letter-My lord, if you will give me leave, 1 will tread this unbolted villain into mortar, and daub the wall of a jakes with him.-Spare my gray beard, you wagtail? Corn Peace, sirrah! You beastly knave, know you no reverence? Kent. That such a slave as this should wear a Who wears no honesty. Such smiling rogues as these, Like rats, oft bite the holy cords atwain Which are too intrinse t' unloose: smooth every passion That in the natures of their lords rebels ; Bring oil to fire, snow to their colder moods; Kent. No contraries hold more antipathy, Kent. His countenance likes me not. or hers. Kent. Sir, 'tis y occupation to be plain; I have seen better faces in my time, Sir, I am too old to learn: Fetch forth the stocks: noon. Reg. Till noon! till night, my lord; and all Kent. Why, madam, if I were your father's dog, Sir, being his knave, I will [Stocks brought out Corn. This is a fellow of the selfsame colour Our sister speaks of:-Come, bring away the stocks. Glo. Let me beseech your grace not to do so: His fault is much, and the good king his master Will check him for't: your purpos'd low cap rection Is such, as basest and contemned'st wretches, Corn. To have her gentleman abus'd, assaulted, Come, my good lord; away. [Exeunt Regan and Cornwall Glo. I am sorry for thee, friend; 'tis the duke's pleasure. Whose disposition, all the world well knowF. thee. Kent. 'Pray, do not, sir: I have watch'd, and travell'd hard; Some time I shall sleep out, the rest I'll whistle. A good man's fortune may grow out at heels: Give you good morrow! Glo. The duke's to blame in this; 'twill be ill Thou out of heaven's benediction com'st Approach, thou beacon to this under globe, Take vantage, heavy eyes, not to behold Fortune, good night; smile once more; turn SCENE JIL A Part of the Heath. Edg. I heard myself proclaim'd; Blanket my loins; elf all my hair in knots; Kent. To do, upon respect, such violent outrage: From Goneril his mistress, salutations: Commanded me to follow, and attend The leisure of their answer; gave me cold looks: Display'd so saucily against your highness,) Fool. Winter's not gone yet, if the wild geese fly that way. Fathers, that wear rags, Do make their children blind; Ne'er turns the key to the poor.— heart! Thy element's below!-Where is this daughter Hysterica passio! down, thon climbing sorrow, Kent. With the earl, sir, here within. Lear. Stay here. Follow me not; [Exit. Gent. Made you no more offence than what Kent. None. you speak of? How chance the king comes with so small a train ? Fool. An thou hadst been set i'the stocks for that question, thou hadst well deserved it. Kent. Why, fool? Fool. We'll set thee to school to an ant, to teach thee there's no labouring in the winter. All that follow their noses are led by their eyes, but blind men; and there's not a nose among twenty, but can smell him that's stinking. Let go thy hold, when a great wheel runs down a hill, lest it break thy neck with following it; but the great one that goes up the hill, let him draw thee after. When a wise man gives thee better counsel, give me mine again I would have no ne but knaves follow it, since a fool gives it. That, sir, which serves and seeks for gain, The knave turns fool, that runs away; Kent. Where learn'd you this, fool? Re-enter Lear, with Gloster. Lear. Deny to speak with me? They are sick? they are weary? They have travell'd hard to-night ? Mere fetches; The images of revolt and flying off! Fetch me a better answer. Glo. My dear lord, Lear. Vengeance! plague! death! confu sion! Fiery, what quality? Why, Gloster, Gloster, Glo. Well, my good lord, I have inform'd them so. Lear. Inform'd them! Dost thou understand me, man? Glo. Ay, my good lord. Lear. The king would speak with Cornwall; the dear father Would with his daughter speak, commands her service: Are they inform'd of this 7-My breath and blood! Of her confine: you should be rul'd, and led [Kneeling That you'll vouchsafe me raiment, bed, and food. Reg. Good sir, no more; these are unsightly Return you to my sister. Most serpentlike, upon the very heart :- Fiery? the fiery duke? Tell the hot duke, When nature, being oppress'd, commands the mind To suffer with the body: I'll forbear; And am fallen out with my more headier will, Now, presently: bid them come forth and hear me, Or at their chamber door I'll beat the drum, Glo. I'd have all well betwixt you. [Exit Fool. Cry to it, nuncle, as the cockney did to the eels, when she put them i' the paste alive; she rapp'd 'em o' the coxcombs with a stick, and cry'd, Down, wantons, down: 'Twas her brother, that in pure kindness to his horse, butter'd his hay. Enter Cornwall, Regan, Gloster, and Servants. reason I have to think so: if thou should'st not be glad, You less know how to value her desert, Lear. Say, how is that? Corn. Fie, fie, fie! Lear. You nimble lightnings, dart your blinding flames Into her scornful eyes! Infect her beauty, Reg. O the blest gods! So will you wish on me, when the rash mood is on. Lear. No, Regan, thou shalt never have my curse; Thy tender-hefted nature shall not give Do comfort, and not burn: 'Tis not in thee If you do love old men, if your sweet sway Art not ashamed to look upon this beard 7— Al's not offence, that indiscretion finds, O, sir, you are old; Corn. I set him there, sir: but his own disorders |