O Regan, wilt thou take her by the hand? I offended? All's not offence that indiscretion finds And dotage terms so. How have Lear. O sides, you are too tough; 200 Will you yet hold? How came my man i' the stocks? Corn. I set him there, sir: but his own disorders Deserved much less advancement. Lear. You! did you? Reg. I pray you, father, being weak, seem so. Lear. Return to her, and fifty men dismiss'd? slave and sumpter At your choice, sir. Gon. I will not trouble thee, my child; farewell: Which I must needs call mine: thou art a boil, 227. embossed, swollen. 210 220 In my corrupted blood. But I'll not chide thee; I and my hundred knights. Reg. Not altogether so: I look'd not for you yet, nor am provided For your fit welcome. Give ear, sir, to my sister; Must be content to think you old, and so But she knows what she does. Lear. Is this well spoken? 230 Reg. I dare avouch it, sir: what, fifty followers? 240 Is it not well? What should you need of more? Yea, or so many, sith that both charge and danger Speak 'gainst so great a number? How, in one house, Should many people, under two commands, Gon. Why might not you, my lord, receive From those that she calls servants or from mine? Reg. Why not, my lord? If then they chanced to slack you, We could control them. If you will come to me, 250 For now I spy a danger, I entreat you To bring but five and twenty to no more Will I give place or notice. Lear. I gave you all— Reg. And in good time you gave it. Lear. Made you my guardians, my depositaries, But kept a reservation to be follow'd With such a number. What, must I come to you 254. guardians, stewards, trustees. With five and twenty, Regan? said you so? 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. [To Gon.] I'll go with thee: Thy fifty yet doth double five-and-twenty, And thou art twice her love. Hear me, my lord: 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, 260 Man's life's as cheap as beast's: thou art a lady; 270 If only to go warm were gorgeous, Why, nature needs not what thou gorgeous wear'st, need, But, for true You heavens, give me that patience, patience I need! You see me here, you gods, a poor old man, That all the world shall-I will do such things,— 268. superfluous, possessed of more than they need. What they are, yet I know not, but they shall be I have full cause of weeping; but this heart Corn. Let us withdraw; 'twill be a storm. Reg. This house is little: the old man and his people Cannot be well bestow'd. Gon. 'Tis his own blame; hath put himself from rest, And must needs taste his folly. Reg. For his particular, I'll receive him gladly, But not one follower. Gon. So am I purposed. Where is my lord of Gloucester ?. Corn. Follow'd the old man forth: he is re 290 turn'd. Re-enter GLOUCESTER. Glou. The king is in high rage. Corn. Whither is he going? Glou. He calls to horse; but will I know not whither. Corn. 'Tis best to give him way; he leads himself. Gon. My lord, entreat him by no means to stay. winds Do sorely ruffle; for many miles about There's scarce a bush. 300 288. flaws, shivers. far as he is concerned. 295. For his particular, so 304. ruffle, bluster. Reg. O, sir, to wilful men, The injuries that they themselves procure Must be their schoolmasters. Shut up your doors: And what they may incense him to, being apt Corn. Shut up your doors, my lord; 'tis a wild night: My Regan counsels well: come out o' the storm. [Exeunt. 310 ACT III. SCENE I. A heath. Storm still. Enter KENT and a Gentleman, Kent. Who's there, besides foul weather? Kent. I know you. Where's the king? That things might change or cease; tears his Which the impetuous blasts, with eyeless rage, Catch in their fury, and make nothing of; The to-and-fro-conflicting wind and rain. This night, wherein the cub-drawn bear would couch, 10 12. cub-drawn, with udders drawn dry, famished. |