Foole. Ha, ha, looke, he weares crewell garters, Lear. What's he, that hath so much thy place mistooke to fet thee here? Kent. It is both he and fhe, your fonne and daughter. Lear. No. Kent. Yes. Lear. No I fay. Kent. I fay yea. Lear. No, no, they would not. Kent. Yes they haue. Lear. By Iupiter I fweare no, they durft not do it, Refolue me with all modest hafte, which way Kent. My lord, when at their home I did commend your highnesse letters to them, Deliuered letters fpite of intermission, Which presently they read; on whose contents Being the very fellow that of late Difplaid fo fawcily against your highneffe: Lear. O how this mother fwels vp toward my heart, Thy element's below, where is this daughter? Kent. With the earle fir within. Lear. Follow me not, ftay there. Knight. Made you no more offence then what you speake of? Kent. No, how chance the king comes with fo fmall a traine? Foole. If thou hadst beene set in the ftockes for that question, thou hadst well deferued it. Kent. Why foole? Foole. Wee'l fet thee to fchoole to an ant, to teach thee ther's no labouring in the winter, all that follow their nofes, are led by their eyes, but blinde men, and there's not a nofe among a hundred, but can smell him that's ftincking; let goe thy hold when a great wheele runs downe a hill, leaft it breake thy necke with following it, but the great one, that goes vp the hil, let him draw thee after, when a wife man giues thee better counfell, giue mee mine againe, I would haue none but knaues follow it, fiuce a foole giues it. That fir that ferues for gaine, And followes but for forme ; And leaue thee in the forme. But I will tarry, the foole will stay, The The knaue turnes foole that runnes away, Kent. Where learnt you this foole? Enter Lear and Glocefter. Lear. Deny to fpeake with me? th'are ficke, th'are weary, They traueld hard to night, meare iustice, I the images of reuolt and flying off, Fetch me a better answer. Gloft. My deare lord, you know the fiery quality of the duke, how vnremoueable and fixt he is in his owne course. Lear. Veangeance, death, plague, confufion, what fiery quality; why Glocefter, Glocefter, ide speake with the duke of Cornewall, and his wife. Gloft. I my good lord. (father Lear. The king would fpeake with Cornwall, the deare No but not yet, may be he is not well, Infirmity doth still neglect all office, where to our health To take the indifpofed and fickly fit, for the found man, This acte perfwades me, that this remotion of the duke and her Tell the duke and's wife, Ile fpeake with them Now presently, bid them come forth and heare me, Till it cry fleepe to death. Gloft. Gloft. I would haue all well betwixt you. Lear. O my heart! my heart. Foole. Cry to it nunckle, as the cockney did to the eeles, when she put them vp i'th pafte aliue, fhe rapt vm ath coxcombs with a flicke, and cryed downe wantons, downe; twas her brother, that in pure kindneffe to his horfe, butterd his hay. Enter Duke and Regan. Lear. Good morrow to you both, Duke. Haile to your grace. Reg. I am glad to see your highnesse. Lear. Regan, I thinke you are, I know what reason Reg. I pray fir take patience, I haue hope Then he to flacke her duty. Lear. My curfes on her. Reg. O fir, you are olde, Nature on you stands on the very verge of her confine, Lear. Afke her forgiueneffe, Do you marke how this becomes the house? Deare Deare daughter, I confeffe that I am old, That you'l vouchfafe me rayment, bed and food. Lear. No Regan. She hath abated me of halfe my traine, Lookt backe vpon me, ftroke me with her tongue, Moft ferpent-like vpon the very heart, All the stor❜d vengeances of heauen fall on her ingratefull top, Strike her young bones, you taking aires with lamnesse. Duke. Fie, fie fir. Lear. You nimble lightnings dart your blinding flames You fen fuckt fogs, drawne by the powerfull funne, Reg. O the bleft gods, fo will you wish on me, Lear. No Regan, thou shalt neuer haue my curse, The tender hefted nature shall not give thee ore To harshnes, her eies are fierce, but thine do comfort and not burn Tis not in thee to grudge my pleasures, to cut off my traine, And in conclufion, to oppofe the bolt The offices of nature, bond of child-hood, Effects of curtefie, dues of gratitude, Thy halfe of the kingdome, haft thou not forgot Reg. Good fir to the purpose. Lear. Who put my man i'th ftockes? Duke. What trumpets that? VOL. II. K Enter |