Corn. Hail to your grace! [KENT is fet at liberty. Reg. I am glad to fee your highness.

Lear. Regan, I think you are; I know what reafon

I have to think fo: if thou fhould't not be glad,
I would divorce me from thy mother's tomb,
Sepulch'ring an adultrefs.-O, are you free?
[To KENT.
Some other time for that.-Belov'd Regan,
Thy fifter's naught: O Regan, the hath tied
Sharp-tooth'd unkindnefs, like a vulture, here-
[Points to his heart.
I can fcarce fpeak to thee; thou'lt not believe,
Of how deprav'd a quality-O Regan!

Reg. I pray you, fir, take patience; I have hope, You lefs know how to value her defert,

Than fhe to fcant her duty.

Lear. Say? how is that?

Reg. I cannot think my fifter in the least Would fail her obligation; If, fir, perchance, She have reftrain'd the riots of your followers, 'Tis on fuch ground, and to fuch wholesome end, As clears her from all blame.

Lear. My curfes on her!

Reg. O, fir, you are old;

Nature in you ftands on the very verge

Of her confine: you fhould be rul'd, and led
By fome difcretion, that difcerns your flate
Better than you yourfelf: Therefore, I pray you,
That to our fifter you do make return;

Say, you have wrong'd her, fir.

Do

Lear. Ak her forgiveness!

you but mark how this becomes the houfe? Dear daughter, I confefs that I am old; E 2

Age

Age is unnecefary: on my knees I beg,

[Kneeling.

That you'll vouchsafe me raiment, bed, and food.

Reg. Good fir, no more; these are unfightly tricks = Return you to my fifter.

Lear. Never, Regan:

She hath abated me of half my train;

Look'd black upon me; struck me with her tongue, Moft ferpent-like, upon the very heart :

All the ftor'd vengeances of heaven fall

On her ungrateful top! Strike her young bones, You taking airs, with lameness!

Corn. Fie, fir, fie!

Lear. You nimble lightnings, dart your blinding flames

Into her fcornful eyes! Infect her beauty,

You fen-fuck'd fogs, drawn by the powerful fun, To fall and blast her pride!

Reg. O the bleft gods:

So will you with on me, when the rafh mood is on.
Lear. No, Regan, thou fhalt never have my curfe;
Thy tender-hefted nature shall not give

Thee o'er to harshness; her eyes are fierce, but thine'
Do comfort, and not burn: 'Tis not in thee
To grudge my pleasures, to cut off my train,
To bandy hafty words, to scant my fizes,
And, in conclufion, to oppofe the bolt
Againft my coming in: thou better know’st
The offices of nature, bond of childhood,
Effects of courtefy, dues of gratitude;

Thy half o'the kingdom thou haft not forgot,
Wherein I thee endow'd.

Reg. Good fir, to the purpose. [Trumpets within.
Lear. Who put my man i' the stocks?
Corn. What trumpet's that?

Enter

Enter Steward.

Reg. I kaow't, my fifter's: this approves her letter,

That fhe would foon be here.-Is your lady come? Lear. This is a flave, whofe eafy-borrow'd pride Dwells in the fickle grace of her he follows:Out, varlet, from niy fight!

Corn. What means your grace?

Lear. Who ftock'd my fervant? Regan, I have good hope

Thou didit not know on't.- -Who comes here? O heavens,

Enter GONERIL.

If you do love old men, if your sweet sway
Allow obedience, if yourfelves are old,
Make it your caufe; fend down, and take my part!-
Art not afham'd to look upon this beard!

[To GON. O, Regan, wilt thou take her by the hand? Gon. Why not by the hand, fir? How have I offended?

All's not offence, that indifcretion finds,

And dotage terms fo.

Lear. O, fides, you are too tough!

Will you yet hold?-How came my mani' the stocks? Corn. I fet him there, fir: but his own diforders Deferv'd much lefs advancement.

Lear. You! did you?

Reg. I pray you, father, being weak, feem fo. If, 'till the expiration of your month,

You will return and fojourn with my fifter,
Difmiffing half your train, come then to me;
E 3

I am

I am now from home, and out of that provision
Which fhall be needful for your entertainment.
Lear. Return to her, and fifty men dismiss'd?
No, rather I abjure all roofs, and choose
To wage against the enmity o' the air;
To be a comrade with the wolf and owl-
Neceffity's fharp pinch!-Return with her!
Why, the hot-blooded France, that dowerless took
Our youngest born, I could as well be brought
To knee his throne, and, fquire-like, penfion beg
To keep bafe life afoot.-Return with her!
Perfuade me rather to be flave and fumpter
To this detefted groom. [Looking on the Steward.
Gon. At your choice, fir.

Lear. Now, I pr'ythee, daughter, do not make me mad;

I will not trouble thee, my child; farewell; We'll no more meet, no more fee one another :But yet thou art my flesh, my blood, my daughter; Or, rather, a disease that's in my flesh,

Which I muft needs call mine: thou art a bile,
A plague-fore, an emboffed carbuncle,

In my corrupted blood. But I'll not chide thee;
Let fhame come when it will, I do not call it:
I do not bid the thunder-bearer shoot,

Nor tell tales of thee to high-judging Jove:
Mend, when thou canft; be better, at thy leifure:
I can be patient; I can stay with Regan,
1, and my hundred knights.

Reg. Not altogether fo, fir;

I look'd not for you yet, nor am provided
For your fit welcome: Give ear, fir, to my fister;
For thofe that mingle reafon with your paffion,
Must be content to think you old, and fo-

But

But fhe knows what fhe does.
Lear. Is this well spoken now?

Reg. I dare avouch it, fir: What, fifty followers?
Is it not well? What fhould you need of more?
Yea, or fo many? fith that both charge and danger
Speak 'gainst fo great a number? How, in one house
Should many people, under two commands,
Hold amity? Tis hard; almoft impoffible.

Gon. Why might not you, my lord, receive attendance

From thofe that fhe calls fervants, or from mine? Reg. Why not, my lord? If then they chanc'd

to flack you,

We would control them: If you will come to me (For now I fpy a danger), 1 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 depofitaries; But kept a reservation to be follow'd

With fuch a number: What, muf I come to you With five-and-twenty, Regan? faid you fo?

Reg. And fpeak it again, my lord; no more

with me.

Lear. Thofe wicked creatures yet do look wellfavour'd,

When others are more wicked; not being the worst,
Stands in fome rank of praife :—I'll go with thee;
[To GONERIL.
Thy fifty yet doth double five-and-twenty,
And thou art twice her love.

Gon. Hear me, my lord;

What need you five-and-twenty, ten, or five,

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