You fen-suck'd fogs, drawn by the powerful sun, Reg. O the blest gods! So will you wish on me, when the rash mood's on. Thee o'er to harshness; her eyes are fierce, but thine Thy half o' the kingdom hast thou not forgot, Reg. Good sir, to the purpose. [Trumpets within. Lear. Who put my man i'the stocks? Corn. What trumpet's that? Enter Steward. Reg. I know't, my sister's: this approves her let ter, That she would soon be here.-Is your lady come? Corn. What means your grace? Lear. Who stock'd my servant? Regan, I have good hope Thou didst not know of't.-Who comes here? O If heavens, Enter GONERIL. 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? [To Goneril. O, Regan, wilt thou take her by the hand? Gon. Why not by the hand, sir? How have I offended? All's not offence, that indiscretion finds, And dotage terms so. Lear. O, sides, you are too tough! Will you yet hold?-How came my man i'the stocks? Corn. I set him there, sir: but his own disorders Deserv'd much less advancement. Lear. You! did you? Reg. I pray you, father, being weak, seem so. You will return and sojourn with my sister, Lear. I pr'ythee, daughter, do not make me mad; Which I must needs call mine: thou art a boil, A plague-sore, an embossed carbuncle, In my corrupted blood. But I'll not chide thee; Reg. Not altogether so, sir; I look'd not for you yet, nor am provided Lear. Is this well spoken now? Reg. I dare avouch it, sir: What, fifty followers? 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, Hold amity? 'tis hard; almost impossible. Gon. Why might not you, my lord, receive attend ance 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, To bring but five-and-twenty; to no more 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 With five-and-twenty, Regan? said you so? Reg. And speak it again, my lord; no more with me. Lear. Those wicked creatures yet do look wellfavour'd, When others are more wicked; not being the worst, Thy fifty yet doth double five-and-twenty, Gon. Hear me, my lord; What need you five-and-twenty, ten, or five, 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, Which scarcely keeps thee warm.-But, for true. need, You heavens, give me that patience, patience I need! That all the world shall-I will do such things,- I have full cause of weeping; but this heart Shall break into a hundred thousand flaws, [Exeunt Lear, Gloster, Kent, and Fool. Corn. Let us withdraw, 'twill be a storm. Reg. This house [Storm heard at a distance. Is little; the old man and his people cannot Gon. 'Tis his own blame; he 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 purpos'd. Where is my lord of Gloster? Re-enter Gloster. Corn. Follow'd the old man forth:- -he is return'd. Glo. The king is in high rage. Corn. Whither is he going? Glo. 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. Glo. Alack, the night comes on, and the bleak winds Do sorely ruffle; for many miles about There's scarce a bush. 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. |