They are apt enough to dislocate and tear Enter a Messenger. Alb. What news? Mess. O, my good lord, the duke of Cornwall's dead: Slain by his servant, going to put out The other eye of Gloster. Alb. Gloster's eyes! Mess. A servant that he bred, thrill'd with re morse, Oppos'd against the act, bending his sword To his great master; who, thereat enrag'd, Alb. This shows you are above, Mess. Gon. [Aside.] One way I like this well; The news is not so tart.-I'll read, and answer. [Exit. Alb. Where was his son, when they did take his eyes? Mess. Come with my lady hither. Alb. He is not here. amongst them fell'd him dead:] i. e. they fell'd. Mess. No, my good lord; I met him back again. Mess. Ay, my good lord; 'twas he inform'd And quit the house on purpose, that their punishment Might have the freer course. Alb. Gloster, I live To thank thee for the love thou show'dst the king, And to revenge thine eyes.-Come hither, friend; Tell me what more thou knowest. [Exeunt. SCENE III. The French Camp, near Dover. Enter KENT, and a Gentleman. Kent. Why the king of France is so suddenly gone back know you the reason? Gent. Something he left imperfect in the state, Which since his coming forth is thought of; which Imports to the kingdom so much fear and danger, That his personal return was most requir'd, And necessary. Kent. Who hath he left behind him general? Gent. The Mareschal of France, Monsieur le Fer. Kent. Did your letters pierce the queen to any demonstration of grief? Gent. Ay, sir; she took them, read them in my presence; And now and then an ample tear trill'd down Sought to be the king o'er her. Kent. O, then it mov'd her. Gent. Not to a rage: patience and sorrow strove Who should express her goodliest. You have seen Sunshine and rain at once: her smiles and tears Were like a better day: Those happy smiles, Could so become it. Kent. Made she no verbal question ?5 Gent. 'Faith, once, or twice, she heav'd the name of father Pantingly forth, as if it press'd her heart; Cried, Sisters! sisters !-Shame of ladies! sisters! Kent! father! sisters! What? i'the storm? the night? Let pity not be believed!-There she shook And clamour moisten'd:-then away she started Kent. It is the stars, The stars above us, govern our conditions ; Else one self mate and mate could not beget Such different issues. You spoke not with her since? Gent. No. Kent. Was this before the king return'd? Gent. No, since. Kent. Well, sir; The poor distress'd Lear is i'the town: Who sometime, in his better tune, remembers Gent. Why, good sir? 5 Made she no verbal question?] Means only, Did she enter into no conversation with you? In this sense our poet frequently uses the word question, and not simply as the act of interrogation. Let pity not be believed!] i. e. Lét not such a thing as pity be supposed to exist! 7 clamour moisten'd:] That is, her out-cries were accompanied with tears. 8 govern our conditions;] i. e. regulate our dispositions. VOL. VIII. I I Kent. A sovereign shame so elbows him: his own unkindness, That stripp'd her from his benediction, turn'd her To foreign casualties, gave her dear rights To his dog hearted daughters,-these things ting His mind so venomously, that burning shame Detains him from Cordelia. Gent. Alack, poor gentleman! Kent. Of Albany's and Cornwall's powers you heard not? Gent. "Tis so; they are afoot. Kent. Well, sir, I'll bring you to our master Lear, And leave you to attend him: some dear cause9 Will in concealment wrap me up awhile; When I am known aright, you shall not grieve Lending me this acquaintance. I pray you, go Along with me. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. The same. A Tent. Enter CORDELIA, Physician, and Soldiers. Cor. Alack, 'tis he; why, he was met even now As mad as the vex'd sea: singing aloud; Crown'd with rank fumiter,' and furrow weeds, With harlocks,' hemlock, nettles, cuckoo-flowers, Darnel, and all the idle weeds that grow In our sustaining corn.-A century send forth; mustard. some dear cause-] Some important business. harlocks,] A typographical error for charlock, or wild In the restoring his bereaved sense? Our foster-nurse of nature is repose, The which he lacks; that to provoke in him, Cor. power All bless'd secrets, All you unpublish'd virtues of the earth, Spring with my tears! be aidant, and remediate, In the good man's distress!-Seek, seek for him; Lest his ungovern'd rage dissolve the life That wants the means to lead it.2 Mess. Enter a Messenger. Madam, news; The British powers are marching hitherward. Therefore great France My mourning, and important3 tears, hath pitied. But love, dear love, and our ag'd father's right: [Exeunt. 2 3 SCENE V A Room in Gloster's Castle. Enter REGAN and Steward. Reg. But are my brother's powers set forth? the means to lead it.] The reason which should guide it. importart] For importunate. 4 No blown ambition] No inflated, no swelling pride. |