Your Edgar?"

"O!

"Was he not

whom my father named ? lady, lady, shame would have it hid !" companion," she further said, "with the riotous knights which tend upon my father?" "I know not, madam," said Gloster. "It is too bad, too bad." Regan then explained why she and the duke had come so unexpectedly to Gloster's castle. She said, speaking of the knights who were King Lear's followers, "I have, this present evening from my sister, been well informed of them; and with such cautions, that if they come to sojourn at my house I'll not be there." The poor deluded Earl of Gloster spoke to them of Edmund, and told them he had received a wound in trying to apprehend Edgar. The Duke of Cornwall commended the false Edmund, and said that he would give him an office of great trust. Gloster thanked him; and so, for the present, Edmund prospered.

CHAPTER VI.

KENT, bearing King Lear's letter to Regan, and Goneril's steward, with hers, arrived at the same time. Kent, remembering him, and his insolence to the king, his master, gave him a good beating. Hearing a noisefor the cowardly steward cried "Help! murder! help!”—Edmund, Cornwall, Regan, Gloster, and servants, came in haste to see what was the matter. The steward made out a pitiful tale, said that Kent had drawn his sword upon him, and insulted him. "Fetch forth the stocks," said Cornwall to Kent; "We'll teach you." Kent answered, "Sir, I am too old to learn; call not your stocks for me. I serve the king, on whose employment I was sent to you: you shall do small respect, show too bold malice, against the person of my master, stocking his messenger." But Cornwall repeated his command, "Fetch forth the stocks," and declared that Kent should sit in them

till noon.

"Till noon!" cried Regan; "till night,

my lord; and all night too."

Why, madam," said Kent, "if I were your father's dog, you should not serve me so." Here the Earl of Gloster interfered. "Let me beseech your grace, not to do so. The king must take it ill, that he's so slightly valued in his messenger." "I'll answer that," said Cornwall. The cruel Regan, most unwomanly, said, "Put in his legs." So Kent was put in the stocks. Gloster was the only one among them who had right and manly feeling. He said, when they were gone out, "The duke's to blame for this." But Kent, having the comfort of a good conscience, and wearied with his journey, fell asleep. In due time King Lear, his fool, and a gentleman arrived before Gloster's castle. The king was astonished to find that Regan and the duke had left home so suddenly, and not sent back his messenger. The gentleman who was with him remarked, that he had heard that the night before they had no such intention. Then Lear looked round,

and saw his faithful Kent in the stocks. He asked who had put him there. Kent said, "Your son and daughter." They dur'st not do it," said Lear; but they had. Kent told his master all about it: how that he had delivered his letter to them; and at the same time came a post in hot haste from Goneril; whereupon they took horse at once, and commanded Kent to follow them; gave him cold looks, and bid him wait their leisure for an answer. Then he discovered that the man who had brought the letter was Goneril's steward; the fellow who had of late been so saucy to the king; and that, being irritated, he had had more courage than wit, and had drawn upon him, and that the coward had cried out, and raised the house; and it was for this that he had been put into the stocks. Lear, in an ecstacy of grief and passion, and struggling not to show it, said, "Down, thou climbing sorrow; where is this daughter ?" "With the earl, sir, here within," said Kent. Lear went out, saying, "Follow me not." After a time he returned

with the Duke of Gloster. They were talking. Lear exclaimed, "Deny to speak with me? They are sick? They are weary? They have travelled hard all night? Mere fetches; get me a better answer." "My dear lord," answered Gloster, "you know the fiery quality of the duke, how fixed he is in his own course." "Vengeance! plague! death! confusion! fiery? what quality ?" said Lear, in a fury. "Why, Gloster, Gloster, I'd speak with the Duke of Cornwall and his wife." Well, my good sir, I have informed them so." "Informed them; dost thou understand me, man?" As he spoke, his eye fell upon his faithful servant Kent, sitting in the stocks. he sit there? Give me my servant forth. Go tell the duke and his wife I'd speak with them. Now, presently bid them come forth and hear me; or at their chamber door I'll beat the drum, till it cry sleep to death." Gloster went to do his bidding, saying, "I'd have all well betwixt you." In a short time, Cornwall, Regan, Gloster, and servants entered.

"Should