You beastly knave, know you no reverence? Kent. That such a slave as this should wear a sword, Who wears no honesty. Such smiling rogues as these, Like rats, oft bite the holy cords atwain Which are too intrinse t'unloose: smooth every passion ; That in the natures of their lords rebels; Glo. Say that. How fell you out? Kent. No contraries hold more antipathy, Than I and such a knave. Corn. Why dost thou call him knave? What's his offence? Kent. His countenance likes me not.5 3 The bird called the king-fisher, which, when dried and hung up by a thread, is supposed to turn his bill to the point from whence the wind blows. 4 In Somersetshire where are bred great quantities of geese. 5 i. e. Pleases me not. Corn. No more, perchance, does mine, or his, or hers. Kent. Sir, 'tis my occupation to be plain; I have seen better faces in my time, Than stands on any shoulder that I see This is some fellow, Corn. Who, having been prais'd for bluntness, doth affect A saucy roughness; and constrains the garb, Quite from his nature: He cannot flatter, he !— An honest mind and plain, he must speak truth: An they will take it, so; if not, he's plain. These kind of knaves I know, which in this plainness That stretch their duties nicely. Kent. Sir, in good sooth, in sincere verity, Under the allowance of your grand aspéct, Whose influence, like the wreath of radiant fire On flickering Phoebus' front, Corn. What mean'st by this? Kent. To go out of my dialect, which you discommend so much. I know, sir, I am no flatterer: he that beguiled you, in a plain accent, was a plain knave; which, for my part, I will not be, though I should win your displeasure to entreat me to it. Corn. What was the offence you gave It pleas'd the king his master, very late, him? Never any: To strike at me, upon his misconstruction; 6 Simple or rustick. Tripp'd me behind; being down, insulted, rail'd, Kent. None of these rogues, and cowards, But Ajax is their fool." Corn. Fetch forth the stocks, ho! You stubborn ancient knave, you reverend braggart, We'll teach you— Kent. Sir, I am too old to learn: Call not your stocks for me: I serve the king; You shall do small respect, show too bold malice Corn. Fetch forth the stocks: As I've life and honour, there shall he sit till noon. Reg. Till noon! till night, my lord; and all night too. Kent. Why, madam, if I were your father's dog, You should not use me so. Reg. Sir, being his knave, I will. [Stocks brought out. Corn. This is a fellow of the self-same colour Our sister speaks of:-Come, bring away the stocks. 7 i. e. Ajax is a fool to them. For pilferings and most common trespasses, Corn. I'll answer that. Reg. My sister may receive it much more worse, To have her gentleman abus'd, assaulted, For following her affairs.-Put in his legs.— [KENT is put in the Stocks. Come, my good lord; away. [Exeunt REGAN and CORNWALL. Glo. I am sorry for thee, friend; 'tis the duke's pleasure, Whose disposition, all the world well knows, vell'd hard; Some time I shall sleep out, the rest I'll whistle. Glo. The duke's to blame in this; 'twill be ill taken. [Exit. Kent. Good king, that must approve the common saw !8 Thou out of heaven's benediction com'st To the warm sun! Approach, thou beacon to this under globe, That by thy comfortable beans I may Peruse this letter !-Nothing almost sees miracles, 8 Saying or proverb. Of my obscured course; and shall find time This shameful lodging. Fortune, good night; smile once more; turn thy wheel! [He sleeps. SCENE III. A Part of the Heath. Enter EDGAR. Edg. I heard myself proclaim'd; And, by the happy hollow of a tree, Does not attend my taking. While I may scape, That every penury, in contempt of man, Brought near to beast: my face I'll grime with filth; And with presented nakedness outface Hair thus knotted, was supposed to be the work of elves and fairies in the night. 1 Skewers. |