I

eels, when she put them i' the paste alive; she rapp'd 'em o'the coxcombs with a stick, and cry'd, Down wantons, down: 'Twas her brother, that in pure kindness to his horse, butter'd his hay.

Enter CORNWALL, REGAN, GLOSTER, and
Servants.

Lear. Good morrow to you both.

Corn.

Hail to your grace!

[KENT is set at Liberty.

Reg. I am glad to see your highness.

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

son

I have to think so: if thou should'st not be glad, I would divorce me from thy mother's tomb, Sepulchring an adultress.-O, are you free?

[TO KENT.

Some other time for that.-Beloved Regan,
Thy sister's naught: O Regan, she hath tied
Sharp-tooth'd unkindness, like a vulture here,-
[Points to his Heart.

I can scarce speak to thee; thou'lt not believe,
Of how deprav'd a quality-O Regan !

Reg. I pray you, sir, take patience; I have hope, You less know how to value her desert,

Than she to scant her duty.

Say, how is that?

Lear. Reg. I cannot think, my sister in the least Would fail her obligation: If, sir, perchance, She have restrain'd the riots of your followers, "Tis on such ground, and to such wholesome end, 2 Be wanting in.

1 Crust of a pye.

As clears her from all blame.

Lear. My curses on her!

Reg.

O, sir, you are old; Nature in you stands on the very verge

Of her confine: you should be rul'd, and led
By some discretion, that discerns your state
Better than you yourself: Therefore, I pray you,
That to our sister you do make return;

Say, you have wrong'd her, sir.

Lear.

Ask her forgiveness?

Do you but mark how this becomes the house: 3
Dear daughter, I confess that I am old;

Age is unnecessary: on my knees I beg,

[Kneeling.

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

Reg. Good sir, no more; these are unsightly tricks : Return you to my sister.

Lear.

She hath abated me of half

Never, Regan:

my train ;

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

All the stor❜d vengeances of heaven fall

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

Corn.

Fye, fye, fye!

Lear. You nimble lightnings, dart your blinding

flames

Into her scornful eyes! Infect her beauty,

You fen-suck'd fogs, drawn by the powerful sun,

To fall and blast her pride!

Reg.

O the blest gods!

3 The order of families.

So will you wish on me, when the rash mood's on.
Lear. No, Regan, thou shalt never have my curse;
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 hasty words, to scant my sizes,
And, in conclusion, to oppose the bolt
Against my coming in: thou better know'st
The offices of nature, bond of childhood,
Effects of courtesy, dues of gratitude;

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

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 letter, That she would soon be here.-Is your lady come?

Lear. This is a slave, whose easy-borrow'd pride Dwells in the fickle grace of her he follows :— Out, varlet, from my sight!

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

heavens,

s Contract my allowances.

Enter GONERIL.

If 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 GÓNERIL.

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.
If, till the expiration of your month,
You will return and sojourn with my sister,
Dismissing half your train, come then to me;
I am now from home, and out of that provision
Which shall 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,-
Necessity's sharp 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, squire-like, pension beg
To keep base life afoot:-Return with her?
Persuade me rather to be slave and sumpter 8
To this detested groom.

Gon.

[Looking on the Steward. At your choice, sir.

Lear. I pr'ythee, daughter, do not make me mad ;
I will not trouble thee, my child; farewell:
We'll no more meet, no more see one another :-
But yet thou art my flesh, my blood, my daughter;
Or, rather, a disease that's in my flesh,
Which I must needs call mine: thou art a boil,
A plague-sore, an embossed9 carbuncle,

In my corrupted blood. But I'll not chide thee;
Let shame 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 canst; be better, at thy leisure:
I can be patient; I can stay with Regan,

I, and my hundred knights.

Reg.

Not altogether so, sir; I look'd not for you yet, nor am provided For your f welcome: Give ear, sir, to my sister; For those that mingle reason with your passion, Must be content to think you old, and so—

But she knows what she does.

Is this well spoken now!

Lear. 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

A norse that carries necessaries on a journey. 9 Swelling. I Since.