Against my coming in: thou better know'st Thy half o' the kingdom haft thou not forgot, Reg. I know't, my fifter's: this approves her letter, That she would foon be here.-Is your lady come? Lear. This is a flave, whose easy-borrow'd pride Dwells in the fickle grace of her he follows:Out, varlet, from my fight! Corn. What means your grace? Lear. Who ftock'd my fervant? Regan, I have good hope Thou didst not know of't.-Who comes here? O heavens, Enter GONERIL. If you do love old men, if your sweet sway Allow obedience, if yourselves are old, Make it your cause; fend down, and take my part!- O, Regan, wilt thou take her by the hand? [to GON. Gon. Why not by the hand, fir? How have I offended? All's not offence, that indifcretion finds, And dotage terms fo. O, fides, you are too tough! Lear. Will you yet hold?-How came my man i' the stocks? Corn. I fet him there, fir: but his own disorders Deferv'd much lefs advancement. E Lear. Lear. You! did you? Reg. I pray you, father, being weak, seem so. Lear. Return to her, and fifty men dismiss'd? Gon. [Looking on the Steward. At your choice, fir. Lear. I pr'ythee, daughter, do not make me mad; Which I must needs call mine: thou art a boil, A plague-fore, an embossed carbuncle, In my corrupted blood. But I'll not chide thee; I do not bid the thunder-bearer shoot, Nor tell tales of thee to high-judging Jove : Mend, when thou canft; be better, at thy leisure: I can be patient; I can stay with Regan, I, and my hundred knights. Reg. Not altogether fo, fir; I look'd I look'd not for you yet, nor am provided For your But the knows what she does. Lear. Is this well spoke now? Hold amity? 'Tis hard; almost impoffible. Gon. Why might not you, my lord, receive attendance From those that she calls fervants, or from mine? Reg. Why not, my lord? If then they chanc'd to flack you, We could control them: If you will come to me, (For now I fpy a danger,) I entreat you To bring but five and twenty; to no more Will I give place, or notice. Lear. I gave you all— Reg. And in good time you gave it. Lear. Made you my guardians, my depofitaries; With fuch a number: What, muft I come to you Reg. And speak it again, my lord; no more with me. Lear. Those wicked creatures yet do look well favour'd, When others are more wicked; not being the worst, Stands in fome rank of praise :-I'll go with thee; Thy fifty yet doth double five and twenty, [To GONERIL. Gon. Hear me, my lord; What E 2 What need you five and twenty, ten, or five, Reg. What need one? Lear. O, reafon not the need: our baseft beggars Are in the pooreft thing fuperfluous: Allow not nature more than nature needs, Man's life is cheap as beaft'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 fhall-I will do fuch things,- I have full cause of weeping; but this heart [Exeunt LEAR, GLOSTER, KENT, and Fool. Corn. Let us withdraw, 'twill be a storm. Reg. [Storm heard at a distance. This house Is little; the old man and his people cannot Gon Gon. 'Tis his own blame; he hath put Himself from reft, and must needs taste his folly. Reg. For his particular, I'll receive him gladly, But not one follower. Gon. Where is my lord of Glofter? So am I purpos'd. Re-enter GLOSTER. Corn. Follow'd the old man forth :-he is return'd. Corn. Whither is he going? Glo. He calls to horfe; but will I know not whither. Corn. 'Tis beft 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 forely ruffle; for many miles about There's fcarce a bush. Reg. O, fir, 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 To have his ear abus'd, wisdom bids fear. Corn. Shut up your doors, my lord; 'tis a wild night; My Regan counfels well: come out o' the ftorm. [Exeunt. |