Lear. Make no noise, make no noise; draw the curtains: So, so, so: We'll go to supper i' the morning: So, so, so.

Fool. And I'll go to bed at noon.

Re-enter GLOster.

Glo. Come hither, friend: Where is the king my master?

Kent. Here, sir; but trouble him not, his wits are gone.

Glo. Good friend, I pr'y thee take him in thy

arms;

I have o'erheard a plot of death upon him:
There is a litter ready; lay him in 't,

And drive towards Dover, friend, where thou shalt

meet

Both welcome and protection. Take up thy master :
If thou should'st dally half an hour, his life
With thine, and all that offer to defend him,
Stand in assured loss: Take up, take up;
And follow me, that will with some provision
Give thee quick conduct.

Kent.

Oppress'd nature sleeps: This rest might yet have balm'd thy broken senses, Which, if convenience will not allow,

Stand in hard cure.

ter;

Thou must not stay behind.

[To the Fool.

Glo.

Come, come, away.

[Exeunt KENT, GLOSTER, and the Fool,

bearing off the King.

Fdg. When we our betters see bearing our woes, We scarcely think our miseries our foes. Who alone suffers, suffers most i' the mind; Leaving free things, and happy shows, behind: But then the mind much sufferance doth o'erskip, When grief hath mates, and bearing fellowship. How light and portable my pain seems now,

When that which makes me bend, makes the king

bow;

He childed, as I father'd!-Tom, away:

Mark the high noises 3; and thyself bewray,
When false opinion, whose wrong thought defiles
thee,

In thy just proof, repeals, and reconciles thee.
What will hap more to-night, safe 'scape the king!
Lurk, lurk.
[Exit.

SCENE VII.

A Room in Gloster's Castle.

Enter CORNWALL, REGAN, GONERIL, EDMUND, and Servants.

Corn. Post speedily to my lord, your husband; show him this letter:- the army of France is land-Seek out the villain Gloster.

ed:

[Exeunt some of the Servants. Reg. Hang him instantly.

Gon. Pluck out his eyes.

Corn. Leave him to my displeasure. — Edmund, keep you our sister company; the revenges we are bound to take upon your traitorous father, are not fit for your beholding. Advise the duke, where you are going, to a most festinate preparation: we are bound to the like. Our posts shall be swift, and intelligent betwixt us. Farewell, dear sister; farewell, my lord of Gloster. +

Enter Steward.

How now? Where's the king?

3 The great events that are approaching.

4 Meaning Edmund invested with his father's title. в в 3

Stew. My lord of Gloster hath convey'd him

hence:

Some five or six and thirty of his knights, Hot questrists' after him, met him at gate; Who, with some other of the lord's dependants, with him towards Dover, where they boast

Are gone

To have well armed friends.

Corn.
Gon. Farewell, sweet lord, and sister.

Get horses for your mistress.

[Exeunt GONERIL and EDMUnd.

Corn. Edmund, farewell.

Go, seek the traitor

Gloster,

[Exeunt other Servants.

Pinion him like a thief, bring him before us:

6

Though well we may not pass upon his life
Without the form of justice; yet our power
Shall do a courtesy to our wrath, which men
May blame, but not control. Who's there? The
traitor.

Re-enter Servants, with GLOSTER.

Reg. Ingrateful fox! 'tis he.

Corn. Bind fast his corky' arms. Glo. What mean your graces ? friends, consider

Good my

You are my guests: do me no foul play, friends.
Corn. Bind him, I say. [Servants bind him.
Reg.
Hard, hard-O filthy traitor!
Glo. Unmerciful lady as you are, I am none.
Corn. To this chair bind him :-Villain, thou shalt
[REGAN plucks his beard.
Glo. By the kind gods, 'tis most ignobly done
To pluck me by the beard.

find

Reg. So white, and such a traitor!

Glo.

Naughty lady,

5 Enquirers.

6 Bend.

7 Dry, like cork.

8

These hairs, which thou dost ravish from my chin, Will quicken and accuse thee: I am your host; With robbers' hands, my hospitable favours

You should not ruffle thus. What will you do? Corn. Come, sir, what letters had you late from France?

Reg. Be simple-answer'd, for we know the truth. Corn. And what confederacy have you with the traitors

Late footed in the kingdom?

Reg. To whose hands have you sent the lunatick king?

Speak.

Glo. I have a letter guessingly set down,

Which came from one that's of a neutral heart,
And not from one oppos'd.

Corn.

Reg.

Cunning.

And false.

To Dover.

Wherefore

Corn. Where hast thou sent the king?

Glo.
Reg.

To Dover? Wast thou not charg'd at thy peril Corn. Wherefore to Dover? Let him first an

swer that.

Glo. I am tied to the stake, and I must stand the

course.

Reg. Wherefore to Dover?

Glo. Because I would not see thy cruel nails Pluck out his poor old eyes; nor thy fierce sister In his anointed flesh stick boarish fangs.

The sea, with such a storm as his bare head
In hell-black night endur'd would have buoy'd up,
And quench'd the stelled' fires: yet poor old
heart,

He holp the heavens to rain.

If wolves had at thy gate howl'd that stern time, Thou should'st have said, Good porter, turn the key;

* Live.

9 Features.

'Starred.

All cruels else subscrib'd': -But I shall see
The winged vengeance overtake such children.
Corn. See it shalt thou never :- Fellows, hold
the chair:

Upon these eyes of thine I'll set my foot.

[GLOSTER is held down in his Chair, while CORNWALL plucks out one of his Eyes, and sets his Foot on it.

Glo. He, that will think to live till he be old, Give me some help :-O cruel! O ye gods!

Reg. One side will mock another; the other too. Corn. If you see vengeance,

Serv.

Hold your hand, my lord: I have serv'd you ever since I was a child: But better service have I never done you, Than now to bid you hold.

Reg. How now, you dog?

Serv. If you did wear a beard upon your chin, I'd shake it on this quarrel: What do you mean? Corn. My villain! [Draws, and runs at him. Serv. Nay, then come on, and take the chance

of anger.

[Draws. They fight. CORNWALL is wounded. Reg. Give me thy sword.-[To another Serv.] A peasant stand up thus!

[Snatches a Sword, comes behind, and stabs him. Serv. O, I am slain! - My lord, you have one eye left

To see some mischief on him:-O!

[Dies

Corn. Lest it see more, prevent it:-Out, vile

jelly!

Where is thy lustre now?

2

[Tears out GLOSTER's other Eye, and throws it on the Ground.

Glo. All dark and comfortless..

son Edmund ?

Where's my

Yielded, submitted o the necessity of the occasion.