No, but not yet:-may be, he is not well: Whereto our health is bound; we are not ourselves, And am fallen out with my more headier will, To take the indispos'd and sickly fit For the sound man.-Death on my state! wherefore [Looking on KEnt. Should he sit here? This act persuades me, That this remotion of the duke and her Is practice only. Give me my servant forth: Go, tell the duke and his wife, I'd speak with them, Glo. I'd have all well betwixt you. [Exit. Lear. O me, my heart, my rising heart!-but, down. Fool. Cry to it, nuncle, as the cockney did to the 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, buttered 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 reason I have to think so: if thou should'st not be glad, I would divorce me from thy mother's tomb, Sepúlch'ring an adultress.-O, are you free? [TO KENT. Some other time for that.-Beloved Regan, I can scarce speak to thee; thou❜lt not believe, Reg. I pray you, sir, take patience; I have hope, You less know how to value her desert, Than she to scant her duty. Lear. Say, how is that? Reg. I cannot think, my sister in the least 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 Say, you have wrong'd her, sir. Lear. Ask her forgiveness? Do you but mark how this becomes the house: Dear daughter, I confess that I am old; Age is unnecessary: on my knees I beg, That you'll vouchsafe me raiment, bed, and food. [Kneeling. Reg. Good sir, no more; these are unsightly tricks : Return you to my sister. Lear, Never, Regan: She hath abated me of half 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 ungrateful top! Strike her young bones, 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, Reg. O the blest gods! So will you wish on me, when the rash mood's on. Thee o'er to harshness; her eyes are fierce, but thine Thy half o'the kingdom hast thou not forgot, 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? 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? Oheavens, If Enter GONEril. 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 GONERIL. O, Regan, wilt thou take her by the hand? Gon. Why not by the hand, sir? How have I of fended? 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. Lear. Return to her, and fifty men dismiss'd? No, rather I abjure all roofs, and choose Gon. At your choice, sir. [Looking on the Steward. 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 :- In my corrupted blood. But I'll not chide thee: Nor tell tales of thee to high-judging Jove: I, and my hundred knights. Reg. Not altogether so, sir; I look'd not for you yet, nor am provided For your fit welcome: Give ear, sir, to my sister; Lear. Is this well spoken now? |