And each man have enough.-Dost thou know Dover? Edg. Ay, master. Glo. There is a cliff, whose high and bending head Looks fearfully in the confined deep: Bring me but to the very brim of it, And I'll repair the misery thou dost bear, With something rich about me: from that place Edg. Give me thy arm; [Exeunt. SCENE II. Before the Duke of ALBANY's Palace. Enter GONERIL and EDMUND; Steward meeting them. Gon. Welcome, my lord: I marvel, our mild husband Not met us on the way:-Now, where's your master? Stew. Madam, within; but never man so chang'd: I told him of the army that was landed, He smil'd at it: I told him, you were coming; His answer was, The worse: of Gloster's treachery, And of the loyal service of his son, When I inform'd him, then he call'd me sot; And told me, I had turn'd the wrong side out:What most he should dislike, seems pleasant to him; What like, offensive. Gon. Then shall you go no further. [To EDMUND. It is the cowish terror of his spirit, That dares not undertake: he'll not feel wrongs, Which tie him to an answer: Our wishes, on the way, May prove effects. Back, Edmund, to my brother; Hasten his musters, and conduct his powers: I must change arms at home, and give the distaff A mistresses command. Wear this; spare speech; [Giving a favour. Decline your head: this kiss, if it durst speak, Conceive, and fare thee well. Edm. Yours in the ranks of death. Stew. Madam, here comes my lord. [Exit EDMUND. To thee Enter ALBANY. [Exit Steward. Gon. I have been worth the whistle. Alb. O Goneril! You are not worth the dust which the rude wind Blows in your face.-I fear your disposition : She, that herself will sliver and disbranch From her material sap, perforce must wither, Gon. No more; the text is foolish. done? Alb. Wisdom and goodness to the vile seem vile: VOL. XIV. A father, and a gracious aged man, Whose reverence the head-lugg'd bear would lick, Most barbarous, most degenerate! have you madded. Could my good brother suffer you to do it? A man, a prince, by him so benefited ? If that the heavens do not their visible spirits Send quickly down to tame these vile offences, "Twill come, Humanity must perforce prey on itself, Like monsters of the deep. Gon. Milk-liver'd man! That bear'st a cheek for blows, a head for wrongs; Ere they have done their mischief. Where's thy drum ? Alack! why does he so? Alb. See thyself, devil! Proper deformity seems not in the fiend So horrid, as in woman. Gon. O vain fool! Alb. Thou changed and self-cover'd thing, for shame, Be-monster not thy feature. Were it my fitness To let these hands obey my blood, They are apt enough to dislocate and tear Thy flesh and bones:- Howe'er thou art a fiend, Gon. Marry, your manhood now!— Enter a Messenger. Alb. What news? Mess. O, my good lord, the duke of Cornwall's dead; Slain by his servant, going to put out The other eye of Gloster. Alb. Gloster's eyes! Mess. A servant that he bred, thrill'd with remorse, Oppos'd against the act, bending his sword To his great master; who, thereat enrag'd, Flew on him, and amongst them fell'd him dead: Alb. This shows you are above, You justicers, that these our nether crimes Mess. Both, both, my lord. This letter, madam, craves a speedy answer; "Tis from your sister. Gon. [Aside.] One way I like this well; But being widow, and my Gloster with her, May all the building in my fancy pluck Upon my hateful life: Another way, The news is not so tart.-I'll read, and answer. [Exit. Alb. Where was his son, when they did take his eyes? Mess. Come with my lady hither. Alb. He is not here. Mess. No, my good lord; I met him back again. Mess. Ay, my good lord; 'twas he inform'd against him; And quit the house on purpose, that their punishment Might have the freer course. Alb. Gloster, I live To thank thee for the love thou show'dst the king, [Exeunt. SCENE III.-The French Camp, near Dover. Enter KENT, and a Gentleman. Kent. Why the king of France is so suddenly gone back know you the reason? Gent. Something he left imperfect in the state, Which since his coming forth is thought of; which Imports to the kingdom so much fear and danger, That his personal return was most requir'd, And necessary. Kent. Who hath he left behind him general? Gent. The Mareschal of France, Monsieur le Fer. Kent. Did your letters pierce the queen to any demonstration of grief? Gent. Ay, sir; she took them, read them in my pre sence; And now and then an ample tear trill'd down Sought to be king o'er her. Kent. O, then it mov'd her? Gent. Not to a rage: patience and sorrow strove Who should express her goodliest. You have seen Sunshine and rain at once: her smiles and tears |