Of other your new pranks. I do beseech you As you are old and reverend, you should be wise: That this our court, infected with their manners, Than a grac'd palace. The shame itself doth speak By her, that else will take the thing she begs, A little to disquantity your train; And the remainder, that shall still depend, To be such men as may besort your age, Lear. Darkness and devils! Saddle my horses; call my train together.- Yet have I left a daughter. Gonerill. You strike my people; and your disorder'd rabble. Make servants of their betters. Enter ALBANY. Lear. Woe, that too late repents-O, sir, are you come? Is it your will? speak, sir.-Prepare my horses. Ingratitude! thou marble-hearted fiend, More hideous, when thou shew'st thee in a child, Albany. Pray, sir, be patient. Lear. Detested kite! thou liest. My train are men of choice and rarest parts, That all particulars of duty know; And in the most exact regard support The worships of their name. [To Albany. [To Gonerill. O most sinall fault, How ugly didst thou in Cordelia shew! Which, like an engine, wrench'd my frame of nature And added to the gall. O Lear, Lear, Lear! Beat at the gate, that let thy folly in, [Striking his head. And thy dear judgment out!- -Go, go, my people! Albany. My lord, I am guiltless, as I am ignorant Of what hath mov'd you. Lear. It may be so, my lord Hear, nature, hear! dear goddess, hear! Dry up in her the organs of increase; How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is To have a thankless child! --Away, away! [Exit. Albany. Now, gods, that we adore, whereof comes this ? Gonerill. Never afflict yourself to know the cause; But let his disposition have that scope That dotage gives it. Re-enter LEAR. Lear. What, Sfty of my followers at a clap! Within a fortnight! Albany. What's the matter, sir? Lear. I'll tell thee; life and death! I am asham'd That thou hast power to shake my manhood thus: [To Gonerill. Blasts and fogs upon thee! Old fond eyes That these hot tears, which break from me perforce, Let it be so : -Yet have I left a daughter, Who, I am sure, is kind and comfortable; When she shall hear this of thee, with her nails She'll flea thy wolfish visage. Thou shalt find, This is certainly fine: no wonder that Lear says after it, "O let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heavens," feeling its effects by anticipation: but fine as is this burst of rage and indignation at the first blow aimed at his hopes and expectations, it is nothing near so fine as what follows from his double disappointment, and his lingering efforts to see which of them he shall lean upon for support and find comfort in, when both his daughters turn against his age and weakness. It is with some difficulty that Lear gets to speak with his daughter Regan, and her husband, at Gloster's castle. In concert with Gonerill they have left their own home on purpose to avoid him. His apprehensions are first alarmed by this circumstance, and when Gloster, whose guests they are, urges the fiery temper of the Duke of Cornwall as an excuse for not importuning him a second time, Lear breaks out, "Vengeance! Plague! Death! Confusion! Fiery? What fiery quality? Why, Gloster, I'd speak with the Duke of Cornwall and his wife." Afterwards, feeling perhaps not well himself, he is inclined to admit their excuse from illness, but then recollecting that they have set his messenger (Kent) in the stocks, all his suspicions are roused again, and be insists on seeing them. "Enter CORNWALL, REGAN, GLOSTER, and Servants. Lear. Good morrow to you both. Cornwall. Hail to your grace! [Kent is set at liberty Regan. 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 my mother's tomb, Sepulch'ring an adultress. -O, are you free? [To Kent. Some other time for that.- -Beloved Regan, [Points to his heart. I can scarce speak to thee; thou'lt not believe, Of how deprav'd a quality-O Regan! Regan. I pray you, sir, take patience; I have hope You less know how to value her desert, Than she to scant her duty. Regan. I cannot think my sister in the least Lear. My curses on her! Nature in you stands on the very verge Of her confine: you should be rul'd, and led Lear. Ask her forgiveness? Do you but mark how this becomes the use? 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. Regan. 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 blank 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, You taking airs, with lameness! Cornwall. Fie, sir, fie! 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! Regan. O the blest gods! So will you wish on me, when the rash mood is on. Thee o'er to harshness; her eyes are fierce, but thine Thy half o' the kingdom thou hast not forgot, Regan. Good sir, to the purpose. Lear. Who put my man i' the stocks? Cornwall. What trumpet's that? Enter Steward. [Trumpets within. Regan. 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! Cornwall. What means your grace? Lear. Who stock'd my servant? Regan, I have good hope Thou did'st not know on't.-Who comes here!' O heavens, Enter GONERILL. 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 ?— O, Regan, wilt thou take her by the hand? [To Gonerill. |