CORN. I will have my revenge ere I depart his house. EDм. How, my lord, I may be censured, that nature thus gives way to loyalty, something fears me to think of. CORN. I now perceive, it was not altogether your brother's evil disposition made him seek his death; but a provoking merit, set a-work by a reproveable badness in himself. EDM. How malicious is my fortune, that I must repent to be just! This is the letter he spoke of, which approves him an intelligent party to the advantages of France. that this treason were not, or not I the detector ! CORN. Go with me to the duchess. O heavens! ΙΟ EDM. If the matter of this paper be certain, you have mighty business in hand. CORN. True or false, it hath made thee earl of Gloster. Seek out where thy father is, that he may be ready for our apprehension. EDM. [aside.] If I find him comforting the king, it will stuff his suspicion more fully.-I will persevere in my course of loyalty, though the conflict be sore between that and my blood. CORN. I will lay trust upon thee: and thou shalt find a dearer father in my love. 19 [Exeunt. SCENE VI.-A Chamber in a Farmhouse adjoining the Castle Enter GLOSTER, LEAR, KENT, Fool, and EDGAR GLO. Here is better than the open air; take it thankfully. I will piece out the comfort with what addition I can: I will not be long from you. KENT. All the power of his wits have given way to his impatience -the gods reward your kindness! [Exit GLOSTER. EDG. Frateretto calls me; and tells me Nero is an angler in the lake of darkness.-Pray, innocent, and beware the foul fiend. FOOL. Prithee, nuncle, tell me whether a madman be a gentleman or a yeoman? LEAR. A king, a king! ΤΟ FOOL. No, he's a yeoman that has a gentleman to his son; for he's a mad yeoman that sees his son a gentleman before him. LEAR. To have a thousand with red burning spits Come hissing in upon 'em,— EDG. The foul fiend bites my back. FOOL. He's mad that trusts in the tameness of a wolf, a horse's health, a boy's love, or a whore's oath. LEAR. It shall be done; I will arraign them straight. Come, sit thou here, most learnèd justicer ; [To EDGAR. Thou, sapient sir, sit here. [To the Fool.] - Now, you she foxes! 20 EDG. Look, where he stands and glares!-Wantest thou eyes at trial, madam? FOOL. Come o'er the bourn, Bessy, to me,— Her boat hath a leak, And she must not speak Why she dares not come over to thee. EDG. The foul fiend haunts poor Tom in the voice of a nightingale. Hopdance cries in Tom's belly for two white herring. Croak not, black angel; I have no food for thee. KENT. How do you, sir? Stand you not so amaz’d : LEAR. I'll see their trial first.—Bring in the evidence.— Bench by his side:—you are o' the commission, Sit you too. EDG. Let us deal justly. Sleepest or wakest thou, jolly shepherd? And for one blast of thy minikin mouth, Pur! the cat is gray. 30 [TO EDGAR. [To the Fool. [TO KENT. 40 LEAR. Arraign her first; 'tis Goneril. I here take my oath before this honourable assembly, she kicked the poor king her father FOOL. Come hither, mistress. Is your name Goneril? LEAR. She cannot deny it. FOOL. Cry you mercy, I took you for a joint-stool. LEAR. And here's another, whose warp'd looks proclaim What store her heart is made on.-Stop her there! Arms, arms, sword, fire!-Corruption in the place!- 50 EDG. Bless thy five wits! KENT. O pity!-Sir, where is the patience now, EDG. [aside.] My tears begin to take his part so much, LEAR. The little dogs and all, Tray, Blanch, and Sweet-heart, see, they bark at me. 60 Do de, de, de. Sessa! Come, march to wakes and fairs and market-towns.-Poor Tom, thy horn is dry. 69 LEAR. Then let them anatomize Regan; see what breeds about her heart. Is there any cause in nature that makes these hard hearts? [To EDGAR.] You, sir, I entertain for one of my hundred; only I do not like the fashion of your garments: you will say they are Persian; but let them be changed. KENT. Now, good my lord, lie here and rest awhile. LEAR. Make no noise, make no noise; draw the curtains: So, so. We'll go to supper i' the morning. FOOL. And I'll go to bed at noon. Re-enter GLOSTER GLO. Come hither, friend: where is the king my master? I have o'erheard a plot of death upon him: There is a litter ready; lay him in 't, And drive toward Dover, friend, where thou shalt meet With thine, and all that offer to defend him, KENT. Oppress'd nature sleeps: This rest might yet have balm'd thy broken sinews, Stand in hard cure.-Come, help to bear thy master; GLO. Come, come, away. 80 90 [To the Fool. [Exeunt KENT, GLOSTER, and the Fool, hearing off LEar. EDG. When we our betters see bearing our woes, We scarcely think our miseries our foes. Who alone suffers most i' the mind, Leaving free things and happy shows behind: When that which makes me bend makes the king bow, When false opinion, whose wrong thought defiles thee, 100 [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 landed.-Seek out the traitor Gloster. [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. 12 Enter Oswald. How now! where's the king? Osw. My lord of Gloster hath convey'd him hence: Hot questrists after him, met him at gate; Are gone with him toward Dover; where they boast Get horses for your mistress. CORN. 20 [Exeunt GONERIL, EDMUND, and OSWALD. Go seek the traitor Gloster, Pinion him like a thief, bring him before us. [Exeunt other Servants. 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 ?-Good my friends, consider REG. 30 [Servants bind him. [REGAN plucks his beard. CORN. To this chair bind him.-Villain, thou shalt find GLO. By the kind gods, 'tis most ignobly done REG. So white, and such a traitor! GLO. Naughty lady, host: You should not ruffle thus. What will you do? CORN. Come, sir, what letters had you late from France? CORN. And what confederacy have you with the traitors REG. To whose hands have you sent the lunatic king? GLO. I have a letter guessingly set down, Which came from one that's of a neutral heart, CORN. Wherefore to Dover? Let him answer 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'q, would have buoy'd up, Yet, poor old heart, he holp the heavens to rain. 40 50 60 |