ALB. Thou changed and self-cover'd thing, for shame, Were't 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 ! ALB. What news? Enter a Messenger MESS. O, my good lord, the Duke of Cornwall's dead; MESS. A servant that he bred, thrill'd with remorse, ALB. This shows you are above, 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. ALB. Where was his son when they did take his eyes? ALB. He is not here. MESS. No, my good lord; I met him back again. ALB. Knows he the wickedness? MESS. Ay, my good lord; 'twas he inform'd against him; ALB. Gloster, I live To thank thee for the love thou show'dst the king, 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 required and necessary. KENT. Who hath he left behind him general? grief? queen to any demonstration of ΙΟ GENT. Ay, sir; she took them, read them in my presence; Her delicate cheek: it seem'd she was a queen Over her passion; who, most rebel-like, KENT. Could so become it. KENT. Made she no verbal question? GENT. Faith, once or twice she heav'd the name of 'father' 6 Cried, Sisters! sisters!-Shame of ladies! sisters! Kent! father! sisters! What, i' the storm? i' the night? The holy water from her heavenly eyes, And clamour moisten'd: then away she started KENT. It is the stars, The stars above us, govern our conditions; Else one self mate and mate could not beget Such different issues. You spoke not with her since? GENT. NO. KENT. Was this before the king return'd? No, since. GENT. 30 20 What we are come about, and by no means Will yield to see his daughter. GENT. Why, good sir? 40 KENT. A sovereign shame so elbows him: his own unkindness, That stripp'd her from his benediction, turn'd her To foreign casualties, gave her dear rights To his dog-hearted daughters, these things sting GENT. Alack, poor gentleman! KENT. Of Albany's and Cornwall's powers you heard not? KENT. Well, sir, I'll bring you to our master Lear, When I am known aright, you shall not grieve 50 [Exeunt. SCENE IV. The Same. A Tent Enter CORDELIA, Physician, and Soldiers COR. Alack, 'tis he: why, he was met even now In our sustaining corn.-A century send forth; Search every acre in the high-grown field, And bring him to our eye. [Exit an Officer.]-What can man's wisdom In the restoring his bereavèd sense? He that helps him take all my outward worth. PHY. There is means, madam : Our foster-nurse of nature is repose, The which he lacks; that to provoke in him, Are many simples operative, whose power COR. All bless'd secrets, All you unpublish'd virtues of the earth, That wants the means to lead it. ΤΟ MESS. Enter a Messenger News, madam; 20 The British powers are marching hitherward. My mourning and important tears hath pitied. But love, dear love, and our ag'd father's right: [Exeunt. SCENE V.-A Room in GLOSTER'S Castle Enter REGAN and OSWALD REG. But are my brother's powers set forth? Ay, madam. Madam, with much ado: Osw. REG. Himself in person there? Your sister is the better soldier. REG. Lord Edmund spake not with your lord at home? REG. What might import my sister's letter to him? Osw. I know not, lady. REG. Faith, he is posted hence on serious matter. It was great ignorance, Gloster's eyes being out, His nighted life; moreover, to descry The strength o' the enemy. letter. Osw. I must needs after him, madam, with my Osw. I may not, madam : My lady charg'd my duty in this business. REG. Why should she write to Edmund ? Might not you Something I know not what :-I'll love thee much, Let me unseal the letter. Osw. gave strange eyeliads and most speaking looks To noble Edmund. I know you are of her bosom. 20 ΙΟ Osw. I, madam ? REG. I speak in understanding; you are, I know 't : My lord is dead; Edmund and I have talk'd; And when your mistress hears thus much from you, So, fare you well. If you do chance to hear of that blind traitor, Preferment falls on him that cuts him off. Osw. Would I could meet him, madam! I should show 30 39 [Exeunt. SCENE VI.-The Country near Dover Enter GLOSTER, and EDGAR dressed like a peasant GLO. When shall I come to the top of that same hill? EDG. Horrible steep. Hark, do you hear the sea? No, truly. GLO. EDG. Why, then, your other senses grow imperfect GLO. So may it be, indeed : Methinks thy voice is alter'd; and thou speak'st In better phrase and matter than thou didst. EDG. You're much deceiv'd: in nothing am I chang'd But in my garments. GLO. Methinks you're better spoken. EDG. Come on, sir; here's the place:-stand still.-How fearful And dizzy 'tis, to cast one's eyes so low! The crows and choughs that wing the midway air ΙΟ 20 |