And from her derogate* body never spring ACT II. FLATTERING SYCOPHANTS. That such a slave as this should wear a sword, Who wears no honesty. Such smiling rogues as these, Like rats, oft bite the holy cords atwain Which are too intrinsic t'unloose; smooth every passion That in the natures of their lords rebels; PLAIN BLUNT MEN. This is some fellow, Who having been praised for bluntness, doth affect These kind of knaves I know, which in this plainness That stretch their duties nicely. * Degraded. § Disowned. + Falling. + Perplexed. The bird called the king-fisher, which, when dried and hung up by a thread, is supposed to turn his bill to the point from whence the wind blows. T Simple or rustic 21* BEDLAM BEGGARS. While I may 'scape, I will preserve myself: and am bethought THE FAULTS OF INFIRMITY PARDONABLE. Fiery? the fiery duke?-Tell the hot duke, thatNo, but not yet:-may be, he is not well: Infirmity doth still neglect all office, Whereto our health is bound; we are not ourselves, And am fallen out with my more headier will, For the sound man. UNKINDNESS. Thy sister's naught: O, Regan, she hath tied Sharp-tooth'd unkindness, like a vulture here. [Points to his heart. OFFENCES MISTAKEN. All's not offence, that indiscretion finds, And dotage terms so. RISING PASSION. I pr'ythee, daughter, do not make me mad; * Hair thus knotted was supposed to be the work of elves and fairies in the night. + Skewers. + Curses. But yet thou art my flesh, my blood, my daughter; In my corrupted blood. But I'll not chide thee; Nor tell tales of thee to high-judging Jove. THE NECESSARIES OF LIFE FEW. O, reason not the need: our basest beggars LEAR ON THE INGRATITUDE OF HIS DAUGHTERS. You see me here, you gods, a poor old man, As full of grief as age; wretched in both! If it be you that stir these daughters' hearts Against their father, fool me not so much To bear it tamely; touch me with noble anger! O let not women's weapons, water-drops, Stain my man's cheeks!-no, you unnatural hags, I will have such revenges on you both, That all the world shall-I will do such things,- I have full cause of weeping; but this heart WILFUL MEN. O, sir, to wilful men, The injuries, that they themselves procure, ACT III. LEAR'S DISTRESS IN THE STORM, Kent. Where's the king? Gent. Contending with the fretful element: Bids the wind blow the earth into the sea, * Swelling.. Or swell the curled waters 'bove the main, That things might change, or cease: tears his-white hair; Which the impetuous blasts, with eyeless rage, This night, wherein the cub-drawn bear would couch, The lion and the belly pinched wolf Keep their fur dry, unbonnetted he runs, LEAR'S EXCLAMATIONS IN THE TEMPEST. Blow, wind and crack your cheeks! rage! blow! You cataracts, and hurricanoes, spout Till you have drench'd our steeples, drown'd the cocks! You sulphurous and thought-executing† fires Strike flat the thick rotundity o' the world! Rumble thy bellyfull! Spit, fire! spout, rain! That have with two pernicious daughters join'd Kent. Alas, sir, are you here? things that love night, Love not such nights as these; the wrathful skies Gallow the very wanderers of the dark, And make them keep their caves: Since I was man, Such sheets of fire, such bursts of horrid thunder, Such groans of roaring wind and rain, I never Remember to have heard: man's nature cannot carry The affliction, nor the fear. Lear. Let the great gods, Unwhipp'd of Justice: Hide thee, thou bloody hand; Kent. Alack, bareheaded! Gracious my lord, hard by here is a hovel; Some friendship will it lend you 'gainst the tempest. * * * * Lear. Thou think'st 'tis much,that this contentious storm Invades us to the skin: so 'tis to thee; But where the greater malady is fix'd, The lesser is scarce felt. Thou'dst shun a bear; The body's delicate: the tempest in my mind * Scare or frighten. Counterfeit. † Blustering noise. § Appearance. |