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Samuel Johnson [1778], The plays of William Shakspeare. In ten volumes. With the corrections and illustrations of various commentators; to which are added notes by Samuel Johnson and George Steevens. The second edition, Revised and Augmented (Printed for C. Bathurst [and] W. Strahan [etc.], London) [word count] [S10901].
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ACT II. SCENE I. A castle belonging to the earl of Gloster. Enter Edmund, and Curan, meeting.

Edm.

Save thee, Curan.

Cur.

And you, sir. I have been with your father; and given him notice, that the duke of Cornwall, and Regan his dutchess, will be here with him to-night.

Edm.

How comes that?

Cur.

Nay, I know not: You have heard of the news abroad; I mean, the whisper'd ones, for they are yet but 1 note

ear-kissing arguments?

Edm.

Not I; Pray you, what are they?

2 noteCur.

Have you heard of no likely wars toward, 'twixt the dukes of Cornwall and Albany?

Edm.

Not a word.

Cur.

You may then, in time. Fare you well, sir.

[Exit.

Edm.
The duke be here to-night? The better! Best!
This weaves itself perforce into my business!
My father hath set guard to take my brother;
And I have one thing, of a 3 note






queazy question,

-- 407 --


Which I must act:—Briefness, and fortune, work!—
Brother, a word;—descend:—Brother, I say; Enter Edgar.
My father watches:—O sir, fly this place;
Intelligence is given where you are hid;
You have now the good advantage of the night:—
Have you not spoken 'gainst the duke of Cornwall?
He's coming hither; now, i' the night, 4 notei' the haste,
And Regan with him; 5 note


Have you nothing said
Upon his party 'gainst the duke of Albany?
Advise yourself.

Edg.
I am sure on't, not a word.

Edm.
I hear my father coming,—Pardon me:—
In cunning, I must draw my sword upon you:—
Draw: Seem to defend yourself: Now quit you well.
Yield:—come before my father;—Light, ho, here!—
Fly, brother;—Torches! torches!—So, farewel.— [Exit Edgar.
Some blood drawn on me would beget opinion [Wounds his arm.
Of my more fierce endeavour: I have seen drunkards
Do more than this in sport.—Father! father!
Stop, stop! No help?

-- 408 --

Enter Gloster, and Servants with torches.

Glo.
Now, Edmund, where's the villain?

Edm.
Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword out,
6 note

Mumbling of wicked charms, conjuring the moon
To stand his auspicious mistress:—

Glo.
But where is he?

Edm.
Look, sir, I bleed.

Glo.
Where is the villain, Edmund?

Edm.
Fled this way, sir. When by no means he could—

Glo.
Pursue him, ho!—Go after.—By no means,—what?

Edm.
Persuade me to the murder of your lordship;
But that I told him, the revenging gods
'Gainst parricides did all 7 notetheir thunders bend;
Spoke, with how manifold and strong a bond
The child was bound to the father;—Sir, in fine,
Seeing how lothly opposite I stood
To his unnatural purpose, in fell motion,
With his prepared sword, he charges home
My unprovided body, lanc'd mine arm:
But when he saw my best alarum'd spirits,
Bold in the quarrel's right, rous'd to the encounter,
Or whether 8 note


gasted by the noise I made,
Full suddenly he fled.

-- 409 --

Glo.
Let him fly far:
1 note



Not in this land shall he remain uncaught;
And found—Dispatch.—The noble duke my master,
My worthy 2 note


arch and patron, comes to-night:
By his authority I will proclaim it,
That he, which finds him, shall deserve our thanks,
Bringing the 3 notemurderous coward to the stake;
He, that conceals him, death.

Edm.
When I disswaded him from his intent,
4 note





And found him pight to do it, with curst speech
I threaten'd to discover him: He replied,
Thou unpossessing bastard! dost thou think,
If I would stand against thee, 5 note

would the reposal

Of any trust, virtue, or worth, in thee
Make thy words faith'd? No: what I should deny,

-- 410 --


(As this I would; ay, though thou didst produce
My very character) I'd turn it all
To thy suggestion, plot, and damned practice:
And thou must make a dullard of the world,
If they not thought the profits of my death
Were very pregnant and potential spurs
To make thee seek it. [Trumpets within.

Glo.
O 6 notestrange, fasten'd villain!
Would he deny his letter, said he?—I never got him.
Hark, the duke's trumpets! I know not why he comes:—
All ports I'll bar; the villain shall not scape;
The duke must grant me that: besides, his picture
I will send far and near, that all the kingdom
May have due note of him: and of my land,
Loyal and natural boy, I'll work the means
To make thee capable7 note.
Enter Cornwall, Regan, and attendants.

Corn.
How now, my noble friend? since I came hither,
(Which I can call but now) I have heard strange news.

Reg.
If it be true, all vengeance comes too short,
Which can pursue the offender. How does my lord?

Glo.
O, madam, my old heart is crack'd, is crack'd!

Reg.
What, did my father's godson seek your life?
He whom my father nam'd? your Edgar?

Glo.
O, lady, lady, shame would have it hid!

Reg.
Was he not companion with the riotous knights
That tend upon my father?

Glo.
I know not, madam:
It is too bad, too bad.—

-- 411 --

Edm.
Yes, madam, he was of that consort.

Reg.
No marvel then, though he were ill affected;
'Tis they have put him on the old man's death,
To have the expence and waste of his revenues.
I have this present evening from my sister
Been well inform'd of them; and with such cautions,
That, if they come to sojourn at my house,
I'll not be there.

Corn.
Nor I, assure thee, Regan.—
Edmund, I hear that you have shewn your father
A child-like office.

Edm.
'Twas my duty, sir.

Glo.
8 note





He did bewray his practice; and receiv'd
This hurt you see, striving to apprehend him.

Corn.
Is he pursu'd?

Glo.
Ay, my good lord.

Corn.
If he be taken, he shall never more
Be fear'd of doing harm: make your own purpose,
How in my strength you please.—For you, Edmund,
Whose virtue and obedience doth this instant
So much commend itself, you shall be ours;
Natures of such deep trust we shall much need;
You we first seize on

Edm.
I shall serve you, sir,
Truly, however else.

Glo.
For him I thank your grace.

Corn.
You know not why we came to visit you,—

-- 412 --

Reg.
Thus out of season; 9 note




threading dark-ey'd night.
1 note

Occasions, noble Gloster, of some prize,
Wherein we must have use of your advice:—
Our father he hath writ, so hath our sister,
Of differences, which I best thought it fit
To answer 2 notefrom our home; the several messengers
From hence attend dispatch. Our good old friend,
Lay comforts to your bosom; and bestow
Your needful counsel to our businesses,
Which crave the instant use.

Glo.
I serve you, madam:
Your graces are right welcome.
[Exeunt. SCENE II. Enter Kent and Steward, severally.

Stew.

Good even3 note to thee, friend: Art of this house?

Kent.

Ay.

-- 413 --

Stew.

Where may we set our horses?

Kent.

I' th' mire.

Stew.

Pr'ythee, if thou love me, tell me.

Kent.

I love thee not.

Stew.

Why, then I care not for thee.

Kent.

If I had thee in 4 note









Lipsbury pinfold, I would make thee care for me.

-- 414 --

Stew.

Why dost thou use me thus? I know thee not.

Kent.

Fellow, I know thee.

Stew.

What dost thou know me for?

Kent.

A knave, a rascal, an eater of broken meats; a base, proud, shallow, beggarly, three-suited, 5 notehundred-pound, filthy worsted-stocking knave; a lilly-liver'd, action-taking knave; a whorson, glass-gazing, super-serviceable, finical rogue; one-trunk-inheriting slave; one that would'st be a bawd, in way of good service, and art nothing but the composition of a knave, beggar, coward, pandar, and the son and heir of a mungrel bitch: one whom I will beat into clamorous whining, if thou deny'st the least syllable of thy addition6 note.

Stew.

Why, what a monstrous fellow art thou, thus

-- 415 --

to rail on one, that is neither known of thee, nor knows thee?

Kent.

What a brazen-fac'd varlet art thou, to deny thou know'st me? Is it two days ago, since I tript up thy heels, and beat thee, before the king? Draw, you rogue: for, though it be night, yet the moon shines; 7 note



I'll make a sop o' the moonshine of you: Draw you whoreson cullionly barber-monger,8 note

draw.

[Drawing his sword.

Stew.

Away; I have nothing to do with thee.

Kent.

Draw, you rascal: you come with letters against the king; and take 9 notevanity the puppet's part, against the royalty of her father: Draw, you rogue, or I'll so carbonado your shanks:—draw, you rascal; come your ways.

Stew.

Help, ho! murder! help!

-- 416 --

Kent.

Strike, you slave; stand, rogue, stand; you 1 note


neat slave, strike.

[Beating him.

Stew.

Help ho! murder! murder!

Enter Edmund, Cornwall, Regan, Gloster, and Servants.

Edm.
How now? What's the matter? Part.

Kent.
With you, goodman boy, if you please; come,
I'll flesh you; come on, young master.

Glo.
Weapons! arms! What's the matter here?

Corn.
Keep peace, upon your lives;
He dies, that strikes again: What is the matter?

Reg.
The messengers from our sister and the king.

Corn.
What is your difference? speak.

Stew.
I am scarce in breath, my lord.

Kent.
No marvel, you have so bestirr'd your valour.
You cowardly rascal, 2 note






nature disclaims in thee;
A tailor made thee.

Corn.
Thou art a strange fellow:
A tailor make a man?

Kent.

Ay, a tailor, sir: a stone-cutter, or a painter,

-- 417 --

could not have made him so ill, though they had been but two hours at the trade.

Corn.
Speak yet, how grew your quarrel?

Stew.
This ancient ruffian, sir, whose life I have spar'd,
At suit of his grey beard,—

Kent.

3 note

Thou whoreson zed! thou unnecessary letter! —My lord, if you will give me leave, I will tread 4 notethis unbolted villain 5 note



into mortar, and daub the wall
of a jakes with him.—Spare my grey beard, you wagtail?

-- 418 --

Corn.
Peace, sirrah!
You beastly knave, know you no reverence?

Kent.
Yes, sir; but anger hath a privilege.

Corn.
Why art thou angry?

Kent.
That such a slave as this should wear a sword,
Who wears no honesty. Such smiling rogues as these,
6 note







Like rats, oft bite the holy cords in twain

-- 419 --


Too 'intrinsicate t'unloose: sooth every passion9Q1085
That in the nature of their lords rebels;
Bring oil to fire, snow to their colder moods;
Renege, affirm, 7 note





and turn their halcyon beaks
With every gale and vary of their masters;
Knowing nought, like dogs, but following.—
A plague upon your 8 noteepileptic visage!
Smile you my speeches, as I were a fool?
Goose, if I had you upon Sarum plain,
I'd drive ye cackling home to 9 note





Camelot.

Corn.
What art thou mad, old fellow?

Glo.
How fell you out? say that.

-- 420 --

Kent.
No contraries hold more antipathy1 note

,
Than I and such a knave.

Corn.
Why dost thou call him knave? What's his offence?

Kent.
His countenance likes me not2 note

.

Corn.
No more, perchance, does mine, or his, or hers.

Kent.
Sir, 'tis my occupation to be plain;
I have seen better faces in my time,
Than stand on any shoulder that I see
Before me at this instant.

Corn.
This is some fellow,
Who, having been prais'd for bluntness, doth affect
A saucy roughness; and 3 note
constrains the garb,
Quite from his nature: He cannot flatter, he!—
An honest mind and plain,—he must speak truth:
An they will take it, so; if not, he's plain.
These kind of knaves I know, which in this plainness
Harbour more craft, and more corrupter ends,
4 note





Than twenty silly ducking observants,
That stretch their duties nicely.

-- 421 --

Kent.
Sir, in good sooth, or in sincere verity,
Under the allowance of your grand aspect,
Whose influence, like the wreath of radiant fire
5 note









On flickering Phœbus' front,—

Cor.

What mean'st thou by this?

Kent.

To go out of my dialect, which you discommend so much. I know, sir, I am no flatterer: he that beguil'd you, in a plain accent, was a plain knave; which, for my part, I will not be, 6 notethough

-- 422 --

I should win your displeasure to entreat me to it.

Cor.
What was the offence you gave him?

Stew.
I never gave him any:
It pleas'd the king his master, very late,
To strike at me, upon his misconstruction;
When he, 7 noteconjunct, and flattering his displeasure,
Tript me behind; being down, insulted, rail'd,
And put upon him such a deal of man, that
That worthy'd him, got praises of the king
For him attempting who was self-subdu'd;
And, in the fleshment of this dread exploit,
Drew on me here again.

Kent.
None of these rogues, and cowards,
8 noteBut Ajax is their fool.

Corn.
Fetch forth the stocks, ho!
You stubborn ancient knave9 note, you reverend braggart,
We'll teach you—

Kent.
Sir, I am too old to learn:
Call not your stocks for me: I serve the king;
On whose employment I was sent to you:
You shall do small respect, shew too bold malice
Against the grace and person of my master,
Stocking his messenger.

Corn.
Fetch forth the stocks:—
As I have life and honour, there shall he sit 'till noon.

Regan.
'Till noon! 'till night, my lord; and all night too.

-- 423 --

Kent.
Why, madam, if I were your father's dog,
You should not use me so.

Reg.
Sir, being his knave, I will.
[Stocks brought out1 note.

Corn.
This is a fellow of the self-same colour2 note
Our sister speaks of:—Come, bring away the stocks.

Glo.
Let me beseech your grace not to do so:
3 note*His fault is much, and the good king his master
Will check him for't: your purpos'd low correction
Is such, as basest and the meanest4 note wretches,
For pilferings and most common trespasses,
Are punish'd with*: the king must take it ill,
That he, so slightly valu'd in his messenger,
Should have him thus restrain'd.

Corn.
I'll answer that.

Reg.
My sister may receive it much more worse,
To have her gentleman abus'd, assaulted,
For following her affairs.—Put in his legs.— [Kent is put in the stocks5 note

.
Come, my good lord; away. [Exeunt Regan, and Cornwall.

Glo.
I am sorry for thee, friend; 'tis the duke's pleasure,
Whose disposition, all the world well knows,

-- 424 --


6 noteWill not be rubb'd, nor stopp'd: I'll entreat for thee.

Kent.
Pray, do not, sir: I have watch'd, and travell'd hard;
Some time I shall sleep out, the rest I'll whistle.
A good man's fortune may grow out at heels:
Give you good morrow!

Glo.
The duke's to blame in this; 'twill be ill taken.
[Exit.

Kent.
7 note



Good king, that must approve the common saw!
Thou out of heaven's benediction com'st
To the warm sun!
Approach, thou beacon to this under globe, [Looking up to the moon.
That by thy comfortable beams I may
Peruse this letter!—Nothing almost sees miracles8 note;
But misery,—9 note





I know, 'tis from Cordelia; [Reading the letter.

-- 425 --


Who hath most fortunately been inform'd
Of my obscured course;—1 note

and shall find time

From this enormous state,—seeking to give
Losses their remedies;—All weary and o'er-watch'd,
Take vantage, heavy eyes, not to behold
This shameful lodging.
Fortune, good night; smile once more; turn thy wheel! [He sleeps. SCENE III. A part of the heath. Enter Edgar.

Edg.
I heard myself proclaim'd;
And, by the happy hollow of a tree,
Escap'd the hunt. No port is free; no place,

-- 426 --


That guard, and most unusual vigilance,
Does not attend my taking. While I may scape,
I will preserve myself: and am bethought
To take the basest and most poorest shape,
That ever penury, in contempt of man,
Brought near to beast: my face I'll grime with filth;
Blanket my loins; 2 note


elf all my hair in knots;
And with presented nakedness out-face
The winds, and persecutions of the sky.
The country gives me proof and precedent
Of Bedlam beggars3 note, who, with roaring voices,
Strike in their numb'd and mortify'd bare arms
Pins, wooden pricks4 note, nails, sprigs of rosemary;
And with this horrible object, from low farms5 note,

-- 427 --


6 note





Poor pelting villages, sheep-cotes, and mills,
Sometime with lunatic bans7 note



, sometime with prayers,
Inforce their charity.—8 note

Poor Turlygood! poor Tom!
That's something yet;—9 noteEdgar I nothing am. [Exit.

-- 428 --

SCENE IV. 1 note

Earl of Gloster's castle. Enter Lear, Fool, and Gentleman.

Lear.
'Tis strange, that they should so depart from home,
And not send back my messenger.

Gent.
As I learn'd,
The night before there was no purpose in them
Of this remove.

Kent.
Hail to thee, noble master!

Lear.
How! mak'st thou this shame thy pastime?

Kent.
No, my lord2 note.

Fool.

Ha, ha; look! 3 note










he wears cruel garters!

-- 429 --

Horses are ty'd by the heads; dogs, and bears, by the neck; monkies by the loins, and men by the legs: when a man is over-lusty4 note




at legs, 5 note




then he wears wooden nether-stocks.

-- 430 --

Lear.
What's he, that hath so much thy place mistook
To set thee here?

Kent.
It is both he and she,
Your son and daughter.

Lear.
No.

Kent.
Yes.

Lear.
No, I say.

Kent.
I say, yea.

Lear.6 note
No, no; they would not.

Kent.
Yes, they have.

Lear.
By Jupiter, I swear, no.

Kent.
By Juno, I swear, ay note.

Lear.
They durst not do't;
They could not, would not do't; 'tis worse than murder,
8 noteTo do upon respect such violent outrage:
Resolve me, with all modest haste, which way
Thou might'st deserve, or they impose, this usage,
Coming from us.

Kent.
My lord, when at their home
I did commend your highness' letters to them,
Ere I was risen from the place that shew'd
My duty kneeling, came there a reeking post,
Stew'd in his haste, half breathless, panting forth
From Goneril his mistress, salutations;
9 note



Deliver'd letters, spight of intermission,

-- 431 --


Which presently they read: on whose contenst note,
1 note







They summon'd up their meiny, straight took horse;
Commanded me to follow, and attend
The leisure of their answer; gave me cold looks:
And meeting here the other messenger,
Whose welcome, I perceiv'd, had poison'd mine,
(Being the very fellow which of late
Display'd so saucily against your highness)
Having more man than wit about me, I drew;
He rais'd the house with loud and coward cries:
Your son and daughter found this trespass worth
The shame which here it suffers.

Fool.



2 note

Winter's not gone yet, if the wild geese fly that way.
Fathers, that wear rags,
  Do make their children blind;
But fathers, that bear bags,
  Shall see their children kind.
Fortune, that arrant whore,
Ne'er turns the key to the poor.—

-- 432 --

But, for all this, thou shalt have as many 3 note

dolours from thy dear daughters, as thou can'st tell in a year.

Lear.
O, how this mother4 note

swells up toward my heart!
Hysterica passio! down, thou climbing sorrow,
Thy element's below!—Where is this daughter?

Kent.
With the earl, sir, here within.

Lear.
Follow me not; stay here.
[Exit.

Gent.
Made you no more offence than what you speak of?

Kent.
None.
How chance the king comes with so small a train?

Fool.

An thou hadst been set i' the stocks for that question, thou hadst well deserv'd it.

-- 433 --

Kent.

Why, fool?

Fool.

We'll set thee to school to an ant, to teach thee there's no labouring in the winter. 5 note

All that follow their noses are led by their eyes, but blind men; and there's not a nose among twenty, but can smell him that's stinking. Let go thy hold, when a great wheel runs down a hill, lest it break thy neck with following it; but the great one that goes up the hill, let him draw thee after. 6 noteWhen a wise man gives thee better counsel, give me mine again: I would have none but knaves follow it, since a fool gives it.



That, sir, which serves and seeks for gain,
  And follows but for form,

-- 434 --


  Will pack, when it begins to rain,
    And leave thee in the storm.
7 note





But I will tarry; the fool will stay,
    And let the wise man fly:
The knave turns fool, that runs away;
    The fool no knave, perdy.

Kent.
Where learn'd you this, fool?

Fool.
Not i' the stocks, fool.
Re-enter Lear, with Gloster.

Lear.
Deny to speak with me? They are sick? they are weary?
They have travell'd hard to-night? Mere fetches;
The images of revolt and flying off!
Fetch me a better answer.

Glo.
My dear lord,
You know the fiery quality of the duke;
How unremoveable and fixt he is
In his own course.

Lear.
Vengeance! plague! death! confusion!—
Fiery? what quality? Why, Gloster, Gloster,
I'd speak with the duke of Cornwall, and his wife.

Glo.8 note
Well, my good lord, I have inform'd them so.

Lear.
Inform'd them! Dost thou understand me, man?

-- 435 --

Glo.
Ay, my good lord.

Lear.
The king would speak with Cornwall; the dear father
Would with his daughter speak, commands her service:
Are they inform'd of this?—My breath and blood!—
Fiery? the fiery duke?—Tell the hot duke, that—9 note
No, but not yet:—may be, he is not well:
Infirmity doth still neglect all office,
Whereto our health is bound; we are not ourselves,
When nature, being oppress'd, commands the mind
To suffer with the body: I'll forbear;
And am fallen out with my more headier will,
To take the indispos'd and sickly fit
For the sound man.—Death on my state! wherefore [Looking on Kent.
Should he sit here? This act persuades me,
That this remotion of the duke and her
1 noteIs practice only. Give me my servant forth:
Go, tell the duke and his wife, I'd speak with them,
Now, presently; bid them come forth and hear me,
Or at their chamber door I'll beat the drum,
'Till it cry, Sleep to death.

Glo.
I would have all well betwixt you.
[Exit.

Lear.
O me, my heart, my rising heart!—but, down.

Fool.

Cry to it, nuncle, as the cockney2 note





did to

-- 436 --

3 notethe eels, when she put them i' the paste alive; she rapt 'em o' the coxcombs with a stick, and cry'd, Down, wantons, down: 'Twas her brother, that, in pure kindness to his horse, butter'd his hay.

Enter Cornwall, Regan, Gloster, and Servants.

Lear.
Good morrow to you both.

Corn.
Hail to your grace!
[Kent is set at liberty.

Reg.
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 thy mother's tomb,
Sepulch'ring an adultress4 note

.—O, are you free? [To Kent.
Some other time for that.—Beloved Regan,
Thy sister's naught: O Regan, 5 note
she hath tied
Sharp-tooth'd unkindness, like a vulture, here,— [Points to his heart.

-- 437 --


I can scarce speak to thee; thou'lt not believe,
6 note
Of how deprav'd a quality—O Regan!

Reg.
I pray you, sir, take patience; I have hope,
You less know how to value her desert,
7 note




Than she to scant her duty.

Lear.
Say?8 note How is that?

Reg.
I cannot think, my sister in the least
Would fail her obligation; If, sir, perchance,
She have restrain'd the riots of your followers,
'Tis on such ground, and to such wholesome end,
As clears her from all blame.

Lear.
My curses on her!

Reg.
O, sir, you are old;
Nature in you stands on the very verge
Of her confine: you should be rul'd, and led
By some discretion, that discerns your state
Better than you yourself: Therefore, I pray you,
That to our sister you do make return;
Say, you have wrong'd her, sir.

Lear.
Ask her forgiveness?

-- 438 --


9 note





Do you but mark how this becomes the house?
Dear daughter, I confess that I am old;
1 note




note unable to procure them. Tyrwhitt.

Age is unnecessary: on my knees I beg,
[Kneeling.
That you'll vouchsafe me raiment, bed, and food.

-- 439 --

Reg.
Good sir, no more; these are unsightly tricks:
Return you to my sister.

Lear.
Never, Regan:
She hath abated me of half my train;
2 note



Look'd black upon me; struck me with her tongue,
Most serpent-like, upon the very heart:—
All the stor'd vengeances of heaven fall
On her ingrateful top! Strike her young bones,
You taking airs, with lameness!

Corn.
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,
3 note








To fall and blast her pride!

-- 440 --

Reg.
O the blest gods!
So will you wish on me, 4 notewhen the rash mood is on.

Lear.
No, Regan, thou shalt never have my curse;
Thy 5 note


tender-hefted nature shall not give
Thee o'er to harshness; her eyes are fierce, but thine
Do comfort, and not burn: 'Tis not in thee
To grudge my pleasures, to cut off my train,
To bandy hasty words, 6 note



to scant my sizes,

-- 441 --


And, in conclusion, to oppose the bolt
Against my coming in: thou better know'st
The offices of nature, bond of childhood,
Effects of courtesy, dues of gratitude;
Thy half o'the kingdom thou hast not forgot,
Wherein I thee endow'd.

Reg.
Good sir, to the purpose.
[Trumpets within.

Lear.
Who put my man i' the stocks?

Corn.
What trumpet's that?
Enter Steward.

Reg.
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!

Corn.
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 Goneril.
7 note
If you do love old men, if your sweet sway
Allow obedience, if yourselves are old,

-- 442 --


Make it your cause; send down, and take my part!—
Art not asham'd to look upon this beard?— [To Gon.
O, Regan, wilt thou take her by the hand?

Gon.
Why not by the hand, sir? How have I offended?
All's not offence, 8 note


that indiscretion finds,
And dotage terms so.

Lear.
O, sides, you are too tough!
Will you yet hold?—How came my man i' the stocks?

Corn.
I set him there, sir: but his own disorders
Deserv'd 9 note



much less advancement.

Lear.
You! did you?

Reg.
1 note


I pray you, father, being weak, seem so.

-- 443 --


If, 'till the expiration of your month,
You will return and sojourn with my sister,
Dismissing half your train, come then to me;
I am now from home, and out of that provision
Which shall be needful for your entertainment.

Lear.
Return to her, and fifty men dismiss'd?
2 note






No, rather I abjure all roofs, and choose

-- 444 --


To wage against the enmity o' the air;
To be a comrade with the wolf and owl,—
Necessity's sharp pinch!—Return with her?
Why, the hot-blooded France, that dowerless took
Our youngest born, I could as well be brought
To knee his throne, and, squire-like, pension beg
To keep 3 notebase life afoot;—Return with her?
Persuade me rather to be slave 4 note





and sumpter
To this detested groom. [Looking on the Steward.

Gon.
At your choice, sir.

Lear.
Now I pr'ythee, daughter, do not make me mad;
I will not trouble thee, my child; farewel:
We'll no more meet, no more see one another:—
But yet thou art my flesh, my blood, my daughter;
Or, rather, a disease that's in my flesh,
Which I must needs call mine: thou art a bile,
A plague-sore, an 5 noteembossed carbuncle,
In my corrupted blood. But I'll not chide thee;
Let shame come when it will, I do not call it:
I do not bid the thunder-bearer shoot,
Nor tell tales of thee to high-judging Jove:
Mend, when thou canst; be better, at thy leisure:
I can be patient; I can stay with Regan,
I, and my hundred knights.

Reg.
Not altogether so, sir;

-- 445 --


I look'd not for you yet, nor am provided
For your fit welcome: Give ear, sir, to my sister;
For those that mingle reason with your passion,
Must be content to think you old, and so—
But she knows what she does.

Lear.
Is this well spoken now?

Reg.
I dare avouch it, sir: What, fifty followers?
Is it not well? What should you need of more?
Yea, or so many? sith that both charge and danger
Speak 'gainst so great a number? How, in one house,
Should many people, under two commands,
Hold amity? 'Tis hard; almost impossible.

Gon.
Why might not you, my lord, receive attendance
From those that she calls servants, or from mine?

Reg.
Why not, my lord? If then they chanc'd to slack you,
We could controul them: If you will come to me,
(For now I spy a danger) I intreat you
To bring but five and twenty; to no more
Will I give place, or notice.

Lear.
I gave you all—

Reg.
And in good time you gave it.

Lear.
Made you my guardians, my depositaries;
But kept a reservation to be follow'd
With such a number: What, must I come to you
With five and twenty, Regan? said you so?

Reg.
And speak it again, my lord; no more with me.

Lear.
6 note







Those wicked creatures yet do look well-favour'd,

-- 446 --


When others are more wicked; not being the worst,
Stands in some rank of praise:—I'll go with thee; [To Goneril.
Thy fifty yet doth double five and twenty,
And thou art twice her love.

Gon.
Hear me, my lord;
What need you five and twenty, ten, or five,
To follow in a house, where twice so many
Have a command to tend you?

Reg.
What need one?

Lear.
O, reason not the need: our basest beggars
Are in the poorest thing superfluous:
Allow not nature more than nature needs,
Man's life is cheap as beast's: thou art a lady;
If only to go warm were gorgeous,
Why, nature needs not what thou gorgeous wear'st,
Which scarcely keeps thee warm.—But, for true need,—
You heavens, give me that patience, patience I need!
You see me here, you gods, a 7 notepoor 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

-- 447 --


To bear it tamely; 8 notetouch 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 things9 note




,—
What they are, yet I know not; but they shall be
The terrors of the earth. You think, I'll weep:
No, I'll not weep:—
I have full cause of weeping; but this heart
Shall break into a hundred thousand flaws,
Or ere I'll weep:—O, fool, I shall go mad! [Exeunt Lear, Gloster, Kent, and Fool.

Corn.
Let us withdraw, 'twill be a storm.
[Storm and tempest heard.

Reg.
This house is little; the old man and his people
Cannot be well bestow'd.

Gon.
'Tis his own blame; he hath put himself from rest,

-- 448 --


And must needs taste his folly.

Reg.
For his particular, I'll receive him gladly,
But not one follower.

Gon.
So am I purpos'd.
Where is my lord of Gloster?
Re-enter Gloster.

Corn.
Follow'd the old man forth:—he is return'd.

Glo.
The king is in high rage.

Corn.
Whither is he going1 note
?

Glo.
He calls to horse; but will I know not whither.

Corn.
'Tis best to give him way; he leads himself.

Gon.
My lord, entreat him by no means to stay.

Glo.
Alack, the night comes on, and the bleak winds
2 noteDo sorely ruffle; for many miles about
There's scarce a bush.

Reg.
O, sir, to wilful men,
The injuries, that they themselves procure,
Must be their school-masters: Shut up your doors;
He is attended with a desperate train;
And what they may incense him to, being apt
To have his ear abus'd, wisdom bids fear.

Corn.
Shut up your doors, my lord; 'tis a wild night;
My Regan counsels well: come out o' the storm.
[Exeunt.

-- 449 --

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Samuel Johnson [1778], The plays of William Shakspeare. In ten volumes. With the corrections and illustrations of various commentators; to which are added notes by Samuel Johnson and George Steevens. The second edition, Revised and Augmented (Printed for C. Bathurst [and] W. Strahan [etc.], London) [word count] [S10901].
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