L.
Osw.
Good dawning to thee, friend; art of the house?
Kent.
Ask them will answer thee.
Osw.
Where may we set our horses?
Kent.
I'th' mire.
Osw
I am in haste, pr'ythee, an' thou lov'st me, tell me.
Kent.
I love thee not.
-- 25 --
Osw
Why then, I care not for thee.
Kent.
An I had thee in Lipsbury pinfold, I'd make thee
care for me.
Osw.
What dost thou mean? I know thee not.
Kent.
But, minion, I know thee.
Osw.
What dost thou know me for?
Kent.
For a base, proud, beggarly, white liver'd, glass-gazing,
super-serviceable, finical rogue; one that wou'd be a
a pimp in a way of good service, and art nothing but a composition
of knave, beggar, coward, pander—.
Osw.
What a monstrous fellow art thou, to rail at one that
is neither known of thee, nor knows thee?
Kent.
Impudent slave! not know me, who but two days
since, tript up thy heels before the king? Draw, miscreant,
or I'll make the moon shine through thee.
[Draws his sword.
Osw.
What means the fellow? I tell thee, I have nothing
to do with thee.
Kent.
Draw, you rascal. I know your rogueship's office;
you come with letters against the king, taking my young lady
Vanity's part against her royal father: Draw, rascal.
Osw.
Murder, murder, help.
[Exit Oswald, Kent following.
Flourish of Trumpets.
Enter Duke of Cornwall, Regan, Captain of the Guard,
Attendants, Gloster, and Edmund, from the Gates, L. C.
Glo.
All welcome to your graces, you do me honour.
Corn.
Gloster, we have heard with sorrow that you life
Has been attempted by your impious son.
But Edmund here has paid you strictest duty.
Glo.
He did bewray his practice, and receiv'd
The hurt you see, striving to apprehend him.
Corn.
Is he pursued!
Glo.
He is, my lord?
Reg.
Use our authority to apprehend
The traitor, and do justice on his head.
For you, Edmund, that have signaliz'd
Your virtue, you from henceforth shall be ours;
Natures of such firm trust we much shall need.
Corn.
Lay comfort, noble Gloster, to your breast,
As we to ours. This night be spent in revels.
We choose you, Gloster, for our host to-night,
A troublesome expression of our love.
On, to the sports before us! [Noise within, R.] Who are these?
-- 26 --
Enter Oswald, R. pursued by Kent. Oswald crying out
for help, crosses to L. The captain of the Guards stops
Kent, R. and retires up, R.
Glo. (C.)
Now, what's the matter?
Corn. (C.)
Keep peace, upon your lives; he dies that strikes.
Whence, and what are ye?
Reg.
The messengers from our sister and the king.
Corn.
Your difference? speak.
Osw. (L. C.)
I'm scarce in breath, my lord.
Kent.
No marvel, you have so bestir'd your valour.
Nature disclaims the dastard; a taylor made him.
Corn.
Speak yet, how grew your quarrel?
Osw.
Sir, this old ruffian here, whose life I spar'd
In pity to his beard—
Kent. (R.)
Thou essence bottle!
In pity to my beard!—Your leave, my lord,
And I will tread the musk cat into mortar.
Corn.
Know'st thou our presence?
Kent. (R. C.)
Yes, sir, but anger has a privilege.
Corn.
Why art thou angry?
Kent.
That such a slave as this should wear a sword,
And have no courage; office and no honesty;
Not frost and fire hold more antipathy
Than I and such a knave?
Glo.
Why dost thou call him knave?
Kent.
His countenance likes me not.
Corn.
No more, perhaps, does mine, nor his, or hers.
Kent.
Plain dealing is my trade; and, to be plain, sir,
I have seen better faces in my time,
Than stand on any shoulders now before me.
Reg. (L. C.)
This is some fellow, that having once been prais'd
For bluntness, affects a saucy rudeness:
But I have known one of these surly knaves,
That in his plainness harbour'd more design
Than twenty cringing complimenting minions.
Cor.
What's the offence you gave him?
Osw.
Never any, sir;
It pleas'd the king, his master, lately
To strike me on a slender misconstruction;
Whilst watching his advantage, this old lurcher
-- 27 --
Tript me behind, for which the king extoll'd him;
And, flush'd with the honour of this bold exploit,
Drew on me here again.
Corn.
The stocks! [Exeunt two Guards at the Gate.] we'll teach you.
Kent.
Sir, I am too old to learn;
I serve the king
On whose employment I was sent to you:
You'll shew too small respect, and too bold malice
Against the person of my royal master,
Stocking his messenger.
Re-enter two Guards with the Stocks and Seat, which they place R. of the Gates.
Corn.
As I have life and honour,
There shall he sit till noon.
[Guards seize Kent.
Reg,
Till noon, my lord! Till night, and all night too.
Kent.
Why madam, if I were your father's dog,
You would not use me so.
Reg.
Sir, being his knave, I will.
[Captain and Guards lead Kent away, and put him in the Stocks.
Glo.
Let me beseech your graces to forbear him;
His fault is much, and the good king, his master,
Will check him for't; but needs must take it ill
To be thus slighted in his messenger.
Gon.
We'll answer that;
Our sister may receive it worse to have
Her gentleman assaulted. To our business, lead.
[Flourish.—Exeunt all but Gloster and Oswald into the Castle, L.
Glo.
I am sorry for thee, friend; 'tis the duke's pleasure,
Whose disposition will not be controuled.
But I'll intreat 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:
Farewell t'ye, sir.
[Exit Gloster into the Castle, followed by Oswald.
Good king, that must approve the common saw!
Thou out of heaven's benediction com'st
To the warm sun—All weary and o'erwatch'd,
I feel the drowsy guest steal on me; take
Advantage, heavy eyes, of this kind slumber,
Not to behold this vile and shameful lodging.
[Sleeps.
-- 28 --
Edmund Kean [1830], King Lear. A tragedy, In Five Acts, by William Shakspeare. Printed from the acting copy, with remarks, biographical and critical, by D.—G. To which are added, description of the costume,—cast of the characters,—entrances and exits,—relative positions of the performers on the stage, and the whole of the stage business, As performed at the Theatres Royal, London. Embellished with a fine engraving, By Mr. White, from a Drawing taken in the Theatre, by Mr R. Cruikshank (John Cumberland [etc.], London) [word count] [S34400].
