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

Kent.
Hail, noble master!

Lear. (C.)
How! mak'st thou this shame thy pastime!
What's he that has so much mistook thy place,
To set thee here?

Kent.
It is both he and she, sir; your son and daughter.

Lear.
No.

Kent.
Yes.

Lear.
No, I say.

Kent.
I say, yea.

Lear.
They durst not do't
They could not, would not do't:
Resolve me with all modest haste, which way
Thou may'st deserve, or they impose this usage.

Kent.
My lord, when at their home
I did commend your highness' letters to them,
Ere I was ris'n, arriv'd another post,
Stew'd in his haste, breathless and panting forth
From Goneril, his mistress, salutations:
Whose message being deliver'd, they took horse,
Commanding me to follow, and attend
The leisure of their answer; which I did:
But meeting here that other messenger,
Whose welcome I perceiv'd had poison'd mine,
Being the very fellow that of late
Had shewn such rudeness to your highness, I,
Having more man than wit about me, drew;
On which he rais'd the house with coward cries:
This was the trespass, which your son and daughter
Thought worth the shame you see it suffer here.

Lear.
Oh! this spleen swells upwards to my heart,
And heaves for passage! Down, thou climbing rage,
Thy element's below. Where is this daughter? Enter Gloster, from the Castle, R. he advances.

Kent.
Within, sir, at a masque.

Lear. (L.)
Now, Gloster?—Ha! [Gloster whispers Lear.
Deny to speak with me? Th'are sick, th'are weary,
They've travell'd hard to-night?—Mere fetches, sir;
Bring me a better answer.

Glo. (L.)
My dear lord.
You know the fiery quality of the duke—

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

Glost.
I have informed them so.

Lear.
Inform'd them? dost thou understand me, man?
I tell thee, Gloster—

Glo.
Ay, my good lord.

Lear.
The king would speak with Cornwell; 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—
No, but not yet; may be, he is not well;
Infirmity doth still neglect all office;
I beg his pardon, and I'll chide my rashness
That took the indispos'd and sickly fit
For the sound man.—But wherefore sits he there?
Death on my state! This act convinces me [Pointing to the Stoc's.
That this retiredness of the duke and her
Is plain contempt.—Give me my servant forth.
Go tell the duke and's wife I'd speak with 'em,
Now, instantly.—Bid 'em come forth and hear me;
Or at their chamber door I'll beat the drum;
'Till it cry, Sleep to death. Enter Cornwall, Regan, Page, two Soldiers, Captain of the Guard, and Guards from the Castle, L. C.
Oh! are you come?

Cor. (R.)
Health to the king!

Reg. (R. C.)
I am glad to see your highness.

Lear. (C.)
Regan, I think you are: I know what cause
I have to think so. Should'st thou not be glad,
I would divorce me from thy mother's tomb,
Sepulchring an adultress—
Beloved Regan, thou wilt shake to hear
What I shall utter; thou could'st ne'er ha' thought it;—
Thy sister's naught: O, Regan! she hath tied
Ingratitude like a keen vulture, here;
I scarce can speak to thee.

Reg.
I pray you, sir, take patience; I have hope
That you know less to value her desert,
Than she to slack her duty.

Lear.
Ha! How's that?

Reg.
I cannot think my sister in the least
Would fail in her respects, but if, perchance,
She has restrain'd the riots of your followers,
'Tis on such grounds, and to such wholesome ends,
As clear her from all blame.

Lear.
My curses on her!

Reg. (R. C.)
O, sir! you're old,

And shou'd content you to he rul'd and led
By some discretion that discerns you state
Better than yourself; therefore, good sir,
Return to our sister, and say you have wrong'd her.
Do you but mark how this becomes the house:

Lear. (C.)
Ha! ask her forgiveness! [Kneeling.
Dear daughter, I confess that I am old:
Age is unnecessary; on my knees I beg,
That you'll vouchsafe me raiment, bed, and food.

Reg.
Good sir, no more of these unsightly passions;
Return back to our sister,

Lear.
Never, Regan; [Rises.
She hath abated me of half my train,
Look'd black upon me, stabb'd me with her tongue:
All the stor'd vengeances of heav'n fall
On her ingratefull head! Strike her young bones,
Ye taking airs, with lameness!—

Reg.
O the blest gods! thus will you wish me,
When the rash mood—

Lear.
No, Regan, thou shalt never have my curse;
Thy tender nature cannot give thee o'er
To such impiety: thou better know'st
The offices of nature, bond of childhood,
And dues of gratitude; thou bear'st in mind
The half o'th' kingdom, which our love conferred
On thee and thine.

Reg.
Good sir, to th' purpose,

Lear.
Who put my man i'th' stocks? [Trumpet sounds, L.

Corn.
What trumpet's that?

Reg.
I know't, my sister's; this confirms her letters. Enter Oswald, L.
Sir, is your lady come?

Lear.
More torture still!
Out, varlet, from my sight! [Strikes Oswald who crosses towards Kent; Kent threatens him; he then escapes R. U. E. crying.

Corn.
What means your grace?

Lear.
Who stock'd my servant? Regan, I have hope
Thou didst not know of it. [Trumpet sounds.

Enter Goneril, Page, two Ladies, Guards, and two Banners, L.
Who comes here? Oh, heav'ns! [Crosses to R.
If you do love old men; if your sweet sway
Allow obedience; if yourselves are old,
Make it your cause [To Goneril]: send down, and take my part! (C.)
Why, Gorgon, dost thou come to haunt me here? [To Goneril.
Art thou not asham'd to look upon this beard?— [Regan takes Goneril by the hand.
Darkness upon my eyes, they play me false!—
O, Regan! wilt thou take her by the hand?

Gon.
Why not by th' hand, sir? [Crosses to Lear.] How have I offended?
All's not offence that indiscretion finds,
And dotage terms so.

Lear. (C.)
Heart, thou art too tough!

Reg.
I pray you, sir, being old, confess you are so.
If, till the expiration of your month,
You will return, and sojourn with our sister,
Dismissing half your train, come then to me:
I'm now from home, and out of that provision
That shall be needful for your entertainment.

Lear.
Return with her, and fifty knights dismiss'd?
No, rather I'll abjure all roofs, and choose
To be companion to the midnight wolf,
My naked head expos'd to th' merciless air, [Throws down his hat, Kent takes it up.
Than have my smallest wants supply'd by her.

Gon.
At your choice, sir.

Lear.
Now, I pr'ythee daughter, do not make me mad!
I will not trouble thee, my child; farewell;
Let shame come when it will, I do not call it;
I do not bid the thunder-bearer strike,
Nor tell tales of thee to avenging heaven.
Mend when thou canst; be better at thy leisure;
I can be patient, I can stay with Regan,
I, and my hundred knights.

Reg.
Your pardon, sir;
I looked not for you yet, nor am provided
For your fit welcome.

Lear.
Is this well spoken now?

Reg.
My sister treats you fair. What! fifty followers?
Is it not well? What should you need of more?

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

Reg.
Why not, my lord! If then they chance to slack you,
We could control them.—If you come to me,
For now I see the danger, I intreat you
To bring but five-and-twenty; to no more
Will I give place.

Lear.
I gave you all

Reg.
And in good time you gave it.

Lear.
Hold now, my temper, stand this bolt unmov'd,
And I am thunder-proof.— [It begins to rain.

Gon. (L.)
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 t'attend you?

Reg. (R.)
What need one? [Distant thunder

Lear. (C)
Heav'ns, drop your patience down!
You see me here, ye 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 cheek!—No, you unnatural hags,
I will have such revenges on you both
That all the world shall—I will do such things,
What they are, yet I know not; but they shall be
The terrors of the earth.—[Crosses to L.]—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.— [Rain and thunder.
O, gods, I shall go mad! [Exeunt King Lear, Kent, Knights, Cornwall, Regan, Goneril, Gloster, Oswald, and attendants, into the Castle, L. END OF ACT II.

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