Cornwal, Regan, Gloster, and Servants.
Edm.
How now? What's the matter? Part. note
Ken.
With you, goodman boy, if you note please; come,
I'll flesh you; come on, young master.
Glo.
Weapons! arms! What's the matter here?
Cor.
Keep peace, upon your lives;
-- 40 --
He dies, that strikes again: What is the matter?
Reg.
The messengers from our sister and the king.
Cor.
What is your difference? speak.
Ste.
I am scarce in breath, my lord.
Ken.
No marvel, you have so bestir'd your valour&dotup;
You cowardly rascal, nature disclaims in thee;14Q1336
A tailor made thee.
Cor.
Thou art a strange fellow:
A tailor make a man?
Ken.
Ay, note a tailor, sir: a stone-cutter, or a painter,
could not have made him so ill, though they had note been
but two years o'the note trade.
Cor.
Speak note yet, how grew your quarrel?
Ste.
This ancient ruffian, sir, whose life I have spar'd
At suit of his grey beard,—
Ken.
Thou whorson zed! thou unnecessary letter!—
My lord, if you will note give me leave, I will note tread this unbolted
villain into mortar, and daub the wall of a jakes note
with him.—Spare my grey beard, you wag-tail?
Cor.
Peace, sirrah: note
You beastly knave, know you no note reverence?
Ken.
Yes, sir; but anger has a note priviledge.
Cor.
Why art thou angry?
Ken.
That such a slave as this should wear a sword,
Who wears note no honesty. Such smiling rogues as these,
Like rats, oft bite the holy cords atwain note
Which are note too intrince to unloose: sooth note every passion
That in the nature of their lords rebels note;
Bring oil note to fire, snow to the note colder moods:
Renege, affirm, note and turn their halcyon beaks
With every gale and vary note of their masters;
As knowing nought, like dogs, but note following.—
-- 41 --
A plague upon your epileptick visage!
Smile you my speeches, as I were a fool?
Goose, if I note had you upon Sarum plain,
I'd drive you note cackling home to Camelot.
Cor.
What, art thou mad, old fellow?
Glo.
How fell you out? say that.
Ken.
No contraries hold more antipathy,
Than I and such a knave.
Cor.
Why dost thou call him knave? What is his fault? note
Ken.
His countenance likes me not.
Cor.
No more, perchance, does mine, note nor his, nor hers. note
Ken.
Sir, 'tis my occupation to be plain;
I have seen better faces in my time,
Than stands on note any shoulder that I see
Before me at this instant.
Cor.
This is some fellow, note
Who, having been prais'd for bluntness, doth affect
A saucy roughness; and constrains the garb,
Quite from his nature: He cannot flatter, he,—
An honest mind and plain,—he must note speak truth:
An they will take it note, so; if not, he's plain.
These kind of knaves I know, which in this plainness
Harbour more craft, and more corrupter ends,
Than twenty silly ducking observants,
That stretch their duties nicely.
Ken.
Sir, in good faith, in note sincere verity,
Under the allowance of your grand aspéct, note
Whose influence, like the wreath of radiant fire
On flickering note Phœbus' front,—
Cor.
What mean'st by note this?
Ken.
To go out of my dialect, which note you discommend
so much. I know, sir,14Q1337 I am no flatterer: he that
-- 42 --
beguil'd you, in a plain accent, was a plain knave; which,
for my part, I will not be, though I should win your displeasure
to entreat me to it.
Cor.
What was the note offence you gave him?
Ste.
I never gave him any:
It pleas'd the king his master, very late,
To strike at me, upon his misconstruction;
When he, conjunct, and note flattering his displeasure,
Tript me behind; being down, insulted, rail'd,
And put upon him such a deal of man, note
That worthy'd him, got praises of the king
For him attempting who was self-subdu'd;
And, in the fleshment of note this dread exploit, note
Drew on me here again.
Ken.
None of these rogues, and cowards,
But Ajax is their fool. note
Cor.
Fetch forth the stocks. note—
You stubborn ancient knave, note you unreverent note braggart,
We'll teach you:
Ken.
Sir, note I am too old to learn:
Call not your stocks for me: I serve the king;
On whose employment note I was sent to you:
You shall do note small respect note, show too note bold malice
Against the grace and person of my master,
Stocking his note messenger.
Cor.
Fetch forth the stocks:—
As I have life and honour, there shall he sit 'till noon.
Reg.
'Till noon! 'till night, my lord; and all night too.
Ken.
Why, madam, if I were your father's dog,
You should not note use me so.
Reg.
Sir, being his knave, I will.
[Stocks brought out.
Cor.
This is a fellow of the self note-same colour
-- 43 --
Our sister speaks note of:—Come, bring away the stocks.
Glo.
Let me beseech your grace not to do so:
His fault is much, and the good king his master note
Will check him for't: your purpos'd low correction
Is such, as basest and contemned'st note wretches,
For pilferings and most common trespasses,
Are punish'd with: the king must take it ill,
That he's so note slightly valu'd in his messenger,
Should have him thus restrain'd.
Cor.
I'll answer that.
Reg.
My sister may receive it much more worse,
To have her gentleman note abus'd, assaulted,
For following her affairs.—Put in his legs.— note
Come, my note lord note; away.
[Exeunt Cor. Reg. Edm. Ste. and Ser.
Glo.
I am sorry for thee, friend; 'tis the duke's pleasure, note
Whose disposition, all the world well knows,
Will not be rub'd, nor stopt: I'll entreat for thee.
Ken.
Pray, do not note, sir: I have watch'd, and travel'd hard;
Some time I shall sleep out note, 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 note.
[Exit Gloster.
Ken.
Good king, that must approve the common saw!
Thou out of heaven's14Q1338 benediction com'st
To the warm sun.
Approach, thou beacon to this under globe,
That by thy comfortable beams I may
Peruse this † letter:—Nothing almost sees miracles note,
But misery:—I know, 'tis from Cordelia;
-- 44 --
Who hath most fortunately been inform'd
Of my obscured course; and shall find time
From this enormous state, seeking to give
Losses their remedies. All weary and o'er-watch'd note,
Take vantage, heavy eyes, not to behold
This shameful lodging.
Fortune, good night; smile once more, turn thy wheel!
Enter Edgar, at a Distance.
Edg.
I heard myself note proclaim'd;
And, by the happy hollow of a tree,
Escap'd the hunt. No port is free; no place,
That guard, and most unusual vigilance,
Does not note attend my taking. While note 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; elf all my hair with knots; note
And with presented nakedness out-face
The winds, and persecutions note of the sky.
The country gives me proof and precedent
Of Bedlam beggars, who, with roaring voices,
Strike in their numb'd and mortify'd bare note arms
Pins, wooden note pricks, nails, sprigs of rosemary;
And with this horrible object, from low farms, note
Poor pelting villages, sheep-cotes, and mills,
Sometime with lunatick bans, sometime with prayers,
Enforce their charity:—Poor Turlygood!14Q1339 poor Tom!—
That's something yet; Edgar I nothing am.
[Exit.
Enter Lear, Fool, and Gentleman. note
Lea.
'Tis strange, that they should so depart from home, note
-- 45 --
And not send back my messenger. note
Gen.
As I learn'd,
The night before there was no purpose in them note
Of this remove. note
Ken.
Hail to thee, noble master!
Lea.
Ha! Mak'st note thou this shame thy pastime?
Ken.
No, my lord. note
Foo.
Ha, ha; look, note he wears crewel note garters!14Q1340 Horses
are ty'd note by the heads; dogs note, and bears, by the neck;
monkies by the loins, and men by the legs note: when a man
is note over-lusty at legs, then he wears wooden nether stocks.
Lea.
What's he, that hath so much thy place mistook
To set thee here?
Ken.
It is both he and she,
Your son and daughter.
Lea.
No.
Ken.
Yes.
Lea.
No, I say.
Ken.
But I say, yea. note
Lea.
By Jupiter, I swear, no.
Ken.
By Juno, I swear, ay.
Lea.
They durst not do't;
They could not, would not note do't; 'tis worse than murder,
To do upon respect such violent outrage:
Resolve me, with all modest haste, which way
Thou might'st deserve, or they impose note, this usage,
Coming from us.
Ken.
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 note forth,
-- 46 --
From Goneril his mistress, salutation; note
Deliver'd letters, spight of intermission,
Which presently they read: on whose contents note,
They summon'd up their meiny, note 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 that of note late
Display'd so sawcily 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 note which here it suffers.
Foo.
Winter's not gone yet, if the wild geese fly that way. note
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.—
But, for all this, thou shalt have as many dolors from thy note
dear note daughters, as thou can'st tell in a year.
Lea.
O, how this mother swells up toward my heart!
Hysterica note passio! down, thou climbing sorrow,
Thy element's below!—Where is this daughter?
Ken.
With the earl, sir, here note within.
Lea.
Follow me not, stay here. note
[Exit.
Gen.
Made you no more offence note than what you speak of?
Ken.
None. note
How chance the king comes with so small a train? note
-- 47 --
Foo.
An thou note had'st been set i'the stocks for that
question, thou had'st well deserv'd it.
Ken.
Why, fool?
Foo.
We'll set thee to school to an ant, to teach thee
there's no labouring in the winter. All that follow their
noses are led by their eyes, but blind men; and there's
not a nose among twenty, note 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; note
but the great one that goes upward, note let him draw thee
after. When 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 sir14Q1341, that serves for note gain,
And follows but for form,
Will pack, when it 'gins note rain note,
And leave thee in the storm.
But I will tarry, the fool will stay,
And let the wise man fly:
The fool turns knave, that runs away;
The fool no knave note, perdy.
Ken.
Where learn'd you this, fool? note
Foo.
Not i' the stocks, fool.
Re-enter Lear, with Gloster.
Lea.
Deny to speak with me? They are sick, they are weary,
They have note travel'd hard to-night? note Meer fetches note;
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
-- 48 --
In his own course.
Lea.
Vengeance, plague, death, note confusion!
Fiery? what quality? Why note, Gloster, Gloster,
I'd speak with the duke of Cornwal, and his wife.
Glo.
Well, my good lord, I have inform'd them so. note
Lea.
Inform'd them! Dost thou understand me, man?
Glo.
Ay, my good lord.
Lea.
The king would speak with Cornwal; the dear father
Would with his daughter speak, commands her service: note
Are they inform'd of this?—My breath and blood! note
Fiery? the note fiery duke?—Tell the hot duke, that 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 opprest, commands note the mind
To suffer with the body: I'll forbear;
And am fallen note out with my more headier will,
To take the indispos'd and sickly fit
For the sound man. Death on my note state! wherefóre
Should he sit here? This act persuades me,
That this remotion of the duke and her
Is practice only. Give me my servant forth:
Go, note tell the duke and his wife, I'd speak note 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'd have all well betwixt you.
[Exit.
Lea.
O me, my heart! my rising heart! note—but, down.
Foo.
Cry to it, nuncle, as the cockney did to the
eels, when she put note 'em i'the note paste alive; she knapt 'em note
o'th' coxcombs with a stick, and cry'd, Down, wantons,
down: 'Twas her brother, that, in pure kindness to his
-- 49 --
horse, butter'd his hay.
Re-enter Gloster, with Cornwal, Regan, and Servants.
Lea.
Good morrow to you both.
Cor.
Hail to your grace.
[Kent is set at Liberty.
Reg.
I am glad to see your highness.
Lea.
Regan, I think you are note; I know what reason
I have to think so: if thou should'st not be glad,
I would divorce me from thy mother's note tomb,
Sepulch'ring an adult'ress.—O, are you note free?
Some other time for that.—Beloved Regan,
Thy sister's naught: O Regan, she hath ty'd14Q1342
Sharp-tooth'd unkindness, like a vulture, † here,—
I can scarce speak to thee; thou'lt note not believe,
Of how note deprav'd a note quality—O Regan!
Reg.
I pray you, sir note, take patience; I have hope,
You less know how to value her desert,
Than she to scant her note duty.
Lea.
How is that? note
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.
Lea.
My curses on her!
Reg.
O, sir, you are old;
Nature in you note stands on the very verge
Of her confíne: note you should be rul'd, and led
By some discretion, that discerns your state
Better than you yourself: Therefore, I pray you note
That to our sister you do make return;
Say, you have wrong'd her, sir. note
-- 50 --
Lea.
Ask her forgiveness?
Do you but note mark14Q1343 how this becomes note the house:
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; these are unsightly tricks:
Return you to my sister.
Lea.
Never, Regan: note
She hath abated me of half my train;
Look'd black upon note me; strook note 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!
Cor.
Fie, sir, fie. note
Lea. note
You nimble lightnings, dart your blinding flames
Into her scornful eyes! Infect her beauty,
You fen-suck'd fogs, drawn by the powerful sun,
O, fall note, and blast note her pride!
Reg.
O the blest gods!
So will you wish on me, when the rash mood is on. note
Lea.
No, Regan, thou shalt never have my curse;
Thy tender-hefted note 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, to scant my scizes,
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 hast thou not forgot,
-- 51 --
Wherein I thee endow'd.
Reg.
Good sir, to the note purpose.
[Trumpet within.
Lea.
Who put my man i'the stocks?
Cor.
What trumpet's that?
Enter Steward.
Reg.
I know't, my sister's: this approves her letter, note
That she would soon be here.—'s your lady come?
Lea.
This is a slave, whose easy-borrow'd pride
Dwells in the fickle grace note of her he follows note:—
Out, varlet, from my sight.
Cor.
What means your grace?
Enter Goneril.
Lea.
Who stock'd my servant? Regan, I have good hope note
Thou did'st not know on't.—Who comes here? O heavens,
If you do love old men, if your sweet note sway
Allow obedience note, if yourselves note are old,
Make it your cause; send down, and take my part!—
Art not asham'd to look upon this beard?—
O, Regan, wilt thou take note her by the hand?
Gon.
Why not by the hand, sir? How have I offended?
All's not offence, that indiscretion finds,
And dotage terms so.
Lea.
O, sides, you are too tough!
Will you yet hold? note—How came my man i'the stocks?
Cor.
I set him there, sir: note but his own disorders
Deserv'd much less advancement.14Q1344
Lea.
You? did you?
Reg.
I pray you, father, being weak, seem so.
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
-- 52 --
Which shall be needful for your entertainment.
Lea.
Return to her, and fifty men dismiss'd?
No, rather I abjure all roofs, and choose
To wage against14Q1345 the enmity of the air;
To be a comrade with the wolf and owl,
Necessity's sharp pinch;—Return with her?
Why, the hot-blooded France, note that dowerless took
Our youngest born, I could as well be brought
To knee his throne, and, squire-like, pension beg note
To keep base life a-foot;—Return with her?
Persuade me rather to be slave and sumpter
To this † detested groom.
Gon.
At your choice, sir.
Lea.
I pr'ythee note, 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 note flesh,
Which I must needs call mine: thou art a bile,
A plague-sore, an embossed note 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 note of thee to high-judging Jove:
Mend, when thou can'st; be better, at thy leisure:
I can be patient; I can stay with Regan,
I, and my hundred knights.
Reg.
Not altogether so, sir; note
I look'd not note for you yet, nor am provided
For your fit welcome: Give ear, sir, to note my sister;
For those that mingle reason with your passion, note
Must be content to think you old, note and so—
-- 53 --
But she knows what she does,
Lea.
Is this well spoken? note
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 note 'gainst so great a number? How, in one house note,
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 note,
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.
Lea.
I gave you all;
Reg.
And in good time you gave it.
Lea.
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.
Lea.
Those wicked creatures14Q1346 yet do look well-favour'd note.
When others are more wicked, not being the worst
Stands in some rank of praise:—I'll go with thee;
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?
-- 54 --
Reg.
What need note one?
Lea.
O, reason not the need: note our basest beggars
Are in the poorest thing superfluous:
Allow not nature more than nature needs,
Man's life is cheap note 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,14Q1347
You heavens, give me that patience, patience I need! note
You see me here, you gods, a poor old man, note
As full of grief as age; wretched in both;
If it be you that stir note these daughters' hearts
Against their father, fool me not so much note
To bear it tamely; note touch me with noble anger!
O, let note 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,—
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 thousand note flaws note,
Or note ere I'll weep: note—O, fool, I shall go mad.
[Exeunt Lear, Gloster, Kent, Gentleman,
and Fool. Storm heard at a Distance.
Cor.
Let us withdraw, 'twill be a storm.
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, and must needs taste his folly.
Reg.
For his particular, I'll receive him gladly,
-- 55 --
But not one follower.
Gon.
So am note I purpos'd.
Where is my lord of Gloster?
Re-enter Gloster.
Cor.
Follow'd note the old man forth:—he is return'd.
Glo.
The king is in high rage.
Cor.
Whither is he going?
Glo.
He calls to horse; but will I know not note whither.
Cor.
'Tis best to note give him way; he leads himself.
Gon.
My lord, entreat him by no means to stay.
Glo.
Alack, the night comes on, and the high winds note
Do sorely rustle; note for many miles about
There's scarce a note bush.
Reg.
O, sir, to wilful men,
The injuries, that they themselves procure,
Must be their schoolmasters: 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.
Cor.
Shut up your doors, my lord; 'tis a wild night;
My Regan counsels well: come out o'the storm.
[Exeunt.
Edward Capell [1767], Mr William Shakespeare his comedies, histories, and tragedies, set out by himself in quarto, or by the Players his Fellows in folio, and now faithfully republish'd from those Editions in ten Volumes octavo; with an introduction: Whereunto will be added, in some other Volumes, notes, critical and explanatory, and a Body of Various Readings entire (Printed by Dryden Leach, for J. and R. Tonson [etc.], London) [word count] [S10601].
