Lear.
Woe! that too late repents—
Is it your will, speak, Sir? prepare my horses.— [To Alb.
Ingratitude! thou marble-hearted fiend,
More hideous when thou shew'st thee in a child,
Than the sea-monster.

Alb.
Pray Sir be patient.

Lear.
Detested kite! thou liest. [To Gonerill.
My train are men of choice and rarest parts,
That all particulars of duty know,
And in the most exact regard support
The worships of their names. O most small fault!
How ugly didst thou in Cordelia shew?
Which like an engine wrencht my frame of nature
From the fixt place; drew from my heart all love,
And added to the gall. O Lear, Lear, Lear!
Beat at this gate that let thy folly in, [Striking his head.

And thy dear judgment out. Go, go, my people.

Alb.
My lord, I'm guiltless, as I'm ignorant
Of what hath moved you.

Lear.
It may be so, my lord—
Hear Nature, hear, dear goddess hear a Father!
Suspend thy purpose, if thou didst intend
To make this creature fruitful:
Into her womb convey sterility,
Dry up in her the organs of increase,
And from her derogate body never spring
A babe to honour her. If she must teem,
Create her child of spleen, that it may live,
And be a thwart disnatur'd torment to her;
Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth,
With cadent tears fret chanels in her cheeks,
Turn all her mother's pains and benefits
To laughter and contempt; that she may feel,
How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is,
To have a thankless child.—^{k note}Go, go, my people.

Alb.
Now Gods that we adore, whereof comes this?

Gon.
Never afflict your self to know of it:
But let his disposition have that scope
As dotage gives it.

Lear.
What, fifty of my followers at a clap?
Within a fortnight?—

Alb.
What's the matter, Sir?

Lear.
I'll tell thee—life and death! I am asham'd
That thou hast pow'r to shake my manhood thus,
That these hot tears, which break from me perforce,
Should make thee worth them—blasts and fogs upon thee;
Th' ^{l note}untender woundings of a father's curse
Pierce every sense about thee. Old fond eyes,
Beweep her once again, I'll pluck ye out,

And cast you with the waters that you lose
To temper clay. Ha! ^{m note}is it come to this?
Let it be so: I have another daughter,
Who I am sure is kind and comfortable;
When she shall hear this of thee, with her nails
She'll flea thy wolvish visage. Thou shalt find,
That I'll resume the shape which thou dost think
I have cast off for ever. [Ex. Lear and attendants.

Previous section

Next section