They could not, would not do't; 'tis worfe than murder, To do upon refpect fuch violent outrage: Refolve me, with all modest hafte, which way Thou might'ft deferve, or they impose, this ufage, Kent. My lord, when at their home Which presently they read: on whose contents, The leisure of their anfwer; gave me cold looks: Whose welcome, I perceiv'd, had poifon'd mine, Display'd fo faucily against your highness,) Your fon and daughter found this trespass worth Fool. Winter's not gone yet if the wild geefe fly that way. Do make their children blind; But fathers, that bear bags, Shall fee their children kind. Fortune, that arrant whore, Ne'er turns the key to the poor.→ But, for all this, thou fhalt have as many dolours for thy daughters, as thou can't tell in a year. Lear. O, how this mother fwells up toward my heart! Hyfteric a Hyflerica paffio! down, thou climbing forrow, Thy element's below!-Where is this daughter? Lear. Stay here. Follow me not; [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 queftion, thou hadft well deferved it. Kent. Why, fool? Fool. We'll fet thee to fchool to an ant, to teach thee there's no labouring in the winter. All that follow their nofes 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, left it break thy neck with following it; but the great one that goes up the hill, let him draw thee after. When a wife man gives thee better counsel, give me mine again: I would have none but knaves follow it, fince a fool gives it. That, fir, which serves and feeks for gain, And follows but for form, Will pack, when it begins to rain, And leave thee in the ftorm. But I will tarry; the fool will stay, And let the wife 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 fick? they are weary? They They have travell'd hard to-night? Mere fetches; Fetch me a better answer. You know the fiery quality of the duke: In his own course. Lear. Vengeance! plague! death! confufion!- I'd speak with the duke of Cornwall, and his wife. Lear. The king would speak with Cornwall: the dear father Would with his daughter speak, commands her fervice : Whereto our health is bound; we are not ourselves, And am fallen out with my more headier will, For the found man.-Death on my state! wherefore [looking on KENT. Should he fit here? This act perfuades me, Is practice only. Give me my fervant forth: Go, tell the duke and his wife, I'd speak with them, Till it cry, Sleep to death. Glo. Glo. I'd have all well betwixt you. [Exit. Lear. O me, my heart, my rifing heart!-but, down. Fool. Cry to it, nuncle, as the cockney did to the eels, when the put them i' the paste alive; the rapp'd '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 fet at liberty. Reg. I am glad to see your highness. Lear. Regan, I think you are; I know what reafon I have to think so: if thou should'st not be glad, I would divorce me from thy mother's tomb, Sepulch'ring an adultrefs.-O, are you free? Some other time for that.-Beloved Regan, Thy fifter's naught: O Regan, fhe hath tied Sharp-tooth'd unkindnefs, like a vulture, here, [to KENT. [points to his heart. I can scarce speak to thee; thou❜lt not believe, Than the to scant her duty. Lear. Say, how is that? Reg. I cannot think, my fifter in the least Lear. My curfes on her! Reg. O, fir, you are old; Nature Nature in you ftands on the very verge Of her confine: you should be rul'd, and led Say, you have wrong'd her, fir. Lear. Afk her forgiveness ? Do you but mark how this becomes the house: Age is unneceffary: on my knees I beg, [kneeling, That you'll vouchsafe me raiment, bed, and food. Return you Lear. to my fifter. Never, Regan: She hath abated me of half my train; Look'd black upon me: ftruck me with her tongue, heart: very All the stor'd vengeances of heaven fall On her ingrateful top! Strike her young bones, Corn. Fie, fie, fie! Lear. You nimble lightnings, dart your blinding flames Into her scornful eyes! Infect her beauty, You fen-fuck'd fogs, drawn by the powerful fun, O the bleft gods! Reg. Thee o'er to harshness; her eyes are fierce, but thine To grudge my pleasures, to cut off my train, And, in conclufion, to oppose the bolt 6 Againft |