Do de, de, de. Sessa! Come, march to wakes and fairs and market-towns. Poor Tom, thy horn is dry. Lear. Then let them anatomize Regan; see what breeds about her heart. Is there any cause in nature that makes these hard hearts? [To Edgar] You, sir, I entertain for one of my hundred; only I do not like the fashion of your garYou will say they are Persian attire; but let them ments. Kent. Now, good my lord, lie here and rest awhile. 80 Lear. Make no noise, make no noise; draw the curtains: so, so, so. We'll go to supper i' the morning. So, So, so. Fool. And I'll go to bed at noon. Re-enter GLOUCESTER. Glou. Come hither, friend: where is the king my master? Kent. Here, sir; but trouble him not, his wits are gone. Glou. Good friend, I prithee, take him in thy arms; I have o'erheard a plot of death upon him: There is a litter ready; lay him in 't, And drive toward Dover, friend, where thou shalt meet 90 If thou shouldst dally half an hour, his life, Kent. Oppressed nature sleeps: This rest might yet have balm'd thy broken sinews, Which, if convenience will not allow, Stand in hard cure. [To the Fool] Come, help to bear thy Edg. When we our betters see bearing our woes, We scarcely think our miseries our foes. Who alone suffers suffers most i' the mind, When that which makes me bend makes the king bow, When false opinion, whose wrong thought defiles thee, SCENE VII. Gloucester's castle. IIO [Exit. Enter CORNWALL, Regan, GoNERIL, EDMUND, and Servants. Corn. Post speedily to my lord your husband; show him this letter: the army of France is landed. Seek out the villain Gloucester. [Exeunt some of the Servants. Reg. Hang him instantly. Corn. Leave him to my displeasure. Edmund, keep you our sister company: the revenges we are bound to take upon your traitorous father are not fit for your beholding. Advise the duke, where you are going, to a most festinate preparation : we are bound to the like. Our posts shall be swift and intelligent betwixt us. Farewell, dear sister: farewell, my lord of Gloucester. Enter OSWALD. How now! where's the king? I 2 Osw. My lord of Gloucester hath convey'd him hence: Some five or six and thirty of his knights, Hot questrists after him, met him at gate; Who, with some other of the lords dependants, Are gone with him toward Dover; where they boast F Corn. Get horses for your mistress. 20 Gon. Farewell, sweet lord, and sister. [Exeunt Goneril, Edmund, and Oswald. Pinion him like a thief, bring him before us. [Exeunt other Servants. Though well we may not pass upon his life May blame but not control. Who's there? the traitor? Enter GLOUCESTER, brought in by two or three. Reg. Ingrateful fox! 'tis he. Corn. Bind fast his corky arms. Glou. consider You are my guests: do me no foul play, friends. What mean your graces? Good my friends, 30 [Servants bind him. Hard, hard. O filthy traitor! Corn. Bind him, I say. Reg. Corn. To this chair bind him. Villain, thou shalt find [Regan plucks his beard. Glou. By the kind gods, 'tis most ignobly done To pluck me by the beard. Reg. So white, and such a traitor! Glou. Naughty lady, These hairs, which thou dost ravish from my chin, Will quicken, and accuse thee: I am your host: You should not ruffle thus. What will you do? 40 Corn. Come, sir, what letters had you late from France? Reg. Be simple answerer, for we know the truth. Corn. And what confederacy have you with the traitors Late footed in the kingdom? Reg. To whose hands have you sent the lunatic king? Speak. Glou. I have a letter guessingly set down, Which came from one that's of a neutral heart, And not from one opposed. Reg. Wherefore to Dover? Wast thou not charged at peril Corn. Wherefore to Dover? Let him first answer that. Glou. I am tied to the stake, and I must stand the course. Reg. Wherefore to Dover, sir? Glou. Because I would not see thy cruel nails Pluck out his poor old eyes, nor thy fierce sister The sea, with such a storm as his bare head In hell-black night endured, would have buoy'd up, Yet, poor old heart, he holp the heavens to rain. The winged vengeance overtake such children. 60 Corn. See't shalt thou never. Fellows, hold the chair. Upon these eyes of thine I'll set my foot. Glou. He that will think to live till he be old, Reg. One side will mock another; the other too. First Serv. 70 Hold your hand, my lord: have served you ever since I was a child; But better service have I never done you Than now to bid you hold. Reg. How now, you dog! First Serv. If you did wear a beard upon your chin, I'ld shake it on this quarrel. What do you mean? Corn. My villain ! [They draw and fight. First Serv. Nay, then, come on, and take the chance of anger. 80 Reg. Give me thy sword. A peasant stand up thus! [Takes a sword, and runs at him behind. First Serv. O, I am slain! My lord, you have one eye left To see some mischief on him. O! [Dies. Corn. Lest it see more, prevent it. Out, vile jelly! Where is thy lustre now? Glou. All dark and comfortless. Edmund ? Where's my son Edmund, enkindle all the sparks of nature, To quit this horrid act. Reg. Out, treacherous villain! Thou call'st on him that hates thee: it was he Glou. O my follies! then Edgar was abused. 90 Reg. Go thrust him out at gates, and let him smell His way to Dover. [Exit one with Gloucester.] How is 't. my lord? how look you? Corn. I have received a hurt: follow me, lady. Turn out that eyeless villain; throw this slave Upon the dunghill. Regan, I bleed apace: Untimely comes this hurt: give me your arm. Sec. Serv. I'll never care If this man come to good. Third Serv. [Exit Cornwall, led by Regan. what wickedness I do, If she live long, And in the end meet the old course of death, 100 |