Albany. Where was his son, when they did take his Mess. Come with my lady hither. Alb. eyes? He is not here. Mess. No, my good lord; I met him back again. Mess. Ay, my good lord; 't was he inform'd against him, Gloster, I live Alb. SCENE III. The French Camp near Dover. Enter KENT, and a Gentleman. [Exeunt. Kent. Why the king of France is so suddenly gone back, know you the reason? Gentleman. Something he left imperfect in the state, which since his coming forth is thought of; which imports to the kingdom so much fear and danger, that his personal return was most requir'd, and necessary. Kent. Who 2 hath he left behind him general? Gent. The Marshal of France, Monsieur la Far. Kent. Did your letters pierce the queen to any demonstration of grief? Gent. Ay, Sir; she took them, read them in my presence; And now and then an ample tear trill'd down Her delicate cheek: it seem'd, she was a queen Sought to be king o'er her. O then it mov'd her. Gent. Not to a rage: patience and sorrow strove Who should express her goodliest. You have seen Sunshine and rain at once: her smiles and tears Were like a better day: those happy smilets,3 1. i. e. the kingdom of France. 2. Who, for whom, which is not unfrequent in Shakespeare, and may, in deed, often be heard in the present day. 3. Smilets, diminutive of smiles. That play'd on her ripe lip, seem'd not to know If all could so become it. Kent. Made she no verbal question? 1 Gent. 'Faith, once, or twice, she heav'd the name of Pantingly forth, as if it press'd her heart; "father" Cried, "Sisters! sisters! Shame of ladies! sisters! Kent! father! sisters! What? i' the storm? i' the night? And clamour moisten'd: 3 then, away she started 4 Kent. Kent. Was this before the king return'd? No, since. Gent. Why, good Sir? Kent. A sovereign shame so elbows him; his own That stripp'd her from his benediction, turn'd her Gent. Alack, poor gentleman! Kent. Of Albany's and Cornwall's powers you heard not? 1. Did she enter into no conversation with you? Shakspeare frequently uses question for conversation, and not only for interrogation. 2. Let not such a thing as pity be supposed to exist. 3. And her outcries were accompanied with tears. 4. i. e. regulate our dispositions. 1 Kent. Well, Sir, I'll bring you to our master Lear, And leave you to attend him. Some dear cause Will in concealment wrap me up awhile: When I am known aright, you shall not grieve 2 Lending me this acquaintance. I pray you, go Along with me. [Exeunt. Q SCENE IV. The Same. A Tent. Enter CORDELIA, Physician, and Soldiers. Cordelia. Alack! 't is he: why, he was met even now As mad as the vex'd sea: singing aloud; Crown'd with rank fumiter,3 and furrow weeds,4 8 In our sustaining corn. A century send forth; What can man's wisdom, In the restoring his bereaved sense? Our foster-nurse of nature is repose, Cordelia. All bless'd secrets, All you unpublish'd virtues of the earth, Spring with my tears! be aidant, and remediate, 1. Some business of great importance to me. 2. i. e. you shall not regret having lent me, &c. 3. Fumiter, or fumitory, or fumatory, from the French fumiterre, is the Fumaria officinalis, a species growing in hedges and waste places. 4. Furrow-weeds, a weed growing in furrowed land. 5. Hoar-docks supposed to be intended for charlock, the Sinapis arvensis, a King Lear. very troublesome weed in corn-fields, sometimes called wild-mustard. 6. Cuckoo-flowers, the plant Cordamine pratensis, also called meadow lady's smock. 7. Darnel, or Lolium perenne, is the species of grass called rye-grass. 8. Sustaining, nourishing. 9. A century, a company of a hundred men. 10. Simples, drugs. 6 Lest his ungovern'd rage dissolve the life Messenger. Enter a Messenger. News, Madam: The British powers are marching hitherward. Cordelia. T is known before; our preparation stands In expectation of them. O dear father! It is thy business that I go about, Therefore great France My mourning, and important 2 tears, hath pitied. But love, dear love, and our ag'd father's right. SCENE V. A Room in GLOSTER'S Castle. Enter REGAN and OSWALD. Regan. But are my brother's powers set forth? Oswald. Ay, Madam. Regan. Himself in person there? Osw. Your sister is the better soldier. [Exeunt. Madam, with much ado: Reg. Lord Edmund spake not with your lord at home? Reg. What might import my sister's letter to him? Reg. 'Faith, he is posted hence on serious matter. It was great ignorance, Gloster's eyes being out, To let him live: where he arrives he moves All hearts against us. Edmund, I think, is gone, His nighted life; moreover, to descry The strength o' the enemy. Osw. I must needs after him, Madam, with my letter. The ways are dangerous. 1. i. e. wants the ability to guide itself. 2. Important, for importunate. 4. i. e. to put an end to his life, made dark as night by the extinction of his eyes. Oswald. I may not, Madam; My lady charg'd my duty in this business. Regan. Why should she write to Edmund? Might not you Transport her purposes by word? Belike, Something I know not what. I'll love thee much; Let me unseal the letter. Osw. Reg. Madam, I had rather I know your lady does not love her husband," I am sure of that; and, at her late being here, She gave strange ciliads, and most speaking looks To noble Edmund. I know, you are of her bosom.2 Osw. I, Madam? Reg. I speak in understanding: you are, I know it; Therefore, I do advise you, take this note: My lord is dead; Edmund and I have talk'd, Than for your lady's. You may gather 3 more. If you do find him, pray you, give him this; And when your mistress hears thus much from you, So, fare you well. If you do chance to hear of that blind traitor, Preferment falls on him that cuts him off. Osw. Would I could meet him, Madam: I would show What party I do follow. Reg. Fare thee well. [Exeunt. SCENE VI. The Country near Dover. Enter GLOSTER, and EDGAR dressed like a Peasant. Gloster. When shall I come to the top of that same hill? Edg. No, truly. Horrible steep: Edg. Why, then your other senses grow imperfect. By your eyes' anguish. 1. Eiliads, from the French œillade, an ogle, or amorous glance. 2. i. e. in her confidence.. 3. To gather, to infer. |