Reg. Good sir, to th' purpose. Lear. Who put my man i' th' stocks? Corn. What trumpet's that? [Trumpet sounds. Reg. I know't, my sister's; this confirms her letters. Enter OSWALD. Sir, is your lady come? Lear. More torture still! Out, varlet, from my sight! Corn. What means your grace! Lear. Who stock'd my servant? hope Thou didst not know it. [Strikes OSWALD. Regan, I have [Trumpet sounds. Enter GONERIL and ATTENDANTS. Who comes here? Oh, Heav'ns! If do love old men; if your sweet sway Make it your cause; send down, and take my part! fended? How have I of All's not offence that indiscretion finds, And dotage terms so. Lear. Heart, thou art too tough! Reg. I pray you, sir, being old, confess you are so. If, till the expiration of your month, You will return, and sojourn with our sister, My naked head exposed to th' merciless air, Lear. Now, I pr'ythee, daughter, do not make me mad! I will not trouble thee, my child; farewell 11; Let shame come when it will, I do not call it; Nor tell tales of thee to avenging Heaven. Mend when thou canst; be better at thy leisure;- Reg. Your pardon, sir; I look'd not for you yet, nor am provided Lear. Is this well spoken, now? Reg. My sister treats you fair. lowers? What! fifty fol Is it not well? What should you need of more ? ance From those whom she calls servants, or from mine? Reg. Why not, my lord? If then they chance to slack you, We could control them.-If you come to me, Lear. I gave you all! Reg. And in good time you gave it. Lear. Hold, now, my temper! stand this bolt unmoved, And I am thunder-proof. The wicked, when compared with the more wicked,] Stands in some rank of praise. Now, Goneril, Gon. Hear me, my lord. [It begins to rain. What need you five and twenty, ten, or five, Reg. What need one? [Distant thunder. Lear. Heav'ns drop your patience down! བྱ That all the world shall-I will do such things,- weep; I have full cause of weeping; but this heart O, gods, I shall go mad! [Rain-Thunder-Lightning. [Exeunt KING LEAR, KENT, and the KNIGHTS ACT THE THIRD. SCENE 1, A desert Heath.-Rain-Thunder-Lightning. Enter KING LEAR and Kent. Lear. Blow, winds, and burst your cheeks! rage louder yet! Fantastic lightning, singe, singe my white head! Till you have drown'd the towns and palaces Kent. Not all my best entreaties can persuade him Into some needful shelter, or to 'bide This poor slight cov'ring on his aged head, Exposed to this wild war of earth and heav'n. [Thunder. Lear. Rumble thy fill! fight whirlwind, rain and fire! Not fire, wind, rain, or thunder, are my daughters: You owe me no obedience.-Then let fall Your horrible pleasure!-Here I stand your slave, A poor, infirm, weak, and despised old man. [Rain-Thunder-Lightning. Yet I will call you servile ministers, That have with two pernicious daughters join'd So old and white as this. Oh! oh! 'tis foul. Lear. I will forget my nature. What! so kind a Ay, there's the point. Kent. Consider, good my liege, things, that love night, Love not such nights as this; these wrathful skies Gallow the very wanderers of the dark, And make them keep their caves: such drenching rain, Such sheets of fire, such claps of horrid thunder, Such groans of roaring winds, have ne'er been known. [Thunder. Lear. Let the great gods, That keep this dreadful pother o'er our heads, Hide, hide, thou murd'rer, hide thy bloody hand!— That drink'st the widow's tears, sigh now, and ask These dreadful summoners' grace!I am a man More sinn'd against, than sinning. Kent. Good sir, to th' hovel. Lear. My wits begin to turn.. Come on, my boy; how dost, my boy? art cold? And can make vile things precious.-My poor knave, That's sorry yet for thee. [Rain-Thunder-Lightning-Exeunt. |