I will preserve myself. My face I'll grime with filth That's something yet :-Edgar I nothing am. SCENE 3.-Court within GLOSTER'S Castle; KENT in the stocks. Enter, from Castle, LEAR and the Fool. Lear. IS strange that they should so depart from home, And not send back my messenger. Fool. 'Shalt see thy other daughter will use thee kindly; for though she's as like this as a crab's like an apple, yet I can what I can tell. Lear. What canst tell, boy? Fool. She will taste as like this as a crab does toa crab. Thou canst tell why one's nose stands i' the middle on's face? Lear. No. Fool. Why, to keep one's eyes of either side's nose; that what a man cannot smell out, he may spy into. Lear. I did her wrong—to take't again perforce !— monster ingratitude! Fool. Canst tell how an oyster makes his shell? Lear. No. Fool. Nor I neither; but I can tell why a snail has a house. Lear. Why? Fool. Why, to put his head in; not to give it away to his daughters, and leave his horns without a case. Lear. O, let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven! Keep me in temper: I would not be mad! Kent. [From the stocks.] Hail to thee, noble master. Fool. Ha, ha! he wears cruel garters. Lear. Ha! Mak'st thou this shame thy pastime? Kent. No, my lord. Lear. What's he that hath so much thy place They could not, would not do't; 'tis worse than murder, To do upon respect such violent outrage, Coming from us. Kent. My lord, when at their home I did commend your highness' letters to them, C 2 From Goneril his mistress, salutations; They summon'd up their men and straight took horse; Commanded me to follow, and attend The leisure of their answer; gave me cold looks: Display'd so saucily against your highness,- Fool. Winter's not gone yet, if the wild-geese fly that way. Lear. O, how this mother swells up toward my heart! Hysterica passio,—down, thou climbing sorrow, Lear. Stay here. Follow me not; [Exit. Gent. Made you no more offence but 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 question, thou hadst well deserv'd it. Kent. Why, fool? Fool. That sir which serves and seeks for gain, Will pack when it begins to rain, And leave thee in the storm. Kent. Where learn'd you this, fool? Fool. Not i' the stocks, fool. Re-enter LEAR with GLOSster. Lear. Deny to speak with me? They're sick,— they're weary? They have travell'd all the night? The images of revolt and flying off. Fetch me a better answer. Glo. Mere fetches! My dear lord, You know the fiery quality of the duke. Lear. Vengeance! plague! death! confusion !— Fiery! what quality? Why, Gloster, Gloster, I'd speak to the Duke of Cornwall and his wife. Glo. Well, my good lord, I have inform'd them so. Lear. Inform'd them! Dost thou understand me, man? The king would speak with Cornwall; the dear father Would with his daughter speak, commands her service : Are they inform'd of this ?-My breath and blood !— Whereto our health is bound; we're not ourselves Death on my state! wherefòre [Looking on Kent. Should he sit here? give me my servant forth. Enter CORNWALL, Regan, GLOSTER and Servants, Corn. Lear. Good morrow to you both. [Aside. O, me! my heart, my rising heart!-keep down. [KENT is set at liberty. Reg. I am glad to see your highness. Lear. Regan, I think you are; I know what reason Some other time for that.-Beloved Regan, I can scarce speak to thee; thou'lt not believe Reg. I pray you, sir, take patience: I have hope You less know how to value her desert Than she to scant her duty. Lear. Say, how is that? Reg. I cannot think my sister in the least Would fail her obligation. Lear. My curses on her! Reg. O, sir, you are old. You should be rul'd, and led; therefore, I pray you, That to our sister you do make return; Say you have wrong'd her, sir. Lear. Ask her forgiveness? Do you but mark how this becomes the house: "Dear daughter, I confess that I am old; Age is unnecessary: on my knees I beg [Kneeling. That you'll vouchsafe me raiment, bed, and food." tricks: Return you to my sister. Lear. Never, Regan: She hath abated me of half my train; |