To do, upon refpect, fuch violent outrage. Refolve me with all modest hafte, which way Thou might'st deserve, or they impofe this ufage Coming from us?

Kent. My Lord, when at their home

I did commend your Highness' letters to them,
Ere I was risen from the place that shew'd
My duty kneeling, came a reeking post,
Stew'd in his hatte, half breathlefs, panting forth,
From Gonerill his miftrefs, falutation;
Deliver'd letters fpight of intermition,

Which prefently they read; on whose contents They fummon'd up their meiny †, straight took horse;

Commanded me to follow, and attend

The leisure of their anfwer; gave me cold looks; And meeting here the other meflenger,

Whofe welcome, I perceiv'd, had poifon'd mine, Being the very fellow which of late

Difplay'd fo faucily against your Highness, Having more man than wit about me, I drew; He rais'd the houfe with loud and coward cries.. Your fon and daughter found this trefpafs worth. The fhame which here it fuffers.

Fool. Winter's not gone yet, if the wild geefe fly that way .

Fathers, that wear rags,

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 th' poor...

But, for all this, thou fhalt have as many dolours for thy daughters, as thou canst tell in a year. Lear. Oh, how this mother fwells up tow'rd my heart!

Hysterica paffio. Down, thou climbing forrow,

+ Meiny, i. e. people. Pope.

‡i. e. if this be their behaviour, the King's troubles » are not yet at an end. Johnjon....

Thy element's below. Where is this daughter?
Kent. With the Earl, Sir, here within.
Lear. Follow me not; ftay here.

[Exit.

Gent. Made you no more offence but what you speak of?

Kent. None.

How chance the King comes with fo fmall a number?

Fool. An thou hadst been fet i' th' ftocks for that queftion, thou'dft well deferved it.

Kent. Why, foel?

Fool. We'll fet thee to fchool to an ant, to teach thee there's no lab'ring i' th' winter. All that follow their noses are led by their eyes, but blind men; and there's not a nofe 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 upward, 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, Sir, which ferves for gain,
And follows but for form,

Will pack, when it begins to rain,

And leave thee in the torm.

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' th' ftocks, fool.

The fenfe, in my opinion, requires us to read,

The fool turns knave. that runs away;

The knave no fool

Revifal,

VIII.

SCENE

Euter Lear and Glo'fter.

Lear. Deny to fpeak with me? They're fick?
They 're weary?

They have travell'd all the night? Mere fetches,
The images of revolt and flying off.
Bring me a better anfwer-

Glou. My dear Lord,

You know the fiery quality of the Duke,
How unremovable and fix'd he is

In his own course.

Lear. Vengeance! plague! death! confufion!Fiery? what fiery quality? Why, Glo'ster, I'd fpeak with th' Duke of Cornwall and his wife. Glou. Well, my good Lord, I have inform'd them fo.

Lear. Inform'd them? Doft thou understand me, -man?

Glou. Ay, my good Lord?

Lear. The King would speak with Cornwall. The dear father

Wou'd with his daughter fpeak, commands her

fervice;

Are they inform'd of this?My breath and

blood!

Fiery? the fiery duke? Tell the hot Duke, that

[Glo'fter offers to go. No, but not yet. May be he is not well;

Infirmity doth ftill neglect all office,

Whereto our health is bound; we're not ourselves,
When Nature, being opprefs'd, commands the mind
To fuffer with the body. I'll forbear;

And am fall'n out with my more headier will,
To take the indifpos'd and fickly fit

fore

For the found man. Death on my ftate! But where-
[Looking on Kent.
Should he fit here? This act perfuades me,
That this remotion of the Duke and her
Is practice only. Give me my fervant forth.

Go, tell the Duke and's wife I'd speak with them.
Now! prefently! Bid them come forth and hear me,
Or at their chamber door I'll beat the drum,
'Till it cry, Sleep to death.

Glou. I would have all well betwixt you. [Exit. Lear. Oh 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' th' pafty alive; the rapt 'em o' th' coxcombs with a ftick, and cry'd, down wantons, down. 'Twas her brother, that in pure kinduefs to his horfe butter'd his hay.

Enter Cornwall, Regan, Glo'fter, and Servants. Lear. Good morrow to you both.

Corn. Hail to your Grace! [Kent is set at liberty. Reg. I am glad to see your Highnefs.

Lear. Regan, I think you are : I know what reafon

I have to think fo: if thou wert not glad,
I would divorce me from thy mother's tomb,
Sepulchring an adult'refs. O, are you free?
[To Kent.

Some other time for that. Beloved Regan,
Thy fifter's naught. Oh Regan, he hath tied
Sharp-tooth'd unkindnefs, like a vulture, here.
[Points to his heart.
I can fcarce fpeak to thee; thou'lt not believe
Of how deprav'd a quality-Oh Regan--
Reg. I pray you, Sir, take patience; I have hope
You lefs know how to value her defert,

Than fhe to fcant her duty.

Lear. Say how is that?

Reg. I cannot think my fifter in the leaft Would fail her obligation. If, perchance, She have reftrain'd the riots of your followers, 'Tis on fuch ground, and to fuch wholefome end, As clears her from all blame.

Lear. My curfes on her!

Reg. O Sir, you are old;
VOL. VII.

N

Nature in you- ftands on the very verge
Of her confine; you should be rul'd and led
By fome difcretion that difcerns your ftate
Better than you yourfelf; therefore, I pray you,
That to our fifter you do make return;
Say you have wrong'd her, Sir.

Lear. Ak her forgiveness?

Do you but mark how this becomes the house.
Dear daughter, I confefs that I am old;

Age is unneceflary; on my knees I beg [Kneeling.
That you'll vouchfafe me raiment, bed, and food.
Reg. Good Sir, no more. Thefe are unfightly tricks.
Return you to my fifter.

Lear. Never, Regan:

She hath abated me of half my train;

Look'd black upon me; ftruck me with her tongue, Moft ferpent-like, upon the very heart.

All the flor'd vengeances of heaven fall

On her ingrateful top! Strike her young bones,
You taking airs, with lamenefs!-

Corn. Fy! Sir, fy!

Lear. You nimble lightnings, dart your blinding flames

Into her fcornful eyes! Infect her beauty,

You fen-fuck'd fogs, drawn by the pow'rful fun
To fall, and blaft her pride.

Reg. O the blefs'd Gods!

So will you with on me, when the rafh mood is on.
Lear. No, Regan, thou fhalt never have my curse;
Thy tender hefted nature shall not give

Thee o'er to rafhnefs; her eyes are fierce, but thine
Do comfort, and not burn. 'Tis not in thee
To grudge my pleasures, to cut off my train,
To bandy hafty words, to fcant my fizes,
And, in conclufion, to oppofe the bolt
Againft my coming in. Thou better know'ft
The offices of nature, bond of child-hood,
Effects of court'fy, dues of gratitude :
Thy half o' th' kingdom thou haft not forgot,
Wherein I thee endow'd.

* That is, old age has few wants. Johnson.