The leisure of their answer; which I did: Had shown such rudeness to your highness, I, Lear Oh this spleen swells upwards to my heart, And heaves for passage! -down, thou climbing rage, Thy element's below. Where is this daughter? enter GLOSTER, from the castle. Kent. Within, sir, at a masque. Lear. Now, Gloster ?-ha! (Gloster whispers Lear) Deny to speak with me? th'are sick, th`are weary, Glost. My dear lord, You know the fiery quality of the duke. Lear. Vengeance! death! plague! confusion! Lear. Inform'd them! dost thou understand me, I tell thee. Gloster. Glost Ay, my good lord. Lear. The king would speak with Cornwall; the dear father Would with his daughter speak, commands her ser vice. Are they inform'd of this? my breath and blood! I beg his pardon, and i'll chide my rashness, For the sound man.-But wherefore sits he there? Is plain contempt.-Give me my servant forth.- enter CORNWALL, REGAN, captain of the guards, and attendants from the castle. Oh! are you come ? Corn. Health to the king! Reg. I am glad to see your highness. Lear. Regan, I think you are; I know what cause I have to think so. Should'st thou not be glad, I would divorce me from thy mother's tomb, Sepulch'ring an adultress. Beloved Regan, thou wilt shake to hear What I shall utter ;-thou couldst ne'er ha' thought it; Thy sister's naught: o Regan, she has ty’d Ingratitude like a keen vulture here; 1 scarce can speak to thee. (Kent is set at liberty by the attendants) Reg. I pray you, sir, take patience; I have hope That you know less to value her desert, Than she to slack her duty. Lear. Ha! how's that? Reg. I cannot think my sister in the least Lear. My curses on her! Reg. O, sir, you're old, And should content you to be ruled and led Return to our sister, and say you have wrong'd her. १ Do you but mark how this becomes the house: That you'll vouchsafe me raiment, bed, and food. Return back to our sister. Lear. Never, Regan; She hath abated me of half my train, Look'd black upon me, stabb'd me with her tongue: On her ingrateful head! strike her young bones, Reg. O the blest gods! thus will you wish on me, When the rash mood Lear. No, Regan, thou shalt never have my curse; 'Thy tender nature cannot give thee o'er To such impiety; thou better know'st The offices of nature, bond of childhood, And dues of gratitude; thou bear'st in mind 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! (strikes Oswald) Corn. What means your grace! Lear. Who stock'd my servant? Regan, I have hope Thou didst not know it. (trumpet sounds) enter GONERIL and attendants, Who comes here ? oh, heavens ! If you do love old men; if your sweet sway Make it your cause; send down and take my part ! Gon. Why not by th' hand, sir ? how have I offended? All's not offence that indiscretion finds, 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, Lear. Return with her, and fifty knights dismiss'd ? Lear. Now, I pr'ythee, daughter, do not make me mad! I will not trouble thee, my child; farewell; Let shame come when it will, I do not call it ; I do not bid the thunder bearer strike, Nor tell tales of thee to avenging heaven. Mend when thou can'st; be better at thy leisure I can be patient, I can stay with Regan, 1, and my hundred knights. 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. What fifty followers? Is it not well? what should you need of more ? Gon. Why might not you, my lord, receive attend ance From those whom she calls servants, or from mine? 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 un moved 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) Reg. What need one? (distant thunder) That all the world shall-I will do such things, I have full cause of weeping; but this heart |