Fool. No; he's a yeoman, that has a gentleman to his son for he's a mad yeoman, that sees his son a gentleman before him. Lear. To have a thousand with red burning spits Come hissing in upon them : Edg. The foul fiend bites my back. Fool. He's mad, that trusts in the tameness of a wolf, a horse's health, a boy's love, or a whore's oath. Lear. It shall be done, I will arraign them straight : Come, sit thou here, most learned justicer ; [To Edgar. Thou, sapient sir, sit here. [To the Fool.]-Now, you she foxes! Edg. Look, where he stands and glares!!Wantest thou eyes at trial, madam? Come o'er the bourn,2 Bessy, to me : Fool. Her boat hath a leak, And she must not speak Why she dares not come over to thee. Edg. The foul fiend haunts poor Tom in the voice of a nightingale. Hopdance cries in Tom's belly, for two white herrings. Croak not, black angel; I have no food for thee. Kent. How do you, sir? Stand you not so amaz'd : Will you lie down and rest upon the cushions? Lear. I'll see their trial first :-Bring in the evi dence. Thou robed man of justice, take thy place; [To Edgar. And thou, his yoke-fellow of equity, [To the Fool. Bench by his side:-You are of the commission, Sit you too. [To Kent. (1) Edgar is speaking in the character of a madman, who thinks he sees the fiend. (2) Brook or rivulet. Edg. et us deal justly. Sleepest, or wakest thou, jolly shepherd? And for one blast of thy minikin mouth, Pur! the cat is grey. Lear. Arraign her first; 'tis Goneril. I here take my oath before this honourable assembly, she kick ed the poor king her father. Fool. Come hither, mistress; Is your name Goneril? Lear. She cannot deny it. Fool. Cry you mercy, I took you for a joint-stool. Lear. And here's another, whose warp'd looks proclaim What store her heart is made of.--Stop her there! Kent. O pity!--Sir, where is the patience now, That you so oft have boasted to retain? Edg. My tears begin to take his part so much, They'll mar my counterfeiting. Lear. The little dogs and all, [Aside Tray, Blanch, and Sweet-heart, see, they bark at me. Be thy mouth or black or white, Do de, de de. Sessa. Come, march to wakes and (1) A blood-hound. fairs, and market-towns:-Poor Tom, thy horn is dry. Lear. Then let them anatomize Regan; see what breeds about her heart: Is there any cause in nature, that makes these hard hearts?-You, sir, I entertain you for one of my hundred; only, I do not like the fashion of your garments: you will say, they are Persian attire; but let them be changed. [To Edgar. Kent. Now, good my lord, lie here, and rest a while. Lear. Make no noise, make no noise; draw the curtains: So, so, so: We'll go to supper i'the morning: So, so, so. Fool. And I'll go to bed at noon. Re-enter Gloster. Glo. Come hither, friend: Where is the king my master? Kent. Here, sir; but trouble him not, his wits are gone. Glo. Good friend, I pr'ythee take him in thy arms; I have o'erheard a plot of death upon hum: There is a litter ready; lay him in't, And drive towards Dover, friend, where thou shalı meet Both welcome and protection. Take up thy master Kent. Stand in hard cure.-Come, help to bear thy master, Thou must not stay behind. Glo. [To the Fool. Come, come, away.. [Exeunt Kent, Gloster, and the Fool, bearing off the King. Edg. When we our betters see bearing our woes, We scarcely think our miseries our foes. Who alone suffers, suffers most i'the mind; Leaving free things, and happy shows, behind: But then the mind much sufferance doth o'erskip, When grief hath mates, and bearing fellowship. How light and portable my pain seems now, When that, which makes me bend, makes the king bow; He childed, as I father'd!-Tom, away: Mark the high noises; and thyself bewray,2 When false opinion, whose wrong thought defiles thee, In thy just proof, npeals, and reconciles thee. What will hap more to-night, safe 'scape the king! Lurk, lurk. [Exit. SCENE VII-A room in Gloster's castle. Enter Cornwall, Regan, Goneril, Edmund, and Ser vants. Corn. Post speedily to my lord your husband; show him this letter:-the army of France is landed: -Seek out the villain Gloster. [Exeunt some of the Servants. Reg. Hang him instantly. Gon. Pluck out his eyes. Corn. Leave him to my displeasure.-Edmund, keep you our sister company; the revenges we are bound to take upon your traitorous father, are not fit for your beholding. Advise the duke, where you are going, to a most festinate preparation; we are bound to the like. Our posts shall be swift and intelligent betwixt us. Farewell, dear sister;-farewell, my lord of Glcster.3 (1) The great events that are approaching. (2) Betray, discover. (3) Meaning Edmund, invested with his father's titles. Enter Steward. How now? Where's the king? Stew. My lord of Gloster hath convey'd him hence : Some five or six and thirty of his knights, boast To have well-armed friends. Corn. Get horses for your mistress. Gon. Farewell, sweet lord, and sister. [Exeunt Goneril and Edmund. Corn. Edmund, farewell.-Gɔ, seek the traitor Gloster, Pinion him like a thief, bring him before us. [Exeunt other Servants. Though well we may not pass upon his life Re-enter Servants, with Gloster. Reg. Ingrateful fox! 'tis he. Corn. Bind fast his corky3 arms. Glo. What mean your graces?-Good my friends, consider You are my guests: do me no foul play, friends. (1) Inquirers. (2) Rend to our wrath. |