I have hope, I can scarce speak to thee: thou'lt not believe, Lear. Say, how is that? Reg. I cannot think my sister in the least Would fail her obligation: if, sir, perchance, She have restrain'd the riots of your followers, 'Tis on such ground, and to such wholesome end, As clears her from all blame. Lear. My curses on her! Reg. O, sir! you are old; Nature in you stands on the very verge Of her confine: you should be rul'd and led By some discretion, that discerns your state Better than you yourself. 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, That you'll vouchsafe me raiment, bed, and food." Reg. Good sir, no more: these are unsightly tricks. Thy tender-hested nature shall not give Thee o'er to harshness: her eyes are fierce; but thine Do comfort, and not burn. "Tis not in thee Thy half o' the kingdom hast thou not forgot, Reg. Enter Oswald. Reg. I know't, my sister's: this approves her letter, That she would soon be here.-Is your lady come? Corn. I set him there, sir; but his own disorders Deserved much less advancement. Lear. You! did you? Reg. I pray you, father, being weak, seem so. If, till the expiration of your month, You will return and sojourn with my sister, Dismissing half your train, come then to me: I am now from home, and out of that provision Which shall be needful for your entertainment. Lear. Return to her? and fifty men dismiss'd? No, rather I abjure all roofs, and choose To wage against the enmity o' the air; To be a comrade with the wolf and owl.Necessity's sharp pinch!-Return with her? Why, the hot-blooded France, that dowerless took Our youngest born, I could as well be brought To knee his throne, and, squire-like, pension beg To keep base life afoot.-Return with her? Persuade me rather to be slave and sumpter To this detested groom. [Looking at Oswald. At your choice, sir. Gon. Lear. I pr'ythee, daughter, do not make me mad: I will not trouble thee, my child; farewell. In my corrupted blood. But I'll not chide thee; I do not bid the thunder-bearer shoot, Nor tell tales of thee to high-judging Jove. Reg. Not altogether so : I look'd not for you yet, nor am provided For your fit welcome. Give ear, sir, to my sister; For those that mingle reason with your passion, Must be content to think you old, and soBut she knows what she does. Lear. Is this well-spoken? Reg. I dare avouch it, sir. lowers? What! fifty fol Is it not well? What should you need of more? Yea, or so many, sith that both charge and danger Speak 'gainst so great a number? How, in one house, Should many people, under two commands, Gon. Why might not you, my lord, receive attendance From those that she calls servants, or from mine? That all the world shall-I will do such things,- I have full cause of weeping; but this heart [Exeunt LEAR, GLOSTER, KENT, and Fool. Corn. Let us withdraw, 'twill be a storm. Reg. This house is little: the old man and 's people Cannot be well bestow'd. Gon. 'Tis his own blame; hath put himself from Gent. None but the fool, who labours to outjest His heart-struck injuries. Kent. Sir, I do know you, With mutual cunning, 'twixt Albany and Cornwall; Against the old kind king; or something deeper, I tax not you, you elements, with unkindness; A poor, infirm, weak, and despis'd old man. The cod-piece that will house, The head and he shall louse ;- The man that makes his toe What he his heart should make, And turn his sleep to wake. -For there was never yet fair woman, but she made mouths in a glass. Gracious my lord, hard by here is a hovel; Come, your Lear. My wits begin to turn.Come on, my boy. How dost, my boy? Art cold? I am cold myself.-Where is this straw, my fellow ? The art of our necessities is strange, That can make vile things precious. hovel. Poor fool and knave, I have one part in my heart That's sorry yet for thee. Fool. He that has a little tiny wit,- [Sings. With heigh, ho, the wind and the rain,— Must make content with his fortunes fit ; For the rain it raineth every day. Lear. True, my good boy.-Come bring us to this hovel. [Exeunt LEAR and KENT. Fool. This is a brave night to cool a courtezan.I'll speak a prophecy ere I go: When priests are more in word than matter; Come to great confusion: Then comes the time, who lives to see't, This prophecy Merlin shall make; for I live before his time [Exit. SCENE III.-A Room in GLOSTER'S Castle. Enter GLOSTER and EDMUND. Glo. Alack, alack! Edmund, I like not this unnatural dealing. When I desired their leave that I might pity him, they took from me the use of mine own house; charged me, on pain of their perpetual displeasure, neither to speak of him, entreat for him, nor any way sustain him. Edm. Most savage, and unnatural! Glo. Go to; say you nothing. There is division between the dukes, and a worse matter than that. I have received a letter this night;-'tis dangerous to be spoken;-I have locked the letter in my closet. These injuries the king now bears will be revenged home; there is part of a power already footed: we must incline to the king. I will seek him, and privily relieve him: go you, and maintain talk with the duke, that my charity be not of him perceived. If he ask for me, I am ill, and gone to bed. If I die for it, as no less is threatened me, the king, my thing toward, Edmund; pray you, be careful. old master, must be relieved. There is some strange [Erit. Edm. This courtesy, forbid thee, shall the duke Instantly know; and of that letter too. This seems a fair deserving, and must draw me That which my father loses; no less than all: The younger rises, when the old doth fall. [Exit. SCENE IV. A part of the Heath, with a Hovel. Enter LEAR, KENT, and Fool. Kent. Here is the place, my lord; good my lord, enter: The body's delicate the tempest in my mind |