Strike in their numb'd and mortified bare arms That's something yet: - Edgar I nothing am. [Exit. SCENE IV. Before GLOSTER's castle; KENT in the stocks. Enter LEAR, Fool, and Gentleman. Lear. 'Tis strange that they should so depart from home, And not send back my messenger. Gent. As I learn'd, Fool. Ha, ha! he wears cruel garters. Horses are tied by the head, dogs and bears by the neck, monkeys by the loins, and men by the legs: when a man's over-lusty at legs, then he wears wooden nether-stocks. Lear. What's he that hath so much thy place mistook To set thee here? They could not, would not do't; 'tis worse than murder, Resolve me, with all modest haste, which way Thou mightst deserve, or they impose, this usage, Kent. Which presently they read: on whose contents, The leisure of their answer; gave me cold looks: Whose welcome, I perceiv'd, had poison'd mine,- Display'd so saucily against your highness, The shame which here it suffers. Fool. Winter's not gone yet, if the wild-geese fly that way. Fathers that wear rags Do make their children blind; But fathers that bear bags Shall see their children kind. Fortune, that arrant whore, Ne'er turns the key to the poor. But, for all this, thou shalt have as many dolours for thy daughters as thou canst tell in a year. Lear. O, how this mother swells up toward my Hysterica passio, - down, thou climbing sorrow, Thy element 's below! Where is this daughter? Kent. With the earl, sir, here within. heart! 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 deserved it. Kent. Why, fool? Fool. We'll set thee to school to an ant, to teach thee there's no labouring i' the winter. All that follow their noses are led by their eyes but blind men; and there's not a nose among twenty but can smell him that's stinking. Let go thy hold when a great wheel runs down a hill, lest it break thy neck with following it; but the great one that goes up the hill, let him draw thee after. When a wise man gives thee better counsel, give me mine again: I would have none but knaves follow it, since a fool gives it. That sir which serves and seeks for gain, And follows but for form, Will pack when it begins to rain, And leave thee in the storm. The knave turns fool that runs away: Kent. Where learned you this, fool? Fool. Not i' the stocks, fool. Re-enter LEAR with GLOSTER. Lear. Deny to speak with me? They're sick? they're weary? They have travell'd all the night? Mere fetches; The images of revolt and flying-off. Fetch me a better answer. Glo. My dear lord, You know the fiery quality of the duke; In his own course. Lear. Vengeance! plague! death! confusion! Fiery? what quality? Why, Gloster, Gloster, I'd speak with 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? Glo. Ay, my good lord. Lear. The king would speak with Cornwall; the dear father Would with his daughter speak, commands her service: Fiery? the fiery duke? - Tell the hot duke that No, but not yet: may be he is not well: Whereto our health is bound; we're not ourselves And am fall'n out with my more headier will, To take the indispos'd and sickly fit For the sound man. Should he sit here? Death on my state! wherefore This act persuades me That this remotion of the duke and her [Looking on Kent. Is practice only. Give me my servant forth. Go tell the duke and 's wife I'd speak with them, Till it cry sleep to death. Glo. I would have all well betwixt you. [Exit. but, down! Fool. Cry to it, nuncle, as the cockney did to the eels when she put 'em i' the paste alive; she knapped 'em o' the coxcombs with a stick, and cried, "Down, wantons, down!" "Twas her brother that, in pure kindness to his horse, buttered his hay. Enter CORNWALL, REGAN, GLOSTER, and Servants. Corn. Hail to your grace! Reg. I am glad to see your highness. [Kent is set at liberty. Lear. Regan, I think you are; I know what reason [Points to his heart. I can scarce speak to thee; thou'lt not believe Reg. I pray you, sir, take patience: I have hope Than she to scant her duty. Lear. Say, how is that? Reg. I cannot think my sister in the least Lear. My curses on her! Reg. Of her confíne: you should be rul'd, and led Say you have wrong'd her, sir. Do Lear. you Ask her forgiveness? 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." [Kneeling. Reg. Good sir, no more; these are unsightly tricks: Return you to my sister. |