Kent! father! sisters! What, i' the storm? i' the night? - There she shook The holy water from her heavenly eyes, And clamour moisten'd: then away she started The stars above us, govern our conditions; Such different issues. You spoke not with her since? Kent. Was this before the king return'd? Gent. No, since. Kent. Well, sir, the poor distressèd Lear's i' the town; Who sometime, in his better tune, remembers What we are come about, and by no means Will yield to see his daughter. Gent. Why, good sir? Kent. A sovereign shame so elbows him: his own unkindness, That stripp'd her from his benediction, turn'd her To foreign casualties, gave her dear rights To his dog-hearted daughters, these things sting Gent. Alack, poor gentleman! Kent. Of Albany's and Cornwall's powers you heard not? Gent. "Tis so they are a-foot. Kent. Well, sir, I'll bring you to our master Lear, [Exeunt. SCENE IV. The same. A tent. Enter CORDELIA, Doctor, and Soldiers. Cor. Alack, 'tis he: why, he was met even now Crown'd with rank fumiter and furrow-weeds, In our sustaining corn. A century send forth; Search every acre in the high-grown field, And bring him to our eye. [Exit an Officer.] man's wisdom In the restoring his bereavèd sense? He that helps him take all my outward worth. Our foster-nurse of nature is repose, The which he lacks; that to provoke in him Cor. All bless'd secrets, Seek, seek for him; All you unpublish'd virtues of the earth, In the good man's distress! Lest his ungovern'd rage dissolve the life Mess. Enter a Messenger. News, madam; The British powers are marching hitherward. Cor. 'Tis known before; our preparation stands In expectation of them. O dear father, It is thy business that I go about; Therefore great France My mourning and important tears hath pitied. But love, dear love, and our ag'd father's right: [Exeunt. SCENE V. A room in GLOSTER's castle. Enter REGAN and OSWALD. Reg. But are my brother's powers set forth? Reg. Himself in person there? Your sister is the better soldier. Ay, madam. Madam, with much ado: Reg. Lord Edmund spake not with your lord at home? Reg. What might import my sister's letter to him? Reg. Faith, he is posted hence on serious matter. It was great ignorance, Gloster's eyes being out, All hearts against us: Edmund, I think, is gone, His nighted life; moreover, to descry The strength o' the enemy. Osw. I must needs after him, madam, with my letter. Reg. Our troops set forth to-morrow: stay with us; The ways are dangerous. Osw. I may not, madam: My lady charg'd my duty in this business. Reg. Why should she write to Edmund? Might not you Transport her purposes by word? Belike, Something I know not what: - I'll love thee much, Osw. - Madam, I had rather Reg. I speak in understanding; you are, I know't: If you do find him, pray you, give him this; And when your mistress hears thus much from you, desire her call her wisdom to her. I pray, So, fare you well. If you do chance to hear of that blind traitor, Preferment falls on him that cuts him off. Osw. Would I could meet him, madam! I would show What party I do follow. Reg. Fare thee well. SCENE VI. The country near Dover. [Exeunt. Enter GLOSTER, and EDGAR dressed like a peasant. Glo. When shall I come to the top of that same hill? Edg. You do climb up it now: look, how we labour. Glo. Methinks the ground is even. Edg. Hark, do you hear the sea? Glo. Horrible steep. No, truly. Edg. Why, then, your other senses grow imperfect By your eyes' anguish. Glo. So may it be, indeed: Methinks thy voice is alter'd; and thou speak'st In better phrase and matter than thou didst. Edg. You're much deceiv'd: in nothing am I chang'd But in my garments. Glo. Methinks you're better spoken. How fearful And dizzy 'tis to cast one's eyes so low! - The crows and choughs that wing the midway air The fishermen, that walk upon the beach, Appear like mice; and yond tall anchoring bark, Glo. Set me where you stand. Edg. Give me your hand: - you're now within a foot Of th' extreme verge: for all beneath the moon Would I not leap upright. Glo. Let go my hand. Well worth a poor man's taking: fairies and gods Bid me farewell, and let me hear thee going. With all my heart. Edg. [aside] Why I do trifle thus with his despair Is done to cure it. Glo. [kneeling] O you mighty gods! This world I do renounce, and, in your sights, Edg. Gone, sir: farewell. [Gloster throws himself forward, and falls. [Aside] And yet I know not how conceit may rob Yields to the theft: had he been where he thought, Ho you, sir! friend! -- Alive or dead? Hear you, sir! speak! pass indeed: yet he revives. · |