II. iv. -Your Sonne and Daughter found this trefpaffe worth (way, Foole. Winters not gon yet, if the wil'd Geese fly that 50 But Fathers that beare bags, fhall fee their children kind. 60 70 Lear. O how this Mother fwels vp toward my heart! Thy Elements below where is this Daughter? Kent. Wirh the Earle Sir, here within. Lear. Follow me not, ftay here. Gen. Made you no more offence, But what you speake of? Kent. None: Exit. How chance the the King comes with fo fmall a number? Kent. Why Foole? Foole. Wee'l fet thee to fchoole to an Ant, to teach thee ther's no labouring i'th'winter. All that follow their nofes, are led by their eyes, but blinde men, and there's not a nose among twenty, but can smell him that's stinking; let go thy hold, when a great wheele runs downe a hill, leaft it breake thy necke with following. But the great one that goes vpward, let him draw thee after: when a wifeman giues thee better counsell giue me mine againe, I would hause none but knaues follow it, fince a Foole giues it. That Sir, which ferues and feekes for gaine, 80 And followes but for forme; Will packe, when it begins to raine, And leaue thee in the storme, But I will tarry, the Foole will stay, And let the wifeman flie: The knaue turnes Foole that runnes away, The Foole no knaue perdie. Enter Lear, and Glofter: Kent. Where learn'd you this Foole? Foole. Not i'th Stocks Foole. Lear. Deny to speake with me? They are sicke, they are weary, [294a II. iv. 90 They traueled hard to night, meare Iuftice, I the Images of reuolt and flying off, Fetch mee a better anfwere. Gloft. My deere Lord, you know the fierie qualitie of the Lear. Vengeance, death, plague, confufion, what fierie quality, why Glofter, Gloster, id'e speake with the Duke of Cornewall, and [34 his wife. Gloft. I my good Lord. Lear. The King would fpeak with Cornewal, the deare father Would with his daughter speake, commands her feruice, Fierie Duke, tell the hot Duke that Lear, No but not yet may be he is not well, Infirmitie doth still neglect all office, where to our health Is boud, we are not our felues, when nature being opreft 110 Comand the mind to fuffer with the bodie, ile forbeare, And am fallen out with my more hedier will, To take the indifpos'd and fickly fit, for the found man, Tell the Duke and's wife, Ile fpeake with them Now presently, bid them come forth and heare me, 120 Till it cry fleepe to death. Gloft. I would haue all well betwixt you. Lear. O my heart, my heart. (& her Foole. Cry to it Nunckle, as the Cokney did to the eeles, when fhe put vm ith pâft aliue, she rapt vm ath coxcombs with a stick, and cryed downe wantons downe, twas her brother, that in pure kindnes to his horfe buttered his hay. Enter Duke and Regan. Lear. Good morrow to you both. Duke. Hayle to your Grace. II. iv. 90 They haue trauail'd all the night? meere fetches, 100 The images of reuolt and flying off. Fetch me a better answer. Glo. My deere Lord, You know the fiery quality of the Duke, In his owne course. Lear. Vengeance, Plague, Death, Confufion: Lear. The King would speake with Cornwall, The deere Father (uice, Would with his Daughter fpeake, commands, tends, fer- No, but not yet, may be he is not well, Infirmity doth still neglect all office, Whereto our health is bound, we are not our felues, When Nature being oppreft, commands the mind 110 To fuffer with the body; Ile forbeare, And am fallen out with my more headier will, For the found man. Should he fit heere? Death on my state: wherefore This act perfwades me, That this remotion of the Duke and her Is practife only. Giue me my Seruant forth; Goe tell the Duke, and's wife, Il'd fpeake with them: 120 Till it crie fleepe to death. Glo. I would haue all well betwixt you. Exit. Lear. Oh me my heart! My rifing heart! But downe. Foole. Cry to it Nunckle, as the Cockney did to the Eeles, when she put 'em i'th' Paste aliue, fhe knapt 'em o'th' coxcombs with a sticke, and cryed downe wantons, downe; 'twas her Brother, that in pure kindneffe to his Horfe buttered his Hay. Enter Cornewall, Regan, Glofter, Seruants. Lear. Good morrow to you both. Corn. Haile to your Grace. Kent here fet at liberty. II. iv. 130 140 Reg. I am glad to fee your highnes. Lear. Regan I thinke you are, I know what reason Reg. I pray fir take patience, I haue hope 150 160 Lear. My curffes on her. Reg. O Sir you are old, (fine, Nature on you ftandes on the very verge of her con- Lear. Aske her forgiuenes, Doe you marke how this becomes the house, Age is vnneceffarie, on my knees I beg, That you'l vouchsafe me rayment, bed and food. Reg. Good fir no more, these are vnfightly tricks, Lear. No Regan, She hath abated me of halfe my traine, Lookt blacke vpon me, strooke mee with her tongue (top, All the stor❜d vengeances of heauen fall on her ingratful Duke. Fie fie fir. You nimble lightnings dart your blinding flames, [35 II. iv. 130 140 150 160 Reg. I am glad to fee your Highnesse. Lear. Regan, I thinke your are. I know what reafon Reg. I pray you Sir, take patience, I haue hope Lear. Say? How is that? Reg. I cannot thinke my Sifter in the leaft Lear. My curses on her. Nature in you ftands on the very Verge Of his confine: you should be rul'd, and led By fome difcretion, that difcernes your ftate Better then you your felfe: therefore I pray you, Lear. Aske her forgiueneffe? Do you but marke how this becomes the house? Age is vnneceffary: on my knees I begge, That you'l vouchfafe me Rayment, Bed, and Food. Reg. Good Sir, no more: thefe are vnfightly trickes: Lear. Neuer Regan: She hath abated me of halfe my Traine; Look'd blacke vpon me, ftrooke me with her Tongue Moft Serpent-like, vpon the very Heart. All the ftor'd Vengeances of Heauen, fall On her ingratefull top: strike her yong bones You taking Ayres, with Lamenesse. Corn. Fye fir, fie. Le. You nimble Lightnings, dart your blinding flames [294b |