The images of revolt and flying off.

Fetch me a better answer.

Glou.

My dear lord,

You know the fiery quality of

the duke;

How unremoveable and fix'd

he is

In his own course.

Lear. Vengeance! plague! death! confusion! Fiery! what quality? Why, Gloucester, Gloucester,

I'd speak with the Duke of Cornwall and his wife.

Glou. Well, my good lord,

have inform'd them so. Lear. Inform'd them! Dost

man?

me,

Glou. Ay, my good lord.

Lear. The king would speak with Cornwall; the dear father

Would with his daughter

speak,

commands

service:

her

Are they inform'd of this? My breath and blood!

Fiery! the fiery duke! Tell the hot duke that

No, but not yet; may be he is not well :

Infirmity doth still neglect all office

6

Whereto our health is bound;

we are not ourselves

When nature, being oppress'd, commands the mind

To suffer with the body. I'll

forbear;

And am fall'n out with my more headier will,

To take the indisposed and sickly fit

For the sound man. Death on my state! wherefore [Looking on KENT.

Should he sit here? This act persuades me

That this remotion of the

duke and her

Is practice only. Give me my servant forth.

Go tell the duke and's wife I'd speak with them, Now, presently: bid them come forth and hear me, Or at their chamber-door I'll beat the drum

Till it cry sleep to death.
Glou. I would have all well
betwixt you

[Exit.

Lear. O me! my heart, my rising heart! 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, GLOUCESTER, and Servants.

Lear. Good morrow to you

both.

Corn.

Hail to your

grace!

[KENT is set at liberty.

Reg. I am glad to see your highness.

Lear. Regan, I think you

are; I know what reason I have to think so: if thou should'st not be glad,