These kind of knaves I know, which in this plain

ness

Harbour more craft, and more corrupter ends,
Than twenty silly ducking observants,

That stretch their duties nicely.

Kent. Sir, in good sooth, in sincere verity, Under the allowance of your great aspect, Whose influence, like the wreath of radiant fire On flickering Phoebus' front,

Corn.

What mean'st by this? Kent. To go out of my dialect, which you dis commend so much. I know, sir, I am no flatterer: he that beguiled you in a plain accent was a plain knave; which, for my part, I will not be, though I should win your displeasure to entreat me to 't. Corn. What was the offence you gave him? Osw. I never gave him any:

It pleased the king, his master, very late,

To strike at me, upon his misconstruction;
When he, conjuct, and flattering his displeasure,
Tripped me behind; being down, insulted, railed,
And put upon him such a deal of man,
That worthied him, got praises of the king
For him attempting who was self-subdued ;
And, in the fleshment of this dread exploit,
Drew on me here again.

Kent. None of these rogues, and cowards

But Ajax is their fool.

Call not your stocks for me; I serve the king,
On whose employment I was sent to you:
You shall do small respect, show too bold malice
Against the grace and person of my master,
Stocking his messenger.

Corn.

Fetch forth the stocks!

As I have life and honour, there shall he sit till

noon.

Reg. Till noon! till night, my lord; and all

night too.

Kent. Why, madam, if I were your father's dog, You should not use me so.

Reg. Sir, being his knave, I will.

Corn. This is a fellow of the selfsame colour

Our sister speaks of.-Come, bring away the [Stocks brought out.

stocks.

Glo. Let me beseech your grace not to do so. His fault is much, and the good king his master Will check him for 't: your purposed low correction

Is such as basest and contemned'st wretches,
For pilferings and most common trespasses,
Are punished with. The king must take it ill,
That he, so slightly valued in his messenger,

Should have him thus restrained.

Corn.

I'll answer that.

Reg. My sister may receive it much more worse, To have her gentleman abused, assaulted,

For following her affairs.—Put in his legs.—

Come, my lord, away.

[KENT is put in the stocks.

[Exeunt all but GLOSTER and Kent.

Glo. I am sorry for thee, friend; 't is the duke's

pleasure,

Whose disposition, all the world well knows,

Will not be rubbed, nor stopped: I'll entreat for

thee.

Kent. Pray, do not, sir. I have watched, and travelled hard;

Some time I shall sleep out, the rest I'll whistle. A good man's fortune may grow out at heels: Give you good morrow!

Glo. The duke's to blame in this: 't will be ill [Exit.

taken.

Kent. Good king, that must approve the common

saw,

Thou out of heaven's benediction com'st

To the warm sun.

Approach, thou beacon to this under globe,
That by thy comfortable beams I may

Peruse this letter.-Nothing almost sees miracles
But misery-I know, 't is from Cordelia;
Who hath most fortunately been informed
Of my obscuréd course; and shall find turn
From this injurious state, seeking to give
Losses their remedies.-All weary and o'erwatched,
Take vantage, heavy eyes, not to behold
This shameful lodging.

Fortune, good night; smile once more; turn thy

wheel!

[He sleeps.

SCENE III-A part of the Heath

Enter EDGAR

Edg. I heard myself proclaimed;

And, by the happy hollow of a tree,

Escaped the hunt. No port is free; no place,

That guard and most unusual vigilance

Does not attend my taking. While I may 'scape

I will preserve myself; and am bethought
To take the basest and most poorest shape

That ever penury, in contempt of

man,

Brought near to beast; my face I'll grime with

filth,

Blanket my loins, elf all my hair in knots,
And with presented nakedness outface
The winds and persecutions of the sky.
The country gives me proof and precedent
Of Bedlam beggars, who, with roaring voices,
Strike in their numbed and mortified bare arms
Pins, wooden pricks, nails, sprigs of rosemary;
And with this horrible object, from low farms,
Poor pelting villages, sheep-cotes, and mills,
Sometime with lunatic bans, sometime with
prayers,

Enforce their charity.--Poor Turlygood! poor

Enter LEAR, Fool, and Gentleman

Lear. 'Tis strange that they should so depart

from home,

And not send back my messenger.