Page images
PDF
EPUB

Fools do those villains pity who are punish'd

Ere they have done their mischief,-where's thy drum?
France spreads his banners in our noiseless land,
With plumed helm thy state begins to threat,

Whilst thou, a moral fool, sit'st still and criest
'Alack, why does he so?'

[blocks in formation]

Albany. Thou changed and self-cover'd thing,

for shame,

Be-monster not thy feature. Were 't my fitness

To let these hands obey my blood,

They are apt enough to dislocate and tear

Thy flesh and bones. Howe'er thou art a fiend,

A woman's shape doth shield thee.

Goneril. Marry, your manhood now

Albany. What news?

XXIV

Enter a Messenger.

(Act. IV)

Scene III. The French camp near Dover.

Enter Kent and a Gentleman.

Kent. Why the King of France is so suddenly gone back know you the reason?

Gentleman. Something he left imperfect in the state which since his coming forth is thought of, which imports to the kingdom so much fear and danger that

his personal return was most required and necessary. Kent. Who hath he left behind him, General?

Gentleman. The Marshal of France, Monsieur La

Far.

Kent. Did your letters pierce the queen to any demonstration of grief?

Gentleman. Ay, sir; she took them, read them in my presence,

And now and then an ample tear trill'd down
Her delicate cheek. It seem'd she was a queen
Over her passion, who most rebel-like

Sought to be king o'er her.

Kent.

Oh, then it moved her..

Gentleman. Not to a rage; patience and sorrow strove Who should express her goodliest. You have seen Sunshine and rain at once; her smiles and tears Were like a better way; those happy smilets That play'd on her ripe lip seem'd not to know What guests were in her eyes; which parted thence As pearls from diamonds dropp'd. In brief, Sorrow would be a rarity most beloved,

If all could so become it.

Kent.

Gentleman.

Made she no verbal question!

Faith, once or twice she heaved the name

of 'father'

Pantingly forth, as if it press'd her heart;

Cried 'Sisters! sisters!

Kent! father! sisters!

Let pity not be believed!

Shame of ladies! sisters!

What, i' th' storm? i' th' night?

There she shook

The holy water from her heavenly eyes,

And clamour moisten'd; then away she started

To deal with grief alone.

Kent.

The stars above us, govern our conditions;

It is the stars,

Else one self mate and mate could not beget

Such different issues. You spoke not with her since? Gentleman. No.

Kent. Was this before the king return'd?

Gentleman.

No, since.

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
His mind so venomously that burning shame
Detains him from Cordelia.

Gentleman.

Alack, poor gentleman!

Kent. Of Albany's and Cornwall's powers you

heard not?

Gentleman. 'T is so they are afoot.

Kent. Well, sir, I'll bring you to our master

Lear,

And leave you to attend him. Some dear cause
Will in concealment wrap me up awhile;

When I am known aright, you shall not grieve
Lending me this acquaintance. I pray you, go
Along with me.

XXV

To use his eyes for garden water-pots,

Ay, and laying autumn's dust.

(Exeunt.

(IV. 5: 202)

[blocks in formation]

Doctor. Please you, draw near.-Louder the music.

Very well.

there!

XXVII

(IV. 6:31)

To be opposed against the warring winds?

To stand against the deep dread-bolted thunder?
In the most terrible and nimble stroke

Of quick, cross lightning? to watch, poor perdu!
With this thin helm? Mine enemy's dog,

XXVIII

No sir, you must not kneel.

XXIX

(IV. 6:55)

(IV. 6: 76)

You see, is kill'd in him; and yet 't is danger

To make him even o'er the time he has lost.

[blocks in formation]

Gentleman. Holds it true, sir, that the Duke of Corn

wall was so slain?

Kent. Most certain, sir.

Gentleman. Who is conductor of his people?
Kent.

As 't is said, the bastard son of Gloucester. Gentleman. They say Edgar, his banished son, is with the Earl of Kent in Germany.

Kent. Report is changeable. 'T is time to look about the; powers of the kingdom approach apace.

Gentleman. The arbitrement is like to be bloody. Fare you well, sir.

(Exit. Kent. My point and period will be throughly wrought, Or well or ill, as this day's battle's fought.

(Exit.

Edmund.

XXXI

(V. 1: 11)

That thought abuses you.

Regan. I am doubtful that you have been conjunct

And bosom'd with her, as far as we call hers.

[blocks in formation]

Forced to cry out. Where I could not be honest,

I never yet was valiant; for this business,

It toucheth us, as France invades our land,

« PreviousContinue »