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King Lear (Quarto 2, 1619)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Pervez Rizvi
Not Peer Reviewed
Enter Gonorill and Bastard.
Gon. Welcome my Lord, I maruaile our milde husband
Not met vs on the way: now, where's your Master?
2269.1
Enter Steward.
2270Stew. Madame within, but neuer man so chang'd; I tolde him
of the Army that was landed, he smiled at it, I told him you were
coming, his answer was, the worse; of Glosters treachery, and of
2275the loyall seruice of his sonne, when I enformd him, then he cald
me sot, and told me I had turnd the wrong side out, what hee
should most desire, seemes pleasant to him, what like offensiue.
Gon. Then shall you go no further.
2280It is the cowish curre of his spirit
That dares not vndertake, heel not feele wrongs
Which tye him to an answer, our wishes on the way
May proue effects, backe Edmund to my brother,
Hasten his musters, and conduct his powers,
2285I must change armes at home, and giue the distaffe
Into my husbands hands; this trusty seruant
Shall passe betweene vs, ere long you are like to heare
If you dare venter in your owne behalfe
A mistresses coward, weare this spare speech,
2290Decline your head: this kisse if it durst speake,
Would strech thy spirits vp into the ayre;
Conceiue, and faryewell.
Bast. Yours in the rankes of death.
Gon. My most deare Gloster, to thee womans seruices are due,
My foote vsurpes my head.
Stew. Madame, heere comes my Lord.
2298.1
Exit Steward.
2300Gon. I haue bene worth the whistle.
Enter the Duke of Albeney.
Alb. O Gonorill, you are not worth the dust which the winde
Blowes in your face, I feare your disposition,
2303.1That nature which contemnes it origin,
Cannot be bordered certaine in it selfe,
She that her selfe will sliuer and disbranch
From her materiall sap, perforce must wither,
.5And come to deadly vse.
Gon. No more, the text is foolish.
Alb. Wisedome and goodnesse to the vilde seeme vilde,
Filths sauour but themselues, what haue you done?
Tygers, not daughters, what haue you perform'd?
.10A father, and a gracious aged man,
Whose reuerence the head-lugd Beare would licke;
Most barbarous, most degenerate haue you madded;
Could my good brother suffer you to do it?
A man, a Prince, by him so beneflicted,
.15If that the heauens do not their visible spirits
Send quickly downe to tame the vilde offences, it will come
Humanly must perforce prey on it selfe, like monsters of the
deepe.
Gon. Milke liuer'd man,
2305That bearest a cheeke for blowes, a head for wrongs,
Who hast not in thy browes an eie deseruing thine honour,
From thy suffering, that not know'st fooles, do these villains pity
2307.1Who are punisht ere they haue done their mischiefe,
Where's thy drum? France spreds his banners in our noiselesse
Land, with plumed helme thy slaier begins threats,
Whiles thou a morall foole, sits still and cries
.5Alacke, why does he so?
Alb. See thy selfe diuell, proper deformiry seemes not in the
fiend, so horrid as in woman.
Gon. O vaine foole.
2311.1Alb. Thou chang'd and selfe-couerd thing, for shame
Be-monster not thy feature, wer't my fitnesse
To let these hands obey my bloud,
They are apt enough to dislecate and teare
.5Thy flesh and bones, how ere thou art a fiend,
A womans shape doth shield thee.
Gon. Marry your man-hood now -------
Enter a Gentleman.
Alb. What newes?
Gent. O my good Lord, the Duke of Cornwalls dead, slaine by
his seruant, going to put out the other eie of Gloster.
Alb. Glosters eyes?
Gen. A seruant that he bred, thrald with remorse,
Oppos'd against the acte, bending his sword
To his great master, who thereat enraged,
2320Flew on him, and amongst them feld him dead,
But not without that harmfull stroke,
Which since hath pluckt him after.
Alb. This shewes you are aboue your Iustices,
That these our neather crimes so speedily can venge.
2325But oh poore Glocester, lost he his other eye?
Gent. Both, both my Lord, this letter Madam, craues a speedy
Answer, tis from your sister.
2330Gon. One way I like this well,
But being widow, and my Glocester with her,
May all the building on my fancy plucke,
Vpon my hatefull life, another way the newes is not so tooke,
Ile reade and answer.
Exit.
2335Alb. Where was his sonne when they did take his eies?
Gent. Come with my Lady hither.
Alb. He is not here.
Gent. No my good Lord, I met him backe againe.
2340Alb. Knowes he the wickednesse?
Gent. I my good Lord, twas he inform'd against him,
And quit the house on purpose, that their punishment
Might haue the freer course.
Alb. Glocester, I liue to thanke thee for the loue
2345Thou shewedst the King, and to reuenge thy eyes;
Come hether friend, tell me what more thou knowest.
Exit.