816.1[Scene 10] [Video Sc.10] 10.0.1817Enter King of Cornwall, Leir, Perillus, and Nobles Father, what aileth you to be so sad?
10.2819Methinks you frolic not as you were wont.
The nearer we do grow unto our graves,
10.4821The less we do delight in worldly joys.
But if a man can frame himself to mirth,
10.6823It is a mean for to prolong his life.
Then welcome sorrow, Leir's only friend,
10.8825Who doth desire his troubled days had end.
Comfort yourself, father, here comes your daughter,
10.10827Who much will grieve, I know, to see you sad.
But more doth grieve, I fear, to see me live.
My Gonorill, you come in wishèd time
10.13830To put your father from these pensive dumps.
10.14831In faith, I fear that all things go not well.
What, do you fear that I have angered him?
10.16833Hath he complained of me unto my lord?
10.17834I'll provide him a piece of bread and cheese,
10.18835For in a time he'll practise nothing else
10.19836Than carry tales from one unto another.
10.20837'Tis all his practice for to kindle strife
10.21838'Twixt you, my lord, and me your loving wife.
10.22839But I will take an order, if I can,
10.23840To cease th'effect where first the cause began.
Sweet, be not angry in a partial cause:
10.25842He ne'er complained of thee in all his life. --
10.26843Father, you must not weigh a woman's words.
Alas, not I. Poor soul, she breeds young bones,
10.28845And that is it makes her so touchy sure.
What, "breeds young bones" -- already! You will make
10.30847An honest woman of me then, belike.
10.31848O vile old wretch! Whoever heard the like,
10.32849That seeketh thus his own child to defame?
I cannot stay to hear this discord sound.
[To Leir and his attendants] For anyone that loves your company,
10.35852You may go pack and seek some other place
10.36853To sow the seed of discord and disgrace.
Thus, say or do the best that e'er I can,
10.38855'Tis wrested straight into another sense.
10.39856This punishment my heavy sins deserve,
10.40857And more than this ten thousand thousand times,
10.41858Else agèd Leir them could never find
10.42859Cruel to him to whom he hath been kind.
10.43860Why do I overlive myself, to see
10.44861The course of nature quite reversed in me?
10.45862Ah, gentle Death, if ever any wight
10.46863Did wish thy presence with a perfect zeal,
10.47864Then come, I pray thee, even with all my heart,
10.48865And end my sorrows with thy fatal dart.
Ah, do not so disconsolate yourself,
10.50867Nor dew your agèd cheeks with wasting tears.
What man art thou that takest any pity
10.52869Upon the worthless state of old Leir?
One who doth bear as great a share of grief,
10.54871As if it were my dearest father's case.
Ah, good my friend, how ill art thou advised
10.56873For to consort with miserable men.
10.57874Go learn to flatter where thou mayst in time
10.58875Get favor 'mongst the mighty, and so climb;
10.59876For now I am so poor and full of want
10.60877As that I ne'er can recompense thy love.
What's got by flattery doth not long endure,
10.62879And men in favor live not most secure.
10.63880My conscience tells me if I should forsake you,
10.64881I were the hateful'st excrement on the earth,
10.65882Which well do know, in course of former time,
10.66883How good my lord hath been to me and mine.
Did I e'er raise thee higher than the rest
10.68885Of all thy ancestors which were before?
I ne'er did seek it, but by your good grace
10.70887I still enjoyed my own with quietness.
Did I e'er give thee living to increase
10.72889The due revenues which thy father left?
I had enough, my lord, and having that,
10.74891What should you need to give me any more?
Oh, did I ever dispossess myself
10.76893And give thee half my kingdom in good will?
Alas, my lord, there were no reason why
10.78895You should have such a thought to give it me.
Nay, if thou talk of reason, then be mute,
10.80897For with good reason I can thee confute.
10.81898If they, which first by nature's sacred law
10.82899Do owe to me the tribute of their lives,
10.83900If they to whom I always have been kind
10.84901And bountiful beyond comparison,
10.85902If they for whom I have undone myself
10.86903And brought my age unto this extreme want,
10.87904Do now reject, condemn, despise, abhor me,
10.88905What reason moveth thee to sorrow for me?
Where reason fails let tears confirm my love,
10.90907And speak how much your passions do me move.
10.91908Ah, good my lord, condemn not all for one:
10.92909You have two daughters left to whom I know
10.93910You shall be welcome, if you please to go.
Oh, how thy words add sorrow to my soul,
10.95912To think of my unkindness to Cordella,
10.96913Whom causeless I did dispossess of all
10.97914Upon th'unkind suggestions of her sisters;
10.98915And for her sake I think this heavy doom
10.99916Is fallen on me, and not without desert.
10.101918And gave to her the half of all I had.
10.102919It may be, if I should to her repair,
10.103920She would be kinder and entreat me fair.
No doubt she would, and practise, ere't be long,
10.105922By force of arms for to redress your wrong.
Well, since thou dost advise me for to go,
10.107924I am resolved to try the worst of woe.
King Leir