Good dawning to thee friend. Art of this house?

Ay.

Where may we set our horses?

I'th'mire.

Prithee, if thou lov'st me, tell me.

I love thee not.

Why then, I care not for thee.

If I had thee in Lipsbury Pinfold I would make 1084thee care for me.

Why dost thou use me thus? I know thee not.

Fellow, I know thee.

What dost thou know me for?

A knave, a rascal, an eater of broken meats; a 1089base, proud, shallow, beggarly, three-suited, hundred-1090pound, filthy, worsted-stocking knave; a lily-livered, 1091action-taking, whoreson, glass-gazing, super-serviceable, 1092finical rogue; one-trunk-inheriting slave. One that 1093wouldst be a bawd in way of good service, and art 1094nothing but the composition of a knave, beggar, coward, 1095pander, and the son and heir of a mongrel bitch--1096one whom I will beat into clamorous whining if thou 1097deny'st the least syllable of thy addition.

Why, what a monstrous fellow art thou, thus 1099to rail on one that is neither known of thee, nor 1100knows thee?

What a brazen-faced varlet art thou, to deny 1102thou knowest me! Is it two days since I tripped up thy 1103heels and beat thee before the king? [Drawing his sword] Draw, you rogue, 1104for though it be night yet the moon shines. I'll make a 1105sop o'th'moonshine of you, you whoreson cullionly 1106barber-monger. Draw!

Away, I have nothing to do with thee.

Draw, you rascal. You come with letters 1109against the king, and take Vanity the puppet's part 1110against the royalty of her father. Draw, you rogue, or 1111I'll so carbonado your shanks! Draw, you rascal. Come 1112your ways.

Help, ho! Murder! Help!

Strike, you slave. Stand, rogue. Stand, you neat 1115slave--strike!

Help, ho, murder, murder!

How now, what's the matter? [Drawing his sword] Part.

[To the Bastard] With you, goodman boy, if you please. Come, 1120I'll flesh ye. Come on, young master.

Weapons? Arms? What's the matter here?

[Drawing his sword] Keep peace upon your lives. He dies that strikes 1123again. What is the matter?

The messengers from our sister, and the king.

What is your difference? Speak.

I am scarce in breath, my lord.

No marvel. You have so bestirred your valor, 1128you cowardly rascal, nature disclaims in thee. A tailor 1129made thee.

Thou art a strange fellow. A tailor make a man?

A tailor, sir. A stone-cutter or a painter could 1132not have made him so ill though they had been but two 1133years o'th'trade.

Speak yet. How grew your quarrel?

This ancient ruffian, sir, whose life I have spared 1136at suit of his gray beard--

Thou whoreson zed, thou unnecessary letter!--1138My lord, if you will give me leave, I will tread this 1139unbolted villain into mortar, and daub the wall of a 1140jakes with him. [To Oswald] Spare my gray beard, you wagtail?

Peace, sirrah!

1142You beastly knave, know you no reverence?

Yes, sir, but anger hath a privilege.

Why art thou angry?

That such a slave as this should wear a sword,

1146Who wears no honesty. Such smiling rogues as these,

1147Like rats, oft bite the holy cords a-twain,

1148Which are too intrinse t'unloose; smooth every passion

1149That in the natures of their lords rebel,

1150Being oil to fire, snow to the colder moods,

1151Revenge, affirm, and turn their halcyon beaks

1152With every gall and vary of their masters,

1153Knowing naught, like dogs, but following.

1154[To Oswald] A plague upon your epileptic visage!

1155Smile you my speeches, as I were a fool?

1156Goose, if I had you upon Sarum Plain,

1157I'd drive ye cackling home to Camelot.

What, art thou mad, old fellow?

How fell you out, say that.

No contraries hold more antipathy,

1161Than I and such a knave.

Than I and such a knave. Why dost thou call him knave?

1163What is his fault?

What is his fault? His countenance likes me not.

No more perchance does mine, nor his, nor hers.

Sir, 'tis my occupation to be plain.

1167I have seen better faces in my time

1168Than stands on any shoulder that I see

1169Before me at this instant.

Before me at this instant. This is some fellow,

1171Who, having been praised 985for bluntness, doth affect

1172A saucy roughness, 986and constrains the garb

1173Quite from his nature. 987He cannot flatter, he.

1174An honest mind and plain, 988he must speak truth,

1175An they will take it, so; 989if not, he's plain.

1176These kind of knaves I know, 990which in this "plainness"

1177Harbor more craft 991and more corrupter ends

1178Than twenty silly-ducking 992observants

1179That stretch their duties nicely.

Sir, in good faith, in sincere verity,

1181Under th'allowance of your great aspect,

1182Whose influence like the wreath of radiant fire

1183On flickering Phoebus' front--

On flickering Phoebus' front-- What mean'st by this?

To go out of my dialect, which you 1186discommend so much. I know, sir, I am no flatterer. He that 1187beguiled you in a plain accent was a plain knave, which 1188for my part I will not be, though I should win your 1189displeasure to entreat me to't.

[To Oswald] What was th'offence you gave him?

I never gave him any.

1192It pleased the king his master very late

1193To strike at me, upon his misconstruction,

1194When he, compact and flattering his displeasure,

1195Tripped me behind; being down, insulted, railed,

1196And put upon him such a deal of man

1197That worthied him, got praises of the king

1198For him attempting who was self-subdued;

1199And in the fleshment of this dread exploit

1200Drew on me here again.

None of these rogues and cowards

1202But Ajax is their fool.

But Ajax is their fool. Fetch forth the stocks.

1204You stubborn ancient knave, you reverend braggart,

1205We'll teach you.

We'll teach you. Sir, I am too old to learn.

1207Call not your stocks for me. 1017I serve the king,

1208On whose employment I was sent to you.

12091018You shall do small respects, show too bold malice

1210Against the grace and person of my master,

1211Stocking his messenger.

Stocking his messenger. Fetch forth the stocks!

1213As I have life and honor, 1022there shall he sit till noon.

Till noon? Till night, my lord, and all night too.

Why, madam, if I were your father's dog

1216You should not use me so.

You should not use me so. Sir, being his knave, I will.

This is a fellow of the self same color

1219Our sister speaks of. Come, bring away the stocks.

Let me beseech your grace not to do so.

1221The King his master needs must take it ill

1222That he, so slightly valued in his messenger,

1223Should have him thus restrained.

Should have him thus restrained. I'll answer that.

My sister may receive it much more worse

1226To have her gentleman abused, assaulted

Come my lord, away.

I am sorry for thee, friend. 'Tis the Duke's pleasure,

1229Whose disposition all the world well knows

1230Will not be rubbed nor stopped. I'll entreat for thee.

Pray do not, sir. I have watched and traveled hard.

1232Some time I shall sleep out, the rest I'll whistle.

1233A good man's fortune may grow out at heels.

1234Give you good morrow.

Give you good morrow. The Duke's to blame in this,

1236'Twill be ill taken.

Good king, that must approve the common saw,

1238Thou out of heaven's benediction com'st

1239To the warm sun.

1240Approach, thou beacon to this under globe,

1241That by thy comfortable beams I may

1242Peruse this letter. Nothing almost sees miracles

1243But misery. I know 'tis from Cordelia,

1244Who hath most fortunately been informed

1245Of my obscurèd course, and shall find time

1246From this enormous state, seeking to give

1247Losses their remedies. All weary and o'erwatched,

1248Take vantage, heavy eyes, not to behold

1249This shameful lodging. Fortune, goodnight.

1250Smile once more; turn thy wheel.

I heard myself proclaimed,

1253And by the happy hollow of a tree

1254Escaped the hunt. No port is free, no place

1255That guard and most unusual vigilance

1256Does not attend my taking. Whiles I may scape

1257I will preserve myself, and am bethought

1258To take the basest and most poorest shape

1259That ever penury in contempt of man

1260Brought near to beast. My face I'll grime with filth,

1261Blanket my loins, elf all my hairs in knots,

1262And with presented nakedness outface

1263The winds and persecutions of the sky.

1264The country gives me proof and precedent

1265Of Bedlam beggars, who, with roaring voices,

1266Strike in their numbed and mortified arms

1267Pins, wooden pricks, nails, sprigs of rosemary,

1268And with this horrible object, from low farms,

1269Poor pelting villages, sheepcotes and mills,

1270Sometimes with lunatic bans, sometimes with prayers,

1271Enforce their charity. "Poor Turlygod, poor Tom."

1272That's something yet. Edgar I nothing am.

'Tis strange that they should so depart from home,

1275And not send back my messengers.

And not send back my messengers. As I learned,

1277The night before there was no purpose in them

1278Of this remove.

Of this remove. [From the stocks] Hail to thee, noble master.

Ha? Mak'st thou this shame thy pastime?

Ha? Mak'st thou this shame thy pastime? No, my lord.

Ha, ha! He wears cruel garters. 1093Horses are 1283tied by the heads, dogs and bears 1094by the neck, 1284monkeys by the loins, and men 1095by the legs. When a man's 1285over-lusty at legs, 1096then he wears wooden netherstocks.

[To Kent] What's he 1287that hath so much thy place mistook

1288To set thee here?

It is both he and she, 1290your son and daughter.

No.

Yes.

No I say.

I say yea.

By Jupiter, I swear no.

By Juno, I swear ay.

They durst not do't.

1298They could not, would not do't. 'Tis worse than murder

1299To do upon respect such violent outrage.

1300Resolve me with all modest haste which way

1301Thou might'st deserve, or they impose this usage,

1302Coming from us.

Coming from us. My lord, when at their home

1304I did commend your highness' letters to them,

1305Ere I was risen from the place that showed

1306My duty kneeling, came there a reeking post,

1307Stewed in his haste, half breathless, panting forth

1308From Goneril his mistress, salutations;

1309Delivered letters, spite of intermission,

1310Which presently they read; on those contents

1311They summoned up their meiney, straight took horse,

1312Commanded me to follow and attend

1313The leisure of their answer; gave me cold looks,

1314And meeting here the other messenger,

1315Whose welcome I perceived had poisoned mine,

1316Being the very fellow which of late

1317Displayed so saucily against your highness,

1318Having more man than wit about me, drew.

1319He raised the house with loud and coward cries.

1320Your son and daughter found this trespass worth

1321The shame which here it suffers.

Winter's not gone yet if the wild geese fly that way.

1326But for all this thou shalt have as many dolors for thy 1327daughters as thou canst tell in a year.

Oh, how this mother swells up toward my heart!

1329Hysterica passio, down thou climbing sorrow,

1330Thy element's below. Where is this daughter?

With the earl, sir, here within.

[To the Fool and Gentleman] Follow me not, stay here.

Made you no more offence 1334but what you speak of?

None.

1336How chance the king comes with so small a number?

An thou hadst been set i'th'stocks for that 1338question, thou'dst well deserved it.

Why, Fool?

We'll set thee to school to an ant, to teach 1341thee there's no laboring i'th'winter. All that follow their 1342noses are led by their eyes but blind men, and there's 1343not a nose among twenty but can smell him that's 1344stinking. Let go thy hold when a great wheel runs down a 1345hill, lest it break thy neck with following. But the 1346great one that goes upward, let him draw thee after. 1347When a wise man gives thee better counsel give me mine 1348again. I would have none but knaves follow it, since a 1349fool gives it.

Where learned you this, Fool?

Where learned you this, Fool? Not i'th'stocks, fool.

Deny to speak with me? 1362They are sick, they are weary,

13631159They have traveled all the night? Mere fetches,

13641160The images of revolt and flying off.

1365Fetch me a better answer.

Fetch me a better answer. My dear lord,

1367You know the fiery quality of the Duke,

1368How unremoveable and fixed he is

1369In his own course.

In his own course. Vengeance, plague, death, confusion!

1371Fiery? What quality? Why, Gloucester, Gloucester,

1372I'd speak with the Duke of Cornwall and his wife.

Well, my good lord, I have informed them so.

Informed them? Dost thou understand me, man?

Ay, my good lord.

The king would speak with Cornwall. 1377The dear father

1378Would with his daughter speak, commands--tends--service.

1379Are they informed of this? My breath and blood--

1380Fiery? The fiery Duke? Tell the hot Duke that--

1381No, but not yet. Maybe he is not well.

13821172Infirmity doth still neglect all office

1383Whereto our health 1173is bound. We are not ourselves,

1384When nature, being oppressed, 1174commands the mind

1385To suffer with the body. I'll forbear,

13861175And am fallen out with my more headier will

13871176To take the indisposed and sickly fit

1388For the sound man.

For the sound man. 1177Death on my state! Wherefore

1389Should he sit here? 1178This act persuades me

1390That this remotion of the Duke and her

13911179Is practice only. Give me my servant forth.

1392Go tell the Duke and 's wife I'd speak with them

1393Now, presently. Bid them come forth and hear me,

1394Or at their chamber door I'll beat the drum

1395Till it cry sleep to death.

I would have all well betwixt you.

Oh me, my heart, my rising heart! But down.

Cry to it nuncle, as the cockney did to the 1399eels when she put 'em i'th'paste alive. She knapped 'em 1400o'th'coxcombs with a stick and cried "Down, wantons, 1401down!" 'Twas her brother that in pure kindness to his 1402horse buttered his hay.

Good morrow to you both.

Good morrow to you both. Hail to your grace.

I am glad to see your highness.

Regan, I think you are. I know what reason

1408I have to think so. If thou shouldst not be glad,

1409I would divorce me from thy mother's tomb,

1410Sepulchring an adultress. [To Kent] Oh, are you free?

1411Some other time for that.--Belovèd Regan,

1412Thy sister's naught. O Regan, she hath tied

1413Sharp-toothed unkindness like a vulture here.

1414I can scarce speak to thee. Thou'lt not believe

1415With how depraved a quality, O Regan--

I pray you, sir, take patience. I have hope

1417You less know how to value her desert

1418Than she to scant her duty.

Than she to scant her duty. Say? How is that?

I cannot think my sister in the least

1421Would fail her obligation. If, sir, perchance

1422She have restrained the riots of your followers,

1423'Tis on such ground and to such wholesome end

1424As clears her from all blame.

My curses on her.

My curses on her. O sir, you are old,

1427Nature in you stands on the very verge

1428Of his confine. You should be ruled and led

1429By some discretion that discerns your state

1430Better than you yourself. Therefore, I pray you,

1431That to our sister you do make return.

1432Say you have wronged her.

Say you have wronged her. Ask her forgiveness?

1434Do you but mark how this becomes the house?

1435[Kneeling] "Dear daughter, I confess that I am old.

1436Age is unnecessary. On my knees I beg

1437That you'll vouchsafe me raiment, bed, and food."

Good sir, no more. These are unsightly tricks.

1439Return you to my sister.

Return you to my sister. [Rising] Never, Regan.

1441She hath abated me of half my train,

1442Looked black upon me, struck me with her tongue

1443Most serpent-like upon the very heart.

1444All the stored vengeances of heaven fall

1445On her ungrateful top! Strike her young bones,

1446You taking airs, with lameness--

You taking airs, with lameness-- Fie sir, fie.

You nimble lightnings dart your blinding flames

1449Into her scornful eyes. Infect her beauty,

1450You fen-sucked fogs, drawn by the powerful sun,

1451To fall and blister.

To fall and blister. O the blest gods!

1453So will you wish on me 1232when the rash mood is on.

No Regan, thou shalt never have my curse.

1455Thy tender-hafted nature shall not give

1456Thee o'er to harshness. Her eyes are fierce, but thine

1457Do comfort and not burn. 'Tis not in thee

1458To grudge my pleasures, to cut off my train,

1459To bandy hasty words, to scant my sizes,

1460And, in conclusion, to oppose the bolt

1461Against my coming in. Thou better know'st

1462The offices of nature, bond of childhood,

1463Effects of courtesy, dues of gratitude.

1464Thy half o'th'kingdom hast thou not forgot

1465Wherein I thee endowed.

Wherein I thee endowed. Good sir, to th'purpose.

Who put my man i'th'stocks?

Who put my man i'th'stocks? What trumpet's that?

I know't my sister's. This approves her letter

1471That she would soon be here. [To Oswald] Is your lady come?

This is a slave, whose easy-borrowed pride

1473Dwells in the sickly grace of her he follows.

1474[Striking him] Out, varlet, from my sight.

[Striking him] Out, varlet, from my sight. What means your grace?

Who stocked my servant? Regan, I have good hope

1478Thou didst not know on't.

1479[Seeing Goneril.] Who comes here? O heavens!

14801256If you do love old men, if your sweet sway

1481Allow 1257obedience, if you your selves are old,

1482Make it your cause. Send down, and take my part.

1483[To Goneril] Art not ashamed to look upon this beard?--

1484O Regan, will you take her by the hand?

Why not by th'hand sir? How have I offended?

1486All's not offence that indiscretion finds

1487And dotage terms so.

And dotage terms so. O sides, you are too tough.

1489Will you yet hold? 1490How came my man i'th'stocks?

I set him there, sir, but his own disorders

1492Deserved much less advancement.

Deserved much less advancement. You? Did you?

I pray you, father, being weak, seem so.

1495If, till the expiration of your month

1496You will return and sojourn with my sister,

1497Dismissing half your train, come then to me.

1498I am now from home, and out of that provision

1499Which shall be needful for your entertainment.

Return to her? And fifty men dismissed?

1501No, rather I abjure all roofs, and choose

1502To wage against the enmity o'th'air,

1503To be a comrade with the wolf and owl,

1504Necessity's sharp pinch. Return with her?

15051280Why, the hot-blooded France, that dowerless 1281took

1506Our youngest born, I could as well be brought

15071282To knee his throne, and squire-like pension beg

1508To keep base life afoot. Return with her?

1509Persuade me rather to be slave and sumpter

1510To this detested groom.

To this detested groom. At your choice, sir.

I prithee, daughter, do not make me mad.

1513I will not trouble thee my child. Farewell.

1514We'll no more meet, no more see one another.

1515But yet thou art my flesh, my blood, my daughter--

1516Or rather a disease that's in my flesh

1517Which I must needs call mine. Thou art a boil,

1518A plague sore, or embossèd carbuncle

1519In my corrupted blood--but I'll not chide thee.

1520Let shame come when it will, I do not call it.

1521I do not bid the thunder-bearer shoot,

1522Nor tell tales of thee to high-judging Jove.

1523Mend when thou canst. Be better at thy leisure.

1524I can be patient. I can stay with Regan,

15251300I and my hundred knights.

I and my hundred knights. Not altogether so.

1527I looked not for you yet, 1302nor am provided

1528For your fit welcome. 1303Give ear, sir, to my sister,

1529For those 1304that mingle reason with your passion

15301305Must be content to think you old, and so--

1531But she knows what she does.

But she knows what she does. Is this well spoken?

I dare avouch it, sir. What, fifty followers?

1534Is it not well? What should you need of more?

1535Yea, or so many, sith that both charge and danger

1536Speak 'gainst so great a number. How in one house

1537Should many people under two commands

1538Hold amity? 'Tis hard; almost impossible.

Why might not you, my lord, receive attendance

1540From those that she calls servants; or from mine?

Why not, my lord? 1542If then they chanced to slack ye,

15431317We could control them. If you will come to me,

1544For now I spy a danger, I entreat you

1545To bring but five and twenty. To no more

1546Will I give place or notice.

I gave you all.

I gave you all. And in good time you gave it.

Made you my guardians, my depositories,

1550But kept a reservation to be followed

1551With such a number. What, must I come to you

1552With five and twenty? Regan, said you so?

And speak't again, my lord, no more with me.

Those wicked creatures yet do look well favored

1555When others are more wicked. Not being the worst

1556Stands in some rank of praise. [To Goneril] I'll go with thee.

1557Thy fifty yet doth double five and twenty,

1558And thou art twice her love.

And thou art twice her love. Hear me, my lord.

1560What need you five and twenty? Ten? Or five,

1561To follow in a house where twice so many

1562Have a command to tend you.

Have a command to tend you. What need one?

Oh, reason not the need! Our basest beggars

1565Are in the poorest thing superfluous.

1566Allow not nature more than nature needs,

1567Man's life is cheap as beast's. Thou art a lady;

1568If only to go warm were gorgeous,

1569Why nature needs not what thou gorgeous wearest,

1570Which scarcely keeps thee warm; but for true need--

1571You heavens, give me that patience; patience I need.

1572You see me here, you gods, a poor old man,

1573As full of grief as age, wretched in both.

1574If it be you that stirs these daughters' hearts

1575Against their father, fool me not so much

1576To bear it tamely. Touch me with noble anger,

1577And let not women's weapons, water drops,

1578Stain my man's cheeks. No, you unnatural hags,

1579I will have such revenges on you both

1580That all the world shall--I will do such things--

1581What they are yet I know not, but they shall be

1582The terrors of the earth. You think I'll weep.

1583No, I'll not weep. I have full cause of weeping,

1585But this heart shall break into a hundred thousand flaws

1586Or ere I'll weep. O Fool, I shall go mad.

Let us withdraw. 'Twill be a storm.

This house is little. The old man and 's people

1589Cannot be well bestowed.

'Tis his own blame; hath put himself from rest,

1591And must needs taste his folly.

For his particular, I'll receive him gladly,

1593But not one follower.

But not one follower. So am I purposed.

1595Where is my Lord of Gloucester?

Followed the old man forth--he is returned.

The king is in high rage.

The king is in high rage. Whither is he going?

He calls to horse, but will I know not whither.

'Tis best to give him way; he leads himself.

My lord, entreat him by no means to stay.

Alack, the night comes on, and the high winds

1604Do sorely ruffle. For many miles about

1605There's scarce a bush.

There's scarce a bush. O sir, to willful men

1607The injuries that they themselves procure,

1608Must be their schoolmasters. Shut up your doors.

1609He is attended with a desperate train,

1610And what they may incense him to, being apt

1611To have his ear abused, wisdom bids fear.

Shut up your doors, my lord, 'tis a wild night.

1613My Regan counsels well. Come out o'th'storm.