1075900Enter Kent, [disguised, and Oswald the] steward, [meeting]. Good even to thee friend. Art of the house?
Ay.
Where may we set our horses?
I'th'mire.
Prithee, if thou love 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
906care 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,
911proud, shallow, beggarly, three-suited, hundred-
1090pound, filthy,
912worsted-stocking knave; a lily-livered,
1091action-taking knave; a
913whoreson glass-gazing super-
1092finical rogue, one-trunk-
914inheriting slave. One that
1093wouldst be a bawd in way of good service,
915and art
1094nothing but the composition of a knave, beggar,
916coward,
1095pander, and the son and heir of a mongrel bitch--
1096whom
917I will beat into clamorous whining if thou
1097deny the least
918syllable of the addition.
What a monstrous fellow art thou, thus
1099to rail on one
920that's neither known of thee, nor
1100knows thee.
What a brazen-faced varlet art thou, to deny
1102thou
922knowest me! Is it two days ago since I beat thee, and tripped up
923thy
1103heels before the king?
[Drawing his sword.] Draw, you rogue,
1104for though it be
924night the moon shines. I'll make a
1105sop of the moonshine o'you.
925Draw, you whoreson cullionly
1106barber-monger, draw!
Away, I have nothing to do with thee.
Draw, you rascal. You bring letters
1109against the king,
928and take Vanity the puppet's part
1110against the royalty of her
929father. Draw, you rogue, or
1111I'll so carbonado your shanks! Draw,
930you rascal. Come
1112your ways.
Help, ho! Murder! Help!
Strike you slave. Stand, rogue. Stand, you neat
1115slave--
933strike!
Help, ho, murder, help!
1117934Enter Edmund [the Bastard] with his rapier drawn, Gloucester, the Duke 935and Duchess [of Cornwall, and attendants]. How now, what's the matter?
[To the Bastard] With you, goodman boy, an you please. Come,
1120I'll
938flesh you. Come on, young master.
[They exchange blows.]
Weapons? Arms? What's the matter here?
[Drawing his sword] Keep peace upon your lives. He dies that strikes
1123941again. What's the matter?
The messengers from our sister, and the king.
What's your difference? Speak.
I am scarce in breath, my lord.
No marvel. You have so bestirred your valor,
1128you
946cowardly rascal, nature disclaims in thee. A tailor
1129made thee.
Thou art a strange fellow. A tailor make a man?
Ay, a tailor, sir. A stone-cutter, or a painter could
1132not
949have made him so ill, though he had been but two
1133hours at
950the trade.
Speak yet. How grew your quarrel?
This ancient ruffian, sir, whose life I have spared
1136at suit
953of his gray beard--
Thou whoreson zed, thou unnecessary letter!--
1138My
955lord, if you'll give me leave, I will tread this
1139unbolted villain
956into mortar, and daub the walls of a
1140jakes with him.
[To Oswald] Spare
957my gray beard, you wagtail?
Peace sir.
1142You beastly knave, have you no reverence?
Yes, sir, but anger has a privilege.
Why art thou angry?
That such a slave as this should wear a sword,
1146962That wears no honesty. Such smiling rogues as these,
1147963Like rats, oft bite those cords in twain,
1148964Which are too entrenched to unloose; smooth every passion
1149965That in the natures of their lords rebel,
1150966Bring oil to fire, snow to their colder moods,
1151967Renege, affirm, and turn their halcyon beaks
1152968With every gale and vary of their masters,
1153969Knowing naught, like dogs, but following.
1154[To Oswald] A plague upon your epileptic
970visage!
1155Smile you my speeches, as I were a fool?
1156971Goose, an I had you upon Sarum Plain,
1157972I'd send you cackling home to Camelot.
What, art thou mad, old fellow?
How fell you out? Say that.
No contraries hold more antipathy,
Than I and such a knave. Why dost thou call him knave?
What's his offence? His countenance likes me not.
No more perchance does mine, or his, or hers.
Sir, 'tis my occupation to be plain.
1167981I have seen better faces in my time
1168982Than stands on any shoulder that I see
This is a fellow
1171who, having been praised
985For bluntness, doth affect
1172a saucy roughness,
986And constrains the garb
1173quite from his nature.
987He cannot flatter, he--
1174he must be plain,
988He must speak truth.
1175An they will tak't, 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 sooth, or in sincere verity,
1181994Under the allowance of your grand aspect,
1182995Whose influence like the wreath of radiant fire
1183996In flickering Phoebus' front--
In flickering Phoebus' front-- What mean'st thou by this?
To go out of my dialogue, which you
1186discommend so
999much. I know, sir, I am no flatterer. He that
1187beguiled you in a plain
1000accent was a plain knave, which for my part
1188I will not be,
1001though I should win your
1189displeasure to entreat me to't.
[To Oswald] What's the offence you gave him?
I never gave him any.
1192It pleased the king his master
1004very late
1193To strike at me, upon his misconstruction,
11941005When he, conjunct, and flattering his displeasure,
11951006Tripped me behind; being down, insulted, railed,
11961007And put upon him such a deal of man that
11971008That worthied him, got praises of the king,
11981009For him attempting who was self-subdued;
11991010And in the fleshment of this dread exploit
None of these rogues and cowards
1202But Ajax is their fool.
But Ajax is their fool. Bring forth the stocks, ho!
12041014You stubborn, ancient knave, you reverend braggart,
We'll teach you. I am too old to learn.
1207Call not your stocks for me.
1017I serve the king,
1208On whose employments I was sent to you.
12091018You should do small respect, show too bold malice
12101019Against the grace and person of my master,
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
You could not use me so. Sir, being his knave, I will.
[Stocks brought out.]
This is a fellow of the self same nature
12191028Our sister speaks of. Come, bring away the stocks.
Let me beseech your grace not to do so.
1220.11030His fault is much, and the good king his master
1220.21031Will check him for't. Your purposed, low correction
1220.31032Is such as basest and 'temnedst wretches
For pilferings
1220.41033and most common trespasses
1222That he's so slightly valued
1035in his messenger,
1223Should have him thus restrained.
Should have him thus restrained. I'll answer that.
My sister may receive it much more worse
12261038To have her gentlemen abused, assaulted
[Attendants put Kent in the stocks.]
[Exeunt all but Gloucester and Kent.]
I am sorry for thee, friend. 'Tis the Duke's pleasure,
12291042Whose disposition all the world well knows
12301043Will not be rubbed nor stopped. I'll entreat for thee.
Pray you, do not, sir. I have watched and traveled hard.
12321045Some time I shall sleep on't, the rest I'll whistle.
12331046A good man's fortune may grow out at heels.
The Duke's to blame in this.
1236'Twill be ill took.
[Exit.]
Good king, that must approve the common saw,
12381050Thou out of heaven's benediction comest
12401052Approach, thou beacon to this under globe,
12411053That by thy comfortable beams I may
12421054Peruse this letter. Nothing almost sees miracles
12431055But misery. I know 'tis from Cordelia,
12441056Who hath most fortunately been informed
12451057Of my obscurèd course, and shall find time
12461058From this enormous state, seeking to give
12471059Losses their remedies. All weary and overwatched,
12481060Take vantage, heavy eyes, not to behold
12491061This shameful lodging. Fortune, goodnight.
12501062Smile; once more turn thy wheel.
[He] sleeps.
I hear myself proclaimed,
12531065And by the happy hollow of a tree
12541066Escaped the hunt. No port is free, no place
12551067That guard and most unusual vigilance
12561068Does not attend my taking. While I may scape,
12571069I will preserve myself, and am bethought
12581070To take the basest and most poorest shape
12591071That ever penury in contempt of man
12601072Brought near to beast. My face I'll grime with filth,
12611073Blanket my loins, elf all my hair with knots,
12621074And with presented nakedness outface
12631075The wind and persecution of the sky.
12641076The country gives me proof and precedent
12651077Of Bedlam beggars, who, with roaring voices,
12661078Strike in their numbed and mortified bare arms
12671079Pins, wooden pricks, nails, sprigs of rosemary,
12681080And with this horrible object, from low service,
12691081Poor pelting villages, sheepcotes, and mills,
12701082Sometime with lunatic bans, sometime with prayers,
12711083Enforce their charity. "Poor Turlygod, poor Tom."
12721084That's something yet. Edgar I nothing am.
Exit.
12731085Enter King [Lear, the Fool, and a knight]. 'Tis strange that they should so depart from home,
As I learned,
1277the night before there was
[From the stocks] Hail to thee, noble master.
How? Mak'st thou this shame thy pastime?
Ha ha! Look, he wears cruel garters.
1093Horses are
1283tied by the heels, 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
It is both he and she,
1290your son and daughter.
No.
Yes.
No, I say
I say yea.
No, no, they would not.
Kent
Yes they have.
By Jupiter I swear no,
1297they durst not do't,
12981104They would not, could not do't. 'Tis worse than murder
12991105To do upon respect such violent outrage.
13001106Resolve me with all modest haste which way
13011107Thou may'st deserve, or they purpose this usage,
Coming from us. My lord, when at their home
13041110I did commend your highness' letters to them,
13051111Ere I was risen from the place that showed
13061112My duty kneeling, came there a reeking post,
13071113Stewed in his haste, half breathless, panting forth
13081114From Goneril his mistress, salutations;
13091115Delivered letters, spite of intermission,
13101116Which presently they read; on whose contents
13111117They summoned up their men, straight took horse,
13121118Commanded me to follow and attend
1313the leisure
1119Of their answer; gave me cold looks.
13141120And, meeting here the other messenger,
13151121Whose welcome I perceived had poisoned mine,
13161122Being the very fellow that of late
13171123Displayed so saucily against your highness,
13181124Having more man than wit about me, drew.
13191125He raised the house with loud and coward cries.
13201126Your son and daughter found this trespass worth
13211127This shame which here it suffers.
Winter's not gone yet if the wild geese fly that way.
1323Fathers that wear rags
Do make their children blind,
1324But fathers that bear bags
Shall see their children kind.
1325Fortune, that arrant whore,
1325.1 Ne'er turns the key to th'poor.
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.
13291129Hysterica passio, down thou climbing sorrow,
13301130Thy element's below. Where is this daughter?
With the earl, sir, within.
With the earl, sir, within. [To the Fool and Knight] Follow me not, stay there.
[Exit Lear.]
Made you no more offence
1334than what you speak of?
No.
1336How chance the king comes with so small a train?
An thou hadst been set in the stocks for that
13381136question, thou hadst well deserved it.
Why, Fool?
We'll set thee to school to an ant, to teach
1341thee there's
1139no laboring in the winter. All that follow their
1342noses are led by
1140their eyes but blind men, and there's
1343not a nose among a hundred but
1141can smell him that's
1344stinking. Let go thy hold when a great
1142wheel runs down a
1345hill, lest it break thy neck with
1143following it. But the
1346great one that goes up the hill, let him draw thee
1144after.
1347When a wise man gives thee better counsel, give me mine
13481145again. I would have none but knaves follow it, since a
1349fool
1146gives it.
[Sings.]
13521149Will pack when it begin to rain,
13541151But I will tarry, the fool will stay,
13561153The knave turns fool that runs away,
Where learned you this, Fool?
Not in the stocks.
1157Enter Lear and Gloucester. Deny to speak with me?
1362Th'are sick, th'are weary,
13631159They traveled hard tonight? Mere insolence.
13641160Ay, the images of revolt and flying off.
Fetch me a better answer. My dear lord,
1367You know the fiery quality of the
1163Duke,
1368How unremoveable and fixed he is
Vengeance, death, plague, confusion!
1371What fiery quality?
1165Why, Gloucester, Gloucester,
1372I'd speak with the Duke of Cornwall, and
1166his 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
13781169Would with his daughter speak, commands her service--
1379Are they informed of this? My breath and blood--
13801170Fiery Duke? Tell the hot Duke that Lear--
13811171No, 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
[Notices Kent.]
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.
13921180Tell the Duke and 's wife I'll speak with them
13931181Now, presently. Bid them come forth and hear me,
13941182Or at their chamber door I'll beat the drum
I would have all well betwixt you.
[Exit Gloucester.]
Oh, my heart, my heart.
Cry to it nuncle, as the cockney did to the
1399eels when
1187she put 'em i'th'paste alive. She rapped 'em
1400o'th'coxcombs with a stick
1188and cried, "Down, wantons,
1401down!" 'Twas her brother that in pure
1189kindness to his
1402horse buttered his hay.
14031190Enter [the] Duke [of Cornwall] and Regan [with Gloucester and servants]. Good morrow to you both.
Good morrow to you both. Hail to your grace.
[Kent here set at liberty.]
I am glad to see your highness.
Regan, I think you are. I know what reason
14081195I have to think so. If thou shouldst not be glad,
14091196I would divorce me from thy mother's tomb,
14101197Sepulchring an adultress.
[To Kent] Yea, are you free?
14111198Some other time for that.--Belovèd Regan,
14121199Thy sister is naught. O Regan, she hath tied
14131200Sharp-toothed unkindness, like a vulture, here.
14141201I can scarce speak to thee. Thou'lt not believe
14151202Of how depraved a quality, O Regan--
I pray, sir, take patience. I have hope
14171204You less know how to value her desert
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,
14271208Nature on you stands on the very verge
1428Of her confine.
1209You should be ruled and led
1429By some discretion
1210that discerns your state
1430Better than you yourself.
1211Therefore, I pray
1431That to our sister you do make return.
Say you have wronged her, sir. Ask her forgiveness?
14341214Do you mark how this becomes the house?
14351215[Kneeling] "Dear daughter, I confess that I am old.
14361216Age is unnecessary. On my knees I beg
14371217That you'll vouchsafe me raiment, bed, and food."
Good sir, no more. These are unsightly tricks.
Return you to my sister. [Rising] No, Regan.
14411221She hath abated me of half my train,
14421222Looked black upon me, struck me with her tongue
14431223Most serpent-like upon the very heart.
14441224All the stored vengeances of heaven fall
1445On her ungrateful top!
1225Strike her young bones,
1446You taking airs, with lameness--
You taking airs, with lameness-- Fie, fie, sir.
You nimble lightnings dart your blinding flames
14491228Into her scornful eyes. Infect her beauty,
14501229You fen-sucked fogs, drawn by the powerful sun,
O the blest gods!
1453So will you wish on me
No Regan, thou shalt never have my curse.
14551234Thy tender-hested nature shall not give
1456Thee o'er
1235to harshness. Her eyes are fierce, but thine
1457Do comfort and not burn.
1236'Tis not in thee
1458To grudge my pleasures, to cut off my train,
14591237To bandy hasty words, to scant my sizes,
14601238And, in conclusion, to oppose the bolt
14611239Against my coming in. Thou better knowest
14621240The offices of nature, bond of childhood,
14631241Effects of courtesy, dues of gratitude.
14641242Thy half of the kingdom hast thou not forgot
Wherein I thee endowed. Good sir, to th'purpose.
Who put my man i'th'stocks?
[Trumpet sounds.]
Who put my man i'th'stocks? What trumpet's that?
Enter [Oswald the] steward.
I know't my sister's. This approves her letters
14711248That she would soon be here.
[To Oswald] Is your lady come?
This is a slave, whose easy-borrowed pride
14731250Dwells in the fickle grace of her 'a follows.
14741251[Striking him] Out, varlet, from my sight.
[Striking him] Out, varlet, from my sight. What means your grace?
Who struck my servant? Regan I have good hope
Thou didst not know on't. Who comes here? O heavens!
14801256If you do love old men, if your sweet sway
1481allow
1257Obedience, if your selves are old,
1482make it your cause.
1258Send down and take my part.
14831259[To Goneril] Art not ashamed to look upon this beard?--
14841260O Regan, wilt thou take her by the hand?
Why not by the hand, sir? How have I offended?
14861262All's not offence that indiscretion finds
And dotage terms so. O sides, you are too tough.
I set him there, sir, but his own disorders
Deserved much less advancement. You? Did you?
I pray you, father, being weak, seem so.
14951270If till the expiration of your month
14961271You will return and sojourn with my sister,
14971272Dismissing half your train, come then to me.
14981273I am now from home, and out of that provision
14991274Which shall be needful for your entertainment.
Return to her, and fifty men dismissed?
15011276No, rather I abjure all roofs, and choose
15021277To wage against the enmity of the air,
15031278To be a comrade with the wolf and owl,
15041279Necessity's sharp pinch. Return with her?
15051280Why, the hot blood in France, that dowerless
1281Took
1506our youngest born, I could as well be brought
15071282To knee his throne, and squire-like pension beg
15081283To keep base life afoot. Return with her?
15091284Persuade me rather to be slave and sumpter
[Indicating Oswald]
To this detested groom. At your choice, sir.
Now, I prithee daughter, do not make me mad.
15131288I will not trouble thee, my child. Farewell.
15141289We'll no more meet, no more see one another.
15151290But yet thou art my flesh, my blood, my daughter--
15161291Or rather a disease that lies within my flesh,
15171292Which I must needs call mine. Thou art a boil,
15181293A plague sore, an embossèd carbuncle
1519In my
1294corrupted blood--but I'll not chide thee.
15201295Let shame come when it will, I do not call it.
15211296I do not bid the thunder-bearer shoot,
15221297Nor tell tales of thee to high-judging Jove.
15231298Mend when thou canst. Be better at thy leisure.
15241299I can be patient. I can stay with Regan,
Not altogether so, sir.
1527I look 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 are old, and so--
But she knows what she does. Is this well spoken, now?
I dare avouch it, sir. What, fifty followers?
15341309Is it not well? What should you need of more?
15351310Yea, or so many, sith that both charge and danger
15361311Speaks 'gainst so great a number. How, in a house,
15371312Should many people under two commands
15381313Hold amity? 'Tis hard; almost impossible.
Why might not you, my lord, receive attendance
15401315From those that she calls servants; or from mine?
Why not, my lord?
1542If then they chanced to slack you,
15431317We could control them. If you will come to me,
15441318For now I spy a danger, I entreat you
15451319To bring but five and twenty. To no more
Will I give place or notice. I gave you all.
And in good time you gave it.
Made you my guardians, my depositories,
15501324But kept a reservation to be followed
15511325With such a number. What, must I come to you
15521326With five and twenty? Regan, said you so?
And speak't again, my lord, no more with me.
Those wicked creatures yet do seem well favored
15551329When others are more wicked. Not being the worst
15561330Stands in some rank of praise.
[To Goneril] I'll go with thee.
15571331Thy fifty yet doth double five and twenty,
And thou art twice her love. Hear me, my lord.
15601334What need you five and twenty? Ten? Or five,
15611335To follow in a house where twice so many
Have a command to tend you. What needs one?
Oh, reason not the need! Our basest beggars
15651339Are in the poorest thing superfluous.
15661340Allow not nature more than nature needs,
15671341Man's life is cheap as beast's. Thou art a lady;
15681342If only to go warm were gorgeous,
15691343Why nature needs not what thou gorgeous wearest,
15701344Which scarcely keeps thee warm; but for true need--
15711345You heavens, give me that patience; patience I need.
15721346You see me here, you gods, a poor old fellow,
15731347As full of grief as age, wretched in both.
15741348If it be you that stirs these daughters' hearts
15751349Against their father, fool me not too much
15761350To bear it lamely. Touch me with noble anger.
15771351Oh, let not women's weapons, water drops,
15781352Stain my man's cheeks. No, you unnatural hags,
15791353I will have such revenges on you both
15801354That all the world shall--I will do such things--
15811355What they are yet I know not, but they shall be
15821356The terrors of the earth. You think I'll weep.
15831357No, I'll not weep. I have full cause of weeping,
15851358But this heart shall break in a hundred thousand flaws
15861359Or ere I'll weep. O Fool, I shall go mad.
1360Exeunt Lear, Gloucester, Kent, and Fool. Let us withdraw. 'Twill be a storm.
This house is little. The old man and his people
'Tis his own blame; hath put himself from rest,
For his particular, I'll receive him gladly,
So am I purposed.
1595Where is my Lord of Gloucester?
Enter Gloucester.
Followed the old man forth--he is returned.
The king is in high rage
1600and will I know not whither.
'Tis good to give him way; he leads himself.
My lord, entreat him by no means to stay.
Alack, the night comes on, and the bleak winds
16041374Do sorely rustle. For many miles about
There's not a bush. O sir, to willful men
16071376The injuries that they themselves procure
16081377Must be their schoolmasters. Shut up your doors.
16091378He is attended with a desperate train,
16101379And what they may incense him to, being apt
16111380To have his ear abused, wisdom bids fear.
Shut up your doors, my lord, 'tis a wild night.
16131382My Regan counsels well. Come out o'th'storm.