1076913Steward. Good euen to thee friend, art of the house?

1077914Kent. I.

1078915Steward. Where may we set our horses?

1079916Kent. In the mire.

1080917Stew. Prethee if thou loue me, tell me.

1081918Kent. I loue thee not.

1082919Stew. Why then I care not for thee.

1083920Kent. If I had thee in Lipsbury pinfold, I would make thee care

1084921 for me.

1085922Stew. Why dost thou vse me thus? I know thee not.

1086923Kent. Fellow I know thee.

1087924Stew. What dost thou know me for?

1088925Kent. A knaue, a rascall, an eater of broken meates, a base,

1089926proud, shallow, beggerly, three shewted hundred pound, filthy

1090927worsted stocken knaue, a lilly liuer'd action taking knaue, a

1091928whoreson glasse-gazing superfinicall rogue, one trunke inheri-

1092929ting slaue, one that would'st be baud in way of good seruice, &

1093930art nothing but the composition of a knaue, begger, coward,

1095931pander, and the sonne and heire of a mungrell bitch, whom I will

1096932beate into clamorous whining, if thou deny the least sillable of

1097933the addition.

1098934Stew. What a monstrous fellow art thon, thus to raile on one

1099935that's neither knowne of thee, nor knowes thee.

1101936Kent. What a brazen fac'st varlet art thou, to deny thou know-

1102937est me, is it two daies agoe since I beate thee, and tript vp thy

1103938heeles before the King? draw you rogue, for though it be night

1105939the Moon shines, ile make a sop of the Moone-shine a'you, draw

940you whoreson cullyonly barber-munger, draw.

1107941Stew. Away, I haue nothing to do with thee.

1108942Kent. Draw you rascall, you bring Letters against the King, &

1109943take Vanity the puppets part, against the royalty of her father,

1110944draw you rogue, or ile so carbonado your shankes, draw you ras-

1111945call, come your wayes.

1112946Stew. Helpe, ho, murther, helpe.

1113947Kent. Strike you slaue, stand rogue, stand you neate slaue,

1115948strike.

1116949Stew. Helpe, ho, murther, helpe.

1118952Bast. How now, what's the matter?

1119953Ken. With you goodman boy, and you please come, ile sleash

1120954you, come on yong master.

1121955Glost. Weapons, armes, what's the matter here?

1122956Duke. Keepe peace vpon your liues, he dies that strikes againe,

1123957what's the matter?

1124958Reg. The messengers from our sister, and the King.

1125959Duke. What's your difference, speake?

1126960Stew. I am scarse in breath my Lord.

1127961Kent. No maruaile you haue so bestir'd your valour, you co-

1128962wardly rascall, nature disclaimes in thee, a Taylor made thee.

1130963Duke. Thou art a strange fellow, a Taylour make a man.

1131964Kent. I, a taylour sir, a Stone-cutter, or a Painter could not

1133965haue made him so ill, though he had bene but two houres at the

966trade.

1134967Glost. Speake yet, how grew your quarrell?

1135968Stew. This ancient ruffian sir, whose life I haue spar'd at sute

1136969of his gray-beard.

1137970Kent. Thou whoreson Zed, thou vnnecessary letter, my Lord

1138971if you will giue me leaue, I will tread this vnboulted villaine in-

1139972to morter, and daube the wals of a Iaques with him; spare my

1140973gray-beard you wagtaile?

1141974Duke. Peace sir, you beastly knaue you haue no reuerence.

1143975Kent. Yes sir, but anger has a priuiledge.

1144976Duke. Why are thou angry?

1145977Kent. That such a slaue as this should weare a sword,

1146978That weares no honesty, such smiling rogues as these,

1147979Like Rats oft bite those cordes in twaine,

1148980Which are to intrench, to inloose smooth euery passion

1149981That in the natures of their Lords rebell,

1150982Bring oile to stir, snow to their colder moods,

1151983Reneag, affirme, and turne their halcion beakes

1152984With euery gale and vary of their masters,

1153985Knowing nought like daies but following,

1154986A plague vpon your Epilipticke visage,

1155987Smoile you my speeches, as I were a foole?

1156988Goose, if I had you vpon Sarum Plaine,

1157989Ide send you cackling home to Camulet.

1158990Duke. What art thou mad olde fellow?

1159991Glost. How fell you out, say that?

1160992Kent. No contraries hold more antipathy,

1161993Then I and such a knaue.

1162994Duke. Why dost thou call him knaue, what's his offence?

1164995Kent. His countenance likes me not.

1165996Duke. No more perchance doth mine, or his, or hers.

1166997Kent. Sir, tis my occupation to be plaine,

1167998I haue seene better faces in my time,

1168999Than stands on any shoulder that I see

11691000Before me at this instant.

11701001Duke. This is a fellow, who hauing beene praisd

11711002For bluntnesse, doth affect a saucie ruffines,

11721003And constraines the garb quite from his nature,

11731004He cannot flatter he, he must be plaine,

11741005He must speake truth, and they will take it so,

11751006If not hee's plaine, these kinde of knaues I know,

11761007Which in this plainnesse harbour more craft,

11771008And more corrupter ends, then twenty silly ducking,

11781009Obseruants, that stretch their duties nicely.

11801010Kent. Sir in good sooth, or in sincere verity,

11811011Vnder the allowance of your grand aspect.

11821012Whose influence like the wreath of radient fire

11831013In flitkering Phoebus front.

11841014Duke. What meanst thou by this?

11851015Kent. To go out of my dialogue which you discommend so

11861016much; I know sir, I am no flatterer, he that beguild you in a plain

11871017accent, was a plaine knaue, which for my part I wil not be, thogh

11881018I should win your displeasure to entreate me to it.

11901019Duke. What's the offence you gaue him?

11911020Stew. I neuer gaue him any, it pleasd the King his master

11921021Very late to strike at me vpon his missconstruction,

11941022When he coniunct and flattering his displeasure

11951023Tript me behinde, being downe, insulted, raild,

11961024And put vpon his such a deale of man, that

11971025That worthied him, got praises of the King,

11981026For him attempting who was selfe subdued,

11991027And in the flechuent of this dread exploit,

12001028Drew on me heere againe.

12011029Kent. None of these roges & cowards but A'Iax is their foole.

12031030Duke. Bring foorth the stockes ho?

12041031You stubborne miscreant knaue, you vnreuerent bragart,

12051032Wee'l teach you.

12061033Kent. I am too olde to learne, call not your stockes for me,

12071034I serue the King, on whose imploiments I was sent to you,

12091035You should do small respect, shew too bold malice

12101036Against the grace and person of my master,

12111037Stopping his Messenger.

12121038Duke. Fetch foorth the stockes; as I haue life and honour,

12131039There shall he sit till noone.

12141040Reg. Till noone, till night my Lord, and all night too.

12151041Kent. Why Madam, if I were your fathers dog you could not

12161042vse me so.

12171043Reg. Sir, being his knaue, I will.

12181044Duke. This is a fellow of the same nature,

12191045Our sister speakes off, come, bring away the stockes.

12201046Glost. Let me beseech your Grace not to do so,

12211047His fault is much, and the good King his Master

1221.11048Will checke him for't; your purposd low correction

1221.21049Is such, as basest and temnest wretches for pilfrings

1221.31050And most common trespasses are punisht with,

12221051The King must take it ill, that hee's so slightly valued

12231052In his Messenger, should haue him thus restrained.

12241053Duke. Ile answer that.

12251054Reg. My sister may receiue it much more worse,

12261055To haue her gentleman abused, assaulted

1226.11056For following her affaires, put in his legs,

12271057Come my Lord, away. Exit.

12281058Glost. I am sorry for thee friend, tis the Dukes pleasure,

12291059Whose disposition all the world well knowes

12301060Will not be rubd nor stopt, Ile intreate for thee.

12311061Kent. Pray you do not sir I haue watcht and trauaild hard,

12321062Some time I shall sleepe out, the rest Ile whistle,

12331063A good mans fortune may grow out at heeles,

12341064Giue you good morrow.

12351065Glost. The Duke's too blame in this, twill be ill tooke.

12371067Kent. Good King, that must approue the common saw,

12381068Thou out of heauens benediction comest

12391069To the warme Sunne.

12401070Approach thou beacon to this vnder-globe,

12411071That by thy comfortable beames I may

12421072Peruse this letter, nothing almost sees my wracke

12431073But misery, I know tis from Cordelia,

12441074Who hath most fortunately bene informed

12451075Of my obscured course, and shall finde time

12461076From this enormious state, seeking to giue

12471077Losses their remedies, all weary and ouer-watcht,

12481078Take vantage heauy eies not to behold

12491079This shamefull lodging; Fortune goodnight,

12501080Smile, once more turne thy wheele. He sleepes.

12521082Edgar, I heare my selfe proclaim'd,

12531083And by the happy hollow of a Tree,

12541084Escapt the hunt, no Port is free, no place

12551085That guard, and most vnusall vigilence

12561086Dost not attend my taking while I may scape,

12571087I will preserue my selfe, and am bethought

12581088To take the basest and most poorest shape,

12591089That euer penury in contempt of man,

12601090Brought neere to beast; my face ile grime with filth,

12611091Blanket my loines, else all my haire with knots,

12621092And with presented nakednes out-face

12631093The winde, and persecution of the skie,

12641094The Country giues me proofe and president

12651095Of Bedlam beggers, who with roring voices,

12661096Strike in their numb'd and mortified bare Armes,

12671097Pins, wooden prickes, nailes, sprigs of rosemary,

12681098And with this horrible obiect from low seruice,

12691099Poore pelting villages, sheep-coates, and milles,

12701100Sometime with lunaticke bans, sometime with praiers

12711101Enforce their charity, poore Turlygod, poore Tom,

12721102That's something yet, Edgar I nothing am. Exit.

12741104Lear. Tis strange that they should so depart from hence,

12751105And not send backe my messenger.

12761106Knight. As I learn'd, the night before there was

12771107No purpose of his remoue.

12791108Kent. Haile to thee noble Master.

12801109Lear. How, mak'st thou this shame thy pastime?

12811110Foole. Ha, ha, looke, he weares crewell garters,

12821111Horses are tide by the heeles, dogs and beares

12831112By the necke, munkies by the loines, and men

12841113By the legs, when a man's ouer-lusty at legs,

12851114[T]hen he weares wooden neather-stockes.

12861115Lear. What's he, that hath so much thy place mistooke to set

12871116thee here?

12891117Kent. It is both he and she, your sonne and daughter.

12911118Lear. No.

12921119Kent. Yes.

12931120Lear. No I say.

12941121Kent. I say yea.

1294.11122Lear. No, no, they would not.

1294.21123Kent. Yes they haue.

12951124Lear. By Iupiter I sweare no, they durst not do it,

12981125They would not, could not do it, tis worse then murder,

12991126To do vpon respect such violent out-rage,

13001127Resolue me with all modest haste, which way

13011128Thou maist deserue, or they purpose this vsage,

13021129Comming from vs.

13031130Kent. My Lord, when at their home

13041131I did commend your Highnesse Letters to them,

13051132Ere I was risen from the place that shewed

13061133My duty kneeling, came there a reeking Poste,

13071134Stewd in his haste, halfe breathlesse, panting forth

13081135From Gonorill his Mistris, salutations,

13091136Deliuered letters spite of intermission,

13101137Which presently they read; on whose contents

13111138They summoned vp their men, straight tooke horse,

13121139Commanded me to follow, and attend the leisure

13131140Of their answer, gaue me cold lookes,

13141141And meeting heere the other Messenger,

13151142Whose welcome I perceiu'd had poisoned mine,

13161143Being the very fellow that of late

13171144Displaid so sawcily against your Highnesse,

13181145Hauing more man then wit about me, drew;

13191146He raised the house with loud and coward cries,

13201147Your sonne and daughter found this trespasse worth

13211148This shame which here it suffers.

13281149Lear. O how this mother swels vp toward my heart,

13291150Historica passio downe thou climing sorrow,

13301151Thy element's below, where is this daughter?

13311152Kent. With the Earle sir within.

13321153Lear. Follow me not, stay there.

13331154Knight. Made you no more offence then what you speake of?

13351155Kent. No, how chance the King comes with so small a traine?

13371156Foole. If thou hadst beene set in the stockes for that question,

13381157 thou hadst well deserued it.

13391158Kent. Why foole?

13401159Foole. Wee'l set thee to schoole to an Ant, to teach thee ther's

13411160no labouring in the winter, all that follow their noses, are led by

13421161their eyes, but blinde men, and there's not a nose among a hun-

13431162dred, but can smell him that's stincking; let goe thy hold when

13441163a great wheele runs downe a hill, least it breake thy necke with

13451164following it, but the great one that goes vp the hil, let him draw

13461165thee after, when a wise man giues thee better counsell, giue mee

13471166mine againe, I would haue none but knaues follow it, since a

13491167foole giues it.

13501168 That Sir that serues for gaine,

13511169And followes but for forme;

13521170Will packe when it begins to raine,

13531171And leaue thee in the storme.

13541172But I will tarry, the foole will stay,

13551173And let the wise man flie:

13561174The knaue turnes foole that runnes away,

13571175The foole no knaue perdy.

13581176Kent. Where learnt you this foole?

13591177Foole. Not in the stockes.

13611179Lear. Deny to speake with me? th'are sicke, th'are weary,

13631180They traueld hard to night, meare Iustice,

13641181I the images of reuolt and flying off,

13651182Fetch me a better answer.

13661183Glost. My deare Lord, you know the fiery quality of the Duke,

13681184how vnremoueable and fixt he is in his owne course.

13701185Lear. Veangeance, death, plague, confusion, what fiery quali-

13711186ty; why Glocester,Glocester, ide speake with the Duke of Corne-

13721187wall, and his wife.

13751188Glost. I my good Lord.

13761189Lear. The King would speake with Cornwall, the deare father

13781190Would with his daughter speake, commands her seruice,

13801191Fiery Duke, tell the hot Duke that Lear,

13811192No but not yet, may be he is not well,

13821193Infirmity doth still neglect all office, where to our health

13831194Is bound, we are not our selues, when nature being opprest,

13841195Commands the minde to suffer with the body; ile forbeare,

13861196And am fallen out with my more headier will,

13871197To take the indisposed and sickly fit, for the sound man.

13881198Death on my state, wherefore should he sit here?

13891199This acte perswades me, that this remotion of the Duke & her

13911200Is practice, onely giue me my seruant foorth;

13921201Tell the Duke and's wife, Ile speake with them

13931202Now presently, bid them come forth and heare me,

13941203Or at their chamber doore Ile beate the drum,

13951204Till it cry sleepe to death.

13961205Glost. I would haue all well betwixt you.

13971206Lear. O my heart! my heart.

13981207Foole. Cry to it Nunckle, as the Cockney did to the Eeles,

13991208when she put them vp i'th paste aliue, she rapt vm ath coxcombs

14001209with a sticke, and cryed downe wantons, downe; twas her bro-

14011210ther, that in pure kindnesse to his horse, butterd his hay.

14041212Lear. Good morrow to you both.

14051213Duke. Haile to your Grace.

14061214Reg. I am glad to see your Highnesse.

14071215Lear. Regan, I thinke you are, I know what reason

14081216I haue to thinke so; if thou shouldst not be glad,

14091217I would diuorce me from thy mothers toombe,

14101218Sepulchring an adulteresse, yea, are you free?

14111219Some other time for that. Beloued Regan,

14121220Thy sister is naught, ô Regan she hath tied

14131221Sharpe tooth'd vnkindnesse, like a vulture heere.

14141222I can scarse speake to thee, thou't not beleeue,

14151223Of how depriued a quality, O Regan.

14161224Reg. I pray sir take patience, I haue hope

14171225You lesse know how to value her desert,

14181226Then she to slacke her duty.

14251227Lear. My curses on her.

14261228Reg. O sir, you are olde,

14271229Nature on you stands on the very verge of her Confine,

14281230You should be ruled and led by some discretion,

14291231That discernes your state better then you your selfe,

14301232Therefore I pray, that to our sister you do make returne,

14321233Say you haue wrongd her sir.

14331234Lear. Aske her forgiuenesse,

14341235Do you marke how this becomes the house?

14351236Deare daughter, I confesse that I am old,

14361237Age is vnnecessary, on my knees I beg,

14371238That you'l vouchsafe me rayment, bed and food.

14381239Reg. Good sir no more, these are vnsightly tricks,

14391240Returne you to my sister.

14401241Lear. No Regan,

14411242She hath abated me of halfe my traine,

14421243Lookt backe vpon me, stroke me with her tongue,

14431244Most serpent-like vpon the very heart,

14441245All the stor'd vengeances of heauen fall on her ingratefull top,

14451246Strike her young bones, you taking aires with lamnesse.

14471247Duke. Fie, fie sir.

14481248Lear. You nimble lightnings dart your blinding flames

14491249Into her scornfull eies, infect her beauty,

14501250You Fen suckt fogs, drawne by the powerfull Sunne,

14511251To fall and blast her pride.

14521252Reg. O the blest Gods, so will you wish on me,

14531253When the rash mood --------

14541254Lear. No Regan, thou shalt neuer haue my curse,

14551255The tender hested nature shall not giue thee ore

14561256To harshnes, her eies are fierce, but thine do comfort & not burn

14571257Tis not in thee to grudge my pleasures, to cut off my traine,

14591258To bandy hasty words, to scant my sizes,

14601259And in conclusion, to oppose the bolt

14611260Against my comming in, thou better knowest

14621261The offices of nature, bond of child-hood,

14631262Effects of curtesie, dues of gratitude,

14641263Thy halfe of the kingdome, hast thou not forgot

14651264Wherein I thee endowed.

14661265Reg. Good sir to the purpose.

14671266Lear. Who put my man i'th stockes?

14691267Duke. What trumpets that?

14701269Reg. I know't my sisters, this approues her letters,

14711270That she would soone be here, is your Lady come?

14721271Lear. This is a slaue, whose easie borrowed pride

14731272Dwels in the fickle grace of her he followes,

14741273Out varlet, from my sight.

14751274Duke. What meanes your Grace?

14771276Gon. Who strucke my seruant? Regan, I haue good hope

14781277Thou didst not know ant.

14791278Lear. Who comes here? O heauens!

14801279If you do loue olde men, if you sweet sway alow

14811280Obedience, if your selues are old, make it your cause,

14821281Send downe and take my part;

14831282Art not asham'd to looke vpon this beard?

14841283O Regan, wilt thou take her by the hand?

14851284Gon. Why not by the hand sir, how haue I offended?

14861285All's not offence that indiscretion findes,

14871286And dotage tearmes so.

14881287Lear. O sides, you are too tough,

14891288Will you yet hold? how came my man i'th stockes?

14911289Duke. I set him there, but his owne disorders

14921290Deseru'd much lesse aduancement.

14931291Lear. You; did you?

14941292Reg. I pray you father being weake, seeme so,

14951293If till the expiration of your moneth,

14961294You will returne and soiourne with my sister,

14971295Dismissing halfe your traine, come then to me,

14981296I am now from home, and out of that prouision

14991297Which shall be needfull for your entertainment.

15001298Lear. Returne to her, and fifty men dismist?

15011299No, rather I abiure all roofes, and chuse

15021300To wage against the enmity of the ayre,

15031301To be a Comrade with the Wolfe and Owle,

15041302Necessities sharpe pinch, returne with her:

15051303Why the hot blood in France, that dowerles

15061304Tooke our yongest borne, I could as well be brought

15071305To knee his Throne, and Squire-like pension beg,

15081306To keepe base life afoote; returne with her?

15091307Perswade me rather to be slaue and sumpter

15101308To this detested groome.

15111309Gon. At your choise sir.

15121310Lear. Now I prethee daughter do not make me mad,

15131311I will not trouble thee my childe, farwell,

15141312Wee'l no more meete, no more see one another.

15151313But yet thou art my flesh, my bloud, my daughter,

15161314Or rather a disease that lies within my flesh,

15171315Which I must needs call mine, thou art a byle

15181316A plague sore, an imbossed carbuncle in my

15191317Corrupted bloud, but Ile not chide thee,

15201318Let shame come when it will, I do not call it,

15211319I do not bid the thunder-bearer shoote,

15221320Nor tell tales of thee to high iudging Ioue,

15231321Mend when thou canst, be better at thy leisure,

15241322I can be patient, I can stay with Regan,

15251323I and my hundred Knights.

15261324Reg. Not altogether so sir, I looke not for you yet,

15271325Nor am prouided for your fit welcome,

15281326Giue eare to my sister, for those

15291327That mingle r[ea]son with your passion,

15301328Must be content to thinke you are old, and so,

15311329But she knowes what she does.

15321330Lear. Is this well spoken now?

15331331Reg. I dare auouch it sir, what fifty followers,

15341332Is it not well? what should you need of more,

15351333Yea or so many, sith that both charge and danger

15361334Speakes gainst so great a number, how in a house

15371335Should many people vnder two commands

15381336Hold amity, tis hard, almost impossible.

15391337Gon. Why might not you my Lord receiue attendance

15401338From those that she cals seruants, or from mine?

15411339Reg. Why not my Lord? if then they chancst to slacke you,

15431340We could controle them; if you will come to me,

15441341(For now I spie a danger) I entreate you

15451342To bring but fiue and twenty to no more

15461343Will I giue place or notice.

15471344Lear. I gaue you all.

15481345Reg. And in good time you gaue it.

15491346Lear. Made you my guardians, my depositaries,

15501347But kept a reseruation to be followed

15511348With such a number, what, must I come to you

15521349With fiue and twenty, Regan, said you so?

15531350Reg. And speak't againe my Lord, no more with me.

15541351Lear. Those wicked creatures yet do seeme well-fauour'd

15551352When others are more wicked, not being the worst,

15561353Stands in some ranke of praise, Ile go with thee,

15571354Thy fifty yet doth double fiue and twenty,

15581355And thou art twice her loue.

15591356Gon. Heare me my Lord;

15601357What need you fiue and twenty, ten, or fiue,

15611358To follow in a house, where twice so many

15621359Haue a command to tend you?

15631360Regan. What needs one?

15641361Lear. O reason not the deed, our basest beggers

15651362Are in the poorest thing superfluous,

15661363Allow not nature more then nature needs,

15671364Mans life's as cheap as beasts; thou art a Lady,

15681365If onely to go warme were gorgious,

15691366Why nature needs not what thou gorgious wearest,

15701367Which scarsely keepes thee warme, but for true need,

15711368You heauens giue me that patience, patience I need,

15721369You see me heere (you Gods) a poore olde fellow,

15731370As full of greefe as age, wretched in both,

15741371If it be you that stirres these daughters hearts

15751372Against their Father, foole me not too much,

15761373To beare it lamely, touch me with noble anger,

15771374O let not womens weapons, water drops

15781375Staine my mans cheekes, no you vnnaturall hags,

15791376I will haue such reuenges on you both,

15801377That all the world shall -------- I will do such things,

15811378What they are, yet I know not, but they shall be

15821379The terrors of the earth; you thinke ile weepe,

15831380No, ile not weepe, I haue full cause of weeping,

15851381But this heart shall breake in a thousand flowes

15861382Ere ile weepe; ô foole, I shall go mad.

15871384Duke. Let vs withdraw, twill be a storme.

15881385Reg. This house is little, the old man and his people,

15891386Cannot be well bestowed.

15901387Gon. Tis his owne blame hath put himselfe from rest,

15911388And must needs taste his folly.

15921389Reg. For his particular, ile receiue him gladly,

15931390But not one follower.

15941391Duke. So am I purposd, where is my Lord of Glocester

15971393Reg. Followed the old man forth, he is return'd.

15981394Glo. The King is in high rage, and will I know not whether.

16011395Reg. Tis good to giue him way, he leads himselfe.

16021396Gon. My Lord, entreate him by no meanes to stay.

16031397Glo. Alacke, the night comes on, and the bleake windes

16041398Do sorely ruffell, for many miles about there's not a bush.

16061399Reg. O sir, to wilfull men,

16071400The iniuries that they themselues procure,

16081401Must be their schoole-masters, shut vp your doores,

16091402He is attended with a desperate traine,

16101403And what they may incense him too, being apt,

16111404To haue his eare abused, wisedome bids feare.

16121405Duke. Shut vp your doores my Lord, tis a wilde night,

16131406My Regan counsels well, come out ath storme.