a great wheel runs down a hill, lest it break thy neck with following it; but the great one that goes up the hill, let him draw thee after. When a wise man gives thee better counsel, give me mine again: I would have none but knaves follow it, since a fool gives it. That, sir, which serves and seeks for gain, Will pack, when it begins to rain, And leave thee in the storm. Kent. Where learn'd you this, fool? Re-enter LEAR, with GLOSTER, Lear. Deny to speak with me? They are sick? they are weary? They have travell'd hard to-night? Mere fetches; The images of revolt and flying off! Fetch me a better answer. Glo. My dear lord, You know the fiery quality of the duke; Lear. Vengeance! plague! death! confusion! Glo. Ay, my good lord. Lear. The king would speak with Cornwall; the dear father Would with his daughter speak, commands her service: Are they inform'd of this?My breath and blood! Fiery? the fiery duke?-Tell the hot duke, thatNo, but not yet :-may be, he is not well : Infirmity doth still neglect all office, Whereto our health is bound; we are not ourselves, When nature, being oppress'd, commands the mind To suffer with the body: I'll forbear ; And am fallen out with my more headier will, For the sound man.-Death on my state! wherefore [Looking on KENT. Should he sit here? This act persuades me, That this remotion' of the duke and her Is practice only. Give me my servant forth : Till it cry-Sleep to death. [Exit. Glo. I'd have all well betwixt you. down, Fool. Cry to it, nuncle, as the cockney did to the eels, when she put them i' the paste alive; she -rapp'd 'em o'the coxcombs with a stick, and cry'd, Down, wantons, down: 'Twas her brother, that, in pure kindness to his horse, butter'd his hay. 7 this remotion-] From their own house to that of the Earl of Gloster. 8 Is practice only.] Practice is, in Shakspeare, and other old writers, used commonly in an ill sense for unlawful artifice. i' the paste-] The paste, or crust of a pie, in Shakspeare's time, was called a coffin." Enter CORNWALL, REGAN, GLOSTER, and Servants. Lear. Good morrow to you both. Corn. Hail to your grace! [KENT is set at Liberty. Reg. I am glad to see your highness, Lear. Regan, I think you are; I know what reason I have to think so: if thou should'st not be glad, Reg. I pray you, sir, take patience; I have hope, Lear. Say, how is that? Reg. I cannot think, my sister in the least Would fail her obligation: If, sir, perchance, She have restrain'd the riots of your followers, "Tis on such ground, and to such wholesome end, As clears her from all blame. Lear. My curses on her! Reg. O, sir, you are old; Nature in you stands on the very verge Of her confine: you should be rul'd, and led By some discretion, that discerns your state Better than you yourself: Therefore, I pray you, 9 scant her duty,] i. e, be deficient in her duty, but the expression is inaccurate, That to our sister you do make return; Lear. 2 Age is unnecessary: on my knees I beg, [Kneeling. That you'll vouchsafe me raiment, bed, and food. Reg. Good sir, no more; these are unsightly tricks : Return you to my sister. Lear. Never, Regan: She hath abated me of half my train; Look'd black upon me; struck me with her tongue, Most serpent-like, upon the very heart :— All the stor❜d vengeances of heaven fall On her ingrateful top! Strike her young bones, Corn. Fye, fye, fye! Lear. You nimble lightnings, dart your blinding flames Into her scornful eyes! Infect her beauty, Reg. curse; 3 Thy tender-hefted nature shall not give Thee o'er to harshness; her eyes are fierce, but thine Do comfort, and not burn: "Tis not in thee To grudge my pleasures, to cut off my train, 2 the house?] The order of families, duties of relation. Age is unnecessary:] i. e. Old age has few wants, or it may mean that old people are useless. 3 Thy tender-hefted nature-] Hefted seems to mean the same as heaved. Tender-hefted, i. e. whose bosom is agitated by ten der passions. To bandy hasty words, to scant my sizes,* Thy half o'the kingdom hast thou not forgot, Reg. I know't, my sister's: this approves her letter, That she would soon be here.-Is your lady come? Lear. This is a slave, whose easy-borrow'd pride Dwells in the fickle grace of her he follows: Out, varlet, from my sight! Corn. What means your grace? Lear. Who stock'd my servant? Regan, I have good hope Thou didst not know of't.Who comes here? O, heavens, Enter GONEril. If you do love old men, if your sweet sway 5 Allow obedience, if yourselves are old, Make it your cause; send down, and take my part!Art not asham'd to look upon this beard? [To GONERIL. to scant my sizes,] To contract my allowances or proportions settled. Sizes are certain portions of bread, beer, or other victuals, which in publick societies are set down to the account of particular persons: a word still used in colleges. 3 Allow obedience,] Allow sometimes signifies approve. |