O, Regan, wilt thou take her by the hand? Gon. Why not by the hand, sir? How have I offended? All's not offence, that indiscretion finds," And dotage terms so. Lear. O, sides, you are too tough! Will you yet hold?-How came my man i' the stocks? Corn. I set him there, sir: but his own disorders Deserv'd much less advancement.' Lear. You! did you? Reg. I pray you, father, being weak, seem so." If, till the expiration of your month, You will return and sojourn with my sister, Dismissing half your train, come then to me; I am now from home, and out of that provision Which shall be needful for your entertainment. Lear. Return to her, and fifty men dismiss'd? No, rather I abjure all roofs, and choose To wage against the enmity o'the air; To be a comrade with the wolf and owl,— Necessity's sharp pinch!-Return with her? Why, the hot-blooded France, that dowerless took Our youngest born, I could as well be brought To knee his throne, and, squire-like, pension beg To keep base life afoot:-Return with her? Persuade me rather to be slave and sumpter To this detested groom. [Looking on the Steward. At your choice, sir. 7 Gon. situation. that indiscretion finds,] Or thinks. less advancement.] A still worse or more disgraceful being weak, seem so.] Since you are weak, be content to think yourself weak. and sumpter-] Sumpter is a horse that carries necessaries on a journey, though sometimes used for the case to carry them in. Lear. I pr'ythee, daughter, do not make me mad; Which I must needs call mine: thou art a boil, In my corrupted blood. But I'll not chide thee; Nor tell tales of thee to high-judging Jove: I, and my hundred knights. Reg. Not altogether so, sir; I look'd not for you yet, nor am provided For your fit welcome: Give ear, sir, to my sister; For those that mingle reason with your passion, Must be content to think you old, and so— But she knows what she does. Is this well spoken now? Lear. Should many people, under two commands, Gon. Why might not you, my lord, receive attendance From those that she calls servants, or from mine? Reg. Why not, my lord? If then they chanc'd to slack you, We could control them: If you will come to me, (For now I spy a danger,) I entreat you 1 -embossed carbuncle,] Embossed is swelling, protuberant. To bring but five and twenty; to no more Lear. I gave you all Reg. And in good time you gave it. Lear. Made you my guardians, my depositaries; But kept a reservation to be follow'd With such a number: What, must I come to you With five and twenty, Regan? said you so? Reg. And speak it again, my lord; no more with me. Lear. Those wicked creatures yet do look well favour'd, When others are more wicked; not being the worst, Stands in some rank of praise :—I'll go with thee; [To GONERIL. Thy fifty yet doth double five and twenty, And thou art twice her love. Gon. Hear me, my lord; What need you five and twenty, ten, or five, To follow in a house, where twice so many Have a command to tend you? Reg. What need one? Lear. O, reason not the need: our basest beggars Are in the poorest thing superfluous: Allow not nature more than nature needs, Man's life is cheap as beast's: thou art a lady; If only to go warm were gorgeous, Why, nature needs not what thou gorgeous wear'st, Which scarcely keeps thee warm.-But, for true need,― You heavens, give me that patience, patience I need! Stain my man's cheeks!-No, you unnatural hags, I will have such revenges on you both, That all the world shall-I will do such things,- I have full cause of weeping; but this heart go mad! Reg. [Storm heard at a Distance. This house Is little; the old man and his people cannot Be well bestow'd. Gon. 'Tis his own blame; he hath put Himself from rest, and must needs taste his folly. Reg. For his particular, I'll receive him gladly, But not one follower. Gon. So am I purpos'd. Where is my lord of Gloster? Re-enter GLoster. Corn. Follow'd the old man forth:-he is return'd. Corn. Whither is he going? Glo. He calls to horse; but will I know not whither. Corn. 'Tis best to give him way; he leads himself. winds Do sorely ruffle; for many miles about There's scarce a bush. Reg. O, sir, to wilful men, The injuries, that they themselves procure, Must be their schoolmasters: Shut up your doors; And what they may incense him to, being apt Corn. Shut up your doors, my lord; 'tis a wild night; My Regan counsels well: come out o'the storm. [Exeunt. ACT III. SCENE I. A Heath. A Storm is heard, with Thunder and Lightning. Kent. Who's here, beside foul weather? quietly. Kent. I know you; Where's the king? Gent. Contending with the fretful element: Bids the wind blow the earth into the sea, Or swell the curled waters 'bove the main, That things might change, or cease: tears his white hair; Which the impetuous blasts, with eyeless rage, This night, wherein the cub-drawn bear would couch, The lion and the belly-pinched wolf 2 the cub-drawn bear-] i. e. whose dugs are drawn dry by its young. For no animals leave their dens by night but for prey. |