Lear. No, I fay.

Kent. I fay yea.

Lear. By Jupiter, I swear no.
Kent. By Juno, I swear, ay.
Lear. They durft not do't.

They could not, would not do't; 'tis worse than murther,

To do upon relpect fuch violent outrage:
Refolve me with all modeft hafte, which way
Thou might'ft deferve, or they impofe, this ufage,
Coming from us.

Kent. My lord, while at their home

I did commend your highnefs' letters to them,
Came a reeking poft,

Stew'd in his hafte, half breathlefs, panting forth
From Gonerill his miftrefs, falutation;
Deliver❜d letters fpight of intermiffion,

Which presently they read: on whose contents
They summon'd up their train, and strait took horse,
Commanding me to follow and attend

The leisure of their anfwer; gave me cold looks;
And meeting here the other meffenger,
Whose welcome, I perceiv'd, had poifon'd mine;
(Being the very fellow, which of late
Difplay'd fo fawcily against your highness,)
Having more man than wit about me, I drew;
He rais'd the house with loud and coward cries:
Your fon and daughter found this trespass worth
The fhame which here it fuffers.

Lear. Oh, how this mother fwells up tow❜rd my heart!

Down, down, thou climbing forrow!

Thy element's below; where is this daughter?
Kent. With the Earl, fir, here within.

Enter Glocefter.

Lear. Now Glo'fter!

Glo. [Wbifpers Lear.]

Lear. Ha! how's this?

Deny

Deny to speak with me? they're fick, they're weary,
They have travell'd all the night? mere fetches,
The images of revolt and flying off.
Bring me a better answer!

Glo. My dear lord,

You know the fiery quality of the duke

Lear. Vengeance! plague! death! confufion!Fiery? what quality? why, Glocefter, Glocefter, I'd speak with the Duke of Cornwall, and his wife. Glo. Well, my good lord, 1 have inform'd them fo. Lear. Inform'd them? doft thou understand me, man?

Glo. Ay, my good lord.

་་་ན་

Lear. The King would fpeak with Cornwall, the dear father

Wou'd with his daughter fpeak; commands her fervice:

Are they inform'd of this?-my breath and blood!-
Fiery? the fiery Duke? tell the hot Duke, that-
No, but not yet; may be, he is not well;
Infirmity doth ftill neglect all office,

Whereto our health is bound. I will forbear,
Nor task the indifpos'd and fickly fit

As the found man.-Death on my ftate! but wherefore

Should he fit here? this act perfuades me,

That this remotion of the Duke and her

Is practice only. Give me my fervant forth;
Go, tell the Duke and's wife, I'd speak with them:
Now, presently,-bid them come forth and hear me,
Or at their chamber-door I'll beat the drum,
'Till it cry, fleep to death.-Oh! are you come?

Enter Cornwall, Regan, and Servants.

Corn. Hail to your grace! [Kent is set at liberty.
Lear. Good morrow both!

Oh me, my heart! my rifing heart! but down!
Reg. I am glad to fee your highness.

Lear. Regan, I think you are; I know what
reafon
I have

I have to think fo; if thou wert not glad,
I would divorce me from thy mother's tomb,
Sepulchring an adultrefs. Beloved Regan,
Thy fifter's naught: Oh Regan, the hath tied
Sharp-tooth'd unkindness, like a vulture here;

[Points to his heart.
I can scarce speak to thee; thou❜lt not believe,
With how deprav'd a quality-oh Regan!
Reg. I pray you, fir, take patience; I have hope,
You lefs know how to value her defert,

Than fhe to fcant her duty.

Lear. Say? how is that?

Reg. I cannot think, my fifter in the least Would fail her obligation. If, perchance, She have reftrain'd the riots of your followers; 'Tis on fuch ground, and to fuch wholfome end, As clears her from all blame.

Lear. My curfes on her!

Reg. O, fir, you are old; you should be rul'd and led By fome difcretion; therefore, I pray you, That to our fifter you do make return; Say, you have wrong'd her, fir.

Lear. Afk her forgiveness?

Do you but mark, how this becometh us!
Dear daughter, I confefs that I am old
Age is unneceffary: on my knees I beg,

That you'll vouchfafe me raiment, bed, and food. Reg. Good fir, no more; these are unfightly humours.

Return you to my fifter.

Lear. Never, Regan:

She hath abated me of half my train;

Look'd blank upon me; ftruck me with her tongue Moft ferpent-like, upon the very heart.

All the ftor'd vengeances of heaven fall

On her ingrateful top!

Reg. O the bleft gods!

So will you with on me, when the rafh mood is on. Lear. No, Regan, thou shalt never have my

curfe :

Thy

Thy tender-hefted nature shall not give
Thee o'er to harfhnefs. 'Tis not in thee
To grudge my pleasures, to cut off my train,
To bandy hafty words. Thou better know'ft
The offices of nature, bond of child-hood,
Effects of courtefie, dues of gratitude:

Thy half o'th' kingdom thou haft not forgot,
Wherein I thee endow'd.

Reg. Good fir, to th' purpose. [Trumpet within. Lear. Who put my man i'th' ftocks?

Enter Steward.

Corn. What trumpet's that?

Reg. I know't, my fifter's: this approves her letter,

That she would foon be here. Is your lady come? Lear. Out, varlet, from my fight!

Corn. What means your grace?

Enter Gonerill.

Lear. Who ftockt my fervant? Regan, I've good hope,

Thou didst not know on't-Who comes here?
O heav'ns,

If you do love old men, if your sweet fway
Hallow obedience, if yourselves are old,
Make it your caufe; fend down and take my part.
Art not asham'd to look upon this beard?
O Regan, will you take her by the hand?

Gon. Why not by th'hand, fir? how have I of-
fended?

All's not offence, that indifcretion finds,

And dotage terms fo.

Lear. O fides, you are too tough!

Will you yet hold?-how came my man i'th' ftocks? Corn. I fet him there, fir; but his own diforders Deferv'd much lefs advancement.

Lear. You? did you?

Reg. I pray you, father, being weak, feem fo. If, 'till the expiration of your month,

6

You

You will return and fojourn with my fifter,
Difmiffing half your train, come then to me!
I'm now from home, and out of that provifion
Which shall be needful for your entertainment.
Lear. Return to her? and fifty men difinifs'd?
No, rather I abjure all roofs, and chufe
To be a comrade with the wolf and owl;
Than have my smallest wants fupplied by her.
Gon. At your choice, fir.

Lear. I pr'ythee, daughter, do not make me mad,
I will not trouble thee, my child. Farewel;
We'll no more meet, no more fee one another.
Let fhame come when it will, I do not call it ;
I do not bid the thunder-bearer shoot,

Nor tell tales of thee to high-judging Jove.
Mend, when thou canst; be better, at thy leifure.
I can be patient, I can ftay with Regan;
I, and my hundred knights.

Reg. Not altogether fo:

I look'd not for you yet, nor am provided
For your fit welcome.

Lear. Is this well spoken?

Reg. I dare avouch it, fir: what, fifty followers? Is it not well? what should you need of more? Yea, or fo many? fince both charge and danger Speak 'gainft fo great a number: how in one house Should many people under two commands. Hold amity? 'Tis hard, almoft impoffible.

Gon. Why might not you, my lord, receive attendance

From thofe that the calls fervants, or from mine? Reg. Why not, my lord? if then they chanc'd

to flack ye,

We could controul them. If you'll come to me, (For now I fpy a danger) I entreat you

To bring but five-and-twenty; to no more
Will I give place or notice.

Lear. I gave you

all

Reg. And in good time you gave it.

Lear.