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King Lear :  Act 2, Scene 4

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           Enter KING LEAR, Fool, and Gentleman.
           [KENT (disguised as Caius) is in the stocks.]

      KING LEAR
  1   'Tis strange that they should so depart from home,
  2   And not send back my messenger.

      Gentleman
  2                                                               As I learn'd,
  3   The night before there was no purpose in them
  4   Of this remove.

      KENT
  4                                 Hail to thee, noble master!

      KING LEAR
  5   Ha!?
  6   Mak'st thou this shame thy pastime?

      KENT
  6                                                                     No, my lord.

      Fool
  7   Ha, ha! he wears cruel garters. Horses are tied
  8   by the heads, dogs and bears by the neck, monkeys
  9   by the loins, and men by the legs when a man's
 10   over-lusty at legs, then he wears wooden
 11   nether-stocks.

      KING LEAR
 12   What's he that hath so much thy place mistook
 13   To set thee here?

      KENT
 13                                   It is both he and she;
 14   Your son and daughter.

      KING LEAR
 15   No.

      KENT
 16   Yes.

      KING LEAR
 17   No, I say.

      KENT
 18   I say, yea.

      KING LEAR
 19   No, no, they would not.

      KENT
 20   Yes, they have.

      KING LEAR
 21   By Jupiter, I swear, no.

      KENT
 22   By Juno, I swear, ay.

      KING LEAR
 22                                         They durst not do 't;
 23   They could not, would not do 't; 'tis worse than murder,
 24   To do upon respect such violent outrage:
 25   Resolve me, with all modest haste, which way
 26   Thou mightst deserve, or they impose, this usage,
 27   Coming from us.

      KENT
 27                               My lord, when at their home
 28   I did commend your highness' letters to them,
 29   Ere I was risen from the place that show'd
 30   My duty kneeling, came there a reeking post,
 31   Stew'd in his haste, half breathless, panting forth
 32   From Goneril his mistress salutations;
 33   Deliver'd letters, spite of intermission,
 34   Which presently they read: on whose contents,
 35   They summon'd up their meiny, straight took horse;
 36   Commanded me to follow, and attend
 37   The leisure of their answer; gave me cold looks:
 38   And meeting here the other messenger,
 39   Whose welcome, I perceived, had poison'd mine,—
 40   Being the very fellow that of late
 41   Display'd so saucily against your highness,—
 42   Having more man than wit about me, drew:
 43   He raised the house with loud and coward cries.
 44   Your son and daughter found this trespass worth
 45   The shame which here it suffers.

      Fool
 46   Winter's not gone yet, if the wild-geese fly that
 47   way.
 48           Fathers that wear rags
 49             Do make their children blind;
 50           But fathers that bear bags
 51             Shall see their children kind.
 52           Fortune, that arrant whore,
 53           Ne'er turns the key to the poor.
 54   But, for all this, thou shalt have as many dolours
 55   for thy daughters as thou canst tell in a year.

      KING LEAR
 56   O, how this mother swells up toward my heart!
 57   Hysterica passio, down, thou climbing sorrow,
 58   Thy element's below! — Where is this daughter?

      KENT
 59   With the earl, sir, here within.

      KING LEAR
 59                                                         Follow me not;
 60   Stay here.

           Exit.

      Gentleman
 61   Made you no more offence but what you speak of?

      KENT
 62   None.
 63   How chance the king comes with so small a train?

      Fool
 64   An thou hadst been set i' the stocks for that
 65   question, thou hadst well deserved it.

      KENT
 66   Why, Fool?

      Fool
 67   We'll set thee to school to an ant, to teach thee
 68   there's no labouring i' the winter. All that follow
 69   their noses are led by their eyes but blind men;
 70   and there's not a nose among twenty but can
 71   smell him that's stinking. Let go thy hold when
 72   a great wheel runs down a hill, lest it break thy
 73   neck with following; but the great one that goes
 74   up the hill, let him draw thee after. When a wise
 75   man gives thee better counsel, give me mine again:
 76   I would have none but knaves follow it, since a fool
 77   gives it.
 78           That sir which serves and seeks for gain,
 79             And follows but for form,
 80           Will pack when it begins to rain,
 81             And leave thee in the storm,
 82           But I will tarry; the fool will stay,
 83             And let the wise man fly:
 84           The knave turns fool that runs away;
 85             The fool no knave, perdy.

      KENT
 86   Where learned you this, Fool?

      Fool
 87   Not i' the stocks, fool.

           Enter KING LEAR and GLOUCESTER.

      KING LEAR
 88   Deny to speak with me? They are sick? they are weary?
 89   They have travell'd all the night? Mere fetches;
 90   The images of revolt and flying off.
 91   Fetch me a better answer.

      GLOUCESTER
 91                                                 My dear lord,
 92   You know the fiery quality of the duke;
 93   How unremoveable and fix'd he is
 94   In his own course.

      KING LEAR
 95   Vengeance! plague! death! confusion!
 96   Fiery? what quality? Why, Gloucester, Gloucester,
 97   I'ld speak with the Earl of Cornwall and his wife.

      GLOUCESTER
 98   Well, my good lord, I have inform'd them so.

      KING LEAR
 99   Inform'd them! Dost thou understand me, man?

      GLOUCESTER
100   Ay, my good lord.

      KING LEAR
101   The king would speak with Cornwall; the dear father
102   Would with his daughter speak, commands her service:
103   Are they inform'd of this? My breath and blood!
104   Fiery? the fiery Duke? Tell the hot Duke that—
105   No, but not yet: may be he is not well:
106   Infirmity doth still neglect all office
107   Whereto our health is bound; we are not ourselves
108   When nature, being oppress'd, commands the mind
109   To suffer with the body: I'll forbear —
110   And am fall'n out with my more headier will —
111   To take the indisposed and sickly fit
112   For the sound man.

           [Looking on KENT.]

112                                 Death on my state! wherefore
113   Should he sit here? This act persuades me
114   That this remotion of the duke and her
115   Is practise only. Give me my servant forth.
116   Go tell the duke and 's wife I'ld speak with them,
117   Now, presently: bid them come forth and hear me,
118   Or at their chamber-door I'll beat the drum
119   Till it cry sleep to death.

      GLOUCESTER
120   I would have all well betwixt you.

           Exit.

      KING LEAR
121   O me, my heart, my rising heart! But, down!

      Fool
122   Cry to it, nuncle, as the cockney did to the eels
123   when she put 'em i' the paste alive; she knapped 'em
124   o' th' coxcombs with a stick, and cried 'Down,
125   wantons, down!' 'Twas her brother that, in pure
126   kindness to his horse, butter'd his hay.

           Enter CORNWALL, REGAN, GLOUCESTER,
           and Servants.

      KING LEAR
127   Good morrow to you both.

      CORNWALL
127                                                   Hail to your grace!

           Kent here set at liberty.

      REGAN
128   I am glad to see your highness.

      KING LEAR
129   Regan, I think you are; I know what reason
130   I have to think so: if thou shouldst not be glad,
131   I would divorce me from thy mother's tomb,
132   Sepulchring an adultress.

           [To Kent.]
132                                                   O, are you free?
133   Some other time for that.

           [Exit Kent.]
133                                           Beloved Regan,
134   Thy sister's naught: O Regan, she hath tied
135   Sharp-tooth'd unkindness, like a vulture, here:

           [Points to his heart.]

136   I can scarce speak to thee; thou'lt not believe
137   With how depraved a quality—O Regan!

      REGAN
138   I pray you, sir, take patience: I have hope.
139   You less know how to value her desert
140   Than she to scant her duty.

      KING LEAR
140                                                   Say, how is that?

      REGAN
141   I cannot think my sister in the least
142   Would fail her obligation. If, sir, perchance
143   She have restrain'd the riots of your followers,
144   'Tis on such ground, and to such wholesome end,
145   As clears her from all blame.

      KING LEAR
146   My curses on her!

      REGAN
146                                   O, sir, you are old.
147   Nature in you stands on the very verge
148   Of her confine. You should be rul'd and led
149   By some discretion that discerns your state
150   Better than you yourself. Therefore, I pray you,
151   That to our sister you do make return;
152   Say you have wrong'd her, sir.

      KING LEAR
152                                                 Ask her forgiveness?
153   Do you but mark how this becomes the house:
154   'Dear daughter, I confess that I am old;
           [Kneeling.]
155   Age is unnecessary. On my knees I beg
156   That you'll vouchsafe me raiment, bed, and food.'

      REGAN
157   Good sir, no more; these are unsightly tricks:
158   Return you to my sister.

      KING LEAR [Rising.]
158                                       Never, Regan:
159   She hath abated me of half my train;
160   Look'd black upon me; struck me with her tongue,
161   Most serpent-like, upon the very heart:
162   All the stor'd vengeances of heaven fall
163   On her ingrateful top! Strike her young bones,
164   You taking airs, with lameness!

      CORNWALL
164                                                           Fie, sir, fie!

      KING LEAR
165   You nimble lightnings, dart your blinding flames
166   Into her scornful eyes! Infect her beauty,
167   You fen-suck'd fogs, drawn by the pow'rful sun,
168   To fall and blister!

      REGAN
168                                     O the blest gods! so
169   Will you wish on me, when the rash mood is on.

      KING LEAR
170   No, Regan, thou shalt never have my curse:
171   Thy tender-hefted nature shall not give
172   Thee o'er to harshness. Her eyes are fierce, but thine
173   Do comfort and not burn. 'Tis not in thee
174   To grudge my pleasures, to cut off my train,
175   To bandy hasty words, to scant my sizes,
176   And in conclusion to oppose the bolt
177   Against my coming in. Thou better know'st
178   The offices of nature, bond of childhood,
179   Effects of courtesy, dues of gratitude;
180   Thy half o' th' kingdom hast thou not forgot,
181   Wherein I thee endow'd.

      REGAN
181                                           Good sir, to the purpose.

      KING LEAR
182   Who put my man i' the stocks?

           Tucket within.

      CORNWALL
182                                                   What trumpet's that?

      REGAN
183   I know't, my sister's: this approves her letter,
184   That she would soon be here.

           Enter Steward [OSWALD].

184                                                     Is your lady come?

      KING LEAR
185   This is a slave, whose easy-borrow'd pride
186   Dwells in the fickle grace of her he follows.
187   Out, varlet, from my sight!

      CORNWALL
187                                                 What means your grace?

      KING LEAR
188   Who stock'd my servant? Regan, I have good hope
189   Thou didst not know on't. Who comes here? O heavens,

           Enter GONERIL.

190   If you do love old men, if your sweet sway
191   Allow obedience, if yourselves are old,
192   Make it your cause; send down, and take my part!

           [To GONERIL.]

193   Art not ashamed to look upon this beard?
194   O Regan, wilt thou take her by the hand?

      GONERIL
195   Why not by the hand, sir? How have I offended?
196   All's not offence that indiscretion finds
197   And dotage terms so.

      KING LEAR
197                                           O sides, you are too tough;
198   Will you yet hold? How came my man i' the stocks?

      CORNWALL
199   I set him there, sir: but his own disorders
200   Deserved much less advancement.

      KING LEAR
200                                                                 You! did you?

      REGAN
201   I pray you, father, being weak, seem so.
202   If, till the expiration of your month,
203   You will return and sojourn with my sister,
204   Dismissing half your train, come then to me:
205   I am now from home, and out of that provision
206   Which shall be needful for your entertainment.

      KING LEAR
207   Return to her, and fifty men dismiss'd?
208   No, rather I abjure all roofs, and choose
209   To wage against the enmity o' th' air,
210   To be a comrade with the wolf and owl,—
211   Necessity's sharp pinch! Return with her?
212   Why, the hot-blooded France, that dowerless took
213   Our youngest born, I could as well be brought
214   To knee his throne, and, squire-like; pension beg
215   To keep base life afoot. Return with her?
216   Persuade me rather to be slave and sumpter
217   To this detested groom.

           [Pointing at Oswald.]

      GONERIL
217                                                 At your choice, sir.

      KING LEAR
218   I prithee, daughter, do not make me mad:
219   I will not trouble thee, my child; farewell:
220   We'll no more meet, no more see one another:
221   But yet thou art my flesh, my blood, my daughter —
222   Or rather a disease that's in my flesh,
223   Which I must needs call mine: thou art a boil,
224   A plague-sore, an embossed carbuncle,
225   In my corrupted blood. But I'll not chide thee;
226   Let shame come when it will, I do not call it:
227   I do not bid the thunder-bearer shoot,
228   Nor tell tales of thee to high-judging Jove:
229   Mend when thou canst; be better at thy leisure:
230   I can be patient; I can stay with Regan,
231   I and my hundred knights.

      REGAN
231                                                     Not altogether so:
232   I look'd not for you yet, nor am provided
233   For your fit welcome. Give ear, sir, to my sister;
234   For those that mingle reason with your passion
235   Must be content to think you old, and so—
236   But she knows what she does.

      KING LEAR
236                                                           Is this well spoken?

      REGAN
237   I dare avouch it, sir: what, fifty followers?
238   Is it not well? What should you need of more?
239   Yea, or so many, sith that both charge and danger
240   Speak 'gainst so great a number? How, in one house,
241   Should many people, under two commands,
242   Hold amity? 'Tis hard; almost impossible.

      GONERIL
243   Why might not you, my lord, receive attendance
244   From those that she calls servants or from mine?

      REGAN
245   Why not, my lord? If then they chanced to slack ye,
246   We could control them. If you will come to me,—
247   For now I spy a danger,—I entreat you
248   To bring but five and twenty: to no more
249   Will I give place or notice.

      KING LEAR
250   I gave you all—

      REGAN
250                               And in good time you gave it.

      KING LEAR
251   Made you my guardians, my depositaries;
252   But kept a reservation to be follow'd
253   With such a number. What, must I come to you
254   With five and twenty, Regan? said you so?

      REGAN
255   And speak't again, my lord; no more with me.

      KING LEAR
256   Those wicked creatures yet do look well-favour'd,
257   When others are more wicked: not being the worst
258   Stands in some rank of praise.

           [To Goneril.]

258                                                             I'll go with thee:
259   Thy fifty yet doth double five and twenty,
260   And thou art twice her love.

      GONERIL
260                                                       Hear me, my lord;
261   What need you five and twenty, ten, or five,
262   To follow in a house where twice so many
263   Have a command to tend you?

      REGAN
263                                                         What need one?

      KING LEAR
264   O, reason not the need! our basest beggars
265   Are in the poorest thing superfluous.
266   Allow not nature more than nature needs,
267   Man's life's as cheap as beast's. Thou art a lady;
268   If only to go warm were gorgeous,
269   Why, nature needs not what thou gorgeous wear'st,
270   Which scarcely keeps thee warm. But, for true need,—
271   You heavens, give me that patience, patience I need!
272   You see me here, you gods, a poor old man,
273   As full of grief as age; wretched in both!
274   If it be you that stir these daughters' hearts
275   Against their father, fool me not so much
276   To bear it tamely; touch me with noble anger,
277   And let not women's weapons, water-drops,
278   Stain my man's cheeks! No, you unnatural hags,
279   I will have such revenges on you both
280   That all the world shall—I will do such things,—
281   What they are, yet I know not, but they shall be
282   The terrors of the earth! You think I'll weep:
283   No, I'll not weep.
284   I have full cause of weeping; but this heart

           Storm and tempest.

285   Shall break into a hundred thousand flaws,
286   Or ere I'll weep. O Fool, I shall go mad!

           Exeunt [Lear, Gloucester, Gentleman, and Fool].

      CORNWALL
287   Let us withdraw; 'twill be a storm.

      REGAN
288   This house is little: the old man and 's people
289   Cannot be well bestow'd.

      GONERIL
290   'Tis his own blame hath put himself from rest,
291   And must needs taste his folly.

      REGAN
292   For his particular, I'll receive him gladly,
293   But not one follower.

      GONERIL
293                                           So am I purposed.
294   Where is my lord of Gloucester?

      CORNWALL
295   Follow'd the old man forth.

           Enter GLOUCESTER.

295                                                     He is return'd.

      GLOUCESTER
296   The king is in high rage.

      CORNWALL
296                                                 Whither is he going?

      GLOUCESTER
297   He calls to horse, but will I know not whither.

      CORNWALL
298   'Tis best to give him way; he leads himself.

      GONERIL
299   My lord, entreat him by no means to stay.

      GLOUCESTER
300   Alack, the night comes on, and the bleak winds
301   Do sorely ruffle; for many miles about
302   There's scarce a bush.

      REGAN
302                                           O, sir, to wilful men,
303   The injuries that they themselves procure
304   Must be their schoolmasters. Shut up your doors:
305   He is attended with a desperate train;
306   And what they may incense him to, being apt
307   To have his ear abused, wisdom bids fear.

      CORNWALL
308   Shut up your doors, my lord; 'tis a wild night:
309   My Regan counsels well; come out o' th' storm.

           Exeunt.