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Home > King Lear > ACT II - SCENE IV. Before GLOUCESTER's castle. KENT in the stocks.

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ACT II - SCENE IV. Before GLOUCESTER's castle. KENT in the stocks.
Enter KING LEAR, Fool, and Gentleman

KING LEAR
1    'Tis strange that they should so depart from home,
2    And not send back my messenger.
Gentleman
3    As I learn'd,
4    The night before there was no purpose in them
5    Of this remove.
KENT
6    Hail to thee, noble master!
KING LEAR
7    Ha!
8    Makest thou this shame thy pastime?
KENT
9    No, my lord.
Fool
10   Ha, ha! he wears cruel garters. Horses are tied
11   by the heads, dogs and bears by the neck, monkeys by
12   the loins, and men by the legs: when a man's
13   over-lusty at legs, then he wears wooden
14   nether-stocks.
KING LEAR
15   What's he that hath so much thy place mistook
16   To set thee here?
KENT
17   It is both he and she;
18   Your son and daughter.
KING LEAR
19   No.
KENT
20   Yes.
KING LEAR
21   No, I say.
KENT
22   I say, yea.
KING LEAR
23   No, no, they would not.
KENT
24   Yes, they have.
KING LEAR
25   By Jupiter, I swear, no.
KENT
26   By Juno, I swear, ay.
KING LEAR
27   They durst not do 't;
28   They could not, would not do 't; 'tis worse than murder,
29   To do upon respect such violent outrage:
30   Resolve me, with all modest haste, which way
31   Thou mightst deserve, or they impose, this usage,
32   Coming from us.
KENT
33   My lord, when at their home
34   I did commend your highness' letters to them,
35   Ere I was risen from the place that show'd
36   My duty kneeling, came there a reeking post,
37   Stew'd in his haste, half breathless, panting forth
38   From Goneril his mistress salutations;
39   Deliver'd letters, spite of intermission,
40   Which presently they read: on whose contents,
41   They summon'd up their meiny, straight took horse;
42   Commanded me to follow, and attend
43   The leisure of their answer; gave me cold looks:
44   And meeting here the other messenger,
45   Whose welcome, I perceived, had poison'd mine,--
46   Being the very fellow that of late
47   Display'd so saucily against your highness,--
48   Having more man than wit about me, drew:
49   He raised the house with loud and coward cries.
50   Your son and daughter found this trespass worth
51   The shame which here it suffers.
Fool
52   Winter's not gone yet, if the wild-geese fly that way.
53   Fathers that wear rags
54   Do make their children blind;
55   But fathers that bear bags
56   Shall see their children kind.
57   Fortune, that arrant whore,
58   Ne'er turns the key to the poor.
59   But, for all this, thou shalt have as many dolours
60   for thy daughters as thou canst tell in a year.
KING LEAR
61   O, how this mother swells up toward my heart!
62   Hysterica passio, down, thou climbing sorrow,
63   Thy element's below! Where is this daughter?
KENT
64   With the earl, sir, here within.
KING LEAR
65   Follow me not;
66   Stay here.
Exit

Gentleman
67   Made you no more offence but what you speak of?
KENT
68   None.
69   How chance the king comes with so small a train?
Fool
70   And thou hadst been set i' the stocks for that
71   question, thou hadst well deserved it.
KENT
72   Why, fool?
Fool
73   We'll set thee to school to an ant, to teach thee
74   there's no labouring i' the winter. All that follow
75   their noses are led by their eyes but blind men; and
76   there's not a nose among twenty but can smell him
77   that's stinking. Let go thy hold when a great wheel
78   runs down a hill, lest it break thy neck with
79   following it: but the great one that goes up the
80   hill, let him draw thee after. When a wise man
81   gives thee better counsel, give me mine again: I
82   would have none but knaves follow it, since a fool gives it.
83   That sir which serves and seeks for gain,
84   And follows but for form,
85   Will pack when it begins to rain,
86   And leave thee in the storm,
87   But I will tarry; the fool will stay,
88   And let the wise man fly:
89   The knave turns fool that runs away;
90   The fool no knave, perdy.
KENT
91   Where learned you this, fool?
Fool
92   Not i' the stocks, fool.
Re-enter KING LEAR with GLOUCESTER

KING LEAR
93   Deny to speak with me? They are sick? they are weary?
94   They have travell'd all the night? Mere fetches;
95   The images of revolt and flying off.
96   Fetch me a better answer.
GLOUCESTER
97   My dear lord,
98   You know the fiery quality of the duke;
99   How unremoveable and fix'd he is
100  In his own course.
KING LEAR
101  Vengeance! plague! death! confusion!
102  Fiery? what quality? Why, Gloucester, Gloucester,
103  I'ld speak with the Duke of Cornwall and his wife.
GLOUCESTER
104  Well, my good lord, I have inform'd them so.
KING LEAR
105  Inform'd them! Dost thou understand me, man?
GLOUCESTER
106  Ay, my good lord.
KING LEAR
107  The king would speak with Cornwall; the dear father
108  Would with his daughter speak, commands her service:
109  Are they inform'd of this? My breath and blood!
110  Fiery? the fiery duke? Tell the hot duke that--
111  No, but not yet: may be he is not well:
112  Infirmity doth still neglect all office
113  Whereto our health is bound; we are not ourselves
114  When nature, being oppress'd, commands the mind
115  To suffer with the body: I'll forbear;
116  And am fall'n out with my more headier will,
117  To take the indisposed and sickly fit
118  For the sound man. Death on my state! wherefore
Looking on KENT
119  Should he sit here? This act persuades me
120  That this remotion of the duke and her
121  Is practise only. Give me my servant forth.
122  Go tell the duke and 's wife I'ld speak with them,
123  Now, presently: bid them come forth and hear me,
124  Or at their chamber-door I'll beat the drum
125  Till it cry sleep to death.
GLOUCESTER
126  I would have all well betwixt you.
Exit

KING LEAR
127  O me, my heart, my rising heart! but, down!
Fool
128  Cry to it, nuncle, as the cockney did to the eels
129  when she put 'em i' the paste alive; she knapped 'em
130  o' the coxcombs with a stick, and cried 'Down,
131  wantons, down!' 'Twas her brother that, in pure
132  kindness to his horse, buttered his hay.
Enter CORNWALL, REGAN, GLOUCESTER, and Servants

KING LEAR
133  Good morrow to you both.
CORNWALL
134  Hail to your grace!
KENT is set at liberty

REGAN
135  I am glad to see your highness.
KING LEAR
136  Regan, I think you are; I know what reason
137  I have to think so: if thou shouldst not be glad,
138  I would divorce me from thy mother's tomb,
139  Sepulchring an adultress.
To KENT
140  O, are you free?
141  Some other time for that. Beloved Regan,
142  Thy sister's naught: O Regan, she hath tied
143  Sharp-tooth'd unkindness, like a vulture, here:
Points to his heart
144  I can scarce speak to thee; thou'lt not believe
145  With how depraved a quality--O Regan!
REGAN
146  I pray you, sir, take patience: I have hope.
147  You less know how to value her desert
148  Than she to scant her duty.
KING LEAR
149  Say, how is that?
REGAN
150  I cannot think my sister in the least
151  Would fail her obligation: if, sir, perchance
152  She have restrain'd the riots of your followers,
153  'Tis on such ground, and to such wholesome end,
154  As clears her from all blame.
KING LEAR
155  My curses on her!
REGAN
156  O, sir, you are old.
157  Nature in you stands on the very verge
158  Of her confine: you should be ruled and led
159  By some discretion, that discerns your state
160  Better than you yourself. Therefore, I pray you,
161  That to our sister you do make return;
162  Say you have wrong'd her, sir.
KING LEAR
163  Ask her forgiveness?
164  Do you but mark how this becomes the house:
165  'Dear daughter, I confess that I am old;
Kneeling
166  Age is unnecessary: on my knees I beg
167  That you'll vouchsafe me raiment, bed, and food.'
REGAN
168  Good sir, no more; these are unsightly tricks:
169  Return you to my sister.
KING LEAR
Rising
170   Never, Regan:
171  She hath abated me of half my train;
172  Look'd black upon me; struck me with her tongue,
173  Most serpent-like, upon the very heart:
174  All the stored vengeances of heaven fall
175  On her ingrateful top! Strike her young bones,
176  You taking airs, with lameness!
CORNWALL
177  Fie, sir, fie!
KING LEAR
178  You nimble lightnings, dart your blinding flames
179  Into her scornful eyes! Infect her beauty,
180  You fen-suck'd fogs, drawn by the powerful sun,
181  To fall and blast her pride!
REGAN
182  O the blest gods! so will you wish on me,
183  When the rash mood is on.
KING LEAR
184  No, Regan, thou shalt never have my curse:
185  Thy tender-hefted nature shall not give
186  Thee o'er to harshness: her eyes are fierce; but thine
187  Do comfort and not burn. 'Tis not in thee
188  To grudge my pleasures, to cut off my train,
189  To bandy hasty words, to scant my sizes,
190  And in conclusion to oppose the bolt
191  Against my coming in: thou better know'st
192  The offices of nature, bond of childhood,
193  Effects of courtesy, dues of gratitude;
194  Thy half o' the kingdom hast thou not forgot,
195  Wherein I thee endow'd.
REGAN
196  Good sir, to the purpose.
KING LEAR
197  Who put my man i' the stocks?
Tucket within

CORNWALL
198  What trumpet's that?
REGAN
199  I know't, my sister's: this approves her letter,
200  That she would soon be here.
Enter OSWALD
201  Is your lady come?
KING LEAR
202  This is a slave, whose easy-borrow'd pride
203  Dwells in the fickle grace of her he follows.
204  Out, varlet, from my sight!
CORNWALL
205  What means your grace?
KING LEAR
206  Who stock'd my servant? Regan, I have good hope
207  Thou didst not know on't. Who comes here? O heavens,
Enter GONERIL
208  If you do love old men, if your sweet sway
209  Allow obedience, if yourselves are old,
210  Make it your cause; send down, and take my part!
To GONERIL
211  Art not ashamed to look upon this beard?
212  O Regan, wilt thou take her by the hand?
GONERIL
213  Why not by the hand, sir? How have I offended?
214  All's not offence that indiscretion finds
215  And dotage terms so.
KING LEAR
216  O sides, you are too tough;
217  Will you yet hold? How came my man i' the stocks?
CORNWALL
218  I set him there, sir: but his own disorders
219  Deserved much less advancement.
KING LEAR
220  You! did you?
REGAN
221  I pray you, father, being weak, seem so.
222  If, till the expiration of your month,
223  You will return and sojourn with my sister,
224  Dismissing half your train, come then to me:
225  I am now from home, and out of that provision
226  Which shall be needful for your entertainment.
KING LEAR
227  Return to her, and fifty men dismiss'd?
228  No, rather I abjure all roofs, and choose
229  To wage against the enmity o' the air;
230  To be a comrade with the wolf and owl,--
231  Necessity's sharp pinch! Return with her?
232  Why, the hot-blooded France, that dowerless took
233  Our youngest born, I could as well be brought
234  To knee his throne, and, squire-like; pension beg
235  To keep base life afoot. Return with her?
236  Persuade me rather to be slave and sumpter
237  To this detested groom.
Pointing at OSWALD

GONERIL
238  At your choice, sir.
KING LEAR
239  I prithee, daughter, do not make me mad:
240  I will not trouble thee, my child; farewell:
241  We'll no more meet, no more see one another:
242  But yet thou art my flesh, my blood, my daughter;
243  Or rather a disease that's in my flesh,
244  Which I must needs call mine: thou art a boil,
245  A plague-sore, an embossed carbuncle,
246  In my corrupted blood. But I'll not chide thee;
247  Let shame come when it will, I do not call it:
248  I do not bid the thunder-bearer shoot,
249  Nor tell tales of thee to high-judging Jove:
250  Mend when thou canst; be better at thy leisure:
251  I can be patient; I can stay with Regan,
252  I and my hundred knights.
REGAN
253  Not altogether so:
254  I look'd not for you yet, nor am provided
255  For your fit welcome. Give ear, sir, to my sister;
256  For those that mingle reason with your passion
257  Must be content to think you old, and so--
258  But she knows what she does.
KING LEAR
259  Is this well spoken?
REGAN
260  I dare avouch it, sir: what, fifty followers?
261  Is it not well? What should you need of more?
262  Yea, or so many, sith that both charge and danger
263  Speak 'gainst so great a number? How, in one house,
264  Should many people, under two commands,
265  Hold amity? 'Tis hard; almost impossible.
GONERIL
266  Why might not you, my lord, receive attendance
267  From those that she calls servants or from mine?
REGAN
268  Why not, my lord? If then they chanced to slack you,
269  We could control them. If you will come to me,--
270  For now I spy a danger,--I entreat you
271  To bring but five and twenty: to no more
272  Will I give place or notice.
KING LEAR
273  I gave you all--
REGAN
274  And in good time you gave it.
KING LEAR
275  Made you my guardians, my depositaries;
276  But kept a reservation to be follow'd
277  With such a number. What, must I come to you
278  With five and twenty, Regan? said you so?
REGAN
279  And speak't again, my lord; no more with me.
KING LEAR
280  Those wicked creatures yet do look well-favour'd,
281  When others are more wicked: not being the worst
282  Stands in some rank of praise.
To GONERIL
283  I'll go with thee:
284  Thy fifty yet doth double five and twenty,
285  And thou art twice her love.
GONERIL
286  Hear me, my lord;
287  What need you five and twenty, ten, or five,
288  To follow in a house where twice so many
289  Have a command to tend you?
REGAN
290  What need one?
KING LEAR
291  O, reason not the need: our basest beggars
292  Are in the poorest thing superfluous:
293  Allow not nature more than nature needs,
294  Man's life's as cheap as beast's: thou art a lady;
295  If only to go warm were gorgeous,
296  Why, nature needs not what thou gorgeous wear'st,
297  Which scarcely keeps thee warm. But, for true need,--
298  You heavens, give me that patience, patience I need!
299  You see me here, you gods, a poor old man,
300  As full of grief as age; wretched in both!
301  If it be you that stir these daughters' hearts
302  Against their father, fool me not so much
303  To bear it tamely; touch me with noble anger,
304  And let not women's weapons, water-drops,
305  Stain my man's cheeks! No, you unnatural hags,
306  I will have such revenges on you both,
307  That all the world shall--I will do such things,--
308  What they are, yet I know not: but they shall be
309  The terrors of the earth. You think I'll weep
310  No, I'll not weep:
311  I have full cause of weeping; but this heart
312  Shall break into a hundred thousand flaws,
313  Or ere I'll weep. O fool, I shall go mad!
Exeunt KING LEAR, GLOUCESTER, KENT, and Fool

Storm and tempest

CORNWALL
314  Let us withdraw; 'twill be a storm.
REGAN
315  This house is little: the old man and his people
316  Cannot be well bestow'd.
GONERIL
317  'Tis his own blame; hath put himself from rest,
318  And must needs taste his folly.
REGAN
319  For his particular, I'll receive him gladly,
320  But not one follower.
GONERIL
321  So am I purposed.
322  Where is my lord of Gloucester?
CORNWALL
323  Follow'd the old man forth: he is return'd.
Re-enter GLOUCESTER

GLOUCESTER
324  The king is in high rage.
CORNWALL
325  Whither is he going?
GLOUCESTER
326  He calls to horse; but will I know not whither.
CORNWALL
327  'Tis best to give him way; he leads himself.
GONERIL
328  My lord, entreat him by no means to stay.
GLOUCESTER
329  Alack, the night comes on, and the bleak winds
330  Do sorely ruffle; for many miles about
331  There's scarce a bush.
REGAN
332  O, sir, to wilful men,
333  The injuries that they themselves procure
334  Must be their schoolmasters. Shut up your doors:
335  He is attended with a desperate train;
336  And what they may incense him to, being apt
337  To have his ear abused, wisdom bids fear.
CORNWALL
338  Shut up your doors, my lord; 'tis a wild night:
339  My Regan counsels well; come out o' the storm.
Exeunt

< (Previous) ACT II, SCENE IIIACT III, I (Next) >
Scene Index
ACT I
  • SCENE I
  • SCENE II
  • SCENE III
  • SCENE IV
  • SCENE V


  • ACT II
  • SCENE I
  • SCENE II
  • SCENE III
  • SCENE IV


  • ACT III
  • SCENE I
  • SCENE II
  • SCENE III
  • SCENE IV
  • SCENE V
  • SCENE VI
  • SCENE VII


  • ACT IV
  • SCENE I
  • SCENE II
  • SCENE III
  • SCENE IV
  • SCENE V
  • SCENE VI
  • SCENE VII


  • ACT V
  • SCENE I
  • SCENE II
  • SCENE III

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