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.