Complete Plays, The

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Complete Plays, The Page 101

by William Shakespeare


  That these hot tears, which break from me perforce,

  Should make thee worth them. Blasts and fogs upon thee!

  The untented woundings of a father’s curse

  Pierce every sense about thee! Old fond eyes,

  Beweep this cause again, I’ll pluck ye out,

  And cast you, with the waters that you lose,

  To temper clay. Yea, it is come to this?

  Let is be so: yet have I left a daughter,

  Who, I am sure, is kind and comfortable:

  When she shall hear this of thee, with her nails

  She’ll flay thy wolvish visage. Thou shalt find

  That I’ll resume the shape which thou dost think

  I have cast off for ever: thou shalt,

  I warrant thee.

  Exeunt King Lear, Kent, and Attendants

  Goneril

  Do you mark that, my lord?

  Albany

  I cannot be so partial, Goneril,

  To the great love I bear you,—

  Goneril

  Pray you, content. What, Oswald, ho!

  To the Fool

  You, sir, more knave than fool, after your master.

  Fool

  Nuncle Lear, nuncle Lear, tarry and take the fool with thee.

  A fox, when one has caught her,

  And such a daughter,

  Should sure to the slaughter,

  If my cap would buy a halter:

  So the fool follows after.

  Exit

  Goneril

  This man hath had good counsel:— a hundred knights!

  ’Tis politic and safe to let him keep

  At point a hundred knights: yes, that, on every dream,

  Each buzz, each fancy, each complaint, dislike,

  He may enguard his dotage with their powers,

  And hold our lives in mercy. Oswald, I say!

  Albany

  Well, you may fear too far.

  Goneril

  Safer than trust too far:

  Let me still take away the harms I fear,

  Not fear still to be taken: I know his heart.

  What he hath utter’d I have writ my sister

  If she sustain him and his hundred knights

  When I have show’d the unfitness,—

  Re-enter Oswald

  How now, Oswald!

  What, have you writ that letter to my sister?

  Oswald

  Yes, madam.

  Goneril

  Take you some company, and away to horse:

  Inform her full of my particular fear;

  And thereto add such reasons of your own

  As may compact it more. Get you gone;

  And hasten your return.

  Exit Oswald

  No, no, my lord,

  This milky gentleness and course of yours

  Though I condemn not, yet, under pardon,

  You are much more attask’d for want of wisdom

  Than praised for harmful mildness.

  Albany

  How far your eyes may pierce I can not tell:

  Striving to better, oft we mar what’s well.

  Goneril

  Nay, then —

  Albany

  Well, well; the event.

  Exeunt

  SCENE V. COURT BEFORE THE SAME.

  Enter King Lear, Kent, and Fool

  King Lear

  Go you before to Gloucester with these letters. Acquaint my daughter no further with any thing you know than comes from her demand out of the letter. If your diligence be not speedy, I shall be there afore you.

  Kent

  I will not sleep, my lord, till I have delivered your letter.

  Exit

  Fool

  If a man’s brains were in’s heels, were’t not in danger of kibes?

  King Lear

  Ay, boy.

  Fool

  Then, I prithee, be merry; thy wit shall ne’er go slip-shod.

  King Lear

  Ha, ha, ha!

  Fool

  Shalt see thy other daughter will use thee kindly; for though she’s as like this as a crab’s like an apple, yet I can tell what I can tell.

  King Lear

  Why, what canst thou tell, my boy?

  Fool

  She will taste as like this as a crab does to a crab. Thou canst tell why one’s nose stands i’ the middle on’s face?

  King Lear

  No.

  Fool

  Why, to keep one’s eyes of either side’s nose; that what a man cannot smell out, he may spy into.

  King Lear

  I did her wrong —

  Fool

  Canst tell how an oyster makes his shell?

  King Lear

  No.

  Fool

  Nor I neither; but I can tell why a snail has a house.

  King Lear

  Why?

  Fool

  Why, to put his head in; not to give it away to his daughters, and leave his horns without a case.

  King Lear

  I will forget my nature. So kind a father! Be my horses ready?

  Fool

  Thy asses are gone about ’em. The reason why the seven stars are no more than seven is a pretty reason.

  King Lear

  Because they are not eight?

  Fool

  Yes, indeed: thou wouldst make a good fool.

  King Lear

  To take ’t again perforce! Monster ingratitude!

  Fool

  If thou wert my fool, nuncle, I’ld have thee beaten for being old before thy time.

  King Lear

  How’s that?

  Fool

  Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst been wise.

  King Lear

  O, let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven

  Keep me in temper: I would not be mad!

  Enter Gentleman

  How now! are the horses ready?

  Gentleman

  Ready, my lord.

  King Lear

  Come, boy.

  Fool

  She that’s a maid now, and laughs at my departure,

  Shall not be a maid long, unless things be cut shorter.

  Exeunt

  ACT II

  SCENE I. GLOUCESTER’S CASTLE.

  Enter Edmund, and Curan meets him

  Edmund

  Save thee, Curan.

  Curan

  And you, sir. I have been with your father, and given him notice that the Duke of Cornwall and Regan his duchess will be here with him this night.

  Edmund

  How comes that?

  Curan

  Nay, I know not. You have heard of the news abroad; I mean the whispered ones, for they are yet but ear-kissing arguments?

  Edmund

  Not I pray you, what are they?

  Curan

  Have you heard of no likely wars toward, ’twixt the

  Dukes of Cornwall and Albany?

  Edmund

  Not a word.

  Curan

  You may do, then, in time. Fare you well, sir.

  Exit

  Edmund

  The duke be here to-night? The better! best!

  This weaves itself perforce into my business.

  My father hath set guard to take my brother;

  And I have one thing, of a queasy question,

  Which I must act: briefness and fortune, work!

  Brother, a word; descend: brother, I say!

  Enter Edgar

  My father watches: O sir, fly this place;

  Intelligence is given where you are hid;

  You have now the good advantage of the night:

  Have you not spoken ’gainst the Duke of Cornwall?

  He’s coming hither: now, i’ the night, i’ the haste,

  And Regan with him: have you nothing said

  Upon his party ’gainst the Duke of Albany?

  Advise yourself.

  Edgar

&n
bsp; I am sure on’t, not a word.

  Edmund

  I hear my father coming: pardon me:

  In cunning I must draw my sword upon you

  Draw; seem to defend yourself; now quit you well.

  Yield: come before my father. Light, ho, here!

  Fly, brother. Torches, torches! So, farewell.

  Exit Edgar

  Some blood drawn on me would beget opinion.

  Wounds his arm

  Of my more fierce endeavour: I have seen drunkards

  Do more than this in sport. Father, father!

  Stop, stop! No help?

  Enter Gloucester, and Servants with torches

  Gloucester

  Now, Edmund, where’s the villain?

  Edmund

  Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword out,

  Mumbling of wicked charms, conjuring the moon

  To stand auspicious mistress,—

  Gloucester

  But where is he?

  Edmund

  Look, sir, I bleed.

  Gloucester

  Where is the villain, Edmund?

  Edmund

  Fled this way, sir. When by no means he could —

  Gloucester

  Pursue him, ho! Go after.

  Exeunt some Servants

  By no means what?

  Edmund

  Persuade me to the murder of your lordship;

  But that I told him, the revenging gods

  ’Gainst parricides did all their thunders bend;

  Spoke, with how manifold and strong a bond

  The child was bound to the father; sir, in fine,

  Seeing how loathly opposite I stood

  To his unnatural purpose, in fell motion,

  With his prepared sword, he charges home

  My unprovided body, lanced mine arm:

  But when he saw my best alarum’d spirits,

  Bold in the quarrel’s right, roused to the encounter,

  Or whether gasted by the noise I made,

  Full suddenly he fled.

  Gloucester

  Let him fly far:

  Not in this land shall he remain uncaught;

  And found — dispatch. The noble duke my master,

  My worthy arch and patron, comes to-night:

  By his authority I will proclaim it,

  That he which finds him shall deserve our thanks,

  Bringing the murderous coward to the stake;

  He that conceals him, death.

  Edmund

  When I dissuaded him from his intent,

  And found him pight to do it, with curst speech

  I threaten’d to discover him: he replied,

  ‘Thou unpossessing bastard! dost thou think,

  If I would stand against thee, would the reposal

  Of any trust, virtue, or worth in thee

  Make thy words faith’d? No: what I should deny,—

  As this I would: ay, though thou didst produce

  My very character,— I’ld turn it all

  To thy suggestion, plot, and damned practise:

  And thou must make a dullard of the world,

  If they not thought the profits of my death

  Were very pregnant and potential spurs

  To make thee seek it.’

  Gloucester

  Strong and fasten’d villain

  Would he deny his letter? I never got him.

  Tucket within

  Hark, the duke’s trumpets! I know not why he comes.

  All ports I’ll bar; the villain shall not ’scape;

  The duke must grant me that: besides, his picture

  I will send far and near, that all the kingdom

  May have the due note of him; and of my land,

  Loyal and natural boy, I’ll work the means

  To make thee capable.

  Enter Cornwall, Regan, and Attendants

  Cornwall

  How now, my noble friend! since I came hither,

  Which I can call but now, I have heard strange news.

  Regan

  If it be true, all vengeance comes too short

  Which can pursue the offender. How dost, my lord?

  Gloucester

  O, madam, my old heart is crack’d, it’s crack’d!

  Regan

  What, did my father’s godson seek your life?

  He whom my father named? your Edgar?

  Gloucester

  O, lady, lady, shame would have it hid!

  Regan

  Was he not companion with the riotous knights

  That tend upon my father?

  Gloucester

  I know not, madam: ’tis too bad, too bad.

  Edmund

  Yes, madam, he was of that consort.

  Regan

  No marvel, then, though he were ill affected:

  ’Tis they have put him on the old man’s death,

  To have the expense and waste of his revenues.

  I have this present evening from my sister

  Been well inform’d of them; and with such cautions,

  That if they come to sojourn at my house,

  I’ll not be there.

  Cornwall

  Nor I, assure thee, Regan.

  Edmund, I hear that you have shown your father

  A child-like office.

  Edmund

  ’Twas my duty, sir.

  Gloucester

  He did bewray his practise; and received

  This hurt you see, striving to apprehend him.

  Cornwall

  Is he pursued?

  Gloucester

  Ay, my good lord.

  Cornwall

  If he be taken, he shall never more

  Be fear’d of doing harm: make your own purpose,

  How in my strength you please. For you, Edmund,

  Whose virtue and obedience doth this instant

  So much commend itself, you shall be ours:

  Natures of such deep trust we shall much need;

  You we first seize on.

  Edmund

  I shall serve you, sir,

  Truly, however else.

  Gloucester

  For him I thank your grace.

  Cornwall

  You know not why we came to visit you,—

  Regan

  Thus out of season, threading dark-eyed night:

  Occasions, noble Gloucester, of some poise,

  Wherein we must have use of your advice:

  Our father he hath writ, so hath our sister,

  Of differences, which I least thought it fit

  To answer from our home; the several messengers

  From hence attend dispatch. Our good old friend,

  Lay comforts to your bosom; and bestow

  Your needful counsel to our business,

  Which craves the instant use.

  Gloucester

  I serve you, madam:

  Your graces are right welcome.

  Exeunt

  SCENE II. BEFORE GLOUCESTER’S CASTLE.

  Enter Kent and Oswald, severally

  Oswald

  Good dawning to thee, friend: art of this house?

  Kent

  Ay.

  Oswald

  Where may we set our horses?

  Kent

  I’ the mire.

  Oswald

  Prithee, if thou lovest me, tell me.

  Kent

  I love thee not.

  Oswald

  Why, then, I care not for thee.

  Kent

  If I had thee in Lipsbury pinfold, I would make thee care for me.

  Oswald

  Why dost thou use me thus? I know thee not.

  Kent

  Fellow, I know thee.

  Oswald

  What dost thou know me for?

  Kent

  A knave; a rascal; an eater of broken meats; a base, proud, shallow, beggarly, three-suited, hundred-pound, filthy, worsted-stocking knave; a lily-livered, act
ion-taking knave, a whoreson, glass-gazing, super-serviceable finical rogue; one-trunk-inheriting slave; one that wouldst be a bawd, in way of good service, and art nothing but the composition of a knave, beggar, coward, pandar, and the son and heir of a mongrel bitch: one whom I will beat into clamorous whining, if thou deniest the least syllable of thy addition.

  Oswald

  Why, what a monstrous fellow art thou, thus to rail on one that is neither known of thee nor knows thee!

  Kent

  What a brazen-faced varlet art thou, to deny thou knowest me! Is it two days ago since I tripped up thy heels, and beat thee before the king? Draw, you rogue: for, though it be night, yet the moon shines; I’ll make a sop o’ the moonshine of you: draw, you whoreson cullionly barber-monger, draw.

  Drawing his sword

  Oswald

  Away! I have nothing to do with thee.

  Kent

  Draw, you rascal: you come with letters against the king; and take vanity the puppet’s part against the royalty of her father: draw, you rogue, or I’ll so carbonado your shanks: draw, you rascal; come your ways.

  Oswald

  Help, ho! murder! help!

  Kent

  Strike, you slave; stand, rogue, stand; you neat slave, strike.

  Beating him

  Oswald

  Help, ho! murder! murder!

  Enter Edmund, with his rapier drawn, Cornwall, Regan, Gloucester, and Servants

  Edmund

  How now! What’s the matter?

  Kent

  With you, goodman boy, an you please: come, I’ll flesh ye; come on, young master.

  Gloucester

  Weapons! arms! What ’s the matter here?

  Cornwall

  Keep peace, upon your lives:

  He dies that strikes again. What is the matter?

  Regan

  The messengers from our sister and the king.

  Cornwall

  What is your difference? speak.

  Oswald

  I am scarce in breath, my lord.

  Kent

  No marvel, you have so bestirred your valour. You cowardly rascal, nature disclaims in thee: a tailor made thee.

  Cornwall

  Thou art a strange fellow: a tailor make a man?

  Kent

  Ay, a tailor, sir: a stone-cutter or painter could not have made him so ill, though he had been but two hours at the trade.

  Cornwall

  Speak yet, how grew your quarrel?

  Oswald

  This ancient ruffian, sir, whose life I have spared at suit of his gray beard,—

  Kent

  Thou whoreson zed! thou unnecessary letter! My lord, if you will give me leave, I will tread this unbolted villain into mortar, and daub the wall of a jakes with him. Spare my gray beard, you wagtail?

  Cornwall

  Peace, sirrah!

  You beastly knave, know you no reverence?

  Kent

  Yes, sir; but anger hath a privilege.

  Cornwall

  Why art thou angry?

  Kent

  That such a slave as this should wear a sword,

 

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