Kent. Why the King of France is so suddenly gone[4141]
back know you the reason?[4141][4142]
Gent. Something he left imperfect in the state which[4143]
since his coming forth is thought of, which imports to the[4143][4144]
kingdom so much fear and danger that his personal return[4143][4145] 5
was most required and necessary.[4143]
Kent. Who hath he left behind him general?[4146]
Gent. The Marshal of France, Monsieur La Far.[4147]
Kent. Did your letters pierce the queen to any demonstration[4148]
of grief?[4148] 10
Gent. Ay, sir; she took them, read them in my presence,[4149]
And now and then an ample tear trill'd down
Her delicate cheek: it seem'd she was a queen[4150]
Over her passion, who most rebel-like[4150][4151]
Sought to be king o'er her.[4150]
Kent. O, then it moved her. 15
Gent. Not to a rage: patience and sorrow strove[4152]
Who should express her goodliest. You have seen[4153]
Sunshine and rain at once: her smiles and tears[4154]
Were like a better way: those happy smilets[4154][4155]
That play'd on her ripe lip seem'd not to know[4156] 20
What guests were in her eyes; which parted thence
As pearls from diamonds dropp'd. In brief,[4157][4158]
Sorrow would be a rarity most beloved,[4157]
If all could so become it.[4157]
Kent. Made she no verbal question?[4159]
Gent. Faith, once or twice she heaved the name of 'father'[4160] 25
Pantingly forth, as if it press'd her heart;
Cried 'Sisters! sisters! Shame of ladies! sisters![4161]
Kent! father! sisters! What, i' the storm? i' the night?[4161][4162]
Let pity not be believed!' There she shook[4163]
The holy water from her heavenly eyes, 30
And clamour moisten'd: then away she started[4164]
To deal with grief alone.
Kent. It is the stars,[4165][4166]
The stars above us, govern our conditions;[4166]
Else one self mate and mate could not beget[4167]
Such different issues. You spoke not with her since?[4168] 35
Gent. No.
Kent. Was this before the king return'd?
Gent. No, since.
Kent. Well, sir, the poor distressed Lear's i' the town;[4169]
Who sometime in his better tune remembers[4170]
What we are come about, and by no means[4171] 40
Will yield to see his daughter.[4171]
Gent. Why, good sir?
Kent. A sovereign shame so elbows him: his own unkindness[4172]
That stripp'd her from his benediction, turn'd her[4173]
To foreign casualties, gave her dear rights
To his dog-hearted daughters: these things sting[4174][4175] 45
His mind so venomously that burning shame[4174][4175]
Detains him from Cordelia.[4174][4176]
Gent. Alack, poor gentleman!
Kent. Of Albany's and Cornwall's powers you heard not?[4177]
Gent. 'Tis so; they are afoot.[4178]
Kent. Well, sir, I'll bring you to our master Lear, 50
And leave you to attend him: some dear cause
Will in concealment wrap me up awhile;
When I am known aright, you shall not grieve
Lending me this acquaintance. I pray you, go[4179]
Along with me. [Exeunt.[4179][4180] 55
Scene IV. The same. A tent.
Enter, with drum and colours, Cordelia, Doctor, and Soldiers.[4181]
Cor. Alack, 'tis he: why, he was met even now
As mad as the vex'd sea; singing aloud;[4182]
Crown'd with rank fumiter and furrow-weeds,[4183]
With bur-docks, hemlock, nettles, cuckoo-flowers,[4184]
Darnel, and all the idle weeds that grow 5
In our sustaining corn. A century send forth;[4185]
Search every acre in the high-grown field,
And bring him to our eye. [Exit an Officer.] What can man's wisdom[4186][4187][4188][4189]
In the restoring his bereaved sense?[4186][4188][4190]
He that helps him take all my outward worth.[4186][4191] 10
Doct. There is means, madam:[4192]
Our foster-nurse of nature is repose,
The which he lacks: that to provoke in him,[4193]
Are many simples operative, whose power
Will close the eye of anguish.
Cor. All blest secrets,[4194] 15
All you unpublish'd virtues of the earth,[4194]
Spring with my tears! be aidant and remediate[4195]
In the good man's distress! Seek, seek for him;[4196]
Lest his ungovern'd rage dissolve the life
That wants the means to lead it.
Enter a Messenger.[4197]
Mess. News, madam;[4198] 20
The British powers are marching hitherward.[4198]
Cor. 'Tis known before; our preparation stands
In expectation of them. O dear father,
It is thy business that I go about;[4199]
Therefore great France[4199] 25
My mourning and important tears hath pitied.[4200]
No blown ambition doth our arms incite,[4201]
But love, dear love, and our aged father's right:[4202]
Soon may I hear and see him! [Exeunt.[4203]
Scene V. Gloucester's castle.
Enter Regan and Oswald.[4204]
Reg. But are my brother's powers set forth?[4205]
Reg. Lord Edmund spake not with your lord at home?[4209]
Osw. No, madam. 5
Reg. What might import my sister's letter to him?[4210]
Osw. I know not, lady.
Reg. Faith, he is posted hence on serious matter.[4211]
It was great ignorance, Gloucester's eyes being out,
To let him live: where he arrives he moves 10
All hearts against us: Edmund, I think, is gone,[4212]
In pity of his misery, to dispatch[4213]
His nighted life; moreover, to descry[4213]
The strength o' the enemy.[4213][4214]
Osw. I must needs after him, madam, with my letter.[4215] 15
Reg. Our troops set forth to-morrow: stay with us;[4216]
The ways are dangerous.
Osw. I may not, madam:[4217]
My lady charged my duty in this business.[4217]
Reg. Why should she write to Edmund? Might not you[4218]
Transport her purposes by word? Belike,[4218][4219] 20
Something—I know not what: I'll love thee much,[4220]
Let me unseal the letter.
Osw. Madam, I had rather—[4221]
Reg. I know your lady does not love her husband;
I am sure of that: and at her late being here[4222]
She gave strange œillades and most speaking looks[4223] 25
To noble Edmund. I know you are of her bosom.[4224]
Reg. I speak in understanding: you are; I know't:[4226]
Therefore I do advise you, take this note:[4227]
My lord is dead; Edmund and I have talk'd; 30
And more convenient is he for my hand
Than for your lady's: you may gather more.[4228]
If you do find him, pray you, give him this;[4229]
And when your mistress hears thus much from you,
I pray, desire her call her wisdom to her. 35
So, fare you well.[4230]
If you do chance to hear of that blind traitor,
Preferment falls on him that cuts him off.
Osw. Would I could meet him, madam! I should show[4231]
What party I do follow.
Reg. Fare thee well. [Exeunt.[4232] 40
Scene VI. Fields near Dover.
Enter Gloucester, and Edgar dressed like a peasant.[4233]
Glou. When shall we come to the top of that same hill?[4234]
Edg. You do climb up it now: look, how we labour.[4235]
Glou. Methinks the ground is even.
Glou. No, truly.
Edg. Why then your other senses grow imperfect 5
By your eyes' anguish.
Glou. So may it be indeed:
Methinks thy voice is alter'd, and thou speak'st[4239]
In better phrase and matter than thou didst.[4240]
Edg. You're much deceived: in nothing am I changed[4241]
But in my garments.
Glou. Methinks you're better spoken.[4242] 10
Edg. Come on, sir; here's the place: stand still. How fearful[4243]
And dizzy 'tis to cast one's eyes so low![4244]
The crows and choughs that wing the midway air
Show scarce so gross as beetles: half way down
Hangs one that gathers samphire, dreadful trade![4245] 15
Methinks he seems no bigger than his head:
The fishermen that walk upon the beach[4246]
Appear like mice; and yond tall anchoring bark[4247]
Diminish'd to her cock; her cock, a buoy[4248]
Almost too small for sight: the murmuring surge 20
That on the unnumber’d idle pebbles chafes[4249]
Cannot be heard so high. I'll look no more,[4250]
Lest my brain turn and the deficient sight
Topple down headlong.
Glou. Set me where you stand.
Glou. Let go my hand.
Here, friend, 's another purse; in it a jewel
Well worth a poor man's taking: fairies and gods[4255]
Prosper it with thee! Go thou farther off;[4256] 30
Bid me farewell, and let me hear thee going.
Edg. Now fare you well good sir.[4257]
Glou. With all my heart.
Edg. Why I do trifle thus with his despair[4258]
Is done to cure it.[4258]
Glou. [Kneeling] O you mighty gods![4259]
This world I do renounce, and in your sights 35
Shake patiently my great affliction off:
If I could bear it longer and not fall
To quarrel with your great opposeless wills,
My snuff and loathed part of nature should[4260]
Burn itself out. If Edgar live, O bless him![4261] 40
Now, fellow, fare thee well. [He falls forward.[4262]
Glou. Away, and let me die.
Edg. Hadst thou been aught but gossamer, feathers, air,[4271]
So many fathom down precipitating, 50
Thou'dst shiver'd like an egg: but thou dost breathe;[4272]
Hast heavy substance; bleed'st not; speak'st; art sound.[4273]
Ten masts at each make not the altitude[4274]
Which thou hast perpendicularly fell:[4275]
Thy life's a miracle. Speak yet again. 55
Glou. But have I fall'n, or no?[4276]
Edg. From the dread summit of this chalky bourn.[4277]
Look up a-height; the shrill-gorged lark so far[4278]
Cannot be seen or heard: do but look up.[4279]
Glou. Alack, I have no eyes. 60
Is wretchedness deprived that benefit,
To end itself by death? 'Twas yet some comfort,[4280]
When misery could beguile the tyrant's rage
And frustrate his proud will.
Edg. Give me your arm:[4281]
Up: so. How is't? Feel you your legs? You stand.[4282] 65
Glou. Too well, too well.
Edg. This is above all strangeness.
Upon the crown o' the cliff, what thing was that[4283]
Which parted from you?
Glou. A poor unfortunate beggar.[4284]
Edg. As I stood here below, methought his eyes[4285]
Were two full moons; he had a thousand noses,[4286] 70
Horns whelk'd and waved like the enridged sea:[4287]
It was some fiend; therefore, thou happy father,
Think that the clearest gods, who make them honours[4288]
Of men's impossibilities, have preserved thee.
Glou. I do remember now: henceforth I'll bear 75
Affliction till it do cry out itself
'Enough, enough,' and die. That thing you speak of,[4289]
I took it for a man; often 'twould say[4290]
'The fiend, the fiend:' he led me to that place.[4291]
Edg. Bear free and patient thoughts. But who comes
here? 80
Enter Lear, fantastically dressed with wild flowers.[4292]