How chance the king comes with so small a train?Fool And thou hadst been set i'the stocks for that question,thou hadst well deserved it.KENT Why,fool?Fool We'll set thee to school to an ant,to teach thee there's no labouring i'the winter.All that follow their noses are led by their eyes but blind men;and there's not a nose among twenty but can smell him that's stinking.Let go thy hold when a great wheel runs down a hill,lest it break thy neck with following it:but the great one that goes up the hill,let him draw thee after.When a wise man gives thee better counsel,give me mine again:
I would have none but knaves follow it,since a fool gives it.
That sir which serves and seeks for gain,And follows but for form,Will pack when it begins to rain,And leave thee in the storm,But I will tarry;the fool will stay,And let the wise man fly:
The knave turns fool that runs away;
The fool no knave,perdy.KENT Where learned you this,fool?Fool Not i'the stocks,fool.
Re-enter KING LEAR with GLOUCESTER KING LEAR Deny to speak with me?They are sick?they are weary?
They have travell'd all the night?Mere fetches;The images of revolt and flying off.
Fetch me a better answer.GLOUCESTER My dear lord,You know the fiery quality of the duke;How unremoveable and fix'd he is In his own course.KING LEAR Vengeance!plague!death!confusion!
Fiery?what quality?Why,Gloucester,Gloucester,I'ld speak with the Duke of Cornwall and his wife.GLOUCESTER Well,my good lord,I have inform'd them so.KING LEAR Inform'd them!Dost thou understand me,man?GLOUCESTER Ay,my good lord.KING LEAR The king would speak with Cornwall;the dear father Would with his daughter speak,commands her service:
Are they inform'd of this?My breath and blood!
Fiery?the fiery duke?Tell the hot duke that--No,but not yet:may be he is not well:
Infirmity doth still neglect all office Whereto our health is bound;we are not ourselves When nature,being oppress'd,commands the mind To suffer with the body:I'll forbear;And am fall'n out with my more headier will,To take the indisposed and sickly fit For the sound man.Death on my state!wherefore Looking on KENT Should he sit here?This act persuades me That this remotion of the duke and her Is practise only.Give me my servant forth.
Go tell the duke and 's wife I'ld speak with them,Now,presently:bid them come forth and hear me,Or at their chamber-door I'll beat the drum Till it cry sleep to death.GLOUCESTER I would have all well betwixt you.
Exit KING LEAR O me,my heart,my rising heart!but,down!Fool Cry to it,nuncle,as the cockney did to the eels when she put 'em i'the paste alive;she knapped 'em o'the coxcombs with a stick,and cried 'Down,wantons,down!''Twas her brother that,in pure kindness to his horse,buttered his hay.
Enter CORNWALL,REGAN,GLOUCESTER,and Servants KING LEAR Good morrow to you both.CORNWALL Hail to your grace!
KENT is set at liberty REGAN I am glad to see your highness.KING LEAR Regan,I think you are;I know what reason I have to think so:if thou shouldst not be glad,I would divorce me from thy mother's tomb,Sepulchring an *****ress.
To KENT
O,are you free?
Some other time for that.Beloved Regan,Thy sister's naught:O Regan,she hath tied Sharp-tooth'd unkindness,like a vulture,here:
Points to his heart I can scarce speak to thee;thou'lt not believe With how depraved a quality--O Regan!REGAN I pray you,sir,take patience:I have hope.
You less know how to value her desert Than she to scant her duty.KING LEAR Say,how is that?REGAN I cannot think my sister in the least Would fail her obligation:if,sir,perchance She have restrain'd the riots of your followers,'Tis on such ground,and to such wholesome end,As clears her from all blame.KING LEAR My curses on her!REGAN O,sir,you are old.
Nature in you stands on the very verge Of her confine:you should be ruled and led By some discretion,that discerns your state Better than you yourself.Therefore,I pray you,That to our sister you do make return;Say you have wrong'd her,sir.KING LEAR Ask her forgiveness?
Do you but mark how this becomes the house:
'Dear daughter,I confess that I am old;
Kneeling Age is unnecessary:on my knees I beg That you'll vouchsafe me raiment,bed,and food.'REGAN Good sir,no more;these are unsightly tricks:
Return you to my sister.KING LEAR [Rising]Never,Regan:
She hath abated me of half my train;
Look'd black upon me;struck me with her tongue,Most serpent-like,upon the very heart:
All the stored vengeances of heaven fall On her ingrateful top!Strike her young bones,You taking airs,with lameness!CORNWALL Fie,sir,fie!KING LEAR You nimble lightnings,dart your blinding flames Into her scornful eyes!Infect her beauty,You fen-suck'd fogs,drawn by the powerful sun,To fall and blast her pride!REGAN O the blest gods!so will you wish on me,When the rash mood is on.KING LEAR No,Regan,thou shalt never have my curse:
Thy tender-hefted nature shall not give Thee o'er to harshness:her eyes are fierce;but thine Do comfort and not burn.'Tis not in thee To grudge my pleasures,to cut off my train,To bandy hasty words,to scant my sizes,And in conclusion to oppose the bolt Against my coming in:thou better know'st The offices of nature,bond of childhood,Effects of courtesy,dues of gratitude;Thy half o'the kingdom hast thou not forgot,Wherein I thee endow'd.REGAN Good sir,to the purpose.KING LEAR Who put my man i'the stocks?
Tucket within CORNWALL What trumpet's that?REGAN I know't,my sister's:this approves her letter,That she would soon be here.
Enter OSWALD
Is your lady come?KING LEAR This is a slave,whose easy-borrow'd pride Dwells in the fickle grace of her he follows.