Smile you my speeches, as I were a fool? Corn. Glo. What! art thou mad, old fellow? Corn. Why dost thou call him knave? What's his offence? Kent. His countenance likes me not. Corn. No more, perchance, does mine, nor his, nor hers. Kent. Sir, 't is my occupation to be plain: I have seen better faces in my time, Than stands on any shoulder that I see Before me at this instant. Corn. This is some fellow, Who, having been prais'd for bluntness, doth affect An honest mind and plain, he must speak truth: An they will take it, so; if not, he's plain. These kind of knaves I know, which in this plainness That stretch their duties nicely. Kent. Sir, in good sooth, in sincere verity, Under th' allowance of your grand aspect, Whose influence, like the wreath of radiant fire Corn. What mean'st by this? Kent. To go out of my dialect, which you discommend so much. I know, Sir, I am no flatterer: he that beguiled you in a plain accent was a plain knave; which, for my part, I will not be, though I should win your displeasure to entreat me to 't. Corn. What was the offence you gave him? Osw. I never gave him any: slavleas'd the king, his master, very late, Orike at me, upon his misconstruction; When he, compact, and flattering his displeasure, That worthied him, got praises of the king Call not your stocks for me; I serve the king, You shall do small respect, show too bold malice Stocking his messenger. Corn. Fetch forth the stocks! As I have life and honour, there shall he sit till noon. Reg. Till noon! till night, my lord; and all night too. You should not use me so. Reg. Sir, being his knave, I will. [Stocks brought out. Corn. This is a fellow of the self-same colour Corn. I'll answer that. Reg. My sister may receive it much more worse, To have her gentleman abus'd, assaulted, Come, my lord, away. [KENT is put in the Stocks. Exeunt REGAN and CORNWALL. Glo. I am sorry for thee, friend; 't is the duke's pleasure, Whose disposition, all the world well knows, Will not be rubb'd, nor stopp'd: I'll entreat for thee. Kent. Pray, do not, Sir. I have watch'd, and travell'd hard; Some time I shall sleep out, the rest I'll whistle. A good man's fortune may grow out at heels: Give you good morrow! Glo. The duke 's to blame in this: "t will be ill taken. [Exit. Kent. Good king, that must approve the common saw: Thou out of heaven's benediction com'st To the warm sun. Approach, thou beacon to this under globe, That by thy comfortable beams I may Peruse this letter. Nothing almost sees miracles, Of my obscured course; and shall find time seeking to give Losses their remedies. All weary and o'er-watch'd, This shameful lodging. Fortune, good night; Smile once more; turn thy wheel! SCENE III. A Part of the Heath. Enter EDGAR. Edg. I heard myself proclaim'd; And by the happy hollow of a tree Escap'd the hunt. No port is free; no place, Does not attend my taking. While I may 'scape, [He sleeps. I will preserve myself; and am bethought Brought near to beast: my face I 'll grime with filth, SCENE IV. Before GLOSTER's Castle. Enter LEAR, Fool, and a Gentleman. [Exit. Lear. 'Tis strange that they should so depart from home, And not send back my messenger. Gent. As I learn'd, Fool. Ha, ha! look; he wears cruel garters. Horses are tied by the head; dogs, and bears, by the neck; monkeys by the loins, and men by the legs: when a man is over-lusty at legs, then he wears wooden nether-stocks. Lear. What's he, that hath so much thy place mistook, To set thee here? They durst not do 't; They could not, would not do 't: 't is worse than murder, To do upon respect such violent outrage. Resolve me with all modest haste which way Thou might'st deserve, or they impose, this usage; Kent. My lord, when at their home Which presently they read: on whose contents, The leisure of their answer; gave me cold looks: Whose welcome, I perceiv'd, had poison'd mine, Display'd so saucily against your highness) |