Necessity's sharp pinch! — Return with her? Gon. - slave and sumpter [Looking at OSWALD. At your choice, Sir. Lear. I pr'ythee, daughter, do not make me mad: I will not trouble thee, my child; farewell. In my corrupted blood. But I'll not chide thee; Mend, when thou canst; be better, at thy leisure : I, and my hundred knights. Reg. Not altogether so : But she knows what she does. Lear. Reg. I dare avouch it, Sir. 3 Is this well spoken? What! fifty followers? Is it not well? What should you need of more? Yea, or so many, sith that both charge and danger Hold amity? 'T is hard; almost impossible. Gon. Why might not you, my lord, receive attendance From those that she calls servants, or from mine? Reg. Why not, my lord? If then they chanc'd to slack you, We could control them. If you will come to me, (For now I spy a danger) I entreat you To bring but five and twenty: to no more Will I give place, or notice. Lear. I gave you all Reg. And in good time you gave it. Lear. Made you my guardians, my depositaries, With such a number. What! must I come to you Reg. And speak 't again, my lord; no more with me. Thy fifty yet doth double five and twenty, And thou art twice her love. Gon. Hear me, my lord. Reg. What need one? [TO GONERIL Lear. O! reason not the need; our basest beggars Are in the poorest thing superfluous: Allow not nature more than nature needs, Man's life is cheap as beast's. Thou art a lady; If only to go warm were gorgeous, Why, nature needs not what thou gorgeous wear'st, V.L -. 161 Stain my man's cheeks. No, you unnatural hags, - I have full cause of weeping; but this heart [Storm heard at a distance. Shall break into a hundred thousand flaws, Or ere I'll weep. · [Exeunt LEAR, GLOSTER, KENT, and Fool. Corn. Let us withdraw, 't will be a storm. Reg. This house is little: the old man and 's people Cannot be well bestow'd. Gon. 'T is his own blame hath put himself from rest, And must needs taste his folly. Reg. For his particular, I'll receive him gladly, But not one follower. Con. Where is my lord of Gloster? So am I purpos'd. Re-enter GLOSTER. Corn. Follow'd the old man forth. He is return'd. Corn. Whither is he going? Glo. He calls to horse; but will I know not whither. There's scarce a bush. Reg. O, Sir! to wilful men, The injuries that they themselves procure Must be their schoolmasters. Shut up your doors: And what they may incense him to, being apt To have his ear abus'd, wisdom bids fear. Corn. Shut up your doors, my lord; 't is a wild night: My Regan counsels well. Come out o' the storm. ACT III SCENE I. A Heath. [Exeunt. A Storm, with Thunder and Lightning. Enter KENT, and a Gentleman, meeting. Kent. Who's here, beside foul weather? Gent. One minded, Kent. I know you. like the weather, most unquietly. Gent. Contending with the fretful elements; Bids the wind blow the earth into the sea, Or swell the curled waters 'bove the main, That things might change or cease: tears his white hair, Catch in their fury, and make nothing of: The to-and-fro-conflicting wind and rain. This night, wherein the cub-drawn bear would couch, Keep their fur dry, unbonneted he runs, And bids what will take all. Kent. But who is with him? Gent. None but the fool, who labours to outjest His heart-struck injuries. Kent. Sir, I do know you, And dare, upon the warrant of my note, Commend a dear thing to you. There is division, With mutual cunning, 'twixt Albany and Cornwall; Or the hard rein which both of them have borne I am a gentleman of blood and breeding, Gent. I will talk farther with you. No, do not. For confirmation that I am much more That yet you do not know. [Thunder.] Fie on this storm! Gent. Give me your hand. Have you no more to say? [Exeunt severally. SCENE II. Another Part of the Heath. Storm continues. Enter LEAR and Fool. Lear. Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! rage! blow! You cataracts and hurricanoes spout, |