Enter STEWard. Re. I know 't, my sister's: this approves her letter, That she would soon be here.-Is your lady come? Lear. This is a slave, whose easy-borrow'd pride Dwells in the fickle grace of her he follows. Out, varlet, from my sight! Corn. What means your grace? Lear. Who stock'd my servant? Regan, I have good hope Thou didst not know of 't.-Who comes here? O heavens, Enter GONERIL. If you do love old men, if your sweet sway Allow 1 obedience, if yourselves are old, Make it your cause; send down, and take my part!— Art not ashamed to look upon this beard?— [to Goneril. O, Regan, wilt thou take her by the hand? Gon. Why not by the hand, sir? How have I offended? All's not offence, that indiscretion finds, And dotage terms so. Lear. O, sides, you are too tough! 'Approve. Will you yet hold?- How came my man i' the stocks? Corn. I set him there, sir; but his own disorders Deserved much less advancement. Lear. You! did you? Re. I pray you, father, being weak, seem so. If, till the expiration of your month, You will return and sojourn with my sister, Dismissing half your train, come then to me: I am now from home, and out of that provision Which shall be needful for your entertainment. Lear. Return to her, and fifty men dismiss'd? No, rather I abjure all roofs, and choose To wage against the enmity o' the air; To be a comrade with the wolf and owl,— Necessity's sharp pinch!-Return with her? Why, the hot-blooded France, that dowerless took Our youngest-born ;-I could as well be brought To knee his throne, and, squire-like, pension beg To keep base life afoot.-Return with her? Persuade me rather to be slave and sumpter 1 1 To this detested groom. [looking on the Steward. At your choice, sir. Gon. Lear. I pr'ythee, daughter, do not make me mad: I will not trouble thee, my child; farewell: We'll no more meet, no more see one another: But yet thou art my flesh, my blood, my daughter; Or, rather, a disease that 's in my flesh, A horse that carries necessaries on a journey. Which I must needs call mine: thou art a boil, In my corrupted blood: but I'll not chide thee; Nor tell tales of thee to high-judging Jove: Mend when thou canst; be better at thy leisure : I can be patient; I can stay with Regan, I, and my hundred knights. Re. Not altogether so, sir; I look'd not for you yet, nor am provided For your fit welcome. Give ear, sir, to my sister: For those that mingle reason with your passion, Must be content to think you old, and so But she knows what she does. Is this well spoken now? Lear. Re. I dare avouch it, sir. What, fifty followers ? Is it not well? What should you need of more, Yea, or so many; sith 2 that both charge and danger Speak 'gainst so great a number? How, in one house, Should many people, under two commands, Hold amity? 'Tis hard; almost impossible. Gon. Why might not you, my lord, receive attendance From those that she calls servants, or from mine? Re. Why not, my lord? If then they chanced to slack you, We could control them. If you will come to me, Lear. I gave you all Re. Lear. Made you my guardians, my depositaries; And in good time you gave it. What, must I come to you But kept a reservation to be follow'd With such a number. With five and twenty, Regan? said you so? Re. And speak it again, my lord; no more with me. Lear. Those wicked creatures yet do look well favor'd, When others are more wicked; not being the worst, Stands in some rank of praise.—I'll go with thee: [to Goneril. Thy fifty yet doth double five and twenty, And thou art twice her love. Gon. Hear me, my lord; What need you five and twenty, ten, or five, Re. What need one? 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, Which scarcely keeps thee warm.-But, for true need,― You Heavens, give me that patience, patience I need! You see me here, you gods, a poor old man, To bear it tamely; touch me with noble anger : That all the word shall————I will do such things,- I have full cause of weeping; but this heart [Exeunt Lear, Gloster, Kent, and Fool. Corn. Let us withdraw; 'twill be a storm. [storm heard at a distance. Re. This house Is little; the old man and his people cannot Gon. 'Tis his own blame; hath put himself from rest, And must needs taste his folly. Re. For his particular, I'll receive him gladly, But not one follower. Gon. So am I purposed. |