Whose reverence the head-lugg'd bear would lick, Most barbarous, most degenerate! have you mad ded. Could my good brother suffer you to do it? If that the heavens do not their visible spirits Humanity must perforce prey on itself, Like monsters of the deep. GOR. Milk-liver'd man! That bear'st a cheek for blows, a head for wrongs; France spreads his banners in our noiseless land; Alb. See thyself, devil! Gon. O vain fool! Alb. Thou changed and self-cover'd thing, for shame, Be-monster not thy feature. Were it my fitness They are apt enough to dislocate and tear Gon. Marry, your manhood now! 2 Inclination. Enter a Messenger. Alb. What news? Mess. O, my good lord, the duke of Cornwall's dead; Slain by his servant, going to put out The other eye of Gloster. Alb. Gloster's eyes! Mess. A servant that he bred, thrill'd with re morse, Oppos'd against the act, bending his sword Alb. Mess. Both, both, my lord. This letter, madam, craves a speedy answer; 'Tis from your sister. Gon. [aside.] One way I like this well; But being widow, and my Gloster with her, May all the building in my fancy pluck Upon my hateful life: Another way, The news is not so tart. I'll read and answer. [Exit. Alb. Where was his son, when they did take his eyes? Mess. Come with my lady hither. Alb. Mess. Ay, my good lord; 'twas he inform'd against him; And quit the house on purpose, that their punish ment Might have the freer course. Alb. Gloster, I live To thank thee for the love thou showd'st the king, And to revenge thine eyes. Come hither, friend; Tell me what more thou knowest. [Exeunt. SCENE III. The French Camp, near Dover. Enter KENT, and a Gentleman. Kent. Why the king of France is so suddenly gone back know you the reason? Gent. Something he left imperfect in the state, Which since his coming forth is thought of; which Imports to the kingdom so much fear and danger, That his personal return was most requir'd, And necessary. Kent. Who hath he left behind him, general? Gent. The mareschal of France, monsieur le Fer. Kent. Did your letters pierce the queen to any demonstration of grief? Gent. Ay, sir; she took them, read them in my And now and then an ample tear trill'd down Sought to be king o'er her. Kent. O, then it mov'd her. Gent. Not to a rage: patience and sorrow strove Who should express her goodliest. You have seen Sunshine and rain at once: her smiles and tears Were like a better day: Those happy smiles, That play'd on her ripe lip, seem'd not to know What guests were in her eyes; which parted thence, As pearls from diamonds dropp'd.-In brief, sorrow Would be a rarity most belov'd, if all Could so become it. Kent. Made she no verbal question? 3 Gent. 'Faith, once, or twice, she heav'd the name of father Pantingly forth, as if it press'd her heart; Cried, Sisters! sisters! ·Shame of ladies! sisters! Kent! father! sisters! What? 'the storm? 'the night? Let pity not be believed! 4-There she shook And clamour moisten'd: then away she started Kent. It is the stars, The stars above us, govern our conditions; 5 since? Gent. No. Kent. Was this before the king return'd? Gent. No, since. Kent. Well, sir; The poor distress'd Lear is i'the town: Who sometime, in his better tune, remembers Will yield to see his daughter. Gent. Why, good sir? Kent. A sovereign shame so elbows him: his own unkindness, 3 Discourse, conversation. 4 i. e. Let not pity be supposed to exist. 5 Dispositions. That stripp'd her from his benediction, turn'd her these things sting His mind so venomously, that burning shame Detains him from Cordelia. Gent. Alack, poor gentleman! Kent. Of Albany's and Cornwall's powers 6 you heard not? Gent. 'Tis so; they are afoot. Kent. Well, sir, I'll bring you to our master Lear, And leave you to attend him: some dear cause, 7 Will in concealment wrap me up awhile; When I am known aright, you shall not grieve Lending me this acquaintance. I pray you, go Along with me. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. The same. A Tent. Enter CORDELIA, Physician, and Soldiers. Cor. Alack, 'tis he; why, he was met even now In our sustaining corn. A century send forth; In the restoring his bereaved sense? He, that helps him, take all my outward worth. 6 Forces. 7 Important business. 8 Fumitory. 9 Charlocks. |