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. Lear. Return to her, and fifty men dismiss'd? 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, 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. And in good time you gave it. Lear. Made you my guardians, my depositaries; But kept a reservation to be follow'd With such a number. What, must I come to you 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, t 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, That all the word shall -I will do such things, What they are, yet I know not; but they shall be The terrors of the earth. You think, I'll weep; No, I'll not weep: I have full cause of weeping; but this heart Shall break into a hundred thousand flaws, go mad! Corn. Let us withdraw; 'twill be a storm. Re. [storm heard at a distance. This house Is little; the old man and his people cannot Be well bestow'd. 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. Where is my lord of Gloster? Re-enter GLOSTER. Corn. Follow'd the old man forth: he is return'd. Glos. The king is in high rage. Corn. Whither is he going? Glos. He calls to horse; but will I know not whither. Corn. 'Tis best to give him way: he leads himself. Gon. My lord, entreat him by no means to stay. Glos. Alack, the night comes on, and the bleak winds Do sorely ruffle for many miles about There's scarce a bush. Re. O, sir, to wilful men, The injuries, that they themselves procure, Must be their schoolmasters. Shut up your doors: He is attended with a desperate train; And what they may incense him to, being apt To have his ear abused, wisdom bids fear. Corn. Shut up your doors, my lord; 'tis a wild night; My Regan counsels well: come out o' the storm. [Exeunt. |