Some other time for that.- Beloved Regan, Thy sister's naught. O Regan, she hath tied Sharp-tooth'd unkindness, like a vulture, here!

[Lays his hand on his heart.]

I can scarce speak to thee. Thou'lt not believe With how deprav'd a quality- O Regan!

Reg. I pray you, sir, take patience. I have hope You less know how to value her desert Than she to scant her duty.

Lear. Say, how is that?

Reg. I cannot think my sister in the least Would fail her obligation. If, sir, perchance She have restrain'd the riots of your followers, 'Tis on such ground, and to such wholesome end, As clears her from all blame.

Lear. My curses on her!

Reg. O, sir, you are old!

Nature in you stands on the very verge Of her confine. You should be rul'd, and led By some discretion that discerns your state Better than you yourself. Therefore I pray you That to our sister you do make return; Say you have wrong'd her, sir.

Lear. Ask her forgiveness?

Do you but mark how this becomes the house: 'Dear daughter, I confess that I am old. [Kneels.]

Age is unnecessary. On my knees I beg That you'll vouchsafe me raiment, bed, and food.'

Reg. Good sir, no more! These are unsightly tricks.

Return you to my sister.

Lear. [rises] Never, Regan!

She hath abated me of half my train; Look'd black upon me; struck me with her tongue, Most serpent-like, upon the very heart.

All the stor'd vengeances of heaven fall On her ingrateful top! Strike her young bones, You taking airs, with lameness!

Corn. Fie, sir, fie!

Lear. You nimble lightnings, dart your blinding flames Into her scornful eyes! Infect her beauty, You fen-suck'd fogs, drawn by the pow'rful sun, To fall and blast her pride!

Reg. O the blest G.o.ds! so will you wish on me When the rash mood is on.

Lear. No, Regan, thou shalt never have my curse.

Thy tender-hefted nature shall not give Thee o'er to harshness. Her eyes are fierce; but thine Do comfort, and not burn. 'Tis not in thee To grudge my pleasures, to cut off my train, To bandy hasty words, to scant my sizes, And, in conclusion, to oppose the bolt Against my coming in. Thou better know'st The offices of nature, bond of childhood, Effects of courtesy, dues of grat.i.tude.

Thy half o' th' kingdom hast thou not forgot, Wherein I thee endow'd.

Reg. Good sir, to th' purpose.

Tucket within.

Lear. Who put my man i' th' stocks?

Corn. What trumpet's that?

Reg. I know't- my sister's. This approves her letter, That she would soon be here.

Enter [Oswald the] Steward.

Is your lady come?

Lear. This is a slave, whose easy-borrowed pride Dwells in the fickle grace of her he follows.

Out, varlet, from my sight!

Corn. What means your Grace?

Enter Goneril.

Lear. Who stock'd my servant? Regan, I have good hope Thou didst not know on't.- Who comes here? O heavens!

If you do love old men, if your sweet sway Allow obedience- if yourselves are old, Make it your cause! Send down, and take my part!

[To Goneril] Art not asham'd to look upon this beard?- O Regan, wilt thou take her by the hand?

Gon. Why not by th' hand, sir? How have I offended?

All's not offence that indiscretion finds And dotage terms so.

Lear. O sides, you are too tough!

Will you yet hold? How came my man i' th' stocks?

Corn. I set him there, sir; but his own disorders Deserv'd much less advancement.

Lear. You? Did you?

Reg. 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' th' 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 To this detested groom. [Points at Oswald.]

Gon. At your choice, sir.

Lear. I prithee, 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, Which I must needs call mine. Thou art a boil, A plague sore, an embossed carbuncle In my corrupted blood. But I'll not chide thee.

Let shame come when it will, I do not call it.

I do not bid the Thunder-bearer shoot 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.

Reg. Not altogether so.

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 pa.s.sion Must be content to think you old, and so- But she knows what she does.

Lear. Is this well spoken?

Reg. I dare avouch it, sir. What, fifty followers?

Is it not well? What should you need of more?

Yea, or so many, sith 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?

Reg. Why not, my lord? If then they chanc'd to slack ye, 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; But kept a reservation to be followed With such a number. What, must I come to you With five-and-twenty, Regan? Said you so?

Reg. And speak't again my lord. No more with me.

Lear. Those wicked creatures yet do look well-favour'd When others are more wicked; not being the worst Stands in some rank of praise. [To Goneril] I'll go with thee.

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, To follow in a house where twice so many Have a command to tend you?

Reg. 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 G.o.ds, a poor old man, As full of grief as age; wretched in both.

If it be you that stirs these daughters' hearts Against their father, fool me not so much To bear it tamely; touch me with n.o.ble anger, And let not women's weapons, water drops, Stain my man's cheeks! No, you unnatural hags!

I will have such revenges on you both That all the world 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 Or ere I'll weep. O fool, I shall go mad!

Exeunt Lear, Gloucester, Kent, and Fool. Storm and tempest.

Corn. Let us withdraw; 'twill be a storm.

Reg. This house is little; the old man and 's people Cannot be well bestow'd.

Gon. 'Tis 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.

Gon. So am I purpos'd.

Where is my Lord of Gloucester?

Corn. Followed the old man forth.

Enter Gloucester.

He is return'd.

Glou. The King is in high rage.

Corn. Whither is he going?

Glou. He calls to horse, but will I know not whither.