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? Lear. Who stock'd my servant? Regan, I have good hope Thou didst not know of't. - Who comes here? Oh, heavens, Enter GONERIL. If you do love old men, if your sweet sway Make it your cause; send down, and take my part! Art not asham'd to look upon this beard? O, Regan, wilt thou take her by the hand? [TO GONERIL. Gon. Why not by the hand, sir? How have I offended ? All's not offence, that indiscretion finds, And dotage terms so. Lear. Will you yet hold? How came my man i'the stocks? O, sides, you are too tough! Deserv'd much less advancement. Lear. You! did you? Reg. I pray you, father, being weak, seem so. Allow-] i. e. Approve. UPTON. 9 Deserv'd much less advancement.] Cornwall means that Kent's disorders had entitled him even to a post of less honour than the stocks.-STEEVENS. being weak, seem so.] Since you are so weak, be content to think your self weak. JOHNSON. Our youngest born, I could as well be brought To this detested groom. Gon. [Looking on the Steward. At your choice, sir. Lear. I pr'ythee, daughter, do not make me mad; I will not trouble thee, my child; farewell: I, and my hundred knights. Reg. Not altogether so, sir; I look'd not for you yet, nor am provided For your fit welcome: Give ear, sir, to my sister; Must be content to think you old, and so But she knows what she does. Lear. Is this well spoken now? 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 call servants, or from mine? Reg. Why not, my lord? If then they chanc'd to slack you, and sumpter-] i. e. A horse that carries necessaries on a journey, though sometimes used for the case to carry them in.-STEEVENS. -embossed-] i. ค. Swelling, protuberant. 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 follow'd With such a number: What, must I come to you With five-and-twenty, Regan? said you so ? Reg. And speak it 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:-I'll go with thee; Thy fifty yet doth double five-and-twenty, And thou art twice her love. [TO GONERIL. 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; Why, nature needs not what thou gorgeous wear'st, The terrors of the earth. You think, I'll weep; I have full cause of weeping; but this heart [Exeunt LEAR, GLOSTER, KENT, and Fool. Corn. Let us withdraw, 'twill be a storm. Reg. [Storm heard at a distance. Is little; the old man and his people cannot 'Tis his own blame; he 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 Gloster? Re-enter GLOSTER. Corn. Follow'd the old man forth :- he is return'd. Glo. The king is in high rage. Corn. Whither is he going? Glo. 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. Glo. Alack, the night comes on, and the bleak winds Do sorely ruffle; for many miles about There's scarce a bush. Reg. O, sir, to wilful men, The injuries, that they themselves procure, And what they may incense him to, being apt Corn. Shut up your doors, my lord; 'tis a wild night; My Regan counsels well: come out o'the storm. [Exeunt. h incense him to,] i. e. Move him to. ACT III. SCENE I.-A Heath. A Storm is heard, with Thunder and Lightning. Enter Kent. Who's here, beside foul weather? Gent. One minded like the weather, most unquietly. Gent. Contending with the fretful element : Bids the wind blow the earth into the sea, That things might change, or cease: tears his white hair; Strives in his little world of man to out-scorn The to-and-fro-conflicting wind and rain. This night, wherein the cub-drawn bear would couch, The lion and the belly-pinched wolf 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 out-jest His heart-struck injuries. Kent. Sir, I do know you; And dare, upon the warrant of my art,1 Commend a dear thing to you. There is division, With mutual cunning, 'twixt Albany and Cornwall; Intelligent of our state; what hath been seen. k the main,] i. e. The main land, the continent. -the cub-drawn bear-] i. e. Whose dugs are drawn dry by its young. As no animals leave their dens by night but for prey; the meaning is, that even hunger and the support of her young, would not force the bear to leave her den in such a night. WARBURTON. the warrant of my art,] On the strength of my skill in physiognomy. STEEVENS. 1 |