4 Do comfort, and not burn: "Tis not in thee Thy half o'the kingdom hast thou not forgot, Reg. 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 Make it your cause; send down, and take my part! to scant my sizes,] To contract my allowances or proportions settled. Sizes are certain portions of bread, beer, or other victuals, which in publick societies are set down to the account of particular persons: a word still used in colleges. 5 Allow obedience,] Allow sometimes signifies approve. Art not asham'd 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 of fended? 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'the stocks? Corn. I set him there, sir: but his own disorders Deserv'd much less advancement.7 Lear. You! did you? 8 Reg. I pray you, father, being weak, seem so. Gon. [Looking on the Steward. At your choice, sir. 6 that indiscretion finds,] Or thinks. 7 less advancement.] A still worse or more disgraceful situ ation. 8 · being weak, seem so.] Since you are weak, be content to think yourself weak. 9 and sumpter-] Sumpter is a horse that carries necessaries on a journey, though sometimes used for the case to carry them in. 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:— Which I must needs call mine: thou art a boil, In my corrupted blood. But I'll not chide thee; Mend, when thou canst; be better, at thy leisure: 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; 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, We could control them: If you will come to me, To bring but five-and-twenty; to no more Lear. I 1-embossed carbuncle,] Embossed is, swelling, protuberant. Reg. And in good time you gave it. With such a number: What, must I come to you Reg. And speak it again, my lord; no more with me. 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, [To GONERIL. Hear me, my lord; Gon. 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, That all the world shall I will do such things, What they are, yet I know not; but they shall be No, I'll not weep: — 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. Reg. Gon. This house 'Tis his own blame; he hath putt Himself from rest, and must needs taste his folly. Reg. For his particular, I'll receive him gladly, But not one follower. Gon. Where is my lord of Gloster? So am I purpos'd. 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, 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 abus'd, wisdom bids fear. Corn. Shut up your doors, my lord; 'tis a wild night; My Regan counsels well: come out o'the storm. [Exeunt. + "'Tis his own blame; hath put himself," &c.] — MALONE. |