Puslapio vaizdai
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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.

He is not here. Mess. No, my good lord; I met him back again. Alb. Knows he the wickedness?

Mess. Ay, my good lord; 'twas he inform'd against

him;

And quit the house on purpose, that their punishment 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 pre

sence;

And now and then an ample tear trill'd down

Her delicate cheek: it seem'd, she was a queen
Over her passion; who, most rebel-like,
Sought to be the 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?5

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? i'the night? Let pity not be believed! - There she shook

The holy water from her heavenly eyes,

And clamour moisten'd": then away she started
To deal with grief alone.

It is the stars,

Kent.
The stars above us, govern our conditions;8
Else one self mate and mate could not beget

Such different issues. You spoke not with her since?
Gent. No.

Kent. Was this before the king return'd?

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5 Made she no verbal question ?] Means only, Did she enter into no conversation with you? In this sense our poet frequently uses the word question, and not simply as the act of interrogation.

6 Let pity not be believed!] i. e. Let not such a thing as pity be supposed to exist!

7 clamour moisten'd:] that is, her out-cries were accompanied with tears.

8 govern our conditions ;] i. e. regulate our dispositions.

Gent.

No, since.

Kent. Well, sir; The poor distress'd Lear is i̇'the

town:

Who sometime, in his better tune, remembers

What we are come about, and by no means

Will yield to see his daughter.

Gent.

Why, good sir?

Kent. A sovereign shame so elbows him: his own un

kindness,

That stripp'd her from his benediction, turn'd her
To foreign casualties, gave her dear rights

To his dog-hearted daughters, 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 you heard

not?

Gent. "Tis so; they are afoot.

Q

Kent. Well, sir, I'll bring you to our master Lear, And leave you to attend him: some dear cause 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 As mad as the vex'd sea: singing aloud;

Crown'd with rank fumiter', and furrow weeds,

9 some dear cause-] Some important business.
1 — fumiter,] i. e. fumitory.

With harlocks', hemlock, nettles, cuckoo-flowers,
Darnel, and all the idle weeds that grow

In our sustaining corn. A century send forth;
Search every acre in the high-grown field,

And bring him to our eye. [Exit an Officer.] - What · can man's wisdom do,

In the restoring his bereaved sense?

He, that helps him, take all my outward worth.
Phy. There is means, madam :

Our foster-nurse of nature is repose,

The which he lacks; that to provoke in him,
Are many simples operative, whose power
Will close the eye of anguish.

Cor.

All bless'd secrets,

All you unpublish'd virtues of the earth,

Spring with my tears! be aidant and remediate,
In the good man's distress! -Seek, seek-for him;
Lest his ungovern'd rage dissolve the life

That wants the means to lead it.2

Mess.

Enter a Messenger.

Madam, news;

The British powers are marching hitherward.

Cor. 'Tis known before; our preparation stands
O dear father,

In expectation of them.

It is thy business that I go about;

Therefore great France

3

My mourning, and important tears, hath pitied.

No blown ambition doth our arms incite,

But love, dear love, and our ag'd father's right:
Soon may I hear, and see him!

1

[Exeunt.

I harlocks,] A typographical error for charlock, or wild mustard.

2

3

the means to lead it.] The reason which should guide it. important] For importunate.

4 No blown ambition] No inflated, no swelling pride.

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SCENE V.

A Room in Gloster's Castle.

Enter REGAN and Steward.

Reg. But are my brother's powers set forth?

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Your sister is the better soldier.

Reg. Lord Edmund spake not with your lord at home? Stew. No, madam.

Reg. What might import my sister's letter to him? Stew. I know not, lady.

Reg. 'Faith, he is posted hence on serious matter.

It was great ignorance, Gloster's eyes being out,

To let him live; where he arrives, he moves

All hearts against us; Edmund, I think, is gone,
In pity of his misery, to despatch

His nighted life; moreover, to descry

The strength o'the enemy.

Stew. I must needs after him, madam, with my letter. Reg. Our troops set forth to-morrow; stay with us; The ways are dangerous.

Stew.

I may not, madam;

My lady charg'd my duty in this business.

Reg. Why should she write to Edmund? Might not

you

Transport her purposes by word? Belike,

Something I know not what: -I'll love thee much, Let me unseal the letter.

Stew.

Madam, I had rather —

Reg. I know, your lady does not love her husband; I am sure of that: and, at her late being here,

5 His nighted life ;] i. e. His life made dark as night, by the extinction of his eyes.

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