READ STUDY GUIDE: Act II, scenes iii–iv |
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Act II, Scene iv:
Before Gloster's Castle; Kent in the stocks.
Before Gloster's Castle; Kent in the stocks.
| [Enter Lear, Fool, and Gentleman.] |
| Lear.: |
| 'Tis strange that they should so depart from home, |
| And not send back my messenger. |
| Gent.: |
| As I learn'd, |
| The night before there was no purpose in them |
| Of this remove. |
| Kent.: |
| Hail to thee, noble master! |
| Lear.: |
| Ha! |
| Mak'st thou this shame thy pastime? |
| Kent.: |
| No, my lord. |
| Fool.: |
| Ha, ha! he wears cruel garters. Horses are tied by the |
| head; dogs and bears by the neck, monkeys by the loins, and |
| men by the legs: when a man is over-lusty at legs, then he |
| wears wooden nether-stocks. |
| Lear.: |
| What's he that hath so much thy place mistook |
| To set thee here? |
| Kent.: |
| It is both he and she, |
| Your son and daughter. |
| Lear.: |
| No. |
| Kent.: |
| Yes. |
| Lear.: |
| No, I say. |
| Kent.: |
| I say, yea. |
| Lear.: |
| No, no; they would not. |
| Kent.: |
| Yes, they have. |
| Lear.: |
| By Jupiter, I swear no. |
| Kent.: |
| By Juno, I swear ay. |
| Lear.: |
| They durst not do't. |
| They would not, could not do't; 'tis worse than murder, |
| To do upon respect such violent outrage: |
| Resolve me, with all modest haste, which way |
| Thou mightst deserve or they impose this usage, |
| Coming from us. |
| Kent.: |
| My lord, when at their home |
| I did commend your highness' letters to them, |
| Ere I was risen from the place that show'd |
| My duty kneeling, came there a reeking post, |
| Stew'd in his haste, half breathless, panting forth |
| From Goneril his mistress salutations; |
| Deliver'd letters, spite of intermission, |
| Which presently they read: on whose contents, |
| They summon'd up their meiny, straight took horse; |
| Commanded me to follow and attend |
| The leisure of their answer; gave me cold looks: |
| And meeting here the other messenger, |
| Whose welcome I perceiv'd had poison'd mine,— |
| Being the very fellow which of late |
| Display'd so saucily against your highness,— |
| Having more man than wit about me, drew: |
| He rais'd the house with loud and coward cries. |
| Your son and daughter found this trespass worth |
| The shame which here it suffers. |
| Fool.: |
| Winter's not gone yet, if the wild geese fly that way. |
 Fathers that wear rags |
| Do make their children blind; |
| But fathers that bear bags |
| Shall see their children kind. |
| Fortune, that arrant whore, |
| Ne'er turns the key to th' poor. |
| But for all this, thou shalt have as many dolours for thy |
| daughters as thou canst tell in a year. |
| Lear.: |
| O, how this mother swells up toward my heart! |
| Hysterica passio,—down, thou climbing sorrow, |
| Thy element's below!—Where is this daughter? |
| Kent.: |
| With the earl, sir, here within. |
| Lear.: |
| Follow me not; |
| Stay here. |
| [Exit.] |
| Gent.: |
| Made you no more offence but what you speak of? |
| Kent.: |
| None. |
| How chance the king comes with so small a number? |
| Fool.: |
| An thou hadst been set i' the stocks for that question, |
| thou hadst well deserved it. |
| Kent.: |
| Why, fool? |
| Fool.: |
| We'll set thee to school to an ant, to teach thee there's no |
| labouring in the winter. All that follow their noses are led by |
| their eyes but blind men; and there's not a nose among twenty |
| but can smell him that's stinking. Let go thy hold when a great |
| wheel runs down a hill, lest it break thy neck with following |
| it; but the great one that goes up the hill, let him draw thee |
| after. |
| When a wise man gives thee better counsel, give me mine again: I |
| would have none but knaves follow it, since a fool gives it. |
| That sir which serves and seeks for gain, |
| And follows but for form, |
| Will pack when it begins to rain, |
| And leave thee in the storm. |
| But I will tarry; the fool will stay, |
| And let the wise man fly: |
| The knave turns fool that runs away; |
| The fool no knave, perdy. |
| Kent.: |
| Where learn'd you this, fool? |
| Fool.: |
| Not i' the stocks, fool. |
| [Re-enter Lear, with Gloster.] |
| Lear.: |
| Deny to speak with me? They are sick? they are weary? |
| They have travell'd all the night? Mere fetches; |
| The images of revolt and flying off. |
| Fetch me a better answer. |
| Glou.: |
| My dear lord, |
| You know the fiery quality of the duke; |
| How unremovable and fix'd he is |
| In his own course. |
| Lear.: |
| Vengeance! plague! death! confusion!— |
| Fiery? What quality? why, Gloster, Gloster, |
| I'd speak with the Duke of Cornwall and his wife. |
| Glou.: |
| Well, my good lord, I have inform'd them so. |
| Lear.: |
| Inform'd them! Dost thou understand me, man? |
| Glou.: |
| Ay, my good lord. |
| Lear.: |
| The King would speak with Cornwall; the dear father |
| Would with his daughter speak, commands her service: |
| Are they inform'd of this?—My breath and blood!— |
| Fiery? the fiery duke?—Tell the hot duke that— |
| No, but not yet: may be he is not well: |
| Infirmity doth still neglect all office |
| Whereto our health is bound: we are not ourselves |
| When nature, being oppress'd, commands the mind |
| To suffer with the body: I'll forbear; |
| And am fallen out with my more headier will, |
| To take the indispos'd and sickly fit |
| For the sound man.—Death on my state! Wherefore |
| [Looking on Kent.] |
| Should he sit here? This act persuades me |
| That this remotion of the duke and her |
| Is practice only. Give me my servant forth. |
| Go tell the duke and's wife I'd speak with them, |
| Now, presently: bid them come forth and hear me, |
| Or at their chamber door I'll beat the drum |
| Till it cry 'Sleep to death.' |
| Glou.: |
| I would have all well betwixt you. |
| [Exit.] |
| Lear.: |
| O me, my heart, my rising heart!—but down! |
| Fool.: |
| Cry to it, nuncle, as the cockney did to the eels when she |
| put 'em i' the paste alive; she knapped 'em o' the coxcombs with |
| a stick and cried 'Down, wantons, down!' 'Twas her brother that, |
| in pure kindness to his horse, buttered his hay. |
| [Enter Cornwall, Regan, Gloster, and Servants.] |
| Lear.: |
| Good-morrow to you both. |
| Corn.: |
| Hail to your grace! |
| [Kent is set at liberty.] |
| Reg.: |
| I am glad to see your highness. |
| Lear.: |
| Regan, I think you are; I know what reason |
| I have to think so: if thou shouldst not be glad, |
| I would divorce me from thy mother's tomb, |
| Sepulchring an adultress.—[To Kent]O, are you free? |
| Some other time for that.—Beloved Regan, |
| Thy sister's naught: O Regan, she hath tied |
| Sharp-tooth'd unkindness, like a vulture, here,— |
| [Points to 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; |
| [Kneeling.] |
| 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.: |
| [Rising.] 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 powerful sun, |
| To fall and blast her pride! |
| Reg.: |
| O the blest gods! |
| 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 gratitude; |
| Thy half o' the kingdom hast thou not forgot, |
| Wherein I thee endow'd. |
| Reg.: |
| Good sir, to the purpose. |
| Lear.: |
| Who put my man i' the stocks? |
| [Tucket within.] |
| Corn.: |
| What trumpet's that? |
| Reg.: |
| I know't—my sister's: this approves her letter, |
| That she would soon be here. |
| [Enter Oswald.] |
| 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? |
| Lear.: |
| Who stock'd my servant? Regan, I have good hope |
| Thou didst not know on't.—Who comes here? O heavens! |
| [Enter Goneril.] |
| 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 the 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' the 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' the 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. |
| [Pointing to Oswald.] |
| Gon.: |
| At your choice, sir. |
| 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, |
| 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 passion |
| 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 you, |
| 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'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 gods, 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 noble 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, Gloster, Kent, and Fool. Storm heard at adistance.] |
| Corn.: |
| Let us withdraw; 'twill be a storm. |
| Reg.: |
| 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. |
| 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? |
| Corn.: |
| Followed the old man forth:—he is return'd. |
| [Re-enter Gloster.] |
| Glou.: |
| The king is in high rage. |
| Corn.: |
| Whither is he going? |
| Glou.: |
| 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. |
| Glou.: |
| Alack, the night comes on, and the high 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.] |
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