My naked head expos'd to th' merciless air, Lear. Now, I pr'ythee, daughter, do not make me mad! I will not trouble thee, my child; farewell; Nor tell tales of thee to avenging Heaven. I, and my hundred knights. Reg. Your pardon, sir; I look'd not for you yet, nor am provided Lear. Is this well spoken, now? Reg. My sister treats you fair. What! fifty followers? Is it not well? What should you need of more? ance From those whom she calls servants, or from mine? Reg. Why not, my lord? If then they chance to slack you, We could control them.—If you come to me, To bring but five and twenty; to no more Lear. I gave you all! Reg. And in good time you gave it. Lear. Hold, now, my temper! stand this bolt unmov'd, And I am thunder proof. The wicked, when compar'd with the more wicked, Stands in some rank of praise. Now, Goneril, Osw. What dost thou know me for? Kent. For a base, proud, beggarly, white-livered, glass-gazing, super-serviceable, finical rogue; one that would be a pimp in way of good service, and art nothing but a composition of knave, beggar, coward, pander, Osw. What a monstrous fellow art thou, to rail at one that is neither known of thee, nor knows thee! Kent. Impudent slave! not know me, who but two days since tripped up thy heels before the king! Draw, miscreant, or I'll make the moon shine through thee. [Drawing his Sword. Osw. What means the fellow? I tell thee, I have nothing to do with thee. Kent. Draw, you rascal. I know your rogueship's office; you come with letters against the king, taking my young lady Vanity's part against her royal father: Draw, rascal. Osw. Murder! murder! help! [Exit, KENT after him. Flourish of Trumpets. Enter DUKE OF CORNWALL, REGAN, CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD, and ATTENDANTS; GLOSTER and EDMUND. Glost. All welcome to your graces; you do me honour. Corn. Gloster, we have heard with sorrow, life Has been attempted by your impious son: that your But Edmund here has paid you strictest duty. Glost. He is, my lord. Reg. Use our authority to apprehend The traitor, and do justice on his head. For you, Edmund, that have signaliz'd Your virtue, you from henceforth shall be ours; On, to the sports before us. [Noise within.]—Who are these? Enter OSWALD, pursued by KEnt. Glost. Now, what's the matter? Corn. Keep peace upon your lives; he dies that strikes. Whence, and what are ye? Reg. The messengers from our sister, and the king. Osw. I'm scarce in breath, my lord. Kent. No marvel, you have so bestir'd your valour. Nature disclaims the dastard; a tailor made him. Corn. Speak yet, how grew your quarrel? Osw. Sir, this old ruffian here, whose life I spar'd In pity to his beard, Kent. Thou essence bottle! In pity to my beard! Your leave, my lord, And I will tread the musk-cat into mortar. Corn. Know'st thou our presence? Kent. Yes, sir, but anger has a privilege. Corn. Why art thou angry? Kent. That such a slave as this should wear a sword And have no courage; office, and no honesty; Not frost and fire hold more antipathy Than I and such a knave. Glost. Why dost thou call him knave? D Corn. No more, perhaps, does mine, nor his, or hers. Kent. Plain dealing is my trade; and, to be plain, sir, I have seen better faces in my time, Than stand on any shoulders now before me. Reg. This is some fellow, that having once been prais'd For bluntness, since affects a saucy rudeness; It pleas'd the king, his master, lately To strike me on a slender misconstruction; Corn. Bring forth the stocks; we'll teach you. Call not the stocks for me; I serve the king, Stocking his messenger. [ATTENDANTS bring forth the Stocks. Corn. Bring forth the stocks; as I have life and honour, There shall he sit till noon. [ATTENDANTS seize KENT. Reg. Till noon, my lord! Till night, and all night too. Kent. Why, madam, if I were your father's dog, You would not use me so. Reg. Sir, being his knave, I will. [ATTENDANTS put KENT into the Stocks. Glost. Let me beseech your graces to forbear him; His fault is much, and the good king, his master, Corn. We'll answer that; Our sister may receive it worse to have Her gentleman assaulted. To our business, lead. [Exeunt all but GLOSTER into the Castle. Glost. I am sorry for thee, friend; 'tis the duke's pleasure, Whose disposition will not be controll'd; But I'll intreat for thee. Kent. Pray do not, sir. I have watch'd and travell'd hard; Some time I shall sleep out, the rest I'll whistle. Farewell t'ye, sir. [Exit GLOSTER into the Castle. Good king, that must approve the common saw ! Thou out of Heaven's benediction com'st To the warm sun.-All weary and o'erwatch'd, I feel the drowsy guest steal on me; take Advantage, heavy eyes, of this kind slumber, Not to behold this vile and shameful lodging. [Sleeps. SCENE III. A Forest. Enter EDGAR. Edg. I heard myself proclaim'd, And by the friendly hollow of a tree, Escap'd the hunt. No port is free, no place, And leave my griefs on my sword's reeking point; |