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 44. Give me my servant forth :
Go, tell the duke and his 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.
Glo. I'd 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 them i’the paste alive; she rapp'd 'em o’the coxcombs with a stick, and cry'd, Down, wantons, down : 'Twas her brother, that, in

pure

kindness to his horse, butter'd 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 should'st not be glad, I would divorce me from thy mother's tomb, Sepulch'ring an adultress.-0, are you free?

(to Kent.

Some other time for that.—Beloved Regan,
Thy sister's naught: 0 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, Of 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 ruld, 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 45:

Dear daughter, I confess that I am old;
Age is unnecessary: on my knecs I beg, [kneeling
That you'll couchsafe me raiment, bed, and food.

Reg. Good sir, no more; these are unsightly tricks •
Return you to my sister.
Lear.

Never, Regan : She hath abated me of half my train ; Look’ 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, fie, 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's 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 46, 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,

[Trumpets within. Lear. Who put my man i'the stocks? Corn.

What trumpet's that?

Enter Steward.
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
Allow obedience, if yourselves are old,
Make it your cause; send down, and take my

part!

Art not asham'd to look upon this beard?

[to Gon. 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.

0, 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.

Leur. 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 47
To this detested groom.

[Looking on the Steward. 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,