KING LEAR. William Shakespeare
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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 show’dst the king,
And to revenge thine eyes.—Come hither, friend:
Tell me what more thou know’st.
[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 required and necessary.
Kent.
Who hath he left behind him general?
Gent.
The Mareschal of France, Monsieur La Far.
Kent.
Did your letters pierce the queen to any demonstration of grief?
Gent.
Ay, sir; she took them, read them in my presence;
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 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 smilets
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?
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, i’ the storm? i’ the night?
Let pity not be believ’d!’—There she shook
The holy water from her heavenly eyes,
And clamour moisten’d: then away she started
To deal with grief alone.
Kent.
It is the stars,
The stars above us, govern our conditions;
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?
Gent.
No, since.
Kent.
Well, sir, the poor distressed Lear’s i’ 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 unkindness,
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 a-foot.
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 French camp. 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,
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
In the restoring his bereaved sense?
He that helps him take all my outward worth.
Phys.
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.
[Enter a Messenger.]
Mess.
News, madam;
The British powers are marching hitherward.