King Lear Part 12

So, so, so. We'll go to supper i' th' morning. So, so, so.

Fool. And I'll go to bed at noon.

Enter Gloucester.

Glou. Come hither, friend. Where is the King my master?

Kent. Here, sir; but trouble him not; his wits are gone.

Glou. Good friend, I prithee take him in thy arms.

I have o'erheard a plot of death upon him.

There is a litter ready; lay him in't And drive towards Dover, friend, where thou shalt meet Both welcome and protection. Take up thy master.

If thou shouldst dally half an hour, his life, With thine, and all that offer to defend him, Stand in a.s.sured loss. Take up, take up!

And follow me, that will to some provision Give thee quick conduct.

Kent. Oppressed nature sleeps.

This rest might yet have balm'd thy broken senses, Which, if convenience will not allow, Stand in hard cure. [To the Fool] Come, help to bear thy master.

Thou must not stay behind.

Glou. Come, come, away!

Exeunt [all but Edgar].

Edg. When we our betters see bearing our woes, We scarcely think our miseries our foes.

Who alone suffers suffers most i' th' mind, Leaving free things and happy shows behind; But then the mind much sufferance doth o'erskip When grief hath mates, and bearing fellowship.

How light and portable my pain seems now, When that which makes me bend makes the King bow, He childed as I fathered! Tom, away!

Mark the high noises, and thyself bewray When false opinion, whose wrong thought defiles thee, In thy just proof repeals and reconciles thee.

What will hap more to-night, safe scape the King!

Lurk, lurk. [Exit.]

Scene VII.

Gloucester's Castle.

Enter Cornwall, Regan, Goneril, [Edmund the] b.a.s.t.a.r.d, and Servants.

Corn. [to Goneril] Post speedily to my lord your husband, show him this letter. The army of France is landed.- Seek out the traitor Gloucester.

[Exeunt some of the Servants.]

Reg. Hang him instantly.

Gon. Pluck out his eyes.

Corn. Leave him to my displeasure. Edmund, keep you our sister company. The revenges we are bound to take upon your traitorous father are not fit for your beholding. Advise the Duke where you are going, to a most festinate preparation. We are bound to the like. Our posts shall be swift and intelligent betwixt us.

Farewell, dear sister; farewell, my Lord of Gloucester.

Enter [Oswald the] Steward.

How now? Where's the King?

Osw. My Lord of Gloucester hath convey'd him hence.

Some five or six and thirty of his knights, Hot questrists after him, met him at gate; Who, with some other of the lord's dependants, Are gone with him towards Dover, where they boast To have well-armed friends.

Corn. Get horses for your mistress.

Gon. Farewell, sweet lord, and sister.

Corn. Edmund, farewell.

Exeunt Goneril, [Edmund, and Oswald].

Go seek the traitor Gloucester, Pinion him like a thief, bring him before us.

[Exeunt other Servants.]

Though well we may not pa.s.s upon his life Without the form of justice, yet our power Shall do a court'sy to our wrath, which men May blame, but not control.

Enter Gloucester, brought in by two or three.

Who's there? the traitor?

Reg. Ingrateful fox! 'tis he.

Corn. Bind fast his corky arms.

Glou. What mean, your Graces? Good my friends, consider You are my guests. Do me no foul play, friends.

Corn. Bind him, I say.

[Servants bind him.]

Reg. Hard, hard. O filthy traitor!

Glou. Unmerciful lady as you are, I am none.

Corn. To this chair bind him. Villain, thou shalt find- [Regan plucks his beard.]

Glou. By the kind G.o.ds, 'tis most ign.o.bly done To pluck me by the beard.

Reg. So white, and such a traitor!

Glou. Naughty lady, These hairs which thou dost ravish from my chin Will quicken, and accuse thee. I am your host.

With robber's hands my hospitable favours You should not ruffle thus. What will you do?

Corn. Come, sir, what letters had you late from France?

Reg. Be simple-answer'd, for we know the truth.

Corn. And what confederacy have you with the traitors Late footed in the kingdom?

Reg. To whose hands have you sent the lunatic King?

Speak.

Glou. I have a letter guessingly set down, Which came from one that's of a neutral heart, And not from one oppos'd.

Corn. Cunning.

Reg. And false.

Corn. Where hast thou sent the King?

Glou. To Dover.

Reg. Wherefore to Dover? Wast thou not charg'd at peril- Corn. Wherefore to Dover? Let him first answer that.

Glou. I am tied to th' stake, and I must stand the course.

Reg. Wherefore to Dover, sir?

Glou. Because I would not see thy cruel nails Pluck out his poor old eyes; nor thy fierce sister In his anointed flesh stick boarish fangs.

The sea, with such a storm as his bare head In h.e.l.l-black night endur'd, would have buoy'd up And quench'd the steeled fires.

Yet, poor old heart, he holp the heavens to rain.

If wolves had at thy gate howl'd that stern time, Thou shouldst have said, 'Good porter, turn the key.'

All cruels else subscrib'd. But I shall see The winged vengeance overtake such children.

Corn. See't shalt thou never. Fellows, hold the chair.

Upon these eyes of thine I'll set my foot.

Glou. He that will think to live till he be old, Give me some help!- O cruel! O ye G.o.ds!

Reg. One side will mock another. Th' other too!

Corn. If you see vengeance- 1. Serv. Hold your hand, my lord!

I have serv'd you ever since I was a child; But better service have I never done you Than now to bid you hold.

Reg. How now, you dog?

1. Serv. If you did wear a beard upon your chin, I'ld shake it on this quarrel.

Reg. What do you mean?

Corn. My villain! Draw and fight.

1. Serv. Nay, then, come on, and take the chance of anger.

Reg. Give me thy sword. A peasant stand up thus?

She takes a sword and runs at him behind.

1. Serv. O, I am slain! My lord, you have one eye left To see some mischief on him. O! He dies.

Corn. Lest it see more, prevent it. Out, vile jelly!