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 attend ance From those that she calls servants, or from mine? Reg. Why not, my lord? If then they chanc'd to slack you, We could controul them: If you will come to me, Lear. I gave you all— Reg. And in good time you gave it. Lear. Made you my guardians, my depositaries; With such a number: What, must I come to you Reg. And speak it again, my lord; no more with me, vour'd, When others are more wicked; not being the worst, Thy fifty yet doth double five-and-twenty, Gon. Hear me, my lord; What need you five-and-twenty, ten, or five, 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,- That all the world shall—I will do such things,— I have full cause of weeping; but this heart Or ere I'll weep:-O, fool, I shall go mad! [Exeunt LEAR, Gloster, KeNT, and Fool, Corn. Let us withdraw, 'twill be a storm. Reg. This house [Storm heard at a distance. Is little; the old man and his people cannot Gon. "Tis his own blame; he hath put Himself from rest, and must needs taste his folly. Gon. So am I purpos'd. Where is my lord of Gloster? Re-enter GLOSTER. Corn. Follow'd the old man forth :-he is return'd. Glo. The king is in high rage. Corn. Whither is he going? Glo. 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. Glo. Alack, the night comes on, and the bleak 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. ACT III. SCENE I.-A Heath. A Storm is heard, with Thunder and Lightning. Enter KENT, and a Gentleman, meeting. Kent. Who's here, beside foul weather? Gent. One minded like the weather, most unquietly. Kent. I know you; Where's the king? Gent. Contending with the fretful element: Bids the wind blow the earth into the sea, Or swell the curled waters 'bove the main, That things might change, or cease: tears his white hair; Which the impetuous blasts, with eyeless rage, Catch in their fury, and make nothing of: Strives in his little world of man to out-scorn The to-and-fro-conflicting wind and rain. This night, wherein the cub-drawn bear would couch, The lion and the belly-pinched wolf Keep their fur dry, unbonneted he runs, And bids what will take all. Kent. But who is with him? Gent. None but the fool; who labours to outjest His heart-struck injuries. Kent. Sir, I do know you; And dare, upon the warrant of my art, Commend a dear thing to you. There is division, With mutual cunning, 'twixt Albany and Cornwall; To make your speed to Dover, you shall find I am a gentleman of blood and breeding; Gent. I will talk further with you. Kent. No, do not. For confirmation that I am much more Than my out wall, open out wall, open this purse, and take What it contains: If you shall see Cordelia, That yet you do not know. Fye on this storm! |