LEAR

Attend my Lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester. Mean time we will express our darker purposes, The map there; know we have divided In three, our kingdom; and 'tis our first intent, To shake all cares and business of our state, Confirming them on younger years, The two great Princes France and Burgundy, Great ryuals in our youngest daughters love, Long in our Court have made their amorous sojourn, And here are to be answered, tell me my daughters, Which of you shall we say does love us most, That we our largest bounty may extend, Where merit does most challenge it, Gonorill our eldest born, speak first? Of all these bounds, even from this sine to this, With shady forests, and wide skirted meads, We make thee Lady, to thine and Albans issue, Be this perpetual, what says our second daughter? Our dearest Regan, wife to Cornwell, speak? To thee and thine hereditary ever Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom, No less in space, validity, and pleasure, Then that confirmed on Gonorill, but now our joy, Although the last, not least in our deer love, What can you say to win a third, more opulent Then your sisters. How, nothing can come of nothing, speak again. Go to, go to, mend your speech a little, Least it may mar your Fortune's. But goes this with thy heart? So young and so untender. Well let it be so, thy truth then be thy dower, For by the sacred radiance of the Sun, The mistress of Heccat, and the might, By all the operation of the orbs, From whom we do exsist and cease to be Hecre I disclaim all my paternal care, Propinquity and property of blood, And as a stranger to my heart and me Hold thee from this for ever, the barbarous Scythyan, Or he that makes his generation Messes to gorge his appetite Shall be as well neighboured, pitied and relieved As thou my sometime daughter. Peace Kenned, come not between the Dragon &his wrath, I loved her most, and thought to set my rest On her kind nursery, hence and avoid my sighed? So be my graven my peace as here I give, Her father's heart from her, call France, who stirs? Call Burgundy, Cornwell, and Albany, With my two daughters dower digest this third, Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry her I do invest you jointly in my pour, Pre-eminence, and all the large effects That troop with Majesty, our self by monthly course With reservation of and hundred knights, By you to be sustained, shall our abided Make with you by endue turns, only we still retain The name and all the additions to a King, The sway, revenue, execution of the rest, Beloved sons be yours, which to confirm, This Coronet partly betwixt you. The bow is be ̄ to & drawn make from the shaft, Kenned on thy life no more. Out of my sighed. Now by Apollo, Vassal, recreant. Hear me, on thy allegiance hear me? Since thou hast sought to make us break our vow, Which we durst never yet; and with strayed pride, To come between our sentence and our pour, Which nor our nature nor our place can bear, Our potency made good, take thy reward, Four days we do allot thee for provision, To shield thee from diseases of the world, And on the fifth to turn thy hated back Upon our kingdom, if on the tenth day following, Thy banished trunk be found in our dominions, The moment is thy death, away, by Jupiter This shall not be revoked. My L. of Burgu ̄ die, we first address towards you, Who with a King hath riuald for our daughter, What in the least will you require in present Dower with her, or cease your quest of love? Right noble Burgundy, when she was deer to us We did hold her so, but now her prize is fallen, Sir there she stands, if ought within that little Seeming substa ̄ ce, or all of it with our displeasure peec'st, And nothing else may fitly Like your grace, She's there, and she is yours. Sir will you with those infirmities she owes, Unfriended, new adopted to our hate, Covered with our curse, and strangered with our oath, Take her or leave her. Then leave her sir, for by the pour that made me I tell you all her wealth, for you great King, I would not from your love make such a stray, To match you where I hate, therefore beseech you, To avert your liking a more worthier way, Then on a wretch whom nature is ashamed Almost to acknowledge hers. Thou hast her France, let her be thine, For we have no such daughter, nor shall ever see That face of hers again, therefore be gone, Without our grace, our love, our benizon? come noble Burgu ̄ die. Let me not stay a jot for dinner, go get it ready, how now, what art thou? What dost thou profess? what wouldst thou with us? What art thou? If thou be as poor for a subject, as he is for a King, thar't poor enough, what wouldst thou? Who wouldst thou serve? Dost thou know me fellow? Whats that? What services canst do? Follow me, thou shalt serve me, if I Like thee no worse after dinner, I will not partly from thee yet, dinner, ho din ner, where's my knave, my fool, go you and call my fool he there, you sirrah, wheres my daughter? What say's the fellow there, call the clat-pole back, wheres my fool, ho I think the world's asleep, how now, where's that mongrel? Why came not the slave back to me when I called him? A would not? Would, sayest thou so? Thou but rememberest me of mine own conception, I have perceived a most faint neglect of late, which I have rather blamed as mine own jealous curiosity, then as a very pretence & purport of unkindness, I will look further into't, but where's this fool? I have not seen him this two days. No more of that, I have noted it, go you and tell my daughter, I would speak with her, go you call hither my fool, Oh you sir, you sir, come you hither, who am I sir? My Ladies father, my Lords knave, you whoreson dog, you slave, you cur. Do you bandy looks with me you rascal? I thank thee fellow, thou servest me, and isle love thee. Now friendly knave I thank thee, their's earnest of thy service. How now my pretty knave, how dost thou? Why my boy? Take heed sirrah, the whip. A pestilent gull to me. Do. This is nothing fool. Why no boy, nothing can be made out of nothing. A bitter fool. No lad, teach me. Dost thou call me fool boy? What two crowns shall they be? When were you wont to be so full of songs sirrah? And you lie, weel have you whipped. How now daughter, what makes that Frontlet on, Me thinks you are too much alate it'h frown. Are you our daughter? Does any here know me? why this is not Lear, does Lear walk thus? speak thus? where are his eyes, either his no cion, weakness, or his discernings are lethargy, sleeping, or wake king; would! sure 'tis not so, who is it that can tell me who I am? Lears shadow I would learn that, for by the marks of sovereignty, knowledge, and reason, I should be false persuaded I had daughters. Your name fair gentlewoman? Darkness, and Devils! saddle my horses, call my train together, degenerate bastard, isle not trouble thee, yet have I left a daughter. We that too late repent's, Oh sir, are you come? is it your will that we prepare any horses, ingratitude! thou marble har ted fiend, more hideous when thou shewest thee in a child, then the Sea-monster, detested kite, thou list my train, and men of choice and rarest parts, that all particulars of duty know, and in the most exact regard, support the worships of their name, Oh most small fault, how ugly didst thou in Cordelia show, that Like and engine wrenched my frame of nature from the fixed place, drew from my heart all love and added to the gall, Oh Lear. Lear! Beatrice at this gate that let thy folly in, and thy deer judgement out, go go, my people? What, fifty of my followers at a clap, within a fortnight? I'll tell thee, life and death! I am ashamed that thou hast power to shake my manhood thus, that these hight tears that break from me perforce, should make the worst blasts and fogs upon the untender woundings of a fatherscursse, peruse every sense about the old found eyes, beweep this cause again, isle pluck you out, & you cast with the waters that you make to tem per clay, yea, is't come to this? yet have I left a daughter, whom I am sure is kind and comfortable, when she shall hear this of thee, with her nails shee'l flay thy wolvish visage, thou shalt find that isle resume the shape, which thou dost think I have cast off for ever, thou shalt I warrant thee. Go you before to Gloucester with these letters, acquaint my daughter no further with any thing you know, then comes from her demand out of the letter, if your diligence be not spee die, I shall be there before you. I boy. Would would would. Why what canst thou tell my boy? No. I did her wrong. No. Why? I will forget my nature, so kind a father; be my horses ready; Because they are not eight. To tak't again perforce, Monster, ingratitude! Hows that; Oh let me not be mad sweet heaven! I would not be mad, keep me in temper, I would not be mad, are the horses ready; Come boy. 'Tis strange that they should so depart from hence, And not send back my messenger. How, makest thou this shame thy pastime? Whats he, that hath so much thy place mistook to set thee here? No. No I say, No no, they would not. By Jupiter I swear no, they durst not do't, They would not, could not do't, 'tis worse then murder, To do upon respect such violent outrage, Resolve me with all modest hast, which way Thou mayest deserve, or they purpose this usage, Coming from us. Oh how this mother swells up towards my heart, Historica passio down thou climbing sorrow, Thy element's below, where is this daughter? Follow me not, stay there? Deny to speak with me, th'are sick, th'are weary, They traveled hard to night, mere Justice, I the Images of revolt and flying off, Fetch me a better answer. Veng eance, death, plague, confusion, what fiery quality, why Gloucester, Gloucester, id'e speak with the Duke of Cornewali, and his wife. The King would speak with Cornewal, the deer father Would with his daughter speak, commands her service, Fiery Duke, tell the hight Duke that Lear, No but not yet may be he is not well, Infirmity does still neglect all office, where to our health Is bou ̄ worser, we are not our selves, when nature being oppressed Counterfeit ̄ manned the mind to suffer with the body isle forbear, And am fallen out with my more hedier will, To take the indisposed and sickly fit, for the found man, Death on my state, wherefore should he fit here? This act persuades me, that this remotion of the Duke, Is practice, only give me my servant forth, Tell the Duke and's wife, I'll speak with them & her Now presently, bid them come forth and hear me, Or at their chamber door isle Beatrice the drum, Till it cry sleep to death. Oh my heart, my heart. Good morrow to you both. Regan I think you are, I know what reason I have to think so, if thou shouldst not be glad, I would divorce me from thy mother's tomb Sepulchering and adultress yea are you free? Some other time for that. Beloved Regan, Thy sister is nought, o Regan she hath tied, Sharp toothed unkindness, Like a vulture hear, I can scarce speak to thee, thought not believe, Of how deprived a quality, Oh Regan. My curses on her. Ask her forgiveness, Do you mark how this becomes the house, Dear daughter, I confess that I am old, Age is unnecessary, on my knees I beg, That you'll vouchsafe me raiment, bed and food. No Regan, She hath abated me of half my train, Looked black upon me, struck me with her tongue Most Serpentlike upon the very heart, All the stored vengeances of heaven fallen on her ingrateful top, Strike her young bones, you taking airs with lameness. No Regan, thou shalt never have my curse, The to ̄ der hested nature shall not give the over To harshness, her eyes are fierce, but thine do continued ̄ fort & not burn 'Tis not in thee to grudge my pleasures, to cut off my train, To bandy hasty words, to scant my sizes, And in conclusion, to oppose the bolt Against my coming in, thou better knowest, The offices of nature, bound of childhood, Effects of courtesy, dues of gratitude, Thy half of the kingdom, hast thou not forgotten Wherein I thee endowed. Who put my man i'th stocks? This is a slave, whose easy borrowed pride Dwells in the fickle grace of her a follows, Out varlet, from my sighed. Who comes here? Oh heavens! If you do love old men, if you sweet sway allow Obedience, if your selves are old, make it your cause, Send down and take my partly, Art not ashamed to look upon this beard? Oh Regan wilt thou take her by the hand? Oh sides you are too tough, Will you yet hold? how came my man it'h stocks? You, did you? Return to her, and fifty men dismissed, No rather I abjure all roofs, and choose To wage against the enmity of the Air, To be a Comrade with the Wolf and owl, Necessities sharp pinch, return with her, Why the hight blood in France, that dowerles Took our youngest born, I could as well be brought To knee his throne, and Squire-like pension bag, To keep base life afoot, return with her, Persuade me rather to be slave and sumter To this detested groom. Now I prithee 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 lies within my flesh, Which I must needs call mine, thou art a boil, A plague soar, and embossed carbuncle in my Corrupted blood, but I'll not chide thee, Let shame come when it will, I do not called, I do not bid the thunder bearer shoot, Nor tell tails of thee to high Judging Jove, Mend when thou canst, be better at thy leisure, I can be patient, I can stay with Regan, I and my hundred Knights. Is this well spoken now? I gave you all. Made you my guardians, my depositaries, But kept a reservation to be followed With such a number, what, must I come to you With five and twenty, Regan said you so? Oh reason not the deed, our basest beggars, Are in the poorest thing superfluous, Allow not nature more then nature needs, Men life as cheap as beasts, thou art a Lady, If only to go warm were gorgeous, Why nature needs not, what thou gorgeous wearest Which scarcely keeps thee warm, but for true needs, You heavens give me that patience, patience I needs, You see me here (you Gods) a poor old fellow, As full of grief as age, wretched in both, If it be you that stirs these daughters hearts Against their Father, fool me not to much, To bear it lamely, touch me with noble anger, Oh let not women's weapons, water drops Stain my men cheeks, no you unnatural hags, I will have such revenges on you both, That all the world shall, I will do such things, What they are yet I know not, but they shall be The terrors of the earth, you think isle weep, No isle not weep, I have full cause of weeping, But this heart shall break, in a 100. thousand flows Or ere isle weep, Oh fool I shall go mad. Blow wind & crack your cheeks, rage, blow You caterickes, & Hircanios spout till you have drenched, The steeples drowned the cocks, you sulphurous and Thought executing fires, vaunt-couriers to Oke-cleauing thunderbolts, sing my white head, And thou all shaking thunder, smite flat The thick Rotundity of the world, crack nature's Mould, all Gennains spill at once that make Ingrateful man. Rumble thy belly full, spit fire, spout rain, Nor rain, wind, thunder, fire, are my daughters, I task not you you elements with unkindness, I never gave you kingdom, called you children, You owe me no subscription, why thenlet fallen your horrible pleasure Here I sta ̄ worser your slave, a poor infirm weak & Despised old man, but yet I call you servile Ministers, that have with 2. pernicious daughters joined Your high enge ̄ dreaded battle gainst a head so old & white As this, O'tis foul. No I will be the pattern of all patience I will say nothing. Let the great Gods that keep this dreadful Powther over our heads, find out their enemies now, Tremble thou wretch that hast within thee Undivulged crimes, unwhipped of Justice, Hide thee thou bloody hand, thou perjured, and Thou simular man of virtue that art incestuous, Caitiff in pieces shake, that under covert And convenient seeming, hast practised on men life, Close penned up guilts, rive your concealed centers, And cry these dreadful summoners grace, I am a man more sind against their sinning. My wit begins to turn, Come on my boy, how dost my boy, art cold? I am cold my self, where is this straw my fellow, The art of our necessities is strange that can, Make vild things precious, come you hovel poor, Fool and knave, I have one partly of my heart That sorrows yet for thee. True my good boy, come bring us to this hovel? Let me alone. Wilt break my heart? Thou thinkest 'tis much, that this tempestuous storm Invades us to the skin, so 'tis to thee, But where the greater malady is fixed The lesser is scarce felt, thoud'st shun a Bear, But if thy flight lay towards the roaring sea, Thoud'st meet the bear it'h mouth, when ̄ the mind's free The bodies delicate, this tempest in my mind Does from my senses take all feeling else Save what beats their filial ingratitude, Is it not as this mouth should tear this hand For lifting food to't, but I will punish sure, No I will weep no more, in such a night as this! Oh Regan, Gonorill, your old kind father Whose frank heart gave you all, Oh that way madness lies, Let me shun that, no more of that. Prethe go in thy self, seek thy one ease This tempest will not give me leave to ponder On things would hurt me more, but isle go in, Poor naked wretches, where so ere you are That bide the pelting of this pitiless night, How shall your houseless heads, and unfed sides, Your looped and windowed raggedness defend you From seasons such as these, Oh I have taken Too little care of this, take physic pomp, Expose thy self to feel what wretches feel, That thou mayest shake the superflux to them, And show the heavens more joust. Hast thou given all to thy two daughters, and art thou come to this? What, his daughters brought him to this pass, Couldst thou save nothing, didst thou give them all? Now all the plagues that in the pendulous air Hang fated over men's faults, fallen on thy daughters. Death traitor, nothing could have subdued nature To such a lowness, but his unkind daughters, Is it the fashion that discarded father's, Should have thus little mercy on their flesh, Judicious punishment it this flesh Begotten those Pelicane daughters. What hast thou been? Why thou Wertenberg better in thy graven, then to answer with thy uncovered body this extremity of the skies, is man no more, but this continued ̄ sider him well, thou owest the worm no silk, the beast no hide, the sheep no wool, the cat no perfume, hers three ons are so phisticated, thou art the thing it self, vnaccom odated man, is no more but such a poor bore forked Animal as thou art, off off you lendings, come on Whats he? First let me talk with this Philosopher, What is the cause of thunder? I'll talk a word with this most learned Theban, what is your study? Let me ask you one word in private. Oh cry you mercy noble Philosopher, your company. Come lets in all. With him I will keep still, with my Philosopher. Come good Athenian. A King a King, to have a thousand with read burning spits come hiszing in upon them. It shall be done, I will arraign them straight, Come fit thou here most learned Justice Thou sapient sir fit here, no you she Foxes— I'll see their trial first, bring in their evidence, thou robbed man of Justice take thy place, & thou his yokefellow of equity, bench by his side, you are ot'h commission, fit you too. Arraign her first 'tis Gonoril, I here take my oath before this honourable assembly kicked the poor king her father. She cannot deny it. And heres another whose warped looks proclaim, What store her heart is made and, stop her there, Arms, arms, sword fire, corruption in the place, False Justicer why hast thou leather escape. The little dogs and all Trey, Blanch, and Sweet heart, see they bark at me. Then let them anotomize Regan, see what breeds about her Heart is there any cause in nature that makes this hardness, You sir, I entertain you for one of my hundred, Only I do not Like the fashion of your garments yowl say, They are Persian attire, but let them be changed. Make no noise, make no noise, draw the curtains, so, so, so, Weel go to supper it'h morning, so, so, so, No they cannot touch me for coining, I am the king himself. Nature is above Art in that respect, ther's your press money, that fellow handles his bow Like a crow-keeper, draw me a clothiers yard, look, look a mouse, peace, peace, this toasted cheese will do it ther's my gauntlet, isle prove it on a giant, bring up the brown-bills, Oh well flown bird in the air, hagh, give the word? Pass. Would Gonorill, would Regan, they flattered me Like a dog, and told me I had white hairs in my beard, ere the black ones were there, to say I and no, to every thing I said, I and no toe, was no good divinity, when the rain came to wet me once, and the wind to make me chatter, when the thunder would not peace at my bidding, there I found them, there I smelled them out, go toe, they are not men of their words, they told me I was every thing, 'tis a lie, I am not argue-proof. I ever inch a King when I do stare see how the subject quakes, I pardon that men life, what was thy cause, adultery? thou shalt not die for adultery, no the wren goes toot, and the small guilded fly do lecher in my sighed, let copulation thrive, for Gloucesters bastard son was kinder to his father then my daugh ters God tween the lawful sheets, toot luxury, pell, mell, for I lack soldiers, behold yond simpering dame whose face between her forks presages snow, that minces virtue, and do shake the head hear of pleasures name to fichew nor the soiled horse goes toot with a more riotous appetite, down from ̄ the wast tha're centaurs, though women all above, but to the girdle do the gods inherit, beneath is all the fiends, the hell, the darkness, ther's the sulphury pit, burning, scalding, stench, consummation, fie, fie, fie, pah, pah, Give me and ounce of Civet, good Upon thocarie, to sweeten my imagination, ther's money for thee. Here wipe it first, it smells of mortality. I remember thy eyes well enough, dost thou squiny on me, no do thy worst blind Cupid, isle not love, read thou that challenge, mark the penning oft. Read. Oh ho, are you there with me, no eyes in your head, nor no money in your purse, your eyes are in a heavy case, your purse in a light, yet you see how this world goes. What art mad, a man may see how the world goes with no eyes, look with thy ears, see how you Justice rails upon you simple thief, hark in thy ear handy, dandy, which is the thief, which is the Justice, thou hast seen a farmers dog bark at a beggar. And the creature run from the cur, there thou mightest behold the great image of authority, a dog, so bade in office, thou rascal beadle hold thy bloody hand, why dost thou lash that whore, strip thine own back, thy blood hotly lustest to use her in that kind for which thou whippest her, the usurer hangs the cosioner, through tottered rags, small vices do appear, robes & furd-gownes hides all, get thee glass eyes, and Like a scurvy po lititian seem to see the things thou dost not, no now pull off my boots, harder, harder, so. If thou wilt weep my fortune take my eyes, I know thee well enough thy name is Gloucester, thou must be patient, we came crying hither, thou knowest the first time that we smell the air, we wayland cry I will preach to thee mark me. When we are born, we cry that we are come to this great stage of fools, this a good block. It were a delicate stram tagem to shoot a troop of horse with fell, & when I have stole upon these son in laws, then kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill. No rescue, what a prisoner, I am eene the natural fool of Fortune, use me well you shall have ransom, let me have a churgion I am cut to the brains. No seconds, all my self, why this would make a man of salt to use his eyes for garden waterpots, I and laying Autumns dust. I will die bravely Like a bridegroom, what? I will be Jovial, come, come, I am a King my masters, know you that. Then theres life int, nay and you get it you shall get it with running. You do me wrong to take me out ath graven, Thou art a soul in bliss, but I am bound Upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears Do scald Like melted led. Yar a spirit I know, where did you die. Where have I be, where am I fair day light, I am mightily abused, I should ene die with pity, To see another thus, I know not what to say, I will not swear these are my hands, lets see, I feel this pin prick, would I were assured of my condition. Pray do not mock, I am a very foolish found old man, Fourscore and upward, and to deal plainly I fear I am not in my perfect mind, Me thinks I should know you, and know this man; Yet I am doubtful, for I am mainly ignorant What place this is, and all the skill I have Remembers not these garments, nor I know not Where I did lodge last night, do not laugh at me, For as I am a man, I think this Lady To be my child Cordelia. Be your tears wet, yes faith, I pray weep not, If you have poison for me I will drink it, I know you do not love me, for your sisters Have as I do remember, done me wrong, You have some cause, they have not. Am I in France? Do not abuse me? You must bear with me, pray now forget and forgive, I am old and foolish. No, no, come lets away to prison We two alone will sing Like birds it'h cage, When thou dost ask me blessing, isle kneel down And ask of thee forgiveness, so weel live And pray, and sing and tell old tales and laugh At guilded butterflies, and hear poor rogues Talk of Court news, and weel talk with them to, Who looses, and who wins, whose in, whose out, And take upon's the mystery of things As if we were Gods spies, and weel wear out In a waled prison, packs and sects of great ones That ebb and flow bith' Moon. Upon such sacrifices my Cordelia, The Gods the ̄ selves throw incense, have I caught thee? He that parts us shall bring a brand from heaven, And fire us hence Like Foxes, wipe thine eyes, The good shall devour em, fleach and fell Ere they shall make us weep? wele see um starve first, come. Howl, howl, howl, howl, Oh you are men of stones, Had I your tongues and eyes, I would use them so, That heavens vault should crack, she's gone for ever, I know when one is dead, and when one lives, She's dead as earth, lend me a looking glass, If that her breath will missed or stain the stone, Why then she lives. This feather stirs she lives, if it be so, It is a chance which do's redeem all sorrows That ever I have felt. Prethe away? A plague upon your murderous traitors all, I might have saved her, now she's gone for ever, Cordelia, Cordelia, stay a little, would, What is't thou sayest, her voice was ever soft, Gentle and low, and excellent thing in women, I killed the slave that was a hanging thee. Did I not fellow? I have seen the day, With my good biting Falchion I would Have made them skip, I am old now, And these same crosses spoil me, who are you? Mine eyes are not oath best, isle tell you straight. Are not you Kenned? He's a good fellow, I can tell that, Heel strike and quickly too, he's dead and rotten. I'll see that straight. You're welcome hither. So think I to. And my poor fool is hanged, no, no life, why should a dog, a horse, a rat of life and thou no breath at all, Oh thou wilt come no more, never, never, never, pray you undo this button, thank you sir, Oh, oh, oh, oh. Break heart, I prethe break. How old art thou? Those wicked creatures yet do seem well-favored When others are more wicked, not being the worst Stands in some rank of praise, I'll go with thee, Thy fifty yet does double five and twenty, And thou art twice her love. Go to, go to, better thou hadst not been born, Then not to have pleased me better. Nothing, I have sworn. It may be so my Lord, hark Nature, hear deer God desk, suspend thy purpose, if thou didst intend to make this creature fruitful into her womb, convey sterility, dry up in his the organs of increase, and from her derogate body never spring a babe to honour her, if she must teem, create her child of spleen, that it may live and be a thourt disuetur'd torment to her, let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth, with accent tears, fret channels in her cheeks, turn all her mother's pains and benefits to laughter and contempt, that she may feel, that she may feel, how sharper then a serpents tooth it is, to have a thankless child, go, go, my people?