King Lear

Enter a Messenger

MESSENGER    O, my good lord, the Duke of Cornwall’s dead,

Slain by his servant, going to put out

The other eye of Gloucester.

ALBANY    Gloucester’s eyes?

MESSENGER    A servant that he bred, thrilled with remorse⁴⁸,

Opposed against the act, bending⁴⁹ his sword

To his great master, who, threat-enraged⁵⁰,

Flew on him and amongst them felled him dead,

But not without that harmful stroke which since

Hath plucked him after⁵³.

ALBANY    This shows you are above,

You justices, that these our nether⁵⁵ crimes

So speedily can venge⁵⁶. But, O, poor Gloucester!

Lost he his other eye?

MESSENGER    Both, both, my lord.—

Gives a letter

This letter, madam, craves a speedy answer:

’Tis from your sister.

Aside

GONERIL    One way I like this well:

But being widow, and my Gloucester with her,

May all the building in my fancy pluck⁶³

Upon my hateful life: another way,

The news is not so tart⁶⁵.— I’ll read, and answer.

[Exit]

ALBANY    Where was his son when they did take his eyes?

MESSENGER    Come with my lady hither.

ALBANY    He is not here.

MESSENGER    No, my good lord, I met him back⁶⁹ again.

ALBANY    Knows he the wickedness?

MESSENGER    Ay, my good lord: ’twas he informed against him,

And quit the house on purpose that their punishment

Might have the freer course.

ALBANY    Gloucester, I live

To thank thee for the love thou showed’st the king

And to revenge thine eyes.— Come hither, friend:

Tell me what more thou know’st.

Exeunt

Act 4 Scene 3

running scene 14

Enter with Drum and Colours Cordelia, Gentleman and Soldiers

CORDELIA    Alack, ’tis he: why, he was met even now

As mad as the vexed² sea, singing aloud,

Crowned with rank fumiter and furrow weeds³,

With burdocks, hemlock, nettles, cuckoo-flowers⁴,

Darnel, and all the idle⁵ weeds that grow

In our sustaining corn. A sentry send forth;

Search every acre in the high-grown field

And bring him to our eye.—

[Exit a Soldier]

                                What can man’s wisdom⁸

In the restoring his bereavèd⁹ sense?

He that helps him take all my outward worth¹⁰.

GENTLEMAN    There is means, madam:

Our foster-nurse of nature is repose¹²,

The which he lacks: that to provoke in him¹³

Are many simples operative, whose power

Will close the eye of anguish.

CORDELIA    All blest secrets,

All you unpublished virtues¹⁷ of the earth,

Spring with my tears! Be aidant and remediate¹⁸

In the good man’s distress! Seek, seek for him,

Lest his ungoverned rage²⁰ dissolve the life

That wants the means²¹ to lead it.

Enter Messenger

MESSENGER    News, madam:

The British powers are marching hitherward.

CORDELIA    ’Tis known before: our preparation²⁴ stands

In expectation of them. O dear father,

It is thy business that I go about:

Therefore great France²⁷

My mourning and importuned²⁸ tears hath pitied.

No blown²⁹ ambition doth our arms incite,

But love, dear love, and our aged father’s right:

Soon may I hear and see him!

Exeunt

Act 4 Scene 4

running scene 15

Enter Regan and Steward [Oswald]

REGAN    But are my brother’s powers set forth?

OSWALD    Ay, madam.

REGAN    Himself in person there?

OSWALD    Madam, with much ado⁴:

Your sister is the better soldier.

REGAN    Lord Edmund spake not with your lord at home?

OSWALD    No, madam.

REGAN    What might import⁸ my sister’s letter to him?

OSWALD    I know not, lady.

REGAN    Faith, he is posted¹⁰ hence on serious matter.

It was great ignorance¹¹, Gloucester’s eyes being out,

To let him live: where he arrives he moves

All hearts against us. Edmund, I think, is gone,

In pity of his misery, to dispatch

His nighted life: moreover, to descry¹⁵

The strength o’th’enemy.

OSWALD    I must needs after¹⁷ him, madam, with my letter.

REGAN    Our troops set forth tomorrow. Stay with us:

The ways¹⁹ are dangerous.

OSWALD    I may not, madam:

My lady charged my duty²¹ in this business.

REGAN    Why should she write to Edmund? Might not you

Transport her purposes by word? Belike²³,

Some things I know not what. I’ll love thee²⁴ much,

Let me unseal the letter.

OSWALD    Madam, I had rather—

REGAN    I know your lady does not love her husband,

I am sure of that: and at her late being here

She gave strange oeillades and most speaking²⁹ looks

To noble Edmund. I know you are of her bosom³⁰.

OSWALD    I, madam?

REGAN    I speak in understanding. Y’are³², I know’t.

Therefore I do advise you, take this note³³.

My lord is dead: Edmund and I have talked,

And more convenient³⁵ is he for my hand

Than for your lady’s: you may gather more³⁶.

If you do find him, pray you give him this,

Gives a token or a letter

And when your mistress hears thus much from you,

I pray desire her call her wisdom to her³⁹.

So, fare you well.

If you do chance to hear of that blind traitor,

Preferment falls on him that cuts him off.

OSWALD    Would I could meet⁴³, madam, I should show

What party I do follow.