I have seen better faces in my time,

Than stand on any shoulders now before me.

Reg. (L. C.) This is some fellow, that having once been prais'd

For bluntness, affects a saucy rudeness:

But I have known one of these surly knaves,
That in his plainness harbour'd more design
Than twenty cringing complimenting minions.
Corn. What's the offence you gave him?
Os. Never any, sir;

It pleas'd the king, his master, lately
To strike me on a slender misconstruction;
Whilst, watching his advantage, this old lurcher
Tript me behind, for which the king extoll'd him ;
And, flush'd with the honour of this bold exploit,
Drew on me here again.

Corn. The stocks! [Two Guards excunt at the
Gate] we'll teach you.

Kent. Sir, I am too old to learn;

I serve the king.

On whose employment I was sent to you:

You'll shew too small respect, and too bold malice
Against the person of my royal master,

Stocking his messenger.

Re-enter two Guards with the Stocks and Seat, which they place R. of the Gutes.

Corn. As I have life and honour,

There shall he sit till noon.

[Guards seize KENT.

Reg. Till noon, my lord! Till night, and all night too. Kent. Why, madam, if I were your father's dog,

You would not use me so.

Reg. Sir, being his knave, I will.

[Captain and Guards lead KENT away, and put
him in the Stocks.

Glost. Let me beseech your graces to forbear him;
His fault is much, and the good king, his master,
Will check him for't: but needs must take it ill
To be thus slighted in his messenger.

Gon. We'll answer that;

Our sister may receive it worse to have

Her gentleman assaulted.

To our business, lead.

[Flourish.-Exeunt all but GLOSTER and OSWALD

into the Castle, L.

Glost. I am sorry for thee, friend; 'tis the duke's pleasure,

Whose disposition will not be controuled.
But I'll intreat for thee.

Kent. Pray do not, sir.

I have watch'd and travell'd hard;

Some time I shall sleep out, the rest I'll whistle :
Farewell t'ye, sir.

[Exit GLOSTER into the Castle.-OSWALD remains on the Stage, mocks and insults KENT, then follows GLOSTER into the Castle.

Good king, that must approve the common saw!
Thou out of heaven's benediction com'st

To the warm sun.-All weary and o'erwatch'd,
I feel the drowsy guest steal on me; take
Advantage, heavy eyes, of this kind slumber,
Not to behold this vile and shameful lodging. [Sleeps.

SCENE III.-A Forest.

Enter EDGAR, L. muffled up.

Edg. I heard myself proclaim'd, And, by the friendly hollow of a tree, Escap'd the hunt. No port is free, no place, Where guards and most unusual vigilance Do not attend to take me.-How easy now "Twere to defeat the malice of my trial, And leave my griefs on my swords reeking point; But love detains me from death's peaceful cell, Still whispering me, Cordelia's in distress: Unkind as she is, I cannot see her wretched, But must be near to wait upon her fortune. Who knows but the blest minute yet may come, When Edgar may do service to Cordelia ? That charming hope still ties me to the oar Of painful life, and makes me too submit, To th' humblest shifts to keep that life a-foot. My face I will besmear, and knit my locks; The country gives me proof and precedent Of Bedlam beggars, who, with roaring voices, Strike in their numb'd and mortify'd bare arms Pins, iron spikes, thorns, sprigs of rosemary : And thus from sheep-cotes, villages and mills, Sometimes with pray'rs, sometimes with lunatic bans, Enforce their charity. Poor Turlygood! poor Tom! That's something yet. Edgar I am no more. [Exit, R.

SCENE IV. Before the Earl of Gloster's Castle.KENT discovered in the Stocks.-Flourish of Trumpets, L.

Enter KING LEAR and Physician, L. Knights L. S. E.

Lear. 'Tis strange, that they should so depart from home,

And not send back our messenger.

Kent. Hail, noble master!

Lear. (c.) How! mak'st thou this shame thy pastime? What's he that has so much mistook thy place, To set thee here?

Kent. It is both he and she, sir; your son and daughter.

Lear. No.

Kent. Yes.

Lear. No, I say.

Kent. I say, yea.

Lear. They durst not do't;

They could not, would not do't:

Resolve me with all modest haste, which way
Thou may'st deserve, or they impose this usage.
Kent. My lord, when at their home

I did commend your highness' letters to them,
Ere I was ris'n, arriv'd another post,

Stew'd in his haste, breathless and panting forth
From Goneril, his mistress, salutations;
Whose message being deliver'd, they took horse,
Commanding me to follow, and attend
The leisure of their answer; which I did:
But meeting here that other messenger,
Whose welcome I perceiv'd had poison'd mine,
Being the very fellow that of late

Had shewn such rudeness to your highness, I,
Having more man than wit about me, drew;
On which he rais'd the house with coward cries:
This was the trespass, which your son and daughter
Thought worth the shame you see it suffer here.

Lear. Oh! this spleen swells upwards to my heart, And heaves for passage! Down, thou climbing rage, Thy element's below. Where is this daughter?

Enter GLOSTER, from the Castle, R. he advances. Kent. Within, sir, at a masque.

Lear. (L.) Now, Gloster ?-Ha!

[GLOSTER whispers LEAR. Deny to speak with me? Th'are sick, th'are weary, They've travell'd hard to-night ?-Mere fetches, sir; Bring me a better answer.

Glost. (L.) My dear lord,

You know the fiery quality of the duke

Lear. Vengeance ! death! plague! confusion! Fiery? What quality ?-Why, Gloster, Gloster, I'd speak with the Duke of Cornwall and his wife. Glost. I have inform'd them so.

Lear. Inform'd them? dost thou understand me, man? I tell thee, Gloster

Glost. Ay, my good lord.

Lear. The king would speak with Cornwall; the dear father

Would with his daugh'er speak, commands her service.
Are they inform'd of this? My breath and blood!
Fiery? The fiery duke? Tell the hot duke-
(No, but not yet; may be, he is not well;
Infirmity doth still neglect all office;

I beg his pardon, and I'll chide my rashness
That took the indispos'd and sickly fit

For the sound man.-But wherefore sits he there?

Death on my state! This act convinces me

[Pointing to the Stocks.

That this retiredness of the duke and her

Is plain contempt.-Give me my servant forth.
Go, tell the duke and's wife I'd speak with 'em,
Now, instantly. -Bid 'em come forth and hear me ;
Or at their chamber door I'll beat the drum,

'Till it cry, Sleep to death. [Going up towards Gates.

Enter CORNWALL, REGAN, Page, two Soldiers, Captain of the Guard, and Guards, from the Castle, L. c. Oh! are you come?

Corn. (R.) Health to the king!

Reg. (R. C.) I am glad to see your highness.

Lear. (c.) Regan, I think you are: 1 know what

cause

I have to think so. Should'st thou not be glad, I would divorce me from thy mother's tomb, Sepulchring an adultress[Crosses to REG. [CORNWALL signs to Capt. of Guard, Captain to the two Guards-they set KENT at liberty, who goes to R. of Physician, behind the KING.

Beloved Regan, thou wilt shake to hear

What I shall utter ;-thou could'st ne'er ha' thought

it ;

Thy sister's naught: O, Regan! she hath tied

Ingratitude like a keen vulture, here;

I scarce can speak to thee.

Reg. pray you, sir, take patience; I have hope That you know less to value her desert,

Than she to slack her duty.

Lear. Ha! How's that?

Reg. I cannot think my sister in the least
Would fail in her respects, but if, perchance,
She has restrain'd the riots of your followers,
"Tis on such grounds, and to such wholesome ends,
As clear her from all blame.

Lear. My curses on her!

Reg. (R. c.) O, sir! you're old,

And shou'd content you to be rul'd and led
By some discretion that discerns your state
Better than you yourself; therefore, good sir,
Return to our sister, and say you have wrong'd her.
Do you but mark how this becomes the house :
Lear. (c.) Ha! ask her forgiveness!

Dear daughter, I confess that I am old:
Age is unnecessary; on my knees I beg,

[Kneeling.

That you'll vouchsafe me raiment, bed, and food.
Reg. Good sir, no more of these unsightly passions;
Return back to our sister.

She hath abated me of half my train,

[Rises.

Look'd black upon me, stabb'd me with her tongue :
All the stor❜d vengeances of heav'n fall

On her ingrateful head! Strike her young bones,
Ye taking airs, with lameness !-

Reg. O the blest gods! thus will you wish on me, When the rash mood

Lear. No, Regan, thou shalt never have my curse; Thy tender nature cannot give thee o'er

To such impiety: thou better know'st

The offices of nature, bond of childhood,

And dues of gratitude; thou bear'st in mind
The half o'th' kingdom, which our love conferred
On thee and thine.

Reg. Good sir, to th' purpose,