For which thou whipp'st her. The usurer hangs the Cozener. Through tatter'd clothes small vices do appear; Robes, and furr'd gowns, hide all. Plate sin with gold, And the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks; CORDELIA ON THE INGRATITUDE OF HER SISTERS. O my dear father! Restoration, hang Had you not been their father, these white flakes To be expos'd against the warring winds? To stand against the deep dread-bolted thunder? * * And wast thou fain, poor father, To hovel thee with swine, and rogues forlorn, SCENE BETWEEN LEAR AND CORDELIA. Cor. How does my royal lord? How fares your majesty? Lear. You do me wrong, to take me out o' the grave: Thou art a soul in bliss; but I am bound Upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears Do scald like molten lead. Cor. Sir, do you know me? Lear. You are a spirit, I know: When did you die? Cor. Still, still, far wide! Phys. He's scarce awake; let him alone awhile Lear. Where have I been?-Where am I?-Fair day-light? I am mightily abus'd.-I should even die with pity, Cor. O, look upon me, sir, And hold your hands in benediction o'er me:- Lear. Pray, do not mock me I am a very foolish fond old man, Fourscore and upward; and, to deal plainly, Methinks, I should know you, and know this man: To be my child Cordelia. Cor. And so I am, I am. Lear. Be your tears wet? Yes, 'faith. I pray, weep not: If you have poison for me, I will drink it. Cor. Lear. Am I in France? Lear. Do not abuse me. No cause, no cause. In your own kingdom, sir. Phys. Be comforted, good madam: the great rage, You see, is cur'd in him: and yet it is danger To make him even* o'er the time he has lost. Desire him to go in; trouble him no more, Till further settling. Cor. Will't please your highness walk? *To reconcile it to its apprehension. Lear. You must bear with me: Pray now, forget, and forgive: I am old, and foolish. ACT V. LEAR TO CORDELIA WHEN TAKEN PRISONERS. No, no, no, no! Come, let's away to prison: As if we were God's spies: And we'll wear out, Edm. Take them away. Lear. Upon such sacrifices, my Cordelia, The gods themselves throw incense. THE JUSTICE OF THE GODS. The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices Made instruments to scourge us. EDGAR'S ACCOUNT OF HIS DISCOVERING TO HIS FATHER. List a brief tale; HIMSELF And, when 'tis told, O, that my heart would burst!- That follow'd me so near, (O our lives' sweetness! • Hear. I ask'd his blessing, and from first to last Twixt two extremes of passion, joy and grief, Edm. This speech of your's hath mov'd me, And shall, perchance, do good; but speak you on: You look as you had something more to say. Alb. If there be more, more woful, hold it in; For I am almost ready to dissolve, Hearing of this. Edg. This would have seem'd a period Whilst I was big in clamour, came there a man, Shunn'd my abhorr'd society; but then, finding LEAR ON THE DEATH OF CORDELIA. Howl, howl, howl, howl;-O, you are men of stones; Had I your tongues and eyes, I'd use them so I know when one is dead, and when one lives; * * * * This feather stirs; she lives! if it be so, Kent O my good master! [Kneeling Lear. Pr'ythee, away. A plague upon you, murderers, traitors all! What is't thou say'st?-Her voice was ever soft, LEAR DYING. And my poor fool* is hang'd! No, no, no, life: Why should a dog, a horse, a rat, have life, And thou no breath at all? O, thou wilt come no more, Never, never, never, never, never! MACBETH. ACT I. WITCHES DESCRIBED. WHAT are these, So wither'd, and so wild in their attire; me, By each at once her choppy finger laying MACBETH'S TEMPER. Yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o' the milk of human kindness, The illness should attend it. What thou would'st highly, That would'st thou holily; would'st not play false, And yet would'st wrongly win. Poor Fool, in the time of Shakespeare, was an expression of endearment. |