Her delicate cheek: it seem'd, she was a queen Sought to be the king o'er her. Kent. O, then it mov'd her. Gent. Not to a rage: patience and sorrow strove Who should express her goodliest. You have seen Sunshine and rain at once: her smiles and tears Were like a better day†: Those happy smiles, That play'd on her ripe lip, seem'd not to know What guests were in her eyes; which parted thence, As pearls from diamonds dropp'd.-In brief, sorrow Would be a rarity most belov'd, if all Could so become it. Kent. Made she no verbal question"? Gent. 'Faith, once, or twice, she heav'd the name of father Pantingly forth, as if it press'd her heart; Cried, Sisters! sisters!-Shame of ladies! sisters! Kent! father! sisters! What? i'the storm? i'the night? Let pity not be believed!—There she shook The holy water from her heavenly eyes, And clamour moisten'd':-then away she started Kent. It is the stars, The stars above us, govern our conditions; Else one self mate and mate could not beget Such different issues. You spoke not with her since? Gent. No. Kent. Was this before the king return'd? + "better May:" -MALONE. 5 Made she no verbal question ?] Means only, Did she enter into no conversation with you? In this sense our poet frequently uses the word question, and not simply as the act of interrogation. 6 Let pity not be believed!] i. e. Let not such a thing as pity be supposed to exist! 7 clamour moisten'd:] that is, her out-cries were accompanied with tears. 8 govern our conditions ;] i. e. regulate our dispositions. Gent. No, since. Kent. Well, sir; The poor distress'd Lear is i'the town: Who sometime, in his better tune, remembers What we are come about, and by no means Will yield to see his daughter. Gent. Why, good sir? Kent. A sovereign shame so elbows him: his own un kindness, That stripp'd her from his benediction, turn'd her To his dog-hearted daughters,-these things sting Gent. Alack, poor gentleman! Kent. Of Albany's and Cornwall's powers you heard not? Gent. 'Tis so; they are afoot. Kent. Well, sir, I'll bring you to our master Lear, When I am known aright, you shall not grieve [Exeunt. SCENE IV. The same. A Tent. Enter CORDELIA, Physician, and Soldiers. Cor. Alack, 'tis he; why, he was met even now As mad as the vex'd sea: singing aloud; Crown'd with rank fumiter', and furrow weeds, some dear cause -] Some important business, 9 1 - fumiter,] i. e. fumitory. With harlocks', hemlock, nettles, cuckoo-flowers, In our sustaining corn.-A century send forth; In the restoring his bereaved sense? He, that helps him, take all my outward worth. Our foster-nurse of nature is repose, The which he lacks; that to provoke in him, Cor. All bless'd secrets, All you unpublish'd virtues of the earth, Spring with my tears! be aidant and remediate, That wants the means to lead it 2. Mess. Enter a Messenger. Madam, news; The British powers are marching hitherward. Cor. 'Tis known before; our preparation stands In expectation of them.—O dear father, It is thy business that I go about; Therefore great France My mourning, and important tears, hath pitied. But love, dear love, and our ag'd father's right: 1 mustard. 2 3 4 [Exeunt. harlocks,] A typographical error for charlock, or wild the means to lead it.] The reason which should guide it. important] For importunate. No blown ambition] No inflated, no swelling pride. VOL. VIII. H SCENE V. A Room in Gloster's Castle. Enter REGAN and Steward. Reg. But are my brother's powers set forth? Ay, madam. Himself Madam, with much ado: Your sister is the better soldier. Reg. Lord Edmund spake not with your lord at home? Stew. No, madam. Reg. What might import my sister's letter to him? Stew. I know not, lady. Reg. 'Faith, he is posted hence on serious matter. It was great ignorance, Gloster's eyes being out, All hearts against us; Edmund, I think, is gone, His nighted life; moreover, to descry The strength o'the enemy. Stew. I must needs after him, madam, with my letter. Reg. Our troops set forth to-morrow; stay with us; The ways are dangerous. Stew. I may not, madam ; My lady charg'd my duty in this business. Reg. Why should she write to Edmund? Might not you Transport her purposes by word? Belike, Something-I know not what :-I'll love thee much, Stew. Madam, I had rather Reg. I know, your lady does not love her husband; I am sure of that: and, at her late being here, 5 His nighted life ;] i. e. His life made dark as night, by the extinction of his eyes. She gave strange œiliads, and most speaking looks Reg. I speak in understanding; you are, I know it: Therefore, I do advise you, take this note: My lord is dead; Edmund and I have talk'd; And more convenient is he for my hand, Than for your lady's :-You may gather more. If you do find him, pray you, give him this; And when your mistress hears thus much from you, I pray, desire her call her wisdom to her. So, fare you well. If you do chance to hear of that blind traitor, Preferment falls on him that cuts him off. Stew. 'Would I could meet him, madam! I would Enter GLOSTER, and EDGAR, dressed like a Peasant. Glo. When shall we come to the top of that same hill? Edg. You do climb up it now: look, how we labour. Edg. Hark, do you hear the sea? Glo. Horrible steep: No, truly. Edg. Why, then your other senses grow imperfect By your eyes' anguish. • She gave strange œiliads,] Eillade, Fr. a cast, or significant glance of the eye. 7 I do advise you, take this note :] Note means in this place not a letter, but a remark. Therefore observe what I a am saying. |