And of the loyal service of his son,

When I inform'd him, then he call'd me sot;

And told me, I had turn'd the wrong side out: What most he should dislike, seems pleasant to him; What like, offensive.

Gon.

Then shall you go no further.

It is the cowish terror of his spirit,

That dares not undertake: he'll not feel

[To Edmund.

wrongs,

Which tie him to an answer: Our wishes, on the

way,

May prove effects. Back, Edmund, to my brother;
Hasten his musters, and conduct his powers:

I must change arms at home, and give the distaff
Into my husband's hands. This trusty servant
Shall

pass between us: ere long you are like to hear, If you dare venture in your own behalf,

A mistresses command. Wear this; spare speech; [giving a favour. Decline your head: this kiss, if it durst speak,

Would stretch thy spirits up into the air;

Conceive, and fare thee well.

Edm. Yours in the ranks of death.

Gon.

My most dear Gloster!

[Exit Edmund.

O, the difference of man, and man! To thee
A woman's services are due; my fool

Usurps my bed.

Stew.

Madam, here comes my lord.

[Exit Steward.

Enter ALBANY.

Gon. I have been worth the whistle 75.

Alb.

O Goneril!

You are not worth the dust which the rude wind

Blows in your face.-I fear your disposition:
That nature, which contemns its origin,
Cannot be border'd certain in itself;

She that herself will sliver and disbranch

From her material sap, perforce must wither,
And come to deadly use.

Gon. No more; the text is foolish.

Alb. Wisdom and goodness to the vile seem vile:
Filths savour but themselves. What have you done?
Tigers, not daughters, what have you perform'd?
A father, and a gracious aged man,

Whose reverence the head-lugg'd bear would lick,
Most barbarous, most degenerate! have you
madded.
Could my good brother suffer you to do it?
A man, a prince, by him so benefited?

If that the heavens do not their visible spirits
Send quickly down to tame these vile offences,
'Twill come,

Humanity must perforce prey on itself,

Like monsters of the deep.

Gon.

Milk-liver'd man!

That bear'st a cheek for blows, a head for wrongs; Who hast not in thy brows an eye discerning Thine honour from thy suffering; that not know'st, Fools do those villains pity, who are punish'd

Ere they have done their mischief.

drum?

Where's thy

France spreads his banners in our noiseless land;
With plumed helm thy slayer begins threats;
Whilst thou, a moral fool, sit'st still, and cry'st,
Alack! why does he so?

Alb.

See thyself, devil!

Proper deformity seems not in the fiend

So horrid, as in woman.

Gon.

O vain fool!

Alb. 76 Thou changed and self-cover'd thing, for

shame,

Be-monster not thy feature. Were it my fitness
To let these hands obey my blood,

They are apt enough to dislocate and tear

Thy flesh and bones: -Howe'er thou art a fiend,
A woman's shape doth shield thee.

Gon. Marry, your manhood now!

Enter a Messenger.

Alb. What news?

Mess. O, my good lord, the duke of Cornwall's

dead;

Slain by his servant, going to put out

The other eye of Gloster.

Alb.

Gloster's eyes!

Mess. A servant that he bred, thrill'd with remorse,

Oppos'd against the act, bending his sword

To his great master; who, thereat enrag'd,

Flew on him, and amongst them fell'd him dead:

But not without that harmful stroke, which since
Hath pluck'd him after.

Alb.

This shows you are above,

You justicers, that these our nether crimes

So speedily can venge!-But, O poor Gloster!
Lost he his other eye?

Mess.

Both, both, my lord.This letter, madam, craves a speedy answer; 'Tis from your sister.

Gon. [Aside.] 77 One way I like this well; But being widow, and my Gloster with her, May all the building in my fancy pluck

Upon my hateful life: Another way,

The news is not so tart.-I'll read, and answer.

[Exit.

Alb. Where was his son, when they did take his

eyes?

Mess. Come with my lady hither.

He is not here.

Alb.
Mess. No, my good lord; I met him back again.
Alb. Knows he the wickedness?

Mess. Ay, my good lord; 'twas he inform'd against

him;

And quit the house on purpose, that their punishment Might have the freer course.

Alb.

Gloster, I live

To thank thee for the love thou show'dst the king,
And to revenge thine eyes.-Come hither, friend;
Tell me what more thou knowest.

[Exeunt.

[SCENE III.

The French Camp, near Dover.

Enter KENT, and a Gentleman.

Kent. Why the king of France is so suddenly gone back know you the reason?

Gent. Something he left imperfect in the state, Which since his coming forth is thought of; which Imports to the kingdom so much fear and danger, That his personal return was most requir'd,

And necessary.

Kent. Who hath he left behind him general?

Gent. The Mareschal of France, Monsieur le Fer. Kent. Did your letters pierce the queen to any demonstration of grief?

Gent. Ay, sir; she took them, read them in my presence;

And now and then an ample tear trill'd down
Her delicate cheek: it seem'd, she was a queen
Over her passion; who, most rebel-like,

Sought to be 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