All Chapters of The Tragedy of King Lear: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

26 Chapters

ACT III. Scene I. A heath.

Storm still. Enter Kent and a Gentleman at several doors. Kent. Who's there, besides foul weather? Gent. One minded like the weather, most unquietly. Kent. I know you. Where's the King? Gent. Contending with the fretful elements; Bids the wind blow the earth into the sea, Or swell the curled waters 'bove the main, That things might change or cease; tears his white hair, Which the impetuous blasts, with eyeless rage, Catch in their fury and make nothing of; Strives in his little world of man to outscorn The to-and-fro-conflicting wind and rain. This night, wherein the cub-drawn bear would couch, The lion and the belly-pinched wolf Keep their fur dry, unbonneted he runs, And bids what will take all. Kent. But who is with him? Gent. None but the fool, who labours to outjest His heart-struck injuries. Kent. Sir, I do know you, And dare upon the warrant of my note Commend a dear thing to you. There is divis

Last Updated : 2020-04-03

Scene II. Another part of the heath.

Storm still. Enter Lear and Fool. Lear. Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! rage! blow! You cataracts and hurricanoes, spout Till you have drench'd our steeples, drown'd the cocks! You sulph'rous and thought-executing fires, Vaunt-couriers to oak-cleaving thunderbolts, Singe my white head! And thou, all-shaking thunder, Strike flat the thick rotundity o' th' world, Crack Nature's moulds, all germains spill at once, That makes ingrateful man! Fool. O nuncle, court holy water in a dry house is better thanthis rain water out o' door. Good nuncle, in, and ask thydaughters blessing! Here's a night pities nether wise men nor fools. Lear. Rumble thy bellyful! Spit, fire! spout, rain! Nor rain, wind, thunder, fire are my daughters. I tax not you, you elements, with unkindness. I never gave you kingdom, call'd you children, You owe me no subscription. Then let fall Your horrible pleasure. Here I stand your slave

Last Updated : 2020-04-03

Scene III. Gloucester's Castle.

Enter Gloucester and Edmund. Glou. Alack, alack, Edmund, I like not this unnatural dealing!When I desir'd their leave that I might pity him, they took fromme the use of mine own house, charg'd me on pain of perpetual displeasure neither to speak of him, entreat for him, norany way sustain him. Edm. Most savage and unnatural! Glou. Go to; say you nothing. There is division betwixt theDukes, and a worse matter than that. I have received a letter this night- 'tis dangerous to be spoken- I have lock'd the letterin my closet. These injuries the King now bears will berevenged home; there's part of a power already footed; we mustincline to the King. I will seek him and privily relieve him. Go youand maintain talk with the Duke, that my charity be not of him perceived. If he ask for me, I am ill and gone to bed.Though I die for't, as no less is threat'ned me, the King my oldmaster must be relieved. There is some

Last Updated : 2020-04-03

Scene IV and V.

Scene IV. The heath. Before a hovel.Storm still. Enter Lear, Kent, and Fool. Kent. Here is the place, my lord. Good my lord, enter. The tyranny of the open night 's too rough For nature to endure. Lear. Let me alone. Kent. Good my lord, enter here. Lear. Wilt break my heart? Kent. I had rather break mine own. Good my lord, enter. Lear. Thou think'st 'tis much that this contentious storm Invades us to the skin. So 'tis to thee; But where the greater malady is fix'd, The lesser is scarce felt. Thou'dst shun a bear; But if thy flight lay toward the raging sea, Thou'dst meet the bear i' th' mouth. When the mind's free, The body's delicate. The tempest in my mind Doth from my senses take all feeling else Save what beats there. Filial ingratitude! Is it not as this mouth should tear this hand For lifting food to't? But I will punish home! No, I will weep no more. In such a night 'To shut me out! Pour on; I

Last Updated : 2020-04-03

Scene VI. A farmhouse near Gloucester's Castle.

Enter Gloucester, Lear, Kent, Fool, and Edgar. Glou. Here is better than the open air; take it thankfully. Iwill piece out the comfort with what addition I can. I will notbe long from you. Kent. All the power of his wits have given way to hisimpatience. The gods reward your kindness! Exit [Gloucester]. Edg. Frateretto calls me, and tells me Nero is an angler in the lake of darkness. Pray, innocent, and beware the foul fiend. Fool. Prithee, nuncle, tell me whether a madman be a gentlemanor a yeoman. Lear. A king, a king! Fool. No, he's a yeoman that has a gentleman to his son; forhe's a mad yeoman that sees his son a gentleman before him. Lear. To have a thousand with red burning spits Come hizzing in upon 'em- Edg. The foul fiend bites my back. Fool. He's mad that trusts in the tameness of a wolf, a horse's health, a boy's love, or a whore's oath. Lear. It shall be done; I wi

Last Updated : 2020-04-03

Scene VII. Gloucester's Castle.

Enter Cornwall, Regan, Goneril, [Edmund the] Bastard, andServants. Corn. [to Goneril] Post speedily to my lord your husband, showhim this letter. The army of France is landed.- Seek out thetraitor Gloucester. [Exeunt some of the Servants.] Reg. Hang him instantly. Gon. Pluck out his eyes. Corn. Leave him to my displeasure. Edmund, keep you our sister company. The revenges we are bound to take upon yourtraitorous father are not fit for your beholding. Advise the Duke whereyou are going, to a most festinate preparation. We are bound tothe like. Our posts shall be swift and intelligent betwixt us. Farewell, dear sister; farewell, my Lord of Gloucester. Enter [Oswald the] Steward. How now? Where's the King? Osw. My Lord of Gloucester hath convey'd him hence. Some five or six and thirty of his knights, Hot questrists after him, met him at gate; Who, with some othe

Last Updated : 2020-04-03

ACT IV. Scene I. The heath.

Enter Edgar. Edg. Yet better thus, and known to be contemn'd, Than still contemn'd and flatter'd. To be worst, The lowest and most dejected thing of fortune, Stands still in esperance, lives not in fear. The lamentable change is from the best; The worst returns to laughter. Welcome then, Thou unsubstantial air that I embrace! The wretch that thou hast blown unto the worst Owes nothing to thy blasts. Enter Gloucester, led by an Old Man. But who comes here? My father, poorly led? World, world, O world! But that thy strange mutations make us hate thee, Life would not yield to age. Old Man. O my good lord, I have been your tenant, and your father's tenant, These fourscore years. Glou. Away, get thee away! Good friend, be gone. Thy comforts can do me no good at all; Thee they may hurt. Old Man. You cannot see your way. Glou. I have no way, and therefore want no eyes; I stumbled

Last Updated : 2020-04-03

Scene II. Before the Duke of Albany's Palace.

Enter Goneril and [Edmund the] Bastard. Gon. Welcome, my lord. I marvel our mild husband Not met us on the way. Enter [Oswald the] Steward. Now, where's your master? Osw. Madam, within, but never man so chang'd. I told him of the army that was landed: He smil'd at it. I told him you were coming: His answer was, 'The worse.' Of Gloucester's treachery 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. [to Edmund] Then shall you go no further. It is the cowish terror of his spirit, That dares not undertake. He'll not feel 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 pow'rs. I must change arms at home and give the distaff Into my husba

Last Updated : 2020-04-03

Scene III. The French camp near Dover.

The French camp near Dover.Enter Kent and a Gentleman. Kent. Why the King of France is so suddenly gone back know youthe reason? Gent. Something he left imperfect in the state, which since his coming forth is thought of, which imports to the kingdom somuch fear and danger that his personal return was most requiredand necessary. Kent. Who hath he left behind him general? Gent. The Marshal of France, Monsieur La Far. 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 way. Those happy smile

Last Updated : 2020-04-03

Scene IV. The French camp.

Enter, with Drum and Colours, Cordelia, Doctor, 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, With hardocks, hemlock, nettles, cuckoo flow'rs, Darnel, and all the idle weeds that grow In our sustaining corn. A century send forth. Search every acre in the high-grown field And bring him to our eye. [Exit an Officer.] What can man's wisdom In the restoring his bereaved sense? He that helps him take all my outward worth. Doct. There is means, madam. Our foster nurse of nature is repose, The which he lacks. That to provoke in him Are many simples operative, whose power Will close the eye of anguish. Cor. All blest secrets, All you unpublish'd virtues of the earth, Spring with my tears! be aidant and remediate In the good man's distress! Seek, seek for him! Lest his ungovern'd rage dissolve the li

Last Updated : 2020-04-03

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