_Enter_ GONERIL _and_ EDMUND.[4059]
_Gon._ Welcome, my lord: I marvel our mild husband
Not met us on the way.
_Enter_ OSWALD.[4060]
Now, where's your master?
_Osw._ Madam, within; but never man so changed.[4061]
I told him of the army that was landed;[4061]
He smiled at it: I told him you were coming;[4061] 5
His answer was, 'The worse:' of Gloucester's treachery[4061]
And of the loyal service of his son[4061]
When I inform'd him, then he call'd me sot[4061]
And told me I had turn'd the wrong side out:[4061]
What most he should dislike seems pleasant to him;[4061][4062] 10
What like, offensive.[4061][4063]
_Gon. [To Edm.]_ Then shall you go no further.
It is the cowish terror of his spirit,[4064]
That dares not undertake: he'll not feel wrongs,
Which tie him to an answer. Our wishes on the way[4065]
May prove effects. Back, Edmund, to my brother;[4065][4066] 15
Hasten his musters and conduct his powers:
I must change arms at home and give the distaff[4067]
Into my husband's hands. This trusty servant
Shall pass between us: ere long you are like to hear,[4068]
If you dare venture in your own behalf,[4069] 20
A mistress's command. Wear this; spare speech;
[_Giving a favour._[4070]
Decline your head: this kiss, if it durst speak,
Would stretch thy spirits up into the air:
Conceive, and fare thee well.[4071]
_Edm._ Yours in the ranks of death.
_Gon._ My most dear Gloucester![4072] 25
[_Exit Edmund._[4073]
O, the difference of man and man![4072][4074][4075]
To thee a woman's services are due:[4075][4076]
My fool usurps my body.[4075]
_Osw._ Madam, here comes my lord. [_Exit._
_Enter_ ALBANY.[4077]
_Gon._ I have been worth the whistle.[4078]
_Alb._ O Goneril![4079]
You are not worth the dust which the rude wind[4079][4080] 30
Blows in your face. I fear your disposition:[4081]
That nature which contemns its origin[4081][4082]
Cannot be border'd certain in itself;[4081][4083]
She that herself will sliver and disbranch[4081][4084]
From her material sap, perforce must wither[4081][4085] 35
And come to deadly use.[4081]
_Gon._ No more; the text is foolish.[4081][4086]
_Alb._ Wisdom and goodness to the vile seem vile:[4081]
Filths savour but themselves. What have you done?[4081][4087]
Tigers, not daughters, what have you perform'd?[4081] 40
A father, and a gracious aged man,[4081]
Whose reverence even the head-lugg'd bear would lick,[4081][4088]
Most barbarous, most degenerate! have you madded.[4081]
Could my good brother suffer you to do it?[4081]
A man, a prince, by him so benefited![4081][4089] 45
If that the heavens do not their visible spirits[4081]
Send quickly down to tame these vile offences,[4081][4090][4091]
It will come,[4081][4090][4092]
Humanity must perforce prey on itself,[4081][4093][4094]
Like monsters of the deep.[4081][4093]
_Gon._ Milk-liver'd man! 50
That bear'st a cheek for blows, a head for wrongs;[4095]
Who hast not in thy brows an eye discerning[4096][4097]
Thine honour from thy suffering; that not know'st[4096][4098][4099]
Fools do those villains pity who are punish'd[4098][4099][4100]
Ere they have done their mischief. Where's thy drum?[4098] 55
France spreads his banners in our noiseless land,[4098][4101]
With plumed helm thy state begins to threat,[4098][4102]
Whiles thou, a moral fool, sit'st still and criest[4098][4103]
'Alack, why does he so?'[4098]
_Alb._ See thyself, devil![4104]
Proper deformity seems not in the fiend[4104][4105] 60
So horrid as in woman.[4104]
_Gon._ O vain fool!
_Alb._ Thou changed and self-cover'd thing, for shame,[4106][4107]
Be-monster not thy feature. Were 't my fitness[4106][4108][4109]
To let these hands obey my blood,[4106][4109][4110]
They are apt enough to dislocate and tear[4106][4109][4111] 65
Thy flesh and bones: howe'er thou art a fiend,[4106][4112]
A woman's shape doth shield thee.[4106]
_Gon_. Marry, your manhood mew.[4106][4113]
_Enter a_ Messenger.
_Alb._ What news?[4114]
_Mess._ O, my good lord, the Duke of Cornwall's dead,[4115][4116] 70
Slain by his servant, going to put out[4116]
The other eye of Gloucester.[4116]
_Alb._ Gloucester's eyes!
_Mess._ A servant that he bred, thrill'd with remorse,[4117]
Opposed against the act, bending his sword[4118]
To his great master; who thereat enraged[4118][4119] 75
Flew on him and amongst them fell'd him dead,[4120]
But not without that harmful stroke which since[4121][4122]
Hath pluck'd him after.[4122]
_Alb._ This shows you are above,[4123][4124]
You justicers, that these our nether crimes[4123][4124][4125]
So speedily can venge. But, O poor Gloucester![4123] 80
Lost he his other eye?[4123]
_Mess._ Both, both, my lord.[4126]
This letter, madam, craves a speedy answer;[4126]
'Tis from your sister.[4126]
_Gon._ [_Aside_] One way I like this well;[4127]
But being widow, and my Gloucester with her,[4128]
May all the building in my fancy pluck[4129] 85
Upon my hateful life: another way,[4130]
The news is not so tart. I'll read, and answer. [_Exit._[4130][4131]
_Alb._ Where was his son when they did take his eyes?[4132]
_Mess._ Come with my lady hither.
_Alb._ He is not here.[4133]
_Mess._ No, my good lord; I met him back again. 90
_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[4134]
Might have the freer course.
_Alb._ Gloucester, I live[4135][4136]
To thank thee for the love thou show'dst the king,[4135][4136][4137] 95
And to revenge thine eyes. Come hither, friend:[4135][4136][4138]
Tell me what more thou know'st. [_Exeunt._[4136][4139]