Scene II
Before the Duke of Albany's palace
Enter Goneril and Edmund.[4059]
Gon. Welcome, my lord: I marvel our mild husband
Not met us on the way.
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]
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;
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
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.
And quit the house on purpose, that their punishment[4134]
Might have the freer course.
We’ll remember where you stopped. All chapters