Scene II
Before Gloucester's castle
Enter Kent and Oswald, severally.[3164]
Kent. Ay.
Osw. Where may we set our horses?
Kent. I' the mire.[3167]
Osw. Prithee, if thou lovest me, tell me.[3168] 5
Kent. I love thee not.
Osw. Why then I care not for thee.
Kent. If I had thee in Lipsbury pinfold, I would make[3169]
thee care for me.
thee care for me.
Osw. Why dost thou use me thus? I know thee not. 10
Kent. Fellow, I know thee.
Osw. What dost thou know me for?
Kent. A knave; a rascal; an eater of broken meats; a
base, proud, shallow, beggarly, three-suited, hundred-pound,[3170]
filthy, worsted-stocking knave; a lily-livered, action-taking[3171] 15
knave; a whoreson, glass-gazing, superserviceable, finical[3172]
rogue; one-trunk-inheriting slave; one that wouldst be a[3173]
bawd in way of good service, and art nothing but the composition
of a knave, beggar, coward, pandar, and the son
and heir of a mongrel bitch: one whom I will beat into[3174] 20
clamorous whining, if thou deniest the least syllable of thy[3175]
addition.
base, proud, shallow, beggarly, three-suited, hundred-pound,[3170]
filthy, worsted-stocking knave; a lily-livered, action-taking[3171] 15
knave; a whoreson, glass-gazing, superserviceable, finical[3172]
rogue; one-trunk-inheriting slave; one that wouldst be a[3173]
bawd in way of good service, and art nothing but the composition
of a knave, beggar, coward, pandar, and the son
and heir of a mongrel bitch: one whom I will beat into[3174] 20
clamorous whining, if thou deniest the least syllable of thy[3175]
addition.
Osw. Why, what a monstrous fellow art thou, thus to[3176]
rail on one that is neither known of thee nor knows thee![3177]
rail on one that is neither known of thee nor knows thee![3177]
Kent. What a brazen-faced varlet art thou, to deny 25
thou knowest me! Is it two days ago since I tripped up[3178][3179]
thy heels and beat thee before the king? Draw, you rogue:[3179]
for, though it be night, yet the moon shines; I'll make a[3180]
sop o' the moonshine of you: draw, you whoreson cullionly[3181]
barber-monger, draw. [Drawing his sword.[3182] 30
thou knowest me! Is it two days ago since I tripped up[3178][3179]
thy heels and beat thee before the king? Draw, you rogue:[3179]
for, though it be night, yet the moon shines; I'll make a[3180]
sop o' the moonshine of you: draw, you whoreson cullionly[3181]
barber-monger, draw. [Drawing his sword.[3182] 30
Osw. Away! I have nothing to do with thee.
Kent. Draw, you rascal: you come with letters against[3183]
the king, and take vanity the puppet's part against the
royalty of her father: draw, you rogue, or I'll so carbonado[3184]
your shanks: draw, you rascal; come your ways.[3185] 35
the king, and take vanity the puppet's part against the
royalty of her father: draw, you rogue, or I'll so carbonado[3184]
your shanks: draw, you rascal; come your ways.[3185] 35
Osw. Help, ho! murder! help!
Osw. Help, ho! murder! murder!
Enter Edmund, with his rapier drawn, Cornwall, Regan, Gloucester, and Servants.[3188]
Kent. With you, goodman boy, an you please: come,[3192]
I'll flesh you; come on, young master.[3193]
I'll flesh you; come on, young master.[3193]
Glou. Weapons! arms! What's the matter here?[3194]
Corn. Keep peace, upon your lives;[3195]
He dies that strikes again. What is the matter?[3195][3196] 45
He dies that strikes again. What is the matter?[3195][3196] 45
Reg. The messengers from our sister and the king.[3197]
Corn. What is your difference? speak.[3198]
Osw. I am scarce in breath, my lord.
Kent. No marvel, you have so bestirred your valour.[3199]
You cowardly rascal, nature disclaims in thee: a tailor made[3199][3200] 50
thee.[3199]
You cowardly rascal, nature disclaims in thee: a tailor made[3199][3200] 50
thee.[3199]
Kent. Ay, a tailor, sir: a stone-cutter or a painter[3202]
could not have made him so ill, though he had been but[3203]
two hours at the trade.[3204] 55
could not have made him so ill, though he had been but[3203]
two hours at the trade.[3204] 55
Corn. Speak yet, how grew your quarrel?[3205]
Kent. Thou whoreson zed! thou unnecessary letter![3208]
My lord, if you will give me leave, I will tread this unbolted[3209] 60
villain into mortar, and daub the walls of a jakes[3210]
with him. Spare my gray beard, you wagtail?[3211]
My lord, if you will give me leave, I will tread this unbolted[3209] 60
villain into mortar, and daub the walls of a jakes[3210]
with him. Spare my gray beard, you wagtail?[3211]
Kent. Yes, sir; but anger hath a privilege.[3215] 65
Corn. Why art thou angry?
Kent. That such a slave as this should wear a sword,
Who wears no honesty. Such smiling rogues as these,[3216]
Like rats, oft bite the holy cords a-twain[3217]
Which are too intrinse to unloose; smooth every passion[3218] 70
That in the natures of their lords rebel;[3219]
Bring oil to fire, snow to their colder moods;[3220]
Renege, affirm, and turn their halcyon beaks[3221]
With every gale and vary of their masters,[3222]
Knowing nought, like dogs, but following.[3223][3224] 75
A plague upon your epileptic visage![3223]
Smile you my speeches, as I were a fool?[3223][3225]
Goose, if I had you upon Sarum plain,[3226]
I'ld drive ye cackling home to Camelot.[3227]
Who wears no honesty. Such smiling rogues as these,[3216]
Like rats, oft bite the holy cords a-twain[3217]
Which are too intrinse to unloose; smooth every passion[3218] 70
That in the natures of their lords rebel;[3219]
Bring oil to fire, snow to their colder moods;[3220]
Renege, affirm, and turn their halcyon beaks[3221]
With every gale and vary of their masters,[3222]
Knowing nought, like dogs, but following.[3223][3224] 75
A plague upon your epileptic visage![3223]
Smile you my speeches, as I were a fool?[3223][3225]
Goose, if I had you upon Sarum plain,[3226]
I'ld drive ye cackling home to Camelot.[3227]
Corn. What, art thou mad, old fellow?[3228] 80
Kent. No contraries hold more antipathy
Than I and such a knave.
Than I and such a knave.
Corn. Why dost thou call him knave? What is his fault?[3230]
Kent. His countenance likes me not. 85
Corn. No more perchance does mine, nor his, nor hers.[3231]
Kent. Sir, 'tis my occupation to be plain:
I have seen better faces in my time
Than stands on any shoulders that I see[3232]
Before me at this instant.
I have seen better faces in my time
Than stands on any shoulders that I see[3232]
Before me at this instant.
Corn. This is some fellow,[3233][3234] 90
Who, having been praised for bluntness, doth affect[3233]
A saucy roughness, and constrains the garb[3233][3235]
Quite from his nature: he cannot flatter, he,—[3233][3236]
An honest mind and plain,—he must speak truth![3233][3237]
An they will take it, so; if not, he's plain.[3233][3238] 95
These kind of knaves I know, which in this plainness[3233][3239]
Harbour more craft and more corrupter ends[3233][3240]
Than twenty silly ducking observants[3233][3241]
That stretch their duties nicely.[3233]
Who, having been praised for bluntness, doth affect[3233]
A saucy roughness, and constrains the garb[3233][3235]
Quite from his nature: he cannot flatter, he,—[3233][3236]
An honest mind and plain,—he must speak truth![3233][3237]
An they will take it, so; if not, he's plain.[3233][3238] 95
These kind of knaves I know, which in this plainness[3233][3239]
Harbour more craft and more corrupter ends[3233][3240]
Than twenty silly ducking observants[3233][3241]
That stretch their duties nicely.[3233]
Kent. Sir, in good faith, in sincere verity,[3242] 100
Under the allowance of your great aspect,[3243]
Whose influence, like the wreath of radiant fire
On flickering Phœbus' front,—
Under the allowance of your great aspect,[3243]
Whose influence, like the wreath of radiant fire
On flickering Phœbus' front,—
Corn. What mean'st by this?[3244]
Kent. To go out of my dialect, which you discommend[3245]
so much. I know, sir, I am no flatterer: he that beguiled[3246] 105
you in a plain accent was a plain knave; which, for my
part, I will not be, though I should win your displeasure to[3247]
entreat me to't.[3247][3248]
so much. I know, sir, I am no flatterer: he that beguiled[3246] 105
you in a plain accent was a plain knave; which, for my
part, I will not be, though I should win your displeasure to[3247]
entreat me to't.[3247][3248]
Corn. What was the offence you gave him?[3249]
Osw. I never gave him any:[3250][3251] 110
It pleased the king his master very late[3251][3252]
To strike at me, upon his misconstruction;[3251][3253]
When he, conjunct, and flattering his displeasure,[3254]
Tripp'd me behind; being down, insulted, rail'd,
And put upon him such a deal of man,[3255] 115
That worthied him, got praises of the king[3255]
For him attempting who was self-subdued;
And in the fleshment of this dread exploit[3256]
Drew on me here again.[3257]
It pleased the king his master very late[3251][3252]
To strike at me, upon his misconstruction;[3251][3253]
When he, conjunct, and flattering his displeasure,[3254]
Tripp'd me behind; being down, insulted, rail'd,
And put upon him such a deal of man,[3255] 115
That worthied him, got praises of the king[3255]
For him attempting who was self-subdued;
And in the fleshment of this dread exploit[3256]
Drew on me here again.[3257]
Corn. Fetch forth the stocks! 120
You stubborn ancient knave, you reverend braggart,[3260]
We'll teach you—[3261]
You stubborn ancient knave, you reverend braggart,[3260]
We'll teach you—[3261]
Kent. Sir, I am too old to learn:[3262]
Call not your stocks for me: I serve the king,[3262]
On whose employment I was sent to you:[3262][3263]
You shall do small respect, show too bold malice[3264] 125
Against the grace and person of my master,
Stocking his messenger.[3265]
Call not your stocks for me: I serve the king,[3262]
On whose employment I was sent to you:[3262][3263]
You shall do small respect, show too bold malice[3264] 125
Against the grace and person of my master,
Stocking his messenger.[3265]
Corn. Fetch forth the stocks! As I have life and honour,[3266][3267]
There shall he sit till noon.[3266]
There shall he sit till noon.[3266]
Reg. Till noon! till night, my lord, and all night too.[3268] 130
Reg. Sir, being his knave, I will.
Corn. This is a fellow of the self-same colour[3271]
Our sister speaks of. Come, bring away the stocks!
Our sister speaks of. Come, bring away the stocks!
[Stocks brought out.[3272]
Glou. Let me beseech your grace not to do so: 135
His fault is much, and the good king his master[3273]
Will check him for't: your purposed low correction[3273]
Is such as basest and contemned'st wretches[3273][3274]
For pilferings and most common trespasses[3273]
Are punish'd with: the king must take it ill,[3273] 140
That he, so slightly valued in his messenger,[3273][3275]
Should have him thus restrain'd.[3273][3275]
His fault is much, and the good king his master[3273]
Will check him for't: your purposed low correction[3273]
Is such as basest and contemned'st wretches[3273][3274]
For pilferings and most common trespasses[3273]
Are punish'd with: the king must take it ill,[3273] 140
That he, so slightly valued in his messenger,[3273][3275]
Should have him thus restrain'd.[3273][3275]
Corn. I'll answer that.
Reg. My sister may receive it much more worse,[3276]
To have her gentleman abused, assaulted,[3277]
For following her affairs. Put in his legs.[3278] 145
To have her gentleman abused, assaulted,[3277]
For following her affairs. Put in his legs.[3278] 145
[Kent is put in the stocks.[3279]
Come, my good lord, away. [Exeunt all but Gloucester and Kent.[3280]
Glou. I am sorry for thee, friend; 'tis the duke's pleasure,[3281]
Whose disposition, all the world well knows,
Will not be rubb'd nor stopp'd: I'll entreat for thee.[3282]
Whose disposition, all the world well knows,
Will not be rubb'd nor stopp'd: I'll entreat for thee.[3282]
Kent. Pray, do not, sir: I have watch'd and travell'd hard;[3283] 150
Some time I shall sleep out, the rest I'll whistle.[3284]
A good man's fortune may grow out at heels:
Give you good morrow!
Some time I shall sleep out, the rest I'll whistle.[3284]
A good man's fortune may grow out at heels:
Give you good morrow!
Glou. The duke's to blame in this; 'twill be ill taken.
[Exit.[3285]
Kent. Good king, that must approve the common saw, 155
Thou out of heaven's benediction comest[3286]
To the warm sun!
Approach, thou beacon to this under globe,[3287][3288]
That by thy comfortable beams I may[3287]
Peruse this letter! Nothing almost sees miracles[3287][3289] 160
But misery: I know 'tis from Cordelia,[3287][3290]
Who hath most fortunately been inform'd[3287][3291]
Of my obscured course; and shall find time[3287][3292][3293]
From this enormous state, seeking to give[3287][3293][3294]
Losses their remedies. All weary and o'er-watch'd,[3287][3295] 165
Take vantage, heavy eyes, not to behold[3296]
This shameful lodging.[3297]
Fortune, good night: smile once more; turn thy wheel![3297]
Thou out of heaven's benediction comest[3286]
To the warm sun!
Approach, thou beacon to this under globe,[3287][3288]
That by thy comfortable beams I may[3287]
Peruse this letter! Nothing almost sees miracles[3287][3289] 160
But misery: I know 'tis from Cordelia,[3287][3290]
Who hath most fortunately been inform'd[3287][3291]
Of my obscured course; and shall find time[3287][3292][3293]
From this enormous state, seeking to give[3287][3293][3294]
Losses their remedies. All weary and o'er-watch'd,[3287][3295] 165
Take vantage, heavy eyes, not to behold[3296]
This shameful lodging.[3297]
Fortune, good night: smile once more; turn thy wheel![3297]
[Sleeps.[3298]
We’ll remember where you stopped. All chapters