Act II, Scene IV - Page 3

King Lear | Act II, Scene IV - Page 3

KING LEAR:: O, reason not the need: our basest beggars
Are in the poorest thing superfluous:
Allow not nature more than nature needs,
Man's life's as cheap as beast's: thou art a lady;
If only to go warm were gorgeous,(290)
Why, nature needs not what thou gorgeous wear'st,
Which scarcely keeps thee warm. But, for true need,—
You heavens, give me that patience, patience I need!
You see me here, you gods, a poor old man,
As full of grief as age; wretched in both!(295)
If it be you that stir these daughters' hearts
Against their father, fool me not so much
To bear it tamely; touch me with noble anger,
And let not women's weapons, water-drops,
Stain my man's cheeks! No, you unnatural hags,(300)
I will have such revenges on you both,
That all the world shall—I will do such things,—
What they are, yet I know not: but they shall be
The terrors of the earth. You think I'll weep
No, I'll not weep:(305)
I have full cause of weeping; but this heart
Shall break into a hundred thousand flaws,
Or ere I'll weep. O fool, I shall go mad!

[Exeunt King Lear, Gloucester, Kent, and Fool]

[Storm and tempest]

REGAN:: This house is little: the old man and his people(310)
Cannot be well bestowed.

GONERIL:: 'Tis his own blame; hath put himself from rest,
And must needs taste his folly.

REGAN:: For his particular, I'll receive him gladly,
But not one follower.(315)

[Re-enter Gloucester]

GLOUCESTER:: Alack, the night comes on, and the bleak winds
Do sorely ruffle; for many miles about(325)
There's scarce a bush.

REGAN:: O, sir, to wilful men,
The injuries that they themselves procure
Must be their schoolmasters. Shut up your doors:
He is attended with a desperate train;(330)
And what they may incense him to, being apt
To have his ear abused, wisdom bids fear.

CORNWALL:: Shut up your doors, my lord; 'tis a wild night:
My Regan counsels well; come out o' the storm.

[Exeunt]

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