King Lear | Act IV, Scene IV

Scene IV

The same. A tent.

[Enter, with drum and colors, Cordelia, Doctor, and Soldiers]

CORDELIA:
Alack, 'tis he: why, he was met even now
As mad as the vexed sea; singing aloud;
Crowned with rank fumiter and furrow-weeds,
With hardocks, hemlock, nettles, cuckoo-flowers,
Darnel, and all the idle weeds that grow(5)
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?(10)
He that helps him take all my outward worth.
DOCTOR:
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(15)
Will close the eye of anguish.
CORDELIA:
All blest secrets,
All you unpublished virtues of the earth,
Spring with my tears! be aidant and remediate
In the good man's distress! Seek, seek for him;(20)
Lest his ungoverned rage dissolve the life
That wants the means to lead it.

[Enter a Messenger]

MESSENGER:
News, madam;
The British powers are marching hitherward.
CORDELIA:
'Tis known before; our preparation stands(25)
In expectation of them. O dear father,
It is thy business that I go about;
Therefore great France
My mourning and important tears hath pitied.
No blown ambition doth our arms incite,(30)
But love, dear love, and our aged father's right:
Soon may I hear and see him!

[Exeunt]

  • stirred up
  • all the weeds listed here are considered upleasant
  • wheat
  • company of soldiers
  • material
  • herbal remedies
  • able to work
  • helpful
  • restorative
  • lacks
  • inflated