Act IV, Scene VI - Page 3

King Lear | Act IV, Scene VI - Page 3

EDGAR:: I know thee well: a serviceable villain;
As duteous to the vices of thy mistress
As badness would desire.

EDGAR:: Sit you down, father; rest you(280)
Let's see these pockets: the letters that he speaks of
May be my friends. He's dead; I am only sorry
He had no other death's-man. Let us see:
Leave, gentle wax; and, manners, blame us not:
To know our enemies' minds, we 'ld rip their hearts;(285)
Their papers, is more lawful.

[Reads]
'Let our reciprocal vows be remembered. You have many
opportunities to cut him off: if your will want not, time and place
will be fruitfully offered. There is nothing done, if he return the
conqueror: then am I the prisoner, and his bed my goal; from the(290)
loathed warmth whereof deliver me, and supply the place for your
labor. 'Your—wife, so I would say—affectionate servant,
‘Goneril.’
O undistinguished space of woman's will!
A plot upon her virtuous husband's life;
And the exchange my brother! Here, in the sands,(295)
Thee I'll rake up, the post unsanctified
Of murderous lechers: and in the mature time
With this ungracious paper strike the sight
Of the death-practised duke: for him 'tis well
That of thy death and business I can tell.(300)

GLOUCESTER:: The king is mad: how stiff is my vile sense,
That I stand up, and have ingenious feeling
Of my huge sorrows! Better I were distract.
So should my thoughts be severed from my griefs,
And woes by wrong imaginations lose(305)
The knowledge of themselves.

[Drum afar off]

EDGAR:: Give me your hand:
Far off, methinks, I hear the beaten drum:
Come, father, I'll bestow you with a friend.

[Exeunt]

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