Act IV, Scene 3 The French camp near Dover.

Enter KENT and a Gentleman

 

KENT Why the King of France is so suddenly gone back
know you the reason?
Gentleman Something he left imperfect in the
state, which since his coming forth is thought
of; which imports to the kingdom so much
fear and danger, that his personal return was
most required and necessary.
KENT Who hath he left behind him general?
Gentleman The Marshal of France, Monsieur La Far.
KENT Did your letters pierce the queen to any
demonstration of grief?
Gentleman Ay, sir; she took them, read them in my presence;
And now and then an ample tear trill'd down
Her delicate cheek: it seem'd she was a queen
Over her passion; who, most rebel-like,
Sought to be king o'er her.
KENT O, then it moved her.
Gentleman Not to a rage: patience and sorrow strove
Who should express her goodliest. You have seen
Sunshine and rain at once: her smiles and tears
Were like a better way: those happy smilets,
That play'd on her ripe lip, seem'd not to know
What guests were in her eyes; which parted thence,
As pearls from diamonds dropp'd. In brief,
Sorrow would be a rarity most beloved,
If all could so become it.
KENT Made she no verbal question?
Gentleman 'Faith, once or twice she heaved the name of 'father'
Pantingly forth, as if it press'd her heart:
Cried 'Sisters! sisters! Shame of ladies! sisters!
Kent! father! sisters! What, i' the storm? i' the night?
Let pity not be believed!' There she shook
The holy water from her heavenly eyes,
And clamour moisten'd: then away she started
To deal with grief alone.
KENT It is the stars,
The stars above us, govern our conditions;
Else one self mate and mate could not beget
Such different issues. You spoke not with her since?
Gentleman No.
KENT Was this before the king return'd?
Gentleman No, since.
KENT Well, sir, the poor distressed Lear's i' the town;
Who sometime, in his better tune, remembers
What we are come about, and by no means
Will yield to see his daughter.
Gentleman Why, good sir?
KENT A sovereign shame so elbows him: his own unkindness,
That stripp'd her from his benediction, turn'd her
To foreign casualties, gave her dear rights
To his dog-hearted daughters, these things sting
His mind so venomously, that burning shame
Detains him from Cordelia.
Gentleman Alack, poor gentleman!
KENT Of Albany's and Cornwall's powers you heard not?
Gentleman 'Tis so, they are afoot.
KENT Well, sir, I'll bring you to our master Lear,
And leave you to attend him: some dear cause
Will in concealment wrap me up awhile;
When I am known aright, you shall not grieve
Lending me this acquaintance. I pray you, go
Along with me.
  [Exeunt]

 

Act IV, Scene 4 The same. A tent.

Enter, with drum and colours, CORDELIA, Doctor, and Soldiers

 

CORDELIA Alack, 'tis he: why, he was met even now
As mad as the vex'd sea; singing aloud;
Crown'd with rank fumiter and furrow-weeds,
With bur-docks, hemlock, nettles, cuckoo-flowers,
Darnel, and all the idle weeds that grow
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?
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
Will close the eye of anguish.
CORDELIA All blest secrets,
All you unpublish'd virtues of the earth,
Spring with my tears! be aidant and remediate
In the good man's distress! Seek, seek for him;
Lest his ungovern'd 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
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,
But love, dear love, and our aged father's right:
Soon may I hear and see him!
  [Exeunt]

 

To see other scenes from the show:

Full Text Act III, Scene 3 Gloucester's castle./Act III, Scene 4 The heath. Before a hovel.
Act I, Scene 1 King Lear's palace Act III, Scene 5 Gloucester's castle./Act III, Scene 6 A chamber in a farmhouse adjoining the castle.
Act I, Scene 2 The Earl of Gloucester's castle. Act III, Scene 7 Gloucester's castle.
Act I, Scene 3 The Duke of Albany's palace. Act IV, Scene 1 The heath.
Act I, Scene 4 A hall in the same. Act IV, Scene 2 Before Albany's palace.
Act I, Scene 5 Court before the same. Act IV, Scene 3 The French camp near Dover./Act IV, Scene 4 The same. A tent.
Act II, Scene 1 Gloucester's castle. Act IV, Scene 5 Gloucester's castle.
Act II, Scene 2 Before Gloucester's castle. Act IV, Scene 6 Fields near Dover.
Act II, Scene 3 A wood./Act II, Scene 4 Before Gloucester's castle. Act IV, Scene 7 A tent in the French camp.
Act III, Scene 1 A heath. Act V, Scene 1 The British camp near Dover.
Act III, Scene 2 Another part of the heath. Act V, Scene 2 A field between the two camps./Act V, Scene 3 The British camp near Dover.

 

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