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| <title>SCENE II. Before Gloucester's castle. | |
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| <tr><td class="play" align="center">King Lear | |
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| <a href="/Shakespeare">Shakespeare homepage</A> | |
| | <A href="/Shakespeare/lear/">King Lear</A> | |
| | Act 2, Scene 2 | |
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| <H3>SCENE II. Before Gloucester's castle.</h3> | |
| <p><blockquote> | |
| <i>Enter KENT and OSWALD, severally</i> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech1><b>OSWALD</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=1>Good dawning to thee, friend: art of this house?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech2><b>KENT</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=2>Ay.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech3><b>OSWALD</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=3>Where may we set our horses?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech4><b>KENT</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=4>I' the mire.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech5><b>OSWALD</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=5>Prithee, if thou lovest me, tell me.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech6><b>KENT</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=6>I love thee not.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech7><b>OSWALD</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=7>Why, then, I care not for thee.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech8><b>KENT</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=8>If I had thee in Lipsbury pinfold, I would make thee</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=9>care for me.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech9><b>OSWALD</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=10>Why dost thou use me thus? I know thee not.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech10><b>KENT</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=11>Fellow, I know thee.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech11><b>OSWALD</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=12>What dost thou know me for?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech12><b>KENT</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=13>A knave; a rascal; an eater of broken meats; a</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=14>base, proud, shallow, beggarly, three-suited,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=15>hundred-pound, filthy, worsted-stocking knave; a</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=16>lily-livered, action-taking knave, a whoreson,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=17>glass-gazing, super-serviceable finical rogue;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=18>one-trunk-inheriting slave; one that wouldst be a</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=19>bawd, in way of good service, and art nothing but</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=20>the composition of a knave, beggar, coward, pandar,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=21>and the son and heir of a mongrel bitch: one whom I</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=22>will beat into clamorous whining, if thou deniest</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=23>the least syllable of thy addition.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech13><b>OSWALD</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=24>Why, what a monstrous fellow art thou, thus to rail</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=25>on one that is neither known of thee nor knows thee!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech14><b>KENT</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=26>What a brazen-faced varlet art thou, to deny thou</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=27>knowest me! Is it two days ago since I tripped up</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=28>thy heels, and beat thee before the king? Draw, you</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=29>rogue: for, though it be night, yet the moon</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=30>shines; I'll make a sop o' the moonshine of you:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=31>draw, you whoreson cullionly barber-monger, draw.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Drawing his sword</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech15><b>OSWALD</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=32>Away! I have nothing to do with thee.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech16><b>KENT</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=33>Draw, you rascal: you come with letters against the</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=34>king; and take vanity the puppet's part against the</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=35>royalty of her father: draw, you rogue, or I'll so</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=36>carbonado your shanks: draw, you rascal; come your ways.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech17><b>OSWALD</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=37>Help, ho! murder! help!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech18><b>KENT</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=38>Strike, you slave; stand, rogue, stand; you neat</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=39>slave, strike.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Beating him</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech19><b>OSWALD</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=40>Help, ho! murder! murder!</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Enter EDMUND, with his rapier drawn, CORNWALL, REGAN, GLOUCESTER, and Servants</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech20><b>EDMUND</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=41>How now! What's the matter?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech21><b>KENT</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=42>With you, goodman boy, an you please: come, I'll</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=43>flesh ye; come on, young master.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech22><b>GLOUCESTER</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=44>Weapons! arms! What 's the matter here?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech23><b>CORNWALL</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=45>Keep peace, upon your lives:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=46>He dies that strikes again. What is the matter?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech24><b>REGAN</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=47>The messengers from our sister and the king.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech25><b>CORNWALL</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=48>What is your difference? speak.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech26><b>OSWALD</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=49>I am scarce in breath, my lord.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech27><b>KENT</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=50>No marvel, you have so bestirred your valour. You</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=51>cowardly rascal, nature disclaims in thee: a</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=52>tailor made thee.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech28><b>CORNWALL</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=53>Thou art a strange fellow: a tailor make a man?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech29><b>KENT</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=54>Ay, a tailor, sir: a stone-cutter or painter could</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=55>not have made him so ill, though he had been but two</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=56>hours at the trade.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech30><b>CORNWALL</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=57>Speak yet, how grew your quarrel?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech31><b>OSWALD</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=58>This ancient ruffian, sir, whose life I have spared</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=59>at suit of his gray beard,--</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech32><b>KENT</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=60>Thou whoreson zed! thou unnecessary letter! My</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=61>lord, if you will give me leave, I will tread this</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=62>unbolted villain into mortar, and daub the wall of</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=63>a jakes with him. Spare my gray beard, you wagtail?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech33><b>CORNWALL</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=64>Peace, sirrah!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=65>You beastly knave, know you no reverence?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech34><b>KENT</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=66>Yes, sir; but anger hath a privilege.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech35><b>CORNWALL</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=67>Why art thou angry?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech36><b>KENT</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=68>That such a slave as this should wear a sword,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=69>Who wears no honesty. Such smiling rogues as these,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=70>Like rats, oft bite the holy cords a-twain</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=71>Which are too intrinse t' unloose; smooth every passion</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=72>That in the natures of their lords rebel;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=73>Bring oil to fire, snow to their colder moods;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=74>Renege, affirm, and turn their halcyon beaks</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=75>With every gale and vary of their masters,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=76>Knowing nought, like dogs, but following.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=77>A plague upon your epileptic visage!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=78>Smile you my speeches, as I were a fool?</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=79>Goose, if I had you upon Sarum plain,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=80>I'ld drive ye cackling home to Camelot.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech37><b>CORNWALL</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=81>Why, art thou mad, old fellow?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech38><b>GLOUCESTER</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=82>How fell you out? say that.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech39><b>KENT</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=83>No contraries hold more antipathy</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=84>Than I and such a knave.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech40><b>CORNWALL</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=85>Why dost thou call him a knave? What's his offence?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech41><b>KENT</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=86>His countenance likes me not.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech42><b>CORNWALL</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=87>No more, perchance, does mine, nor his, nor hers.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech43><b>KENT</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=88>Sir, 'tis my occupation to be plain:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=89>I have seen better faces in my time</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=90>Than stands on any shoulder that I see</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=91>Before me at this instant.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech44><b>CORNWALL</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=92>This is some fellow,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=93>Who, having been praised for bluntness, doth affect</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=94>A saucy roughness, and constrains the garb</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=95>Quite from his nature: he cannot flatter, he,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=96>An honest mind and plain, he must speak truth!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=97>An they will take it, so; if not, he's plain.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=98>These kind of knaves I know, which in this plainness</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=99>Harbour more craft and more corrupter ends</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=100>Than twenty silly ducking observants</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=101>That stretch their duties nicely.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech45><b>KENT</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=102>Sir, in good sooth, in sincere verity,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=103>Under the allowance of your great aspect,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=104>Whose influence, like the wreath of radiant fire</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=105>On flickering Phoebus' front,--</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech46><b>CORNWALL</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=106>What mean'st by this?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech47><b>KENT</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=107>To go out of my dialect, which you</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=108>discommend so much. I know, sir, I am no</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=109>flatterer: he that beguiled you in a plain</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=110>accent was a plain knave; which for my part</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=111>I will not be, though I should win your displeasure</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=112>to entreat me to 't.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech48><b>CORNWALL</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=113>What was the offence you gave him?</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech49><b>OSWALD</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=114>I never gave him any:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=115>It pleased the king his master very late</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=116>To strike at me, upon his misconstruction;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=117>When he, conjunct and flattering his displeasure,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=118>Tripp'd me behind; being down, insulted, rail'd,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=119>And put upon him such a deal of man,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=120>That worthied him, got praises of the king</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=121>For him attempting who was self-subdued;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=122>And, in the fleshment of this dread exploit,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=123>Drew on me here again.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech50><b>KENT</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=124>None of these rogues and cowards</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=125>But Ajax is their fool.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech51><b>CORNWALL</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=126>Fetch forth the stocks!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=127>You stubborn ancient knave, you reverend braggart,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=128>We'll teach you--</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech52><b>KENT</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=129> Sir, I am too old to learn:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=130>Call not your stocks for me: I serve the king;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=131>On whose employment I was sent to you:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=132>You shall do small respect, show too bold malice</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=133>Against the grace and person of my master,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=134>Stocking his messenger.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech53><b>CORNWALL</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=135>Fetch forth the stocks! As I have life and honour,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=136>There shall he sit till noon.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech54><b>REGAN</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=137>Till noon! till night, my lord; and all night too.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech55><b>KENT</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=138>Why, madam, if I were your father's dog,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=139>You should not use me so.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech56><b>REGAN</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=140>Sir, being his knave, I will.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech57><b>CORNWALL</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=141>This is a fellow of the self-same colour</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=142>Our sister speaks of. Come, bring away the stocks!</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Stocks brought out</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech58><b>GLOUCESTER</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=143>Let me beseech your grace not to do so:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=144>His fault is much, and the good king his master</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=145>Will cheque him for 't: your purposed low correction</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=146>Is such as basest and contemned'st wretches</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=147>For pilferings and most common trespasses</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=148>Are punish'd with: the king must take it ill,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=149>That he's so slightly valued in his messenger,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=150>Should have him thus restrain'd.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech59><b>CORNWALL</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=151>I'll answer that.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech60><b>REGAN</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=152>My sister may receive it much more worse,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=153>To have her gentleman abused, assaulted,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=154>For following her affairs. Put in his legs.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>KENT is put in the stocks</i></p> | |
| <A NAME=155>Come, my good lord, away.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Exeunt all but GLOUCESTER and KENT</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech61><b>GLOUCESTER</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=156>I am sorry for thee, friend; 'tis the duke's pleasure,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=157>Whose disposition, all the world well knows,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=158>Will not be rubb'd nor stopp'd: I'll entreat for thee.</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech62><b>KENT</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=159>Pray, do not, sir: I have watched and travell'd hard;</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=160>Some time I shall sleep out, the rest I'll whistle.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=161>A good man's fortune may grow out at heels:</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=162>Give you good morrow!</A><br> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech63><b>GLOUCESTER</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=163>The duke's to blame in this; 'twill be ill taken.</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Exit</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=speech64><b>KENT</b></a> | |
| <blockquote> | |
| <A NAME=164>Good king, that must approve the common saw,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=165>Thou out of heaven's benediction comest</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=166>To the warm sun!</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=167>Approach, thou beacon to this under globe,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=168>That by thy comfortable beams I may</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=169>Peruse this letter! Nothing almost sees miracles</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=170>But misery: I know 'tis from Cordelia,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=171>Who hath most fortunately been inform'd</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=172>Of my obscured course; and shall find time</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=173>From this enormous state, seeking to give</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=174>Losses their remedies. All weary and o'erwatch'd,</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=175>Take vantage, heavy eyes, not to behold</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=176>This shameful lodging.</A><br> | |
| <A NAME=177>Fortune, good night: smile once more: turn thy wheel!</A><br> | |
| <p><i>Sleeps</i></p> | |
| </blockquote> | |
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