TPTT The Tragedy of King Lear: ACT III
Introduction
ACT I
ACT II
ACT III
SCENE I. A heath.
SCENE II. Another part of the heath. Storm still.
SCENE III. Gloucester's castle.
SCENE IV. The heath. Before a hovel.
SCENE V. Gloucester's castle.
SCENE VI. A chamber in a farmhouse adjoining the castle.
SCENE VII. Gloucester's castle.
ACT IV
ACT V
About the Play
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SCENE VII. Gloucester's castle.
Enter CORNWALL, REGAN, GONERIL, EDMUND, and Servants
CORNWALL
      Post speedily to my lord your husband; show him
      this letter: the army of France is landed. Seek
      out the villain Gloucester.
Exeunt some of the Servants
REGAN
      Hang him instantly.
GONERIL
5     Pluck out his eyes.
CORNWALL
      Leave him to my displeasure. Edmund, keep you our
      sister company: the revenges we are bound to take
      upon your traitorous father are not fit for your
      beholding. Advise the duke, where you are going, to
10    a most festinate preparation: we are bound to the
      like. Our posts shall be swift and intelligent
      betwixt us. Farewell, dear sister: farewell, my
      lord of Gloucester.

Enter OSWALD

      How now! where's the king?
OSWALD
15    My lord of Gloucester hath convey'd him hence:
      Some five or six and thirty of his knights,
      Hot questrists after him, met him at gate;
      Who, with some other of the lords dependants,
      Are gone with him towards Dover; where they boast
20    To have well-armed friends.
CORNWALL
      Get horses for your mistress.
GONERIL
      Farewell, sweet lord, and sister.
CORNWALL
      Edmund, farewell.

Exeunt GONERIL, EDMUND, and OSWALD

      Go seek the traitor Gloucester,
25    Pinion him like a thief, bring him before us.

Exeunt other Servants

      Though well we may not pass upon his life
      Without the form of justice, yet our power
      Shall do a courtesy to our wrath, which men
      May blame, but not control. Who's there? the traitor?
Enter GLOUCESTER, brought in by two or three
REGAN
30    Ingrateful fox! 'tis he.
CORNWALL
      Bind fast his corky arms.
GLOUCESTER
      What mean your graces? Good my friends, consider
      You are my guests: do me no foul play, friends.
CORNWALL
      Bind him, I say.
Servants bind him
REGAN
35    Hard, hard. O filthy traitor!
GLOUCESTER
      Unmerciful lady as you are, I'm none.
CORNWALL
      To this chair bind him. Villain, thou shalt find--
REGAN plucks his beard
GLOUCESTER
      By the kind gods, 'tis most ignobly done
      To pluck me by the beard.
REGAN
40    So white, and such a traitor!
GLOUCESTER
      Naughty lady,
      These hairs, which thou dost ravish from my chin,
      Will quicken, and accuse thee: I am your host:
      With robbers' hands my hospitable favours
45    You should not ruffle thus. What will you do?
CORNWALL
      Come, sir, what letters had you late from France?
REGAN
      Be simple answerer, for we know the truth.
CORNWALL
      And what confederacy have you with the traitors
      Late footed in the kingdom?
REGAN
50    To whose hands have you sent the lunatic king? Speak.
GLOUCESTER
      I have a letter guessingly set down,
      Which came from one that's of a neutral heart,
      And not from one opposed.
CORNWALL
      Cunning.
REGAN
55    And false.
CORNWALL
      Where hast thou sent the king?
GLOUCESTER
      To Dover.
REGAN
      Wherefore to Dover? Wast thou not charged at peril--
CORNWALL
      Wherefore to Dover? Let him first answer that.
GLOUCESTER
60    I am tied to the stake, and I must stand the course.
REGAN
      Wherefore to Dover, sir?
GLOUCESTER
      Because I would not see thy cruel nails
      Pluck out his poor old eyes; nor thy fierce sister
      In his anointed flesh stick boarish fangs.
65    The sea, with such a storm as his bare head
      In hell-black night endured, would have buoy'd up,
      And quench'd the stelled fires:
      Yet, poor old heart, he holp the heavens to rain.
      If wolves had at thy gate howl'd that stern time,
70    Thou shouldst have said 'Good porter, turn the key,'
      All cruels else subscribed: but I shall see
      The winged vengeance overtake such children.
CORNWALL
      See't shalt thou never. Fellows, hold the chair.
      Upon these eyes of thine I'll set my foot.
GLOUCESTER
75    He that will think to live till he be old,
      Give me some help! O cruel! O you gods!
REGAN
      One side will mock another; the other too.
CORNWALL
      If you see vengeance,--
First Servant
      Hold your hand, my lord:
80    I have served you ever since I was a child;
      But better service have I never done you
      Than now to bid you hold.
REGAN
      How now, you dog!
First Servant
      If you did wear a beard upon your chin,
85    I'd shake it on this quarrel. What do you mean?
CORNWALL
      My villain!
They draw and fight
First Servant
      Nay, then, come on, and take the chance of anger.
REGAN
      Give me thy sword. A peasant stand up thus!
Takes a sword, and runs at him behind
First Servant
      O, I am slain! My lord, you have one eye left
90    To see some mischief on him. O!
Dies
CORNWALL
      Lest it see more, prevent it. Out, vile jelly!
      Where is thy lustre now?
GLOUCESTER
      All dark and comfortless. Where's my son Edmund?
      Edmund, enkindle all the sparks of nature,
95    To quit this horrid act.
REGAN
      Out, treacherous villain!
      Thou call'st on him that hates thee: it was he
      That made the overture of thy treasons to us;
      Who is too good to pity thee.
GLOUCESTER
100   O my follies! then Edgar was abused.
      Kind gods, forgive me that, and prosper him!
REGAN
      Go thrust him out at gates, and let him smell
      His way to Dover.

Exit one with GLOUCESTER

      How is't, my lord? how look you?
CORNWALL
105   I have received a hurt: follow me, lady.
      Turn out that eyeless villain; throw this slave
      Upon the dunghill. Regan, I bleed apace:
      Untimely comes this hurt: give me your arm.
Exit CORNWALL, led by REGAN
Second Servant
      I'll never care what wickedness I do,
110   If this man come to good.
Third Servant
      If she live long,
      And in the end meet the old course of death,
      Women will all turn monsters.
Second Servant
      Let's follow the old earl, and get the Bedlam
115   To lead him where he would: his roguish madness
      Allows itself to any thing.
Third Servant
      Go thou: I'll fetch some flax and whites of eggs
      To apply to his bleeding face. Now, heaven help him!
Exeunt severally
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