The Tragedy of King Lear: ACT IV
Introduction ACT I ACT II ACT III ACT IV SCENE I. The heath. SCENE II. Before ALBANY's palace. SCENE III. The French camp near Dover. SCENE IV. The same. A tent. SCENE V. Gloucester's castle. SCENE VI. Fields near Dover. SCENE VII. A tent in the French camp. LEAR on a bed asleep, soft music playing; Gentleman, and others attending. ACT V About the Play Feedback			Search: All the plays Hamlet Coriolanus Julius Caesar King Lear Macbeth Othello Romeo and Juliet Richard II Richard III Titus Andronicus Antony and Cleopatra Timon of Athens Henry IV Part 1 Henry IV Part 2 Henry the Fifth Henry VI Part 1 Henry VI Part 2 Henry VI Part 3 Henry VIII King John Pericles Troilus and Cressida All's Well... As You Like It The Comedy of Errors Cymbeline A Midsummer... Love's Labour's Lost Measure for Measure The Merry Wives... Much Ado about Nothing The Merchant of Venice Twelfth Night The Taming of... The Tempest The Two Gentlemen... The Winter's Tale    for: SCENE III. 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 5     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 10    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 15    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 20    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, 25    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: 30    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 35    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 40    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 45    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 50    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 55    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; 60    When I am known aright, you shall not grieve       Lending me this acquaintance. I pray you, go       Along with me. Exeunt Return to top of page ... or ... Go to next scene