King Lear

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Lear.
Let me ask you one word in private.

Kent.
Importune him once more to go, my lord;
His wits begin to unsettle.

Glou.
Canst thou blame him?
His daughters seek his death:--ah, that good Kent!--
He said it would be thus,--poor banish'd man!--
Thou say'st the king grows mad; I'll tell thee, friend,
I am almost mad myself: I had a son,
Now outlaw'd from my blood; he sought my life
But lately, very late: I lov'd him, friend,--
No father his son dearer: true to tell thee,
[Storm continues.]
The grief hath craz'd my wits.--What a night's this!--
I do beseech your grace,--

Lear.
O, cry you mercy, sir.--
Noble philosopher, your company.

Edg.
Tom's a-cold.

Glou.
In, fellow, there, into the hovel; keep thee warm.

Lear.
Come, let's in all.

Kent.
This way, my lord.

Lear.
With him;
I will keep still with my philosopher.

Kent.
Good my lord, soothe him; let him take the fellow.

Glou.
Take him you on.

Kent.
Sirrah, come on; go along with us.

Lear.
Come, good Athenian.

Glou.
No words, no words: hush.

Edg.
   Child Rowland to the dark tower came,
   His word was still--Fie, foh, and fum,
   I smell the blood of a British man.

[Exeunt.]



Scene V. A Room in Gloster's Castle.

[Enter Cornwall and Edmund.]

Corn.
I will have my revenge ere I depart his house.

Edm.
How, my lord, I may be censured, that nature thus gives way to
loyalty, something fears me to think of.

Corn.
I now perceive it was not altogether your brother's evil
disposition made him seek his death; but a provoking merit, set
a-work by a reproveable badness in himself.

Edm.
How malicious is my fortune, that I must repent to be just! This
is the letter he spoke of, which approves him an intelligent
party to the advantages of France. O heavens! that this treason
were not--or not I the detector!

Corn.
Go with me to the duchess.

Edm.
If the matter of this paper be certain, you have mighty business
in hand.

Corn.
True or false, it hath made thee earl of Gloster. Seek out
where thy father is, that he may be ready for our apprehension.

Edm.
[Aside.] If I find him comforting the king, it will stuff his
classics

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