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King Lear: Act IV, Scene 3

King Lear
Act IV, Scene 3

The French camp near Dover.

  1. Enter Kent and First Gentleman.

Kent

1 - 2
  1. Why the King of France is so suddenly gone back, know you no
  2. reason?

First Gentleman

3 - 6
  1. Something he left imperfect in the state, which since his
  2. coming forth is thought of, which imports to the kingdom so
  3. much fear and danger that his personal return was most
  4. requir’d and necessary.

Kent

7
  1. Who hath he left behind him general?

First Gentleman

8
  1. The Marshal of France, Monsieur La Fer.

Kent

9 - 10
  1. Did your letters pierce the Queen to any demonstration of
  2. grief?

First Gentleman

11 - 15
  1. Ay, sir, she took them, read them in my presence,
  2. And now and then an ample tear trill’d down
  3. Her delicate cheek. It seem’d she was a queen
  4. Over her passion, who, most rebel-like,
  5. Sought to be king o’er her.

Kent

16
  1.                             O then it mov’d her.

First Gentleman

17 - 25
  1. Not to a rage, patience and sorrow strove
  2. Who should express her goodliest. You have seen
  3. Sunshine and rain at once; her smiles and tears
  4. Were like a better way: those happy smilets
  5. That play’d on her ripe lip seem’d not to know
  6. What guests were in her eyes, which, parted thence,
  7. As pearls from diamonds dropp’d. In brief,
  8. Sorrow would be a rarity most beloved,
  9. If all could so become it.

Kent

26
  1.                            Made she no verbal question?

First Gentleman

27 - 34
  1. Faith, once or twice she heav’d the name of father
  2. Pantingly forth, as if it press’d her heart;
  3. Cried, Sisters, sisters! Shame of ladies, sisters!
  4. Kent! Father! Sisters! What, i’ th’ storm? I’ th’ night?
  5. Let pity not be believ’d!” There she shook
  6. The holy water from her heavenly eyes,
  7. And, clamor-moistened, then away she started
  8. To deal with grief alone.

Kent

35 - 38
  1.                           It is the stars,
  2. The stars above us, govern our conditions,
  3. Else one self mate and make could not beget
  4. Such different issues. You spoke not with her since?

First Gentleman

39
  1. No.

Kent

40
  1. Was this before the King return’d?

First Gentleman

41
  1.                                    No, since.

Kent

42 - 45
  1. Well, sir, the poor distressed Lear’s i’ th’ town,
  2. Who sometime, in his better tune, remembers
  3. What we are come about, and by no means
  4. Will yield to see his daughter.

First Gentleman

46
  1.                                 Why, good sir?

Kent

47 - 52
  1. A sovereign shame so elbows him: his own unkindness,
  2. That stripp’d her from his benediction, turn’d her
  3. To foreign casualties, gave her dear rights
  4. To his dog-hearted daughtersthese things sting
  5. His mind so venomously, that burning shame
  6. Detains him from Cordelia.

First Gentleman

53
  1.                            Alack, poor gentleman!

Kent

54
  1. Of Albany’s and Cornwall’s powers you heard not?

First Gentleman

55
  1. ’Tis so, they are afoot.

Kent

56 - 61
  1. Well, sir, I’ll bring you to our master Lear,
  2. And leave you to attend him. Some dear cause
  3. Will in concealment wrap me up awhile;
  4. When I am known aright, you shall not grieve
  5. Lending me this acquaintance. I pray you go
  6. Along with me.
  1. Exeunt.
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