King Lear by William Shakespeare
Act 4 - Scene 3
The French camp near Dover.
Earl of Kent : Why the King of France is so suddenly gone back know you
the
[p]reason?
Gentleman : Something he left imperfect in the state, which since his
[p]coming
forth is thought of, which imports to the kingdom so much
[p]fear and
danger that his personal return was most required and
[p]necessary.
Earl of Kent : Who hath he left behind him general?
Gentleman : The Marshal of France, Monsieur La Far.
Earl of Kent : Did your letters pierce the Queen to any demonstration of
[p]grief?
Gentleman : Ay, sir. She took them, read them in my presence,
[p]And now and then
an ample tear trill'd down
[p]Her delicate cheek. It seem'd she was a
queen
[p]Over her passion, who, most rebel-like,
[p]Sought to be king
o'er her.
Earl of Kent : O, then it mov'd her?
Gentleman : Not to a rage. Patience and sorrow strove
[p]Who should express her
goodliest. You have seen
[p]Sunshine and rain at once: her smiles and
tears
[p]Were like, a better way. Those happy smilets
[p]That play'd
on her ripe lip seem'd not to know
[p]What guests were in her eyes,
which parted thence
[p]As pearls from diamonds dropp'd. In
brief,
[p]Sorrow would be a rarity most belov'd,
[p]If all could so
become it.
Earl of Kent : Made she no verbal question?
Gentleman : Faith, once or twice she heav'd the name of father
[p]Pantingly forth,
as if it press'd her heart;
[p]Cried 'Sisters, sisters! Shame of
ladies! Sisters!
[p]Kent! father! sisters! What, i' th' storm? i' th'
night?
[p]Let pity not be believ'd!' There she shook
[p]The holy water
from her heavenly eyes,
[p]And clamour moisten'd. Then away she
started
[p]To deal with grief alone.
Earl of Kent : It is the stars,
[p]The stars above us, govern our conditions;
[p]Else
one self mate and mate could not beget
[p]Such different issues. You
spoke not with her since?
Gentleman : No.
Earl of Kent : Was this before the King return'd?
Gentleman : No, since.
Earl of Kent : Well, sir, the poor distressed Lear's i' th' town;
[p]Who sometime, in
his better tune, remembers
[p]What we are come about, and by no
means
[p]Will yield to see his daughter.
Gentleman : Why, good sir?
Earl of Kent : A sovereign shame so elbows him; his own unkindness,
[p]That stripp'd
her from his benediction, turn'd her
[p]To foreign casualties, gave
her dear rights
[p]To his dog-hearted daughters- these things
sting
[p]His mind so venomously that burning shame
[p]Detains him from
Cordelia.
Gentleman : Alack, poor gentleman!
Earl of Kent : Of Albany's and Cornwall's powers you heard not?
Gentleman : 'Tis so; they are afoot.
Earl of Kent : Well, sir, I'll bring you to our master Lear
[p]And leave you to
attend him. Some dear cause
[p]Will in concealment wrap me up
awhile.
[p]When I am known aright, you shall not grieve
[p]Lending me
this acquaintance. I pray you go
[p]Along with me.
Exeunt.
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Next: Act 4 - Scene 4
