Speeches (Lines) for Gentleman in "The Tragedy of King Lear"

Lear. O, let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven!
Keep me in temper; I would not be mad! [Enter a Gentleman.]
How now? Are the horses ready?

Gentleman. Ready, my lord.

Lear. 'Tis strange that they should so depart from home,
And not send back my messenger.

Gentleman. As I learn'd,
The night before there was no purpose in them
Of this remove.

Lear. Follow me not;
Stay here. Exit.

Gentleman. Made you no more offence but what you speak of?

Earl of Kent. Who's there, besides foul weather?

Gentleman. One minded like the weather, most unquietly.

Earl of Kent. I know you. Where's the King?

Gentleman. Contending with the fretful elements;
Bids the wind blow the earth into the sea,
Or swell the curled waters 'bove the main,
That things might change or cease; tears his white hair,
Which the impetuous blasts, with eyeless rage,
Catch in their fury and make nothing of;
Strives in his little world of man to outscorn
The to-and-fro-conflicting wind and rain.
This night, wherein the cub-drawn bear would couch,
The lion and the belly-pinched wolf
Keep their fur dry, unbonneted he runs,
And bids what will take all.

Earl of Kent. But who is with him?

Gentleman. None but the fool, who labours to outjest
His heart-struck injuries.

Earl of Kent. Sir, I do know you,
And dare upon the warrant of my note
Commend a dear thing to you. There is division
(Although as yet the face of it be cover'd
With mutual cunning) 'twixt Albany and Cornwall;
Who have (as who have not, that their great stars
Thron'd and set high?) servants, who seem no less,
Which are to France the spies and speculations
Intelligent of our state. What hath been seen,
Either in snuffs and packings of the Dukes,
Or the hard rein which both of them have borne
Against the old kind King, or something deeper,
Whereof, perchance, these are but furnishings-
But, true it is, from France there comes a power
Into this scattered kingdom, who already,
Wise in our negligence, have secret feet
In some of our best ports and are at point
To show their open banner. Now to you:
If on my credit you dare build so far
To make your speed to Dover, you shall find
Some that will thank you, making just report
Of how unnatural and bemadding sorrow
The King hath cause to plain.
I am a gentleman of blood and breeding,
And from some knowledge and assurance offer
This office to you.

Gentleman. I will talk further with you.

Earl of Kent. No, do not.
For confirmation that I am much more
Than my out-wall, open this purse and take
What it contains. If you shall see Cordelia
(As fear not but you shall), show her this ring,
And she will tell you who your fellow is
That yet you do not know. Fie on this storm!
I will go seek the King.

Gentleman. Give me your hand. Have you no more to say?

Duke of Albany. What news?

Gentleman. O, my good lord, the Duke of Cornwall 's dead,
Slain by his servant, going to put out
The other eye of Gloucester.

Duke of Albany. Gloucester's eyes?

Gentleman. A servant that he bred, thrill'd with remorse,
Oppos'd against the act, bending his sword
To his great master; who, thereat enrag'd,
Flew on him, and amongst them fell'd him dead;
But not without that harmful stroke which since
Hath pluck'd him after.

Duke of Albany. This shows you are above,
You justicers, that these our nether crimes
So speedily can venge! But O poor Gloucester!
Lose he his other eye?

Gentleman. Both, both, my lord.
This letter, madam, craves a speedy answer.
'Tis from your sister.

Duke of Albany. Where was his son when they did take his eyes?

Gentleman. Come with my lady hither.

Duke of Albany. He is not here.

Gentleman. No, my good lord; I met him back again.

Duke of Albany. Knows he the wickedness?

Gentleman. Ay, my good lord. 'Twas he inform'd against him,
And quit the house on purpose, that their punishment
Might have the freer course.

Earl of 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 of, which imports to the kingdom so much
fear and danger that his personal return was most required and
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
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
Over her passion, who, most rebel-like,
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
Who should express her goodliest. You have seen
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,
Sorrow would be a rarity most belov'd,
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
Pantingly forth, as if it press'd her heart;
Cried 'Sisters, sisters! Shame of ladies! Sisters!
Kent! father! sisters! What, i' th' storm? i' th' night?
Let pity not be believ'd!' There she shook
The holy water from her heavenly eyes,
And clamour moisten'd. Then away she started
To deal with grief alone.

Earl of 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. 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;
Who sometime, in his better tune, remembers
What we are come about, and by no means
Will yield to see his daughter.

Gentleman. Why, good sir?

Earl of Kent. A sovereign shame so elbows him; his own unkindness,
That stripp'd her from his benediction, turn'd her
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!

Earl of Kent. Of Albany's and Cornwall's powers you heard not?

Gentleman. 'Tis so; they are afoot.

Lear. When we are born, we cry that we are come
To this great stage of fools. This' a good block.
It were a delicate stratagem to shoe
A troop of horse with felt. I'll put't in proof,
And when I have stol'n upon these sons-in-law,
Then kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill!

Gentleman. O, here he is! Lay hand upon him.- Sir,
Your most dear daughter-

Lear. No rescue? What, a prisoner? I am even
The natural fool of fortune. Use me well;
You shall have ransom. Let me have a surgeon;
I am cut to th' brains.

Gentleman. You shall have anything.

Lear. No seconds? All myself?
Why, this would make a man a man of salt,
To use his eyes for garden waterpots,
Ay, and laying autumn's dust.

Gentleman. Good sir-

Lear. I will die bravely, like a smug bridegroom. What!
I will be jovial. Come, come, I am a king;
My masters, know you that?

Gentleman. You are a royal one, and we obey you.

Lear. Then there's life in't. Nay, an you get it, you shall get it
by running. Sa, sa, sa, sa!

Gentleman. A sight most pitiful in the meanest wretch,
Past speaking of in a king! Thou hast one daughter
Who redeems nature from the general curse
Which twain have brought her to.

Edgar. Hail, gentle sir.

Gentleman. Sir, speed you. What's your will?

Edgar. Do you hear aught, sir, of a battle toward?

Gentleman. Most sure and vulgar. Every one hears that
Which can distinguish sound.

Edgar. But, by your favour,
How near's the other army?

Gentleman. Near and on speedy foot. The main descry
Stands on the hourly thought.

Edgar. I thank you sir. That's all.

Gentleman. Though that the Queen on special cause is here,
Her army is mov'd on.

Cordelia. Be govern'd by your knowledge, and proceed
I' th' sway of your own will. Is he array'd?

Gentleman. Ay, madam. In the heaviness of sleep
We put fresh garments on him.

Lear. You must bear with me.
Pray you now, forget and forgive. I am old and foolish.

Gentleman. Holds it true, sir, that the Duke of Cornwall was so slain?

Earl of Kent. Most certain, sir.

Gentleman. Who is conductor of his people?

Earl of Kent. As 'tis said, the bastard son of Gloucester.

Gentleman. They say Edgar, his banish'd son, is with the Earl of Kent
in Germany.

Earl of Kent. Report is changeable. 'Tis time to look about; the powers of
the kingdom approach apace.

Gentleman. The arbitrement is like to be bloody.
Fare you well, sir. [Exit.]

Edgar. Kent, sir, the banish'd Kent; who in disguise
Followed his enemy king and did him service
Improper for a slave.

Gentleman. Help, help! O, help!

Edgar. What means that bloody knife?

Gentleman. 'Tis hot, it smokes.
It came even from the heart of- O! she's dead!

Duke of Albany. Who dead? Speak, man.

Gentleman. Your lady, sir, your lady! and her sister
By her is poisoned; she hath confess'd it.