Act IV, Scene 2

Before the Duke of Albany’s Palace.

Enter Goneril and [Edmund the] Bastard.

• Goneril. Welcome, my lord. I marvel our mild husband
  Not met us on the way. [Enter Oswald the Steward.]
  Now, where's your master? 2340

• Oswald. Madam, within, but never man so chang'd.
  I told him of the army that was landed:
  He smil'd at it. I told him you were coming:
  His answer was, 'The worse.' Of Gloucester's treachery
  And of the loyal service of his son 2345
  When I inform'd him, then he call'd me sot
  And told me I had turn'd the wrong side out.
  What most he should dislike seems pleasant to him;
  What like, offensive.

• Goneril. [to Edmund] Then shall you go no further. 2350
  It is the cowish terror of his spirit,
  That dares not undertake. He'll not feel wrongs
  Which tie him to an answer. Our wishes on the way
  May prove effects. Back, Edmund, to my brother.
  Hasten his musters and conduct his pow'rs. 2355
  I must change arms at home and give the distaff
  Into my husband's hands. This trusty servant
  Shall pass between us. Ere long you are like to hear
  (If you dare venture in your own behalf)
  A mistress's command. Wear this. [Gives a favour.] 2360
  Spare speech.
  Decline your head. This kiss, if it durst speak,
  Would stretch thy spirits up into the air.
  Conceive, and fare thee well.

• Edmund. Yours in the ranks of death! Exit. 2365

• Goneril. My most dear Gloucester!
  O, the difference of man and man!
  To thee a woman's services are due;
  My fool usurps my body.

• Oswald. Madam, here comes my lord. Exit. 2370

Enter Albany.

• Goneril. I have been worth the whistle.

• Duke of Albany. O Goneril,
  You are not worth the dust which the rude wind
  Blows in your face! I fear your disposition. 2375
  That nature which contemns it origin
  Cannot be bordered certain in itself.
  She that herself will sliver and disbranch
  From her material sap, perforce must wither
  And come to deadly use. 2380

• Goneril. No more! The text is foolish.

• Duke of Albany. Wisdom and goodness to the vile seem vile;
  Filths savour but themselves. What have you done?
  Tigers, not daughters, what have you perform'd?
  A father, and a gracious aged man, 2385
  Whose reverence even the head-lugg'd bear would lick,
  Most barbarous, most degenerate, have you madded.
  Could my good brother suffer you to do it?
  A man, a prince, by him so benefited!
  If that the heavens do not their visible spirits 2390
  Send quickly down to tame these vile offences,
  It will come,
  Humanity must perforce prey on itself,
  Like monsters of the deep.

• Goneril. Milk-liver'd man! 2395
  That bear'st a cheek for blows, a head for wrongs;
  Who hast not in thy brows an eye discerning
  Thine honour from thy suffering; that not know'st
  Fools do those villains pity who are punish'd
  Ere they have done their mischief. Where's thy drum? 2400
  France spreads his banners in our noiseless land,
  With plumed helm thy state begins to threat,
  Whiles thou, a moral fool, sit'st still, and criest
  'Alack, why does he so?'

• Duke of Albany. See thyself, devil! 2405
  Proper deformity seems not in the fiend
  So horrid as in woman.

• Goneril. O vain fool!

• Duke of Albany. Thou changed and self-cover'd thing, for shame!
  Bemonster not thy feature! Were't my fitness 2410
  To let these hands obey my blood,
  They are apt enough to dislocate and tear
  Thy flesh and bones. Howe'er thou art a fiend,
  A woman's shape doth shield thee.

• Goneril. Marry, your manhood mew! 2415

Enter a Gentleman.

• 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. 2420

• 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; 2425
  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! 2430
  Lost he his other eye?

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

• Goneril. [aside] One way I like this well; 2435
  But being widow, and my Gloucester with her,
  May all the building in my fancy pluck
  Upon my hateful life. Another way
  The news is not so tart.- I'll read, and answer. Exit.

• Duke of Albany. Where was his son when they did take his eyes? 2440

• 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, 2445
  And quit the house on purpose, that their punishment
  Might have the freer course.

• Duke of Albany. Gloucester, I live
  To thank thee for the love thou show'dst the King,
  And to revenge thine eyes. Come hither, friend. 2450
  Tell me what more thou know'st.

Exeunt.