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The Illustrated Works of Shakespeare
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Illustrated Works of Shakespeare, The (1990)(Animated Pixels)[!][CDTV-PC].iso
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04_03
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1991-04-10
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86 lines
The French Camp near Dover.
Enter KENT and 1st GENTLEMAN.
Kent Why the King of France is so suddenly gone back know you no
reason?
1st 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.
Kent Who hath he left behind him general?
1st Gentleman The Marshal of France, Monsieur La Far.
Kent Did your letters pierce the queen to any demonstration of
grief?
1st Gentleman Ay, sir; she took them, read them in my presence;
And now and then an ample tear trilled down
Her delicate cheek. It seemed she was a queen
Over her passion, who, most rebel-like,
Sought to be king o'er her.
Kent O, then it moved her?
1st 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 played on her ripe lip seemed not to know
What guests were in her eyes, which parted thence
As pearls from diamonds dropped. In brief,
Sorrow would be a rarity most beloved
If all could so become it.
Kent Made she no verbal question?
1st Gentleman Faith, once or twice she heaved the name of father
Pantingly forth, as if it pressed her heart;
Cried 'Sisters, sisters! Shame of ladies, sisters!
Kent, father, sisters! What, i'th'storm, i'th'night?
Let pity not be believed!' There she shook
The holy water from her heavenly eyes,
And clamour moistened; then away she started
To deal with grief alone.
Kent It is the stars,
The stars above us, govern our conditions;
Else one self mate and make could not beget
Such different issues. You spoke not with her since?
1st Gentleman No.
Kent Was this before the king returned?
1st Gentleman No, since.
Kent Well, sir, the poor distressd 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.
1st Gentleman Why, good sir?
Kent A sovereign shame so elbows him: his own unkindness,
That stripped her from his benediction, turned 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.
1st Gentleman Alack, poor gentleman!
Kent Of Albany's and Cornwall's powers you heard not?
1st Gentleman 'Tis so; they are afoot.
Kent Well, sir, I'll bring you to our master Lear,
And leave you to attend him. Some dear cause
Will in concealment wrap me up awhile;
When I am known aright, you shall not grieve
Lending me this acquaintance. I pray you
Go along with me.
[Exeunt.