_Regan._ Not altogether so, sir; I look’d not for you yet, nor am provided For your fit welcome: Give ear, sir, to my sister; For those that mingle reason with your passion Must be content to think you old, and so—— But she knows what she does.
_Regan._ I dare avouch it, sir: What, fifty followers? Is it not well? What should you need of more? Yea, or so many? Sith that both charge and danger Speak ‘gainst so great a number? How, in one house, Should many people, under two commands, Hold amity? ’Tis hard; almost impossible.
_Gonerill._ Why might not you, my lord, receive attendance From those that she calls servants, or from mine?
_Regan._ Why not, my lord? If then they chanc’d to slack you, We would controul them: if you will come to me (For now I spy a danger) I entreat you To bring but five-and-twenty; to no more Will I give place, or notice.
_Lear._ Made you my guardians, my depositaries; But kept a reservation to be follow’d With such a number: what, must I come to you With five-and-twenty, Regan! said you so?
_Regan._ And speak it again, my lord: no more with me.
_Lear._ Those wicked creatures yet do look well-favour’d, When others are more wicked; not being the worst, Stands in some rank of praise:——I’ll go with thee; [_To Gonerill._ Thy fifty yet doth double five-and-twenty, And thou art twice her love.
_Gonerill._ Hear me, my lord; What need you five-and-twenty, ten, or five, To follow in a house, where twice so many Have a command to tend you?
_Lear._ O, reason not the need: our basest beggars Are in the poorest thing superfluous: Allow not nature more than nature needs, Man’s life is cheap as beast’s: thou art a lady; If only to go warm were gorgeous, Why, nature needs not what thou gorgeous wear’st; Which scarcely keeps thee warm.——But, for true need—— You heavens, give me that patience which I need! You see me here, you gods; a poor old man, As full of grief as age; wretched in both! If it be you that stir these daughters’ hearts Against their father, fool me not so much To bear it tamely; touch me with noble anger! O, let no woman’s weapons, water-drops, Stain my man’s cheeks!——No, you unnatural hags, I will have such revenges on you both, That all the world shall——I will do such things—— What they are, yet I know not; but they shall be The terrors of the earth. You think, I’ll weep: No, I’ll not weep:—— I have full cause of weeping; but this heart Shall break into a hundred thousand flaws, Or e’er I’ll weep:——O, fool, I shall go mad!—— [_Exeunt Lear, Gloster, Kent, and Fool._’