William Shakespeare: The Tragedy of King Lear

ACT III. 6. Scene VI. A Chamber in a Farmhouse adjoining the Castle. (continued)

Kent.
How do you, sir? Stand you not so amaz'd;
Will you lie down and rest upon the cushions?

Lear.
I'll see their trial first.--Bring in their evidence.
[To Edgar.] Thou, robed man of justice, take thy place;--
[To the Fool.] And thou, his yokefellow of equity,
Bench by his side:--[To Kent.] you are o' the commission,
Sit you too.

Edg.
   Let us deal justly.
   Sleepest or wakest thou, jolly shepherd?
     Thy sheep be in the corn;
   And for one blast of thy minikin mouth
     Thy sheep shall take no harm.
Purr! the cat is gray.

Lear.
Arraign her first; 'tis Goneril. I here take my oath before
this honourable assembly, she kicked the poor king her father.

Fool.
Come hither, mistress. Is your name Goneril?

Lear.
She cannot deny it.

Fool.
Cry you mercy, I took you for a joint-stool.

Lear.
And here's another, whose warp'd looks proclaim
What store her heart is made on.--Stop her there!
Arms, arms! sword! fire!--Corruption in the place!--
False justicer, why hast thou let her 'scape?

Edg.
Bless thy five wits!

Kent.
O pity!--Sir, where is the patience now
That you so oft have boasted to retain?

Edg.
[Aside.] My tears begin to take his part so much
They'll mar my counterfeiting.

Lear.
The little dogs and all,
Tray, Blanch, and Sweetheart, see, they bark at me.

Edg.
Tom will throw his head at them.--Avaunt, you curs!
   Be thy mouth or black or white,
   Tooth that poisons if it bite;
   Mastiff, greyhound, mongrel grim,
   Hound or spaniel, brach or lym,
   Or bobtail tike or trundle-tail,--
   Tom will make them weep and wail;
   For, with throwing thus my head,
   Dogs leap the hatch, and all are fled.
Do de, de, de. Sessa! Come, march to wakes and fairs and market-
towns. Poor Tom, thy horn is dry.