William Shakespeare: The Tragedy of King Lear

ACT II. 4. Scene IV. Before Gloster's Castle; Kent in the stocks.

[Enter Lear, Fool, and Gentleman.]

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

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

Kent.
Hail to thee, noble master!

Lear.
Ha!
Mak'st thou this shame thy pastime?

Kent.
No, my lord.

Fool.
Ha, ha! he wears cruel garters. Horses are tied by the
head; dogs and bears by the neck, monkeys by the loins, and
men by the legs: when a man is over-lusty at legs, then he
wears wooden nether-stocks.

Lear.
What's he that hath so much thy place mistook
To set thee here?

Kent.
It is both he and she,
Your son and daughter.

Lear.
No.

Kent.
Yes.

Lear.
No, I say.

Kent.
I say, yea.

Lear.
No, no; they would not.

Kent.
Yes, they have.

Lear.
By Jupiter, I swear no.

Kent.
By Juno, I swear ay.

Lear.
They durst not do't.
They would not, could not do't; 'tis worse than murder,
To do upon respect such violent outrage:
Resolve me, with all modest haste, which way
Thou mightst deserve or they impose this usage,
Coming from us.