Lear's Labour's Lost
                                                         copyright © 2007 Jeff Goode

            ACT IV

            SCENE 6 - Gloucester's castle.
                  Enter REGAN and EDMUND
            REGAN 
               I will have my revenge ere I depart his house.
            EDMUND
               How, my lady, I may be censured, that nature thus gives way to loyalty, something fears me
               to think of.
            REGAN 
               I now perceive, it was not altogether your brother's evil disposition made him seek his death;
               but a provoking merit, set a-work by a reprovable badness in himself.
            EDMUND
               How malicious is my fortune, that I must repent to be just! This is the letter he spoke of,
               which approves him an intelligent party to the advantages of France: O heavens! that this
               treason were not, or not I the detector!
            REGAN 
               Go with me to my sister.
            EDMUND
               If the matter of this paper be certain, you have mighty business in hand.
            REGAN 
               True or false, it hath made thee earl of Gloucester. Seek out where thy father is, that he may
               be ready for our apprehension.
            EDMUND
               [Aside] If I find him comforting the king, it will stuff his suspicion more fully.--I will
               persevere in my course of loyalty, though the conflict be sore between that and my blood.
            REGAN 
               I will lay trust upon thee; and thou shalt find a dearer fortune in my love. 
                  Enter GONERIL, and Servants
            GONERIL 
               How now! where's the king?
            EDMUND 
               My father Gloucester hath convey'd him hence: 
               Some five or six and thirty of his knights, 
               Hot questrists after him, met him at gate; 
               Who, with some other of the lords dependants, 
               Are gone with him towards Dover; where they boast 
               To have well-armèd friends.
            GONERIL 
               Post speedily to our powers; show them this letter: the army of France is landed. Seek out
               the villain Gloucester. 
                                                        Exeunt some of the Servants
            REGAN
               Hang him instantly.
            GONERIL
               Pluck out his eyes.
            REGAN 
               Leave him to our displeasure. Edmund: the revenges we are bound to take upon your
               traitorous father are not fit for your beholding. 
               Farewell, dear Edmund: farewell, my lord of Gloucester.
            GONERIL 
               Edmund, farewell.
                                                                Exit EDMUND
            REGAN 
               Go seek the traitor Gloucester,
               Pinion him like a thief, bring him before us.
                                                            Exeunt other Servants
            JAQUENETTA 
               [Within] What mean'st by this?
            GLOUCESTER  
               [Within] Help, ho! murder! murder! 
            REGAN 
                                  Who's there? the traitor?
                  Enter GLOUCESTER and JAQUENETTA, brought in by two or three
            GONERIL 
               Ingrateful fox! 'tis he.
            REGAN 
               Bind fast his corky arms.
            GLOUCESTER
               What mean your graces? Good my friends, consider 
               You are my guests: do me no foul play, friends.
            GONERIL 
               Come, sir, what letters had you late from France?
            REGAN
               Be simple answerer, for we know the truth.
            GONERIL 
               And what confederacy have you with the traitors 
               Late footed in the kingdom?
            REGAN
               To whose hands have you sent the lunatic king? Speak.
            GLOUCESTER
               I have a letter guessingly set down, 
               Which came from one that's of a neutral heart, 
               And not from one opposed.
            GONERIL 
                                 Cunning.                         
            REGAN
                                      And false.
            GONERIL 
               To this chair bind her. 
                                                       Servants bind JAQUENETTA
                            [To GLOUCESTER] Villain, thou shalt find-- 
                                                          REGAN plucks his beard
            GLOUCESTER
               By the kind gods, 'tis most ignobly done 
               To pluck me by the beard.
            REGAN
               So white, and such a traitor!
            GLOUCESTER
                                     Naughty lady,
               These hairs, which thou dost ravish from my chin,
               Will quicken, and accuse thee: I am your host:
               With robbers' hands my hospitable favours
               You should not ruffle thus. What will you do?
            REGAN 
               Though well we may not pass upon your life 
               Without the form of justice, yet our power 
               Shall do a courtesy to our wrath, which men 
               May blame, but not control.  
            GONERIL 
               Bring in the evidence. 
                  A Servant brings her the schedule of the king's vows
               [Reads] 'Item, That no man shall be seen to talk with a woman within the term of
               three years, 
            REGAN 
               Hath this been proclaimed?
            GONERIL 
               Four days ago.
            REGAN 
               Let's see the penalty.
            GONERIL  
               [Reads] 'On pain of losing her tongue.' 
            REGAN 
               Who devised this penalty?
            GLOUCESTER 
               Marry, that did I.
            REGAN 
               Sweet lord, and why?
            GLOUCESTER 
               To fright them hence with that dread penalty.
            GONERIL  
               A dangerous law against gentility!
            REGAN 
               [To JAQUENETTA] Spake you with him? 
            JAQUENETTA 
               I am tied to the stake, and I must stand the course. 
            GLOUCESTER
               What mean you, ladies?
            GONERIL 
               Where hast thou sent the king?
            JAQUENETTA 
               To Dover!
            REGAN
               Wherefore to Dover? Wast thou not charged at peril--
            JAQUENETTA 
               Because we would not see thy cruel nails 
               Pluck out his poor old eyes; nor thy fierce sister 
               In his anointed flesh stick boarish fangs. 
               All cruels else subscribed: but I shall see 
               The wingèd vengeance overtake such children.
            GONERIL 
               See't shalt thou never. Fellows, hold the chair. 
               Upon these eyes of thine I'll set my foot.
            JAQUENETTA 
               He that will think to live till he be old, 
               Give me some help! O cruel! O you gods!
            REGAN
               One side will mock another; the other too.
            GONERIL 
               If you see vengeance,-- 
            GLOUCESTER 
                                 Hold your hand, my lady:
               I have served you ever since you were a child;
               But better service have I never done you
               Than now to bid you hold.
            REGAN
                                   How now, you dog!
            GLOUCESTER 
               If you did wear a beard upon your chin,
               I'd shake it on this quarrel. What do you mean?
            GONERIL 
               My villain!
                                                            They draw and fight
            GLOUCESTER 
               Nay, then, come on, and take the chance of anger.
            REGAN
               Give me thy sword. A subject stand up thus! 
                                                 Takes a sword, and runs at him behind 
            GLOUCESTER 
               O, I am slain! My sweet, you have one eye left
               To see some mischief on them. O!
            GONERIL 
               Lest it see more, prevent it. Out, vile jelly! 
               Where is thy lustre now?
            JAQUENETTA 
               All dark and comfortless. 
            GLOUCESTER
                                 Where's my son Edmund? 
               Edmund, enkindle all the sparks of nature, 
               To quit this horrid act.
            REGAN
                                  Out, treacherous villain! 
               Thou call'st on him that hates thee: it was he 
               That made the overture of thy treasons to us; 
               Who is too good to pity thee.
            GLOUCESTER
               O my follies! then Edgar was abused. 
               Kind gods, forgive me that, and prosper him!
                                                                      Dies
            REGAN 
               What, is he dead? 
            GONERIL 
               Turn out that eyeless villain; throw this slave 
               Upon the dunghill.
                                                        Exit one with JAQUENETTA
            REGAN 
               Go thrust her out at gates, and let her smell 
               Her way to Dover.
                                                        Exit GONERIL and REGAN
            FIRST SERVANT  
               I'll never care what wickedness I do,
               If these two come to good.
            SECOND SERVANT  
               Let's follow Jaquenetta and get the Bedlam 
               To lead her where she would: his roguish madness
               Allows itself to any thing.
            FIRST SERVANT 
               Go thou: I'll fetch some flax and whites of eggs
               To apply to her bleeding face. Now, heaven help her!
                                                               Exeunt severally

Forth!