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King Lear
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Last updated: Thu, Apr 21, 2016
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King LearAct 4, scene 4
Scene ⌜4⌝
Synopsis:
In the French camp Cordelia orders out a search party for Lear.
Enter with Drum and Colors, Cordelia, ⟨Doctor,⟩Gentlemen, and Soldiers.
CORDELIA
2656 Alack, ’tis he! Why, he was met even now
2657 As mad as the vexed sea, singing aloud,
2658 Crowned with rank fumiter and furrow-weeds,
2659 With hardocks, hemlock, nettles, cuckooflowers,
2660 5 Darnel, and all the idle weeds that grow
2661 In our sustaining corn. A century send forth.
2662 Search every acre in the high-grown field
2663 And bring him to our eye.⌜Soldiers exit.⌝
2664 What can man’s wisdom
p.
191
2665
10 In the restoring his bereavèd sense?2666 He that helps him take all my outward worth.
⟨DOCTOR⟩ 2667 There is means, madam.
2668 Our foster nurse of nature is repose,
2669 The which he lacks. That to provoke in him
2670 15 Are many simples operative, whose power
2671 Will close the eye of anguish.
CORDELIA 2672 All blest secrets,
2673 All you unpublished virtues of the earth,
2674 Spring with my tears. Be aidant and remediate
2675 20 In the good man’s ⟨distress.⟩ Seek, seek for him,
2676 Lest his ungoverned rage dissolve the life
2677 That wants the means to lead it.
Enter Messenger.
MESSENGER 2678 News, madam.
2679 The British powers are marching hitherward.
CORDELIA
2680 25 ’Tis known before. Our preparation stands
2681 In expectation of them.—O dear father,
2682 It is thy business that I go about.
2683 Therefore great France
2684 My mourning and importuned tears hath pitied.
2685 30 No blown ambition doth our arms incite,
2686 But love, dear love, and our aged father’s right.
2687 Soon may I hear and see him.
They exit.