Page:King Lear (1917) Yale.djvu/124

108

Leave, gentle wax; and, manners, blame us not:

To know our enemies' minds, we'd rip their hearts;

Their papers, is more lawful.

"Let our reciprocal vows be remembered. You

have many opportunities to cut him off; if

your will want not, time and place will be

fruitfully offered. There is nothing done if he

return the conqueror; then am I the prisoner,

and his bed my gaol; from the loathed warmth

whereof deliver me, and supply the place for

your labour.

Your—wife, so I would say—

Affectionate servant,

."

O undistinguish'd space of woman's will!

A plot upon her virtuous husband's life,

And the exchange my brother! Here, in the sands,

Thee I'll rake up, the post unsanctified

Of murderous lechers; and in the mature time

With this ungracious paper strike the sight

Of the death-practis'd duke. For him 'tis well

That of thy death and business I can tell.

Glo. The king is mad: how stiff is my vile sense,

That I stand up, and have ingenious feeling

Of my huge sorrows! Better I were distract:

So should my thoughts be sever'd from my griefs,

And woes by wrong imaginations lose

The knowledge of themselves.

Edg. Give me your hand!

Far off, methinks, I hear the beaten drum.

Come, father, I'll bestow you with a friend.

Exeunt.

 265 Leave: give leave

277 servant: lover

279 undistinguish'd space: incalculable scope

282 rake up: cover

285 death-practis'd: mortally plotted against

288 ingenious: conscious 