Page:The Psychology of Shakespeare.pdf/164

Rh By some discretion, that discerns your state Better than you yourself.” (One cannot but perceive, that if Regan had been per mitted

to act without the bad interference of

her fiend

sister, she might have ruled and led the old king without seeming to do so, and have guided his madness in a less turbulent channel ;) but she takes side with her sister,

and suggests that the king should ask her forgiveness—the forgiveness of a daughter. The old king kneels and adds the eloquence of action to his reproof–unsightly tricks, as Regan calls it—and certainly not dignified, nor consis tent with the demeanour of a sane king; but adding terri ble force to the mockery of the suggested forgiveness, and

to the fierce imprecation which it calls forth; “You nimble lightnings,” &c., during the utterance of which Lear probably remains on his knees, with hands extended, to call down “the stored vengeance of heaven,” which he invokes. He now returns to the outrage upon Kent. He will not believe that Regan knew on 't, and is in a way, for the present, to be easily soothed, if it had suited the plans of the bad sisters to do so; but Goneril appears, and all goes wrong with him and with them : “Who comes here ?

O, heavens,

If you do love old men, if your sweet sway Allow obedience, if you yourselves are old, Make it your cause ; send down, and take my part 1" Is there any passage more pathetic and sublime than this, even in Shakespeare ?

Although Regan has immediately before defended the conduct of Goneril, Lear is astonished that she should take

her by the hand; but the unison of the sisters, made patent to him by this act, recalls the cause of offence which he has with Regan herself, and which he has referred to and forgotten more than once :