Page 1787 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

Such unconstant starts are we like to have from him as this of Kent’s
banishment.

GONERIL
There is further compliment of leave-taking [300] between France and him.
Pray you, let us hit together: if our father carry authority with such disposition
as he bears, this last surrender of his will but offend us.

REGAN
We shall further think of it.

GONERIL
We must do something, and i’th’heat. [305]
Exeunt.

Scene II IT

(The Earl of Gloucester’s Castle.)

Enter Edmund, with a letter.

EDMUND
Thou, Nature, art my goddess; to thy law
My services are bound. Wherefore should I
Stand in the plague of custom, and permit

The curiosity of nations to deprive me,
For that I am some twelve or fourteen moonshines [5]
Lag of a brother? Why bastard? Wherefore base?
When my dimensions are as well compact,

My mind as generous, and my shape as true,
As honest madam’s issue? Why brand they us
With base? with baseness? bastardy? base, base? [10]
Who in the lusty stealth of nature take

More composition and fierce quality
Than doth, within a dull, stale, tired bed,
Go to th’creating a whole tribe of fops,
Got ’tween asleep and wake? Well then, [15]