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— 276
Affectionate servant,
Goneril."
O undistinguish'd space of woman's will!
A plot upon her virtuous husband's life, 280
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 284
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 288
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. [Drums afar.]
Edg. Give me your hand! 292
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
