Scene Seven
[A Tent in the French Camp]
Enter Cordelia, Kent, and Gentleman [Doctor.]
Cor. O thou good Kent! how shall I live and work
To match thy goodness? My life will be too short,
And every measure fail me.
Kent. To be acknowledg'd, madam, is o'erpaid. 4
All my reports go with the modest truth,
Nor more nor clipp'd, but so.
Cor. Be better suited:
These weeds are memories of those worser hours:
I prithee, put them off.
Kent. Pardon me, dear madam; 8
Yet to be known shortens my made intent:
My boon I make it that you know me not
Till time and I think meet.
Cor. Then be 't so, my good lord.—[To the Doctor.] How does the king? 12
[Doc.] Madam, sleeps still.
Cor. O you kind gods,
Cure this great breach in his abused nature!
The untun'd and jarring senses, O! wind up 16
Of this child-changed father!
[Doc.] So please your majesty
That we may wake the king? he hath slept long.
Cor. Be govern'd by your knowledge, and proceed
I' the sway of your own will. Is he array'd? 20
Enter Lear in a chair carried by Servants.
Gent. Ay, madam; in the heaviness of sleep,
We put fresh garments on him.
6 suited: dressed
7 weeds: clothes
9 made intent: fixed purpose
17 child-changed: change due to daughters' behavior
