I must not leave her ere the woman comes —
Or will some other woman ...
Lear:
No, no, no, no;
The Queen is not herself; she speaks without sense;
Only Merryn and Gormflaith understand.
She is better quiet. Come ...
He urges the PHYSICIAN roughly away by the shoulder.
My emerald!
He follows the PHTSICIAN out by the door at the back. Queen HYGD awakes at his last noisy words as he disappears.
Hygd:
I have not slept; I did but close mine eyes
A little while — a little while forgetting ...
Where are you, Merryn? ... Ah, it is not Merryn ...
Bring me the cup of whey, woman; I thirst ...
Will you speak to me if I say your name?
Will you not listen, Gormflaith? ... Can you hear?
I am very thirsty — let me drink ...
Ah, wicked woman, why did I speak to you?
I will not be your suppliant again ...
Where are you? O, where are you? ... Where are you?
She tries to raise herself to look about the room, but sinks back helplessly. The curtains of the door at the back are parted, and GONERIL appears in hunting dress, — her kirtle caught up in her girdle, a light spear over her shoulder — stands there a moment, then enters noiselessly and, approaches the bed. She is a girl just turning to woman-hood, proud in her poise, swift and cold, an almost gleaming presence, a virgin huntress.
Goneril: