Scene Four
[The Same. A Tent]
Enter with drum and colours, Cordelia, Gentlemen, [Doctor] and Soldiers.
Cor. Alack! 'tis he: why, he was met even now
As mad as the vex'd sea; singing aloud;
Crown'd with rank fumiter and furrow weeds,
With burdocks, hemlock, nettles, cuckoo-flowers,
Darnel, and all the idle weeds that grow 5
In our sustaining corn. A century send forth;
Search every acre in the high-grown field,
And bring him to our eye. [Exit an Officer.]
What can man's wisdom 8
In the restoring his bereaved sense?
He that helps him take all my outward worth.
[Doc.] There is means, madam;
Our foster-nurse of nature is repose, 12
The which he lacks; that to provoke in him,
Are many simples operative, whose power
Will close the eye of anguish.
Cor. All bless'd secrets,
All you unpublish'd virtues of the earth, 16
Spring with my tears! be aidant and remediate
In the good man's distress! Seek, seek for him,
Lest his ungovern'd rage dissolve the life
That wants the means to lead it.
Enter Messenger.
Mess. News, madam; 20
The British powers are marching hitherward.
3 fumiter: fumitory, plant with bitter taste
4 cuckoo-flowers: the ragged robin, a marsh plant
5 Darnel: a weed, injurious to growing crops
idle: worthless
6 century: company of one hundred men
14 simples: medicinal plants
17 aidant and remediate: aiding and remedial
