“Our foster-nurse of nature is repose,
The which he lacks, that to provoke in him,
Are many simples operative, whose power
Will close the eye of anguish”
(King Lear act 4, sc. 4)
Tips for use. A good line to recommend rest to a fatigued colleague or friend. The idea of rest as a medicine is almost as old as medicine. But whenever repeated or rediscovered it carries a ring of novelty. Here is an extract from one of many health-care sites, “When many people are sick, they rush to the doctor to find out what’s wrong with them, to find out what medication that they need. There are sometimes where it is serious enough to warrant a doctor’s visit but there are times where people should just rough it out. They are missing one thing that has worked for many since the beginning of time. There are a lot of times were medication only maintains the illusion of getting better, but really you are getting better by doing one simple thing. Rest truly is the best medicine” Exactly the diagnosis and the medicine prescribed by King Lear’s doctor.
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In the play. A doctor prescribes sleep and natural sleeping remedies for the ailing Lear. A ‘simple’ is a remedy, in the instance (probably) a chamomile tea or similar.
Image Source: http://www.firstpeople.us/pictures/bear/Rest-Stop-Brown-Bear-1600×1200.html