a

poor Tom.

their perpetual displeasure, neither to speak of On things would hurt me more.—But I'll go in: him, entreat for him, nor any way sustain him. In, boy ; go first.-[To the Foul.] You houseEdm. Most savage and unnatural !

less poverty, Glo. Go to; say you nothing : There is di- Nay, get thee in.' I'll pray, and then I'll sleep. vision between the dukes; and a worse matter

[Fool goes is. thin that. I have received a letter this night Poor naked wretches, wheresoe'er you are, ’tis dangerous to be spoken ;-I have locked the That bide the pelting of this pitiliss storm, letter in my closet: these injuries the king now How shall your houselt ss heads, and unfed sides, bears will be revenged home; there is part of a Your loop'd and window'd raggedness, defend power already footed : we must incline to the

you king. I will seek him, and privily relieve him: From seasons such as these? O, I have ta’en go you, and maintain talk with the duke, that Too little care of this ! Take physic, pomp; my charity be not of him perceived: If he ask Expose thyself to feel what wretches feel; for me, I am ill, and gone to bed. If I die for That thou may'st shake the superflux to them, it, as no less is threatened me, the king my old And show the heavens more just. master must be relieved. There is some strange Edg. [Within.) Fathom and half, fathorn thing toward, Edmund; pray you, be careful.

and half ! Poor Tom ! [Exit.

[The Fool runs out from the horel. Edm. This courtesy, forbid thee, shall the Fool. Come not in here, nuncle, here's a spiduke

rit. Help me, help me! Instantly know; and of that letter too :-- Kent. Give me thy hand.- Who's there? This seems a fair deserving, and must draw me Fool. A spirit, a spirit; he says bis name's That which my father loses ; no less than all: The younger rises, when the old doth fall. Kent. What art thou that dost grumble there

[Exit. i'the straw ?

Come forth. SCENE IV.-A part of the heath, with a hovel.

Enter EDGAR, disguised as a madman. Enter LEAR, Kent, and Fool.

Edy. Away! the foul fiend follows me ! Kent. Here is the place, my lord ; good my Through the sharp hawthorn blows the cold lord, enter:

wind.The tyranny of the open night's too.rough Humph! go to thy cold bed, and warm thee. For nature to endure.

[Storm still. Lear. Hast thou given all to thy two daughLear. Let me alone.

ters? Kent. Good my lord, enter here.

And art thou come to this? Leur. Wilt break my heart ?

Edg. Who gives any thing to poor Tom? Kent. I'd rather break mine own: Good my whom the foul fiend hath led through fire and lord, enter.

through fiame, through ford and whirlpool, over Lear. Thou think'st 'tis much, that this con- | bog and quagmire ; that hath laid knives under tentious storm

his pillow, and halters in his pew; set ratsbane Invades us to the skin : so 'tis to thee;

by his porridge; made him proud of heart, to But where the greater malady is fix'd,

ride on a bay trotting-horse over four-inched The lesser is scarce felt. Thou’dst shun a bear: bridges, to course his own shadow for a trai. But if thy flight lay toward the raging sea, tor:-Bless thy five wits! Tom's a-cold.-0, do Thou’dst meet the bear i’the mouth. When the de, do de, do de.-- Bless thee from whirlwirds, mind's free,

star-blasting, and taking ! Do poor Tom some The body's delicate : the tempest in my mind charity, whom the foul fiend' vexes: There Doth from my senses take all feeling else, could I have him now,-and there, and there, Save what beats there.—Filial ingratitude! and there again, and there. [Storm Mutinues. Is it not as this mouth should tear this hand, Leur. What, have his daughters brought him For lifting food to't?-But I will punish home:- to this pass? No, I will weep no more.—In such a nigut Could'st thou save nothing? Did'st thou give To shut me out! - Pour on; I will endure:

them all ? In such a night as this ! O Regan, Goneril ! Fool. Nay, he reserved a blanket, else w had Your old kind father, whose frank heart gave been all shained. all,

Lear. Now, all the plagues, that in the pre0, that way madness lies ; let me shun that;

dulous air No more of that,

Hangfaited o'er men's faults, light on thy daughhent. Good my lord, enter here.

ters! Lear. Ir’ythee, go in thyself'; seek thine own Kent. He hath no dauzliters, sir. ease ;

Liar. Death, traitor! nothing could have subThis tempest will not give me leave to ponder

a

a

;

mind;

pany?

To such a lowness, but his unkind daughters.-
Is it the fashion, that discarded fathers

Enter GLOSTER, with a torch.
Should have thus little mercy on their flesh? Lear. What's he?
Judicious punishment ! 'twas this flesh begot Kent. Who's there? What is't you seek ?
Those pelicin daughters.

Glo. What are you there? Your names ? Edg. Pillicock sat on pillicock's-hill ;

Edg. Poor Tom; that eats the swimming Halloo, halloo, loo, loo !

frog, the toad, the tadpole, the wall-newt, and Fool. This cold night will turn us all to fools the water ; that in the fury of his heart, when and madmen.

the foul fiend rages, eats cow-dung for sallets ; Edg. Take heed o' the foul fiend : Obey thy swallows the old rat, and the ditch dog ; drinks parents ; keep thy word justly; swear not; com- the green mantle of the standing pool ; who is mit not with man's sworn spouse; set not thy whipprd from tything to tything, and stocked, sweet heart on proud array: Tom's a-cold. punished, and imprisoned ; who hath had three Lear. What hast thou been ?

suits to his back, six shirts to his body, horse to Edg. A serving-man, proud in heart and ride, and weapon to wear,

that curled my hair ; wore gloves in my cap, served the lust of my mistress's heart, and But mice, and rats, and such small deer, did the act of darkness with her; swore as many Have been Tom's food for seven long year. oaths as I spake words, and broke them in the sweet face of heaven: one that slept in the con- Beware my follower :-Peace, Smolkin; peace, triving of lust, and waked to do it: Wine loved thou fiend ! I deeply; dice dearly; and in woman, out-pa- Glo. What, hath your grace no better comramoured the Turk: False of heart, light of ear, bloody of hand; Hog in sloth, fox in stealth, Edg. The prince of darkness is a gentleman; wolf in greediness, dog in madness, lion in prey. Modo he's called, and Mahu. Let not the creaking of shoes, nor the rustling Glo. Our flesh and blood, my lord, is grown of silks, betray thy poor heart to women : Keep so vile, thy foot out of brothels, thy hand out of plack- That it doth hate what gets it. ets, thy pen from lenders' books, and defy the Edg. Poor Tom's a-cold. foul fiend.—Still through the hawthorn blows Glo. Go in with me; my duty cannot suffer the cold wind : Says suum mun, ha no nonny, To obey in all your daughters' hard commands: dolphin my boy, my boy, sessa ; let him trot by. Though their injunction be to bar my doors,

[Storm still continues. And let this tyrannous night take hold upon you; Lear. Why, thou were better in thy grave, Yet have I ventur'd to come seek you out, than to answer with thy uncovered body this And bring you where both fire and food is ready. extremity of the skies.-Is man no more than Lear. First let me talk with this philosothis ? Consider him well : Thou owest the worm

pher:no silk, the beast no hide, the sheep no wool, What is the cause of thunder? the cat no perfume :-Ha! here's three of us are kent. Good my lord, take his offer ; sophisticated !—Thou art the thing itself: un- Go into the house. accommodated man is no more but such a poor, Lear. I'll talk a word with this same learned bare, forked animal as thou art.-Off, off, you

Theban :lendings :-Come; unbutton here.

What is your study? [Tearing off his clothes. Edg. How to prevent the fiend, and to kill Fool. Pr’ythee, nuncle, be contented ; this is vermin. a naughty night to swim in.-Now a little fire Lear. Let me ask you one word in private. in a wild field were like an old lecher's heart; a Kent. Importune him once more to go, my small spark, all the rest of his body cold.-Look, lord, here comes a walking fire.

His wits begin to unsettle. Edg. This is the foul fiend Flibbertigibbet : Glo. Can'st thou blame him? he begins at curfew, and walks till the first His daughters seek his death :-Ah, that good cock; he gives the web and the pin, squints the Kent ! eye, and makes the hare-lip; mildews the white He said it would be thus :- Poor banish'd wheat, and hurts the poor creature of earth.

Thou say'st the king grows mad; I'll tell thee, Saint Withold footed thrice the wold ;

friend, He met the night-mare, and her nine-fold ; | I am almost mad myself: I had a son, Bid her alight,

Now outlaw'd from my blood; he sought my And her troth plight,

life, And aroint thee, witch, aroint thee! But lately, very late ; I lov'd him, friend,

No father his son dearer: true to tell thee, Kent. How fares your grace?

[Storm continues. VOL. II.

2 H

man!

ness!

The grief hath craz’d my wits. What a night's / what addition I can : I will not be long from this!

you. I do bescech your grace,

Kent. All the power of his wits has given way Lear. O, cry you mercy,

to his impatience :—The gods reward your kindNoble philosopher, your company.

[Exit Gloster. Edg. Tom's a-cold.

Edg. Frateretto calls me; and tells me, NeGlo. In, fellow, there, to the hovel : keep ro is an angler in the lake of darkness. Pray, thee warm.

innocent, and beware the foul fiend. Lear. Come, let's in all.

Fool. Pr’ythee, nuncle, tell me, whether : Kent. This way, my lord.

madman be a gentleman, or a yeoman? Lear. With him ;

Lear. A king, a king! I will keep still with my philosopher.

Fool. No; he's a yeoman, that has a gentleKent. Good my lord, sooth him; let him man to his son : for he's a mad yeoman, that take the fellow.

sees his son a gentleman before him. Glo. Take him you on.

Lear. To have a thousand with red burning Kent. Sirrah, come on; go along with us.

spits Leur. Come, good Athenian.

Come hizzing in upon them :Glo. No words, no words :

Edg. The foul fiend bites my back. Hush.

Fool. He's mad, that trusts in the tameness

of a wolf, a horse's health, a boy's love, or : Edg. Child Rowland to the dark tower came, whore's oath. His word was still,-Fie, foh, and fum, Lear. It shall be done, I will arraign them I smell the blood of a British man.

straight :[Exeunt. Come, sit thou here, most learned justicer ;

[To Edgar. SCENE V.-A room in GLOSTER's castle. Thou, sapient sir, sit here. [To the Fool.]

Now, you she foxes !-
Enter CORNWALL and EDMUND.

Edg. Look, where he stands and glares ! Corn. I will have my revenge, ere I depart Wantest thou eyes at trial, madam? his house.

Edm. How, my lord, I may be censured, Come o'er the bourn, Bessy, to me: that nature thus gives way to loyalty, something Fool. Her boat hath a leak, fears me to think of.

And she must not speak Corn. I now perceive, it was not altogether Why she dares not come over to thee. your brother's evil disposition made him seek his death ; but a provoking merit, set a-work Edg. The foul fiend haunts poor Tom in the by a reproveable badness in himself.

voice of a nightingale. Hopdance cries in Tom's Edn. How malicious is my fortune, that I belly for two white herrings. Croak not, black must repent to be just! This is the letter he angel; I have no food for thee. spoke of, which approves him an intelligent Kent. How do you, sir ? Stand you not so party to the advantages of France. O heavens !

amaz'd: that this treason were not, or not I the detector! Will you lie down and rest upon the cushions? Corn. Go with me to the duchess.

Lear. I'll see their trial first :-Bring in the Edm. If the matter of this paper be certain, evidence.you have mighty business in hand.

Thou robed man of justice, take thy place ;Corn. True, or false, it hath made thee earl of

To Edgar. Gloster. Seek out where thy father is, that he and thou, his yoke-fellow of equity, may be ready for our apprehension.

[To the Fool Edm. [Aside.If I find him comforting the Bench by his side :-You are of the commission, king, it will stuff his suspicion more fully.- Sit you

too. will persevere in my course of loyalty, though Édg. Let us deal justly. the conflict be sore between that and my blood.

Corn. I will lay trust upon thee; and thou Sleepest, or wakest thou, jolly shepherd? shalt find a dearer father in my love.

Thy sheep be in the corn; [Exeunt. And for one blast of thy miniken mouth,

Thy sheep shall take no harm. SCENE VI.- A chamber in a farm-house, adjoining the castle.

Pur! the cat is grey.

Lear. Arraign her first ; 'tis Goneril. I here Enter GLOSTER, LEAR, KENT, Fool, and

take my oath before this honourable assembly, EDGAR.

she kicked the poor king her father. Glo. Here is better than the open air ; take it Fool. Come hither, mistress; Is your name thankfully: I will piece out the comfort with | Goneril?

а

place!

at me.

Lear. She cannot deny it.

Stand in assured loss : Take up, take up; Fool. Cry you mercy, I took you for a joint- And follow me, that will to some provision stool.

Give thee quick conduct. Lear. And here's another, whose warp'd looks Kent. Oppress'd nature sleeps proclaim

This rest might yet have balm’d thy broken What store her heart is made of.-Stop her there! senses, Arins, arms, sword, fire !-Corruption in the Which, if convenience will not allow,

Stand in hard cure.—Come, help to bear thy False justicer, why hast thou let her 'scape ?

master; Edg. Bless thy five wits !

Thou must not stay behind.

[To the Fool. Kent. O pity —Sir, where is the patience Glo. Come, come, away. now,

[Ereunt hent, Gloster, and the Fool, That you so oft have boasted to retain ?

bearing of the King. Edg. My tears begin to take his part so Edg. When we our betters see bearing our much,

woes, They'll mar my counterfeiting: [Aside. We scarcely think our miseries our foes. Lear. The little dogs and all,

Who alone suffers, suffers most i’the mind; Tray, Blanch, and Sweet-heart, see they bark Leaving free things, and happy shows, behind :

But then the mind much sufferance doth o'erEdg. Tom will throw his head at them :

skip, Avaunt, you curs !

When grief hath mates, and bearing fellowship.

How light and portable my pain seems now, Be thy mouth or black or white,

When that, which makes me bend, makes the Tooth that poisons, if it bite;

king bow; Mastiff, grey-hound, mongrel grim, He childed, as I father'd !-Tom, away: Hound, or spaniel, brach, or lym; Mark the high noises; and thyself bewray, Or bobtail tike, or trundle-tail;

When false opinion, whose wrong thought deTom will make them weep and wail :

files thee, For, with throwing thus my head, In thy just proof, repeals, and reconciles thee. Dogs leap the hatch, and all are fled. What will hap more to-night, safe scape the .

king! Do de, de de, Sessa. Come, march to wakes Lurk, lurk.

[Erit. and fairs, and market towns :-Poor Tom, thy hom is dry.

SCENE VII.-A room in Gloster's castle. Lear. Then let them anatomize Regan, see what breeds about her heart : Is there any cause

Enter CornwALL, Regan, GONERIL, EDin nature, that makes these hard hearts ? - You,

MUNI), and Servants. sir, I entertain you for one of my hundred ; Corn. Post speedily to my lord your husonly, I do not like the fashion of your garments: band; show him this letter :-the army of you will say, they are Persian attire ; but let France is landed:-Seek out the villain Gloster. them be changed.

[To Edgur.

[ Exeunt some of the Servants. Kent. Now, good my lord, lie here, and rest Reg. Hang him instantly. awhile.

Gon. Pluck out his eyes. Lear. Make no noise, make no noise ; draw Corn. Leave him to my displeasure.--Edthe curtains: So, so, so: We'll go to supper mund, keep you our sister company; the rei'the morning : So, so, so.

venges we are bound to take upon your traitorFool. And I'll go to bed at noon.

ous father, are not fit for your beholding. Ad.

vise the duke, where you are going, to a most Re-enter GLOSTER.

festinate preparation ; we are bound to the like. Glo. Come hither, friend: Where is the king Our posts shall be swift, and intelligent bemy master ?

twixt us. Farewell, dear sister ;-farewell, my Kent. Here, sir ; but trouble him not, his wits lord of Gloster. are gone.

Enter Steward. Glo. Good friend, I pr’ythee take him in thy arms;

How now? Where's the king ? I have o'er-heard a plot of death upon him : Stew. My lord of Gloster hath convey'd him There is a litter ready ; lay him in't,

hence : And drive toward Dover, friend, where thou Some five or six and thirty of his knights, shalt meet

Hot questrists after him, met him at gate ; Both welcome and protection. Take up thy Who, with some other of the lord's dependants, master :

Are gone with him towards Dover ; where they If thou should'st dally half an hour, his life,

boast With thine, and all that offer to defend him, To have well-arm'd friends.

of anger.

Corn. Get horses for your mistress.

In hell-black night endur'd, would have buoy'd Gon. Farewell, sweet lord, and sister.

up, [Ereunt Goneril and Edmund. And quench'd the stelled fires: yet, poor old Corn. Edmund, farewell.-Go, seek the trai- heart, tor Gloster,

He holp the heavens to rain. Pinion him like a thief, bring him before us : If wolves had at thy gate howld that stern time,

[Ereunt other Servants. Thou should'st have said, Good porter, turn the Though well we may not pass upon his life

key; Without the form of justice ; yet our power

All cruels else subscrib'd :-But I shall see Shall do a courtesy to our wrath, which men The winged vengeance overtake such children. May blame, but not controul.- Who's there? Corn. See it shalt thou never :-Fellows, hold The traitor ?

the chair:

Upon these eyes of thine I'll set my foot.
Re-enter Servants, with GLOSTER.

[Gloster is held down in his chair, whil Reg. Ingrateful fox ! 'tis he.

Cornuall plucks out one of his eyes, and Corn. Bind fast his corky arms.

sets his foot on it. Glo. What mean your graces ?-Good my Glo. He, that will think to live till he be old, friends, consider

Give me some help :-) cruel ! O ye gods ! You are my guests : do me no foul play, friends. Reg. One side will mock another; the other Corn. Bind him, I say. [Servants bind him.

too. Reg. Hard, hard :-O filthy traitor!

Corn. If you see vengeance,
Glo. Unmerciful lady as you are, I am none. Serv. Hold your hand, my lord:
Corn. To this chair bind him :-Villain, thou I have serv'd you ever since I was a child;

shalt find [Regan plucks his beard. But better service have I never done you,
Glo. By the kind gods, 'tis most ignobiy done Than now to bid you hold.
To pluck me by the beard.

Reg. How now, you dog? Reg. So white, and such a traitor!

Serv. If you did wear a beard upon your chin, Glo. Naughty lady,

I'd shake it on this quarrel : What do you mean? These hairs, which thou dost ravish from my Corn. My villain! [Draws, and runs at him. chin,

Serv. Nay, then come on, and take the chance Will quicken, and accuse thee: I am your host; With robbers' hands, my hospitable favours [Draws. They fight. Cornwall is rounded. You should not ruffle thus. What will

you

do? Reg. Give me thy sword.—[To another Sera Corn. Come, sir, what letters had you late vant.] A peasant stand up thus ! from France ?

[Snatches a sword, comes behind, and stars Reg. Be simple-answer’d, for we know the him. truth.

Serv. O, I am slain !—My lord, you have one Corn. And what confederacy have you with the traitors,

To see some mischief on him :-0! Dics. Late footed in the kingdom ?

Corn. Lest it see more, prevent it :-Out, Reg. To whose hands have you sent the lu

vile jelly ! natic king ?

Where is thy lustre now? Speak.

[Tears out Gloster's other eye, and three Glo. I have a letter guessingly set down,

it on the ground. Which came from one that's of a neutral heart, Glo. All dark and comfortless.- Where's my And not from one oppos'd.

son Edmund ? Corn. Cunning.

Edmund, enkindle all the sparks of nature, Reg. And false.

To quit this horrid act.
Corn. Where hast thou sent the king? Reg. Out, treacherous villain !
Glo. To Dover.

Thou call'st on him that hates thee: it was be Reg. Wherefore

That made the overture of thy treasons to us; To Dover? Wast thou not charg'd at thy pe- Who is too good to pity thee. ril

Glo. O my follies! Corn. Wherefore to Dover ? Let him first Then Edgar was abus'd.answer that.

Kind gods, forgive me that, and prosper him! Glo. I ain tied to the stake, and i must stand Reg. Go, thrust him out at gates, and let him the course.

smell Reg. Wherefore to Dover ?

His way to Dover.—How is't, my lord? How Glo. Because I would not see thy cruel nails look you ? Pluck out his poor old eyes; nor thy fierce sister Corn. I have receiv'd a hurt:-Follow me, In his anointed flesh stick boarish fangs.

lady:The sea, with such a storm as his bare head Turn out that eyeless villain ;-throw this slave

eye left

!