ness l'pon the dunghill.—Regan, I bleed apace : 1 Serv. Let's follow the old earl, and get the Untimely comes this hurt: Give me your arm. Bedlam [Erit Cornwall , led by Regan ;-servants To lead him where he would ; his roguish madunbind Gloster, and lead him out. 1 Serv. I'll never care what wickedness I do, Allows itself to any thing. If this man come to good. 2 Serv. Go thou; I'll fetch some flax, and 2 Serv. If she live long, whites of eggs, And, in the end, meet the old course of death, To apply to his bleeding face. Now, heaven Women will all turn monsters. help him! [Ercünt severally. ACT IV. Glo. Is it a bergar-man? Old Nan. Madman and beggar too. Glo. He has some reason, else he could not Enter EDGAR. beg. Edg. Yet better thus, and known to be con- l’the last night's storm I such a fellow saw; temn’d, Which made me think a man a worm : My son Than still contemn'd and flatter'd. To be worst, Came then into my mind ; and yet my mind The lowest, and most dejected thing of fortune, Was then scarce friends with him: I have heard Stands still in esperance, lives not in fear: more since : The la nentable change is from the best ; As flies to wanton boys, are we to the gods; The worst returns to laughter. Welcome then, They kill us for their sport. Thou unsubstantial air, that I embrace ! Edg. How should this be?The wretch, that thou hast blown unto the Bad is the trade must play the fool to sorrow, worst, Ang’ring itself and others. [Aside.] Bless thee, Owes nothing to thy blasts.-But who comes master! here? Glo. Is that the naked fellow? Old Man. Ay, my lord. Enter GLOSTER, led by an Old Man. Glo. Then, pr’ythee, get thee gone: If, for my My father, poorly led?-World, world, Oworld! sake, But that thy strange mutations make us hate Thou wilt o'ertake us, hence a mile or twain, thee, I'the way to Dover, do it for ancient love ; Life would not yield to age. And bring some covering for this naked soul, Old Man. O my good lord, I have been your Whom I'll entrcat to lead me. tenant, and your father's tenant, these fourscore Old Man. Alack, sir, he's mad. years. Glo. 'Tis the times' plague, when madmen Glo. Away, get thee away ; good friend, be lead the blind. gone : Do as I bid thee, or rather do thy pleasure ; Thy comforts can do me no good at all, Above the rest, be gone. Thee they may hurt. Old Man. I'll bring him the best 'parel that Old Man. Alack, sir, you cannot see your way. I have, [Exit. eyes ; Glo. Sirrah, naked fellow. I stumbled when I saw: Full oft 'tis seen, Elg. Poor Tom's a-cold.--I cannot daub it Our mean secures us ; and our mere defects further. [Aside. Prove our cominodities.-Ah, dear son Edgar, Glo. Come hither, fellow. The food of thy abused father's wrath ! Edg. [Aside.) And yet I must.--Bless thy Might I but live to see thee in my touch, sweet eyes, they bleed. I'd say, I had eyes again! Glo. Know'st thou the way to Dover ? Old Man. Hów now? Who's there? Edg. Both stile and gate, horse-way, and Edg. [Aside. J O gods! Who is't can say, I foot-path. Poor Tom hath been scared out of am at the worst ! his good wits : Bless the good man from the I am worse than e'er I was. foul fiend ! Five fiends have been in poor Tom Ou Man. 'Tis poor mad Tom. at once; of lust, as Obidicut; Hobbididance, Edg. [Aside.] And worse I may be yet: The prince of dumbness ; Mahu, of stealing ; Modo, worst is not, of murder ; and Flibbertigibbet, of mopping and So long as we can say, This is the worst. mowing; who since possesses chamber-maids Old Man. Fellow, where goest ? and waiting-women. So, bless thee, master ! Glo. Here, take this purse, thou whom the Gon. My most dear Gloster ! [Erit Edmund. heaven's plagues 0, the difference of man, and man! To thee Have humbled to all strokes : that I am wretched, A woman's services are due; my fool Makes thee the happier :—Heavens, deal so still! Usurps my bed. Let the superfluous, and lust-dieted man, Stew. Madam, here comes my lord. That slaves your ordinanco, that will not see [Erit Steward. Because he doth not feel, feel your power quickly; So distribution should undo excess, Enter ALBANY. Alb. O Goneril ! You are not worth the dust, which the rude Glo. There is a cliff, whose high and bending wind head Blows in your face.—I fear your disposition : Looks fearfully in the confined deep: That nature, which contemns its origin, Bring me but to the very brim of it, Cannot be border'd certain in itself; And I'll repair the misery thou dost bear, She, that herself will sliver and disbranch With something rich about me: from that place From her material sap, perforce must wither, I shall no leading need. And come to deadly use. Edg. Give me thy arm; Gon. No more ; the text is foolish. Poor Tom shall lead thee. [Ereunt. Alb. Wisdom and goodness to the vile seem vile: SCENE II.-Before the Duke of Albany's Filths savour but themselves. What have you palace. done? Enter Goneril and EDMUND; Steward meeting A father, and a gracious aged man, Tigers, not daughters, what have you perform'd? them. Whose reverence the head-lugg'd bear would Gon. Welcome, my lord : I marvel, our mild lick, husband Most barbarous, most degenerate! have you Not met us on the way :-Now, where's your madded. master? Could my good brother suffer you to do it? Stew. Madam, within ; but never man so A man, a prince, by him so benefited ? chang'd: If that the heavens do not their visible spirits I told him of the army that was landed; Send quickly down to tame these vile offences, He smild at it: I told him, you were coming; ”Twill come, His answer was, The worse : of Gloster's treach- Humanity must perforce prey on itself, ery, Like monsters of the deep. And of the loyal service of his son, Gon. Milk-liver'd man! When I inform’d him, then he call’d me sot; That bear’st a check for blows, a head for wrongs; And told me, I had turn’d the wrong side out :- Who hast not in thy brows an eye discerning What most he should dislike, seems pleasant to Thine bonour from thy suffering; that not him : know'st, What like, offensive, Fools do those villains pity, who are punish'd Gon. Then shall you go no further. Ere they have done their mischief. Where's thy [To Edmund. árum? It is the cowish terror of his spirit, France spreads his banners in our noiseless land; That dares not undertake : he'll not feel wrongs, With plumed helm thy slayer begins threats; Which tie him to an answer: Our wishes, on Whilst thou, a moral fool, sit'st still, and cry'st, Alack ! why does he so ? May prove effects. Back, Edmund, to my bro- Alb. See thyself, devil ! ther; Proper deformity seems not in the fiend Alb. Thou changed and self-cover'd thing, for To let these hands obey my blood, [Giving a favour. A woman's shape doth shield thee. Enter a Messenger. Alb. What news? the way, seen a sorrow Mess. O, my good lord, the duke of Corn- | Her delicate check: it seem'd she was a queen wall's dead; Over her passion ; who, most rebel-like, Slain by his servant, going to put out Sought to be king o'er her. The other eye of Gloster. kent. 0, then it mov'd her. Alb. Gloster's eyes ! Gent. Not to a rage: patience and sorrow Mess. A servant that he bred, thrilld with strove remorse, Who should express her goodliest. You have Oppos'd against the act, bending his sword To his great master; who, thereat enrag'd, Sunshine and rain at once; her smiles and tears Flew on him, and amongst them felld him dead: Were like a better day: Those happy smiles, But not without that harmful stroke, which That play'd on her ripe lip, seem'd not to know since What guests were in her eyes; which parted Hath pluck’d him after. thence, Alb. This shows you are above, As pearls from diamonds dropp'd. - In brief, You justicers, that these our nether crimes So speedily can venge !--But, O poor Gloster ! Would be a rarity most belov’d, if all Lost he his other eye? Could so become it. Mess. Both, both, my lord.— bent. Made she no verbal question ? This letter, madam, craves a speedy answer ; Gent. 'Faith, once, or twice, she heav'd the 'Tis from your sister. name of father Gon. [Aside.] One way I like this well ; Pantingly forth, as if it press'd her heart; But being widow, and my Gloster with her, Cried, Sisters! sisters !-Shame of ladies! sisMay all the building in my fancy pluck ters! Upon my hateful life : Another way, Kent! father! sisters ! What? ;'the storm? The news is not so tart.—I'll read and answer. ö'the night? [Erit. Let pity not be believ'd !—There she shook Alb. Where was his son, when they did take the holy water from her heavenly eyes, his eyes? Ånd clamour moisten'd: then away she started Mess. Come with my lady hither. To deal with grief alone. Alb. He is not here. Kent. It is the stars, Mess. No, my good lord; I met him back The stars above us, govern our conditions ; again. Else one self mate and mate could not beget Alb. Knows he the wickedness ? Such different issues. You spoke not with her Mess. Ay, my good lord ; 'twas he informed since ? against him ; Gent. No. And quit the house on purpose, that their pu- Kent. Was this before the king return'd? nishment Gent. No, since. Jight have the freer course. Kent. Well, sir; the poor distress'd Lear is Alb. Gloster, I live i'the town: To thank thee for the love thou show’dst the Who sometime, in his better tune, romem ers king, What we are come about, and by no means And to revenge thine eyes.—Come hither, friend; Will yield to see his daughter. Tell me what more thou knowest. [ Exeunt. Gent. Why, good sir? Kent. A sovereign shame so elbows him : his SCENE III.-The French camp near Dover. own unkindness, That stripp'd her from his benediction, turn'd Enter Kent, and a Gentleman. her Kent. Why the king of France is so sudden- To foreign casualties, gave her dear rights ly gone back know you the reason ? To his dog-hearted daughters,—these things Gent. Something he left imperfect in the state, sting Which, since his coming forth, is thought of; His mind so venomously, that burning shame which Detains him from Cordelia. Imports to the kingdom so much fear and danger, Gent. Alack, poor gentleman ! That his personal return was most requir'd, Kent. Of Albany's and Cornwall's powers you And necessary; heard not? Kent. Who hath he left behind him general ? Gent. 'Tis so; they are afoot. Gent. The Mareschal of France, Monsieur le Kent. Well, sir, I'll bring you to our master Fer. Lear, Kent. Did your letters pierce the queen to any And leave you to attend him: some dear cause demonstration of grief? Will in concealment wrap me up awhile ; Gent Ay, sir ; she took them, read them in When I am known aright, you shall not grieve my presence ; Lending me this acquaintance. I pray you, go And now and then an ample tear trill'd down Along with me. [Excunt. som. Sleu. I must needs after him, madam, with SCENE IV.-The same. A tent. my letter. Reg. Our troops set forth to-morrow; stay Enter CORDELIA, Physician, and Soldiers. with us; Cor. Alack, 'tis he; why, he was met even now The ways are dangerous. As mad as the vex'd sta : singing aloud; Steu. I may not, madam; Crown'd with rank fumiter, and furrow weeds, My laily charg’d my duty in this business, With harlocks, hemlock, neitles, cuckco-flowers, Reg. Why should she write to Edmund; Darnel, and all the idle weeds, that grow Might not you In our sustaining corn.- A century send forth; Transport her purposes by word? Belike, Search every acre in the high-grown field, Something I know not what :-1'll love thee And bring him to our eye. [Exit an Officer.] much, What can man's wisdom do, Let me unseal the letter. In the restoring his keresved sense ? Stew. Nadam, I had ratherHe, that helps him, take all n.y outward worth. heg: I knew, your lady does not love her Phy. There is means, madam : husband; Our foster-nurse of nature is repose, I am sure of that: and, at her late being here, The which he lacks; that to provoke in him, She gave strange æiliads, and most speaking Are many simples operative, whose power looks Will close the eye of anguish. To noble Edmund: I know, you are of her beCor. All bless'd secrets, All you unpublish'd virtues of the earth, Stew. I, madam ? Spring with my tears ! be aidant, and remediate, lieg. I speak in understanding; you are, I In the good man's distress !— Seek, seek for him; know it: Lest his ungovern'd rage dissolve the life Therefore, I do advise you, take this note : That wants the means to lead it. My lord is dead ; Edmund and I have talk'd; And more convenient is he for my hand, Than for your lady's :-You may gather more. Mess. Nadam, news; If you do find him, pray you, give him this; The British powers are marching hitherward. And when your mistress hears thus inuch from Cor. 'Tis known before; ourpreparation stands you, So, fare you well. If you do chance to hear of that blind traitor, My mourning, and important tears, hath pitied. Preferment talls on him, that cuts him off. No blown ambition doth our arms incite, Stew. 'Would I could meet him, madam ! ! But love, dear love, and our ag'd faiher's right: would show Soon may I hear, and see him! [Exeunt. What party I do follow, Reg. Fure thee well. [Erunt. SCENE V.-A room in GLOSTER's castle. SCENE VI.— The country near Dorer. Enter Regan and Steuard. Reg. But are my brother's powers set forth? Enter GLOSTER, and Edgar, dressed like a Sttu. Ay, madam. peusant. Reg. Himself Glo. When shall we come to the top of that In person there? same hill ? Stew. Niadam, with much ado: Edg. You do climb up it now; look, how Your sister is the bettor soldier. we labour. Reg. Lord Fdmund spake not with you Glo. Niethinks, the ground is even. lord at home? Edg. Horrible steep: Stew. No, madam. Hark, do you hear the sea ? Reg: What might import my sister's letter to Glo. No, truly. him? Edg: Why, then your other senses grow im. Stew. I know not. lady. perfect Reg. 'Faith, he is posted hence on serious By your eyes' anguish. Glo. Soʻmay it be, indeed : It was great ignorance, Gloster's eyes being out, Methinks, thy voice is alter'd; and thou speak'st To let him live; where he arrives, he moves In better phrase, and matter, than thou didst. All hearts against us: Edmund, I think, is gone Edg. You are much deceiv'd ; in nothing am In pity of his misery, to despatch I chang'a, His nighted life ; moreover, to descry But in my garments. The strength o’the enemy. Glo. Methinks, you are better spoken. matter. a Edg. Come on, sir ; here's the place :--stand Edg. From the dread summit of this chalky still.—How farful bourn; And dizzy 'tis, to cast one's eyes so low! Look up a-height ;-the shrill-gorg’d lark so far The crows, and choughs, that wing the midway Cannot be seen or heard : do but look up. air, Glo. Alack, I have no eyes.Show scarce so gross as beetles: half way down, Is wretchedness deprived that benefit, Hangs one thatgathers samphire; dreadful trade! To end itself by death ? 'Twas yet some confort, Methinks, he seems no ligger than his head : When misery could beguile the tyrant's rage, The fishermen, that walk upon the beach, And frustrate his proud will. Appear like mice; and yen’tal anchoring bark, Edg. Give me your arm. Diminishi’d to her cock; her cock a buoy Up :-So;-How is't? Feel you your legs? Almost too small for sight: The murmuring You stand. surge, Glo. Too well, too well. That on the unnumber'd idle pebbles chafes, Edy. This is above all strangeness. Cannot be heard so bigh:-1'll look no more ; Upon the crown o’the cliff, what thing was that Lest my brain turn, and the deficient sight Which parted from you? Topple down headlinr. Glo. A poor unfortunate beggar. Glo. Set me where you stand. Edg. As I stood here below, methought, his Edy. Give me your hand : You are now eyes within a foot Were two full moons ; he had a thousand noses, Of the extreme verge: for all beneath the moon Horns whelk'd, and wav'd like the enridged sea; Would I not leap upright. It was some fiend : Therefore, thou happy father, Glo. Let go my hand. Think, that the clearest gods, who make them Flere, friend, is another purse ; in it, a jewel honours Will worth a poor man's taking: Fairies and of men's impossibilities, have preserv'd thee. gods, Glo. I do remember now: henceforth I'll bear Prosper it with thee! Go thou farther off ; Affliction, till it do cry out itself, Bid me farewell, and let me hear thee going. Enough, enough, and die. That thing you speak Edg. Now fare you well, good sir. of [Seems to go. I took it for a man ; often 'twould say, Glo. With all my heart. The fiend, the fiend : he led me to that place. Edg. Why I do trifle thus with his despair, Edg. Bear free and patient thoughts.-But Is done to cure it. who comes here? Glo. O you mighty gods ! This world I do renounce; and, in your sights, Enter LEAR, fantastically dressed up with Shake patiently my great affliction off; flowers. If I could bear it longer, and not fall The safer sense will ne'er accommodate To quarrel with your great opposeless wills, His master thus. My snuff, and loathed part of nature, should Lear. No, they cannot touch me for coining; Burn itself out. If Edgar live, 0, bless him ! I am the king himself. Now, fellow, fare thee well. Edg. O thou side-piercing sight! [He leaps and falls along. Lear. Nature's above art in that respect. Edg. Gone, sir ; farewell. There's your press-money. That fellow handles And yet I know not how conceit may rob his bow like a crow-keeper : draw me a clothier’s The treasury of life, when lite itself yard.—Look, look, a mouse! Peace, peace;Yields to the theft: Had he been where he this piece of toasted cheese will do't.— There's thought, my gauntlet; I'll prove it on a giant.-Bring up By this, had thought been past.-— Alive, or dead ? the brown bills.-0, well Hown, bird !--i'the Ho, you sir ! friend !-Hear you, sir ? ---speak! clout, i’the clout: hewgh !–Give the word, ! Thus might he pass indeed :-Yet he revives : Edg. Sweet marjoram. What are you, sir? Lear. Pass. Glo. Away, and let me die. Glo. I know that voice. Edg. Hau'st thou been aught but gossomer, Lear. Ha! Goneril !-with a white beard ! feathers, air, They flatter'd me like a dog; and told me I had So many fathom down precipitating, white hairs in my beard, ere the black ones were Thou had’st shiver'd like an egg : but thou dost there. To say, ay, and no, to every thing I breathe; said !- Ay and no, too, was no good divinity. Hast heavy substance; bleed’st not ; speak'st; When the rain came to wet me once, and the art sound. wind to make me chatter ; when the thunder Ten masts at each make not the altitude, would not peace at my bidding ; there I found Which thou hast perpendicularly fell; them, there I sinelt them out. Go to, they are Thy life's a miracle: Speak yet again. not men o' their words; they told me I was Glo. But have I tallen, or no? every thing ; 'tis a lie; I am not ague-proof. |
