_Enter_ GLOUCESTER, _and_ EDGAR _dressed like a peasant_.[4233]
_Glou._ When shall we come to the top of that same hill?[4234]
_Edg._ You do climb up it now: look, how we labour.[4235]
_Glou._ Methinks the ground is even.
_Edg._ Horrible steep.[4236][4237]
Hark, do you hear the sea?[4237][4238]
_Glou._ No, truly.
_Edg._ Why then your other senses grow imperfect 5
By your eyes' anguish.
_Glou._ So may it be indeed:
Methinks thy voice is alter'd, and thou speak'st[4239]
In better phrase and matter than thou didst.[4240]
_Edg._ You're much deceived: in nothing am I changed[4241]
But in my garments.
_Glou._ Methinks you're better spoken.[4242] 10
_Edg._ Come on, sir; here's the place: stand still. How fearful[4243]
And dizzy 'tis to cast one's eyes so low![4244]
The crows and choughs that wing the midway air
Show scarce so gross as beetles: half way down
Hangs one that gathers samphire, dreadful trade![4245] 15
Methinks he seems no bigger than his head:
The fishermen that walk upon the beach[4246]
Appear like mice; and yond tall anchoring bark[4247]
Diminish'd to her cock; her cock, a buoy[4248]
Almost too small for sight: the murmuring surge 20
That on the unnumberd idle pebbles chafes[4249]
Cannot be heard so high. I'll look no more,[4250]
Lest my brain turn and the deficient sight
Topple down headlong.
_Glou._ Set me where you stand.
_Edg._ Give me your hand: you are now within a foot[4251][4252] 25
Of the extreme verge: for all beneath the moon[4251][4253]
Would I not leap upright.[4251][4254]
_Glou._ Let go my hand.
Here, friend, 's another purse; in it a jewel
Well worth a poor man's taking: fairies and gods[4255]
Prosper it with thee! Go thou farther off;[4256] 30
Bid me farewell, and let me hear thee going.
_Edg._ Now fare you well good sir.[4257]
_Glou._ With all my heart.
_Edg._ Why I do trifle thus with his despair[4258]
Is done to cure it.[4258]
_Glou._ [_Kneeling_] O you mighty gods![4259]
This world I do renounce, and in your sights 35
Shake patiently my great affliction off:
If I could bear it longer and not fall
To quarrel with your great opposeless wills,
My snuff and loathed part of nature should[4260]
Burn itself out. If Edgar live, O bless him![4261] 40
Now, fellow, fare thee well. [_He falls forward._[4262]
_Edg._ Gone, sir: farewell.[4263][4264]
And yet I know not how conceit may rob[4263][4265][4266]
The treasury of life, when life itself[4263][4265][4267]
Yields to the theft: had he been where he thought[4263][4265]
By this had thought been past. Alive or dead?[4263][4265][4268] 45
Ho, you sir! friend! Hear you, sir! speak![4263][4269]
Thus might he pass indeed: yet he revives.[4263][4270]
What are you, sir?[4263]
_Glou._ Away, and let me die.
_Edg._ Hadst thou been aught but gossamer, feathers, air,[4271]
So many fathom down precipitating, 50
Thou'dst shiver'd like an egg: but thou dost breathe;[4272]
Hast heavy substance; bleed'st not; speak'st; art sound.[4273]
Ten masts at each make not the altitude[4274]
Which thou hast perpendicularly fell:[4275]
Thy life's a miracle. Speak yet again. 55
_Glou._ But have I fall'n, or no?[4276]
_Edg._ From the dread summit of this chalky bourn.[4277]
Look up a-height; the shrill-gorged lark so far[4278]
Cannot be seen or heard: do but look up.[4279]
_Glou._ Alack, I have no eyes. 60
Is wretchedness deprived that benefit,
To end itself by death? 'Twas yet some comfort,[4280]
When misery could beguile the tyrant's rage
And frustrate his proud will.
_Edg._ Give me your arm:[4281]
Up: so. How is't? Feel you your legs? You stand.[4282] 65
_Glou._ Too well, too well.
_Edg._ This is above all strangeness.
Upon the crown o' the cliff, what thing was that[4283]
Which parted from you?
_Glou._ A poor unfortunate beggar.[4284]
_Edg._ As I stood here below, methought his eyes[4285]
Were two full moons; he had a thousand noses,[4286] 70
Horns whelk'd and waved like the enridged sea:[4287]
It was some fiend; therefore, thou happy father,
Think that the clearest gods, who make them honours[4288]
Of men's impossibilities, have preserved thee.
_Glou._ I do remember now: henceforth I'll bear 75
Affliction till it do cry out itself
'Enough, enough,' and die. That thing you speak of,[4289]
I took it for a man; often 'twould say[4290]
'The fiend, the fiend:' he led me to that place.[4291]
_Edg._ Bear free and patient thoughts. But who comes
here? 80
_Enter_ LEAR, _fantastically dressed with wild flowers_.[4292]
The safer sense will ne'er accommodate[4293][4294][4295]
His master thus.[4294]
_Lear._ No, they cannot touch me for coining; I am the[4296]
king himself.
_Edg._ O thou side-piercing sight![4297] 85
_Lear._ Nature's above art in that respect. There's your[4298]
press-money. That fellow handles his bow like a crow-keeper:[4299]
draw me a clothier's yard. Look, look, a mouse![4299]
Peace, peace; this piece of toasted cheese will do 't.[4300]
There's my gauntlet; I'll prove it on a giant. Bring up 90
the brown bills. O, well flown, bird! i' the clout, i' the[4301][4302]
clout: hewgh! Give the word.[4302][4303]
_Edg._ Sweet marjoram.
_Lear._ Pass.
_Glou._ I know that voice. 95
_Lear._ Ha! Goneril, with a white beard! They flattered[4304]
me like a dog, and told me I had white hairs in my[4305]
beard ere the black ones were there. To say 'ay' and 'no'
to every thing that I said! 'Ay' and 'no' too was no good[4306]
divinity. When the rain came to wet me once and the wind[4307] 100
to make me chatter; when the thunder would not peace at
my bidding; there I found 'em, there I smelt 'em out. Go[4308]
to, they are not men o' their words: they told me I was[4309]
every thing; 'tis a lie, I am not ague-proof.[4310]
_Glou._ The trick of that voice I do well remember:[4311] 105
Is't not the king?[4311]
_Lear._ Ay, every inch a king:[4312][4313]
When I do stare, see how the subject quakes.[4312][4314]
I pardon that man's life. What was thy cause?[4312][4315][4316]
Adultery?[4315][4317][4318]
Thou shalt not die: die for adultery! No:[4318][4319] 110
The wren goes to't, and the small gilded fly[4318]
Does lecher in my sight.[4318][4320]
Let copulation thrive; for Gloucester's bastard son[4318]
Was kinder to his father than my daughters[4318][4321]
Got 'tween the lawful sheets.[4318][4322] 115
To't, luxury, pell-mell! for I lack soldiers.[4318]
Behold yond simpering dame,[4323][4324]
Whose face between her forks presages snow,[4323][4325]
That minces virtue and does shake the head[4323][4326]
To hear of pleasure's name;[4323][4327] 120
The fitchew, nor the soiled horse, goes to't[4323][4328]
With a more riotous appetite.[4323][4328][4329]
Down from the waist they are Centaurs,[4323][4330]
Though women all above:[4323]
But to the girdle do the gods inherit,[4323] 125
Beneath is all the fiends';[4331][4332]
There's hell, there's darkness, there's the sulphurous pit,[4331][4333]
Burning, scalding, stench, consumption; fie, fie, fie! pah,[4334]
pah! Give me an ounce of civet, good apothecary, to[4335]
sweeten my imagination: there's money for thee.[4335] 130
_Glou._ O, let me kiss that hand!
_Lear._ Let me wipe it first; it smells of mortality.[4336]
_Glou._ O ruin'd piece of nature! This great world[4337]
Shall so wear out to nought. Dost thou know me?[4337][4338]
_Lear._ I remember thine eyes well enough. Dost thou[4339] 135
squiny at me? No, do thy worst, blind Cupid; I'll not love.[4340]
Read thou this challenge; mark but the penning on't.[4341]
_Glou._ Were all the letters suns, I could not see one.[4342]
_Edg._ I would not take this from report: it is,[4343]
And my heart breaks at it.[4343] 140
_Lear._ Read.
_Glou._ What, with the case of eyes?[4344]
_Lear._ O, ho, are you there with me? No eyes in your
head, nor no money in your purse? Your eyes are in a[4345][4346]
heavy case, your purse in a light: yet you see how this[4345][4347] 145
world goes.[4348]
_Glou._ I see it feelingly.
_Lear._ What, art mad? A man may see how this world[4349]
goes with no eyes. Look with thine ears: see how yond[4350][4351]
justice rails upon yond simple thief. Hark, in thine ear:[4351][4352] 150
change places, and, handy-dandy, which is the justice, which[4353][4354]
is the thief? Thou hast seen a farmer's dog bark at a[4353]
beggar?
_Glou._ Ay, sir.[4355]
_Lear._ And the creature run from the cur? There thou 155
mightst behold the great image of authority: a dog's obeyed[4356]
in office.
Thou rascal beadle, hold thy bloody hand![4357]
Why dost thou lash that whore? Strip thine own back;[4357][4358]
Thou hotly lust'st to use her in that kind[4357][4359] 160
For which thou whip'st her. The usurer hangs the cozener.[4357][4360]
Through tatter'd clothes small vices do appear;[4361][4362]
Robes and furr'd gowns hide all. Plate sin with gold,[4361][4363][4364]
And the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks;[4361][4364]
Arm it in rags, a pigmy's straw does pierce it.[4361][4364][4365] 165
None does offend, none, I say, none; I'll able 'em:[4361][4364][4366]
Take that of me, my friend, who have the power[4361][4364]
To seal the accuser's lips. Get thee glass eyes,[4361][4364]
And, like a scurvy politician, seem[4361]
To see the things thou dost not.[4361] 170
Now, now, now, now: pull off my boots: harder, harder:[4367][4368]
so.[4368]
_Edg._ O, matter and impertinency mix'd![4369][4370]
Reason in madness![4369]
_Lear._ If thou wilt weep my fortunes, take my eyes.[4371][4372] 175
I know thee well enough; thy name is Gloucester:[4371]
Thou must be patient; we came crying hither:[4371]
Thou know'st, the first time that we smell the air,[4371][4373]
We wawl and cry. I will preach to thee: mark.[4371][4374]
_Glou._ Alack, alack the day![4371] 180
_Lear._ When we are born, we cry that we are come[4371]
To this great stage of fools. This 's a good block.[4371][4375]
It were a delicate stratagem, to shoe[4371][4376]
A troop of horse with felt: I'll put 't in proof;[4371][4377]
And when I have stol'n upon these sons-in-law,[4371][4378] 185
Then, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill![4371]
_Enter a_ Gentleman, _with_ Attendants.[4379]
_Gent._ O, here he is: lay hand upon him. Sir,[4371][4380]
Your most dear daughter--[4371][4381]
_Lear._ No rescue? What, a prisoner? I am even[4371][4382]
The natural fool of fortune. Use me well;[4371] 190
You shall have ransom. Let me have a surgeon;[4371][4383]
I am cut to the brains.[4371][4384]
_Gent._ You shall have any thing.[4371]
_Lear._ No seconds? all myself?[4371]
Why, this would make a man a man of salt,[4371][4385]
To use his eyes for garden water-pots,[4371][4386] 195
Ay, and laying autumn's dust.[4371][4387]
_Gent._ Good sir,--[4371][4387]
_Lear._ I will die bravely, like a smug bridegroom. What![4371][4387][4388]
I will be jovial: come, come; I am a king,[4371][4387]
My masters, know you that.[4371][4387] 200
_Gent._ You are a royal one, and we obey you.[4371]
_Lear._ Then there's life in't. Nay, if you get it, you[4371][4389][4390]
shall get it by running. Sa, sa, sa, sa.[4371][4389]
[_Exit running; Attendants follow._[4391]
_Gent._ A sight most pitiful in the meanest wretch,[4371]
Past speaking of in a king! Thou hast one daughter,[4371][4392] 205
Who redeems nature from the general curse[4371]
Which twain have brought her to.[4371][4393]
_Edg._ Hail, gentle sir.
_Gent._ Sir, speed you: what's your will?
_Edg._ Do you hear aught, sir, of a battle toward?[4394]
_Gent._ Most sure and vulgar: every one hears that,[4395][4396] 210
Which can distinguish sound.[4395][4397]
_Edg._ But, by your favour,[4398]
How near's the other army?[4398][4399]
_Gent._ Near and on speedy foot; the main descry[4400]
Stands on the hourly thought.
_Edg._ I thank you, sir: that's all.[4401]
_Gent._ Though that the queen on special cause is here, 215
Her army is moved on.
_Edg._ I thank you, sir. [_Exit Gent._[4402]
_Glou._ You ever-gentle gods, take my breath from me;[4403]
Let not my worser spirit tempt me again
To die before you please!
_Edg._ Well pray you, father.[4404]
_Glou._ Now, good sir, what are you? 220
_Edg._ A most poor man, made tame to fortune's blows;[4405]
Who, by the art of known and feeling sorrows,[4406]
Am pregnant to good pity. Give me your hand,
I'll lead you to some biding.
_Glou._ Hearty thanks:[4407]
The bounty and the benison of heaven[4407][4408] 225
To boot, and boot![4407]
_Enter_ OSWALD.[4409]
_Osw._ A proclaim'd prize! Most happy![4410][4411]
That eyeless head of thine was first framed flesh[4410][4412]
To raise my fortunes. Thou old unhappy traitor,[4410][4413]
Briefly thyself remember: the sword is out[4410]
That must destroy thee.[4410]
_Glou._ Now let thy friendly hand[4410][4414] 230
Put strength enough to't. [_Edgar interposes._[4410][4415]
_Osw._ Wherefore, bold peasant,[4410]
Darest thou support a publish'd traitor? Hence![4410][4416]
Lest that the infection of his fortune take[4410][4417]
Like hold on thee. Let go his arm.[4410]
_Edg._ Chill not let go, zir, without vurther 'casion.[4418] 235
_Osw._ Let go, slave, or thou diest!
_Edg._ Good gentleman, go your gait, and let poor volk[4419]
pass. An chud ha' been zwaggered out of my life, 'twould[4420]
not ha' been zo long as 'tis by a vortnight. Nay, come not[4421]
near th' old man; keep out, che vor ye, or I'se try whether[4422] 240
your costard or my ballow be the harder: chill be plain[4423]
with you.
_Osw._ Out, dunghill! [_They fight._[4424]
_Edg._ Chill pick your teeth, zir: come; no matter vor[4425]
your foins. [_Oswald falls._[4426] 245
_Osw._ Slave, thou hast slain me. Villain, take my purse:
If ever thou wilt thrive, bury my body;
And give the letters which thou find'st about me[4427]
To Edmund earl of Gloucester; seek him out[4428]
Upon the British party. O, untimely death![4428][4429][4430] 250
Death! [_Dies._[4430][4431]
_Edg._ I know thee well: a serviceable villain,
As duteous to the vices of thy mistress[4432]
As badness would desire.
_Glou._ What, is he dead?
_Edg._ Sit you down, father; rest you.[4433][4434][4435] 255
Let's see these pockets: the letters that he speaks of[4433][4434][4436]
May be my friends. He's dead; I am only sorry[4433][4437][4438]
He had no other deathsman. Let us see:[4433][4437]
Leave, gentle wax; and, manners, blame us not:[4433][4439][4440]
To know our enemies' minds, we'ld rip their hearts;[4440][4441] 260
Their papers, is more lawful.[4442]
[_Reads_] 'Let our reciprocal vows be remembered. You[4443][4444][4445]
have many opportunities to cut him off: if your will want[4444]
not, time and place will be fruitfully offered. There is[4444]
nothing done, if he return the conqueror: then am I[4444][4446] 265
the prisoner, and his bed my gaol; from the loathed[4444][4447]
warmth whereof deliver me, and supply the place for your[4444][4448]
labour.
'Your--wife, so I would say--affectionate servant,[4449]
'GONERIL.' 270
O undistinguish'd space of woman's will![4450]
A plot upon her virtuous husband's life;
And the exchange my brother! Here, in the sands,[4451]
Thee I'll rake up, the post unsanctified[4452]
Of murderous lechers; and in the mature time[4453] 275
With this ungracious paper strike the sight
Of the death-practised duke: for him 'tis well[4454]
That of thy death and business I can tell.[4455]
_Glou._ The king is mad: how stiff is my vile sense,[4456]
That I stand up, and have ingenious feeling 280
Of my huge sorrows! Better I were distract:
So should my thoughts be sever'd from my griefs,[4457]
And woes by wrong imaginations lose[4458]
The knowledge of themselves. [_Drum afar off._[4459]
_Edg._ Give me your hand:[284, 285]
Far off, methinks, I hear the beaten drum:[4460] 285
Come, father, I'll bestow you with a friend. [_Exeunt._[4461]