Edg. Why, then your other senses grow imperfect By your eyes' anguish. Glo. So may it be, indeed: Methinks, thy voice is alter'd: and thou speak'st In better phrase, and matter, than thou didst. Edg. You are much deceiv'd: in nothing am I chang'd, But in my garments. Glo. Methinks, you are better spoken. Edg. Come on, sir: here's the place ;-stand still-How fearful And dizzy 'tis, to cast one's eyes so low! The crows, and choughs, that wing the midway air, Almost too small for sight: The murmuring surge, Set me where you stand. Glo. Would I not leap upright. Glo. [Seems to go. Well worth a poor man's taking: Go thou further off; O you mighty gods! Glo. If I could bear it longer, and not fall To quarrel with your great opposeless wills, Burn itself out. If Edgar lives, O, bless him!- Edg. [He leaps, and falls along. Gone, sir? farewell.- Yields to the theft: Had he been where he thought, Thus might he pass indeed :-Yet he revives: Glo. Away, and let me die. Edg. Hadst thou been aught but gossamer, feathers, air, Thou hadst shiver'd like an egg: but thou dost breathe; Edg. From the dread summit of this chalky bourn: Glo. Alack, I have no eyes. Is wretchedness depriv'd that benefit, 'To end itself by death? 'Twas yet some comfort, Edg. Give me your arm: Up-So-How is't? Feel you your legs? You stand. Glo. Too well, too well. Edg. This is above all strangeness. Upon the crown o' the cliff, what thing was that Glo. Glo. I do remember now: henceforth I'll bear Affliction, till it do cry out itself, Enough, enough, and die. That thing you speak of, I took it for a man; often 'twould say, The fiend, the fiend: he led me to that place. Edg. Bear free and patient thoughts. But who comes here? Enter LEAR, fantastically dressed up with flowers. The safer sense will ne'er accommodate His master thus. Lear. No, they cannot touch me for coining: I am the king himself. Edg. O thou side-piercing sight! Lear. Nature's above art in that respect.-Give the word. Lear. Pass. Glo. I know that voice. Lear. Ha! Goneril!-with a white beard!-They flatter'd me like a dog; and told me, I had white hairs in my beard, ere the black ones were there. To say ay and no, to every thing I said!-Ay and no too was no good divinity. When the rain came to wet me once, and the wind to make me chatter; when the thunder would not peace at my bidding; there I found them, there I smelt them out. Go to, they are not men o' their words: they told me I was every thing; 'tis a lie; I am not ague-proof. Glo. The trick of that voice I do well remember: Lear. Glo. O, let me kiss that hand! Lear. Let me wipe it first; it smells of mortality. Glo. O ruin'd piece of nature! This great world Shall so wear out to nought.-Dost thou know me? Lear. I remember thine eyes well enough.-Read thou this challenge; mark but the penning of it. Glo. Were all the letters suns, I could not see one. Edg. I would not take this from report;—it is, And my heart breaks at it. Lear. Read. Glo. What, with the case of eyes? No eyes in your head, nor Lear. O, ho, are you there with me? no money in your purse? Your eyes are in a heavy case, your purse in a light. Yet you see how this world goes. Glo. I see it feelingly. Lear. What, art mad? A man may see how this world goes, with no eyes. Look with thine ears: see how yon' justice rails upon yon' simple thief. Hark, in thine ear: Change places; and, handydandy, which is the justice, which is the thief?-Thou hast seen a farmer's dog bark at a beggar? Glo. Ay, sir? Lear. And the creature run from the cur? There thou might'st behold the great image of authority: a dog's obeyed in office.— Through tatter'd clothes small vices do appear; Robes, and furr'd gowns, hide all. Plate sin with gold, And the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks: Arm it in rags, a pigmy's straw doth pierce it. None does offend, none. I say, none; I'll able 'em : To see the things thou dost not.-Now, now, now, now; Edg. O, matter and impertinency mix'd! Reason in madness! Lear. If thou wilt weep my fortunes, take my eyes. I know thee well enough; thy name is Gloster: Lear. When we are born, we cry, that we are come A troop of horses with felt: I'll put it in proof; Enter a Gentleman, with Attendants. Gent. O, here he is; lay hand upon him.—Sir, Your most dear daughter Lear. No rescue? What, a prisoner? I am even You shall have ransom. Let me have a surgeon, Gent. You shall have any thing. Lear. No seconds? all myself? Why, this would make a man, a man of salt, To use his eyes for garden water-pots, Ay, and for laying autumn's dust. Gent. Good sir, Lear. I will die bravely, like a bridegroom; What? I will be jovial; come, come; I am a king, My masters, know you that? Gent. You are a royal one, and we obey you. it by running. Sa, sa, sa, sa. Nay, an you get it, you shall get [Exit running; Attendants follow. Cordelia learns the unnatural treatment her Father has received from Regan and Gonenl, and proceeds with her husband, the King of France, and a numerous army, to rescue Lear, and punish her sisters. She finds the wretched old King, in great misery, and entirely bereft of reason. He is conveyed to the French camp. SCENE.-A Tent in the French Camp.-LEAR on a Bed, asleep; Physicians, Gentlemen, and others attending. Enter CORDELIA, and Kent. Cor. O thou good Kent, how shall I live, and work, To match thy goodness? My life will be too short, And every measure fail me. Kent. To be acknowledg'd, madam, is o'erpaid. All my reports go with the modest truth; Nor more, nor clipp'd, but so. Yet to be known, shortens my made intent: Till time and I think meet. Cor. Then be it so, my good lord.-How does the king? Phys. Madam, sleeps still. Cor. O you kind gods, Cure this great breach in his abused nature! [To the Physician. So please your majesty, Phys. Phys. Be by, good madam, when we do awake him; Cor. Very well. Phys. Please you, draw near. Cor. O my dear father! Restoration, hang Thy medicine on my lips; and let this kiss Repair those violent harms, that my two sisters Have in thy reverence made! Kent. Kind and dear princess! Cor. Had you not been their father, these white flakes Had challeng'd pity of them. Was this a face To be expos'd against the warring winds? To stand against the deep dread-bolted thunder? Of quick, cross-lightning? to watch (poor perdu !) Though he had bit me, should have stood that night Had not concluded all. He wakes; speak to him. Cor. How does my royal lord? How fares your majesty? Thou art a soul in bliss; but I am bound Upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears Do scald like molten lead. Cor. Sir, do you know me? Lear. You are a spirit, I know; When did you die? Cor. Still, still, far wide! Phys. He's scarce awake; let him alone awhile. Lear. Where have I been? Where am I?-Fair daylight?— I am mightily abus'd.-I should even die with pity, |