Enter Lear mad.

Lear. No, they cannot touch me for coyning, I am the king himselfe.

Edg. O thou fide piercing fight.

Lear. Nature is aboue art in that refpect, ther's your preffe money. That fellow handles his bow like a crowkeeper, draw me a clothiers yard. Looke, looke, a mouse; peace, peace, this tofted cheese will do it. Ther's my gantlet, Ile proue it on a gyant, bring vp the browne bils. O well flowne birde in the ayre. Hagh, giue the word. Edg. Sweet margerum. Lear. Paffe.

Gla. I know that voice.

Lear. Ha Gonorill, ha Regan, they flatter'd me like a dogge, and told me I had white haires in my beard, ere the black ones were there; to fay I and no to all I faide: I and no too was no good diuinity. When the raine 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 goe too, they are not men of their words, they told mee I was euery thing, tis a lye, I am not argue-proofe. Gloft. The tricke of that voyce I doe well remember, ift not the king?

Lear. I, euery inch a king: when I do ftare fee how the fubiect quakes: I pardon that mans life, what was thy cause, adulterie? thou shalt not dye for adultery: no, the wren goes toot, and the fmall guilded flye do letcher in my fight; let copulation thriue. For Glofters baftard fon was kinder to his. father then my daughters got tweene the lawfull sheets, toot luxury, pell mell, for I want fouldiers. Behold yon fimpring dame, whose face between her forkes prefageth fnow, that minces vertue, and do fhake the head, heare of pleasures

name to fichew, nor the foyled horffe goes toot with a more riotous appetite: downe from the wafte they are centaures, though women all aboue, but to the girdle do the gods inherit, bencath is all the fiends, theres hell, theres darknesse, theres the fulphury pit, burning, fcalding, stench, confummation, fie, fie, fie, pah, pah: giue mee an ounce of ciuet, good apothecary, to fweeten my imagination, ther's money for thee.

Glo O let me kiffe that hand.

Lear. Here wipe it first, it smels of mortality.

Glo. O ruin'd peece of nature, this great world fhold fo weare out to naught, do you know me ?

Lear. I remember thy eyes well enough, doft thou squiny on me: no, do thy worst blinde Cupid, Ile not loue read thou that challenge, marke the penning on't.

Glo. Were all the letters funs I could not fee one.

Edg. I would not take this from report, it is, and my hart breaks at it.

Lear, Read.

Glo. What, with the cafe of eyes.

Lear. O ho, are you there with me? no eyes in your head nor money in your purfe? your eyes are in a heauy cafe, your purffe in a light; yet you fee how this world goes?

Glo. I fee it feelingly.

Lea. What art mad? a man may fee how the world goes with no eyes. Looke with thy cares, fee how yon iustice railes vppon yon fimple theefe: hearke in thy care, handy dandy, which is the theefe, which is the iuftice. Thou haft fcene a farmers dogge barke at a begger,

Glo. I fir.

Lear. And the creature run from the cur? there thou mightst behold the great image of authoritie, a dogge, so bad in office. Thou rafcall beadle hold thy bloody hand; why doft

doft thou lash that whore? ftrip thine owne backe, thy blood hotly lufts to vse her in that kind for which thou whipft her. The vfurer hangs the cozener, through tattered ragges fmall vices do appeare, robes and furd-gownes hides all. Get thee glaffe eyes, and like a fcuruy politician, feeme to fee the things thou doest not; no, now pull off my boots, harder, harder, fo.

Edg. O matter and impertinency, mixt reafon in madneffe. Lear. If thou wilt weepe my fortune, take my eyes; I know thee well enough, thy name is Glofter, thou must be patient, we came crying hither: thou knowft the first time that we fmel the aire, we waile and cry. I will preach to thee, marke me.

Glo. Alack, alack, the day.

Lear. When we are borne, we crie that wee are come to this great stage of fooles: this a good blocke. It were a delicate ftratagem to shoot a troope of horse with fell, and when I haue ftole vpon these fonnes in law, then kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill.

Enter three Gentlemen.

Gent. O here he is, lay hands vpon him firs.

Lear. No rescue, what a prifoner? I am eene the naturall foole of fortune: vfe me well, you shall haue a ransom. Let me haue a chirurgeon, I am cut to'th braines.

Gent. You fhall haue any thing.

Lear. No feconds, all my felfe: why this would make a man of falt to vse his eyes for garden water-pottes, I and laying autumnes duft.

Gent. Good fir.

Lear. I will dye brauely like a bridegroome, What, I will bee iouiall: come, come, I am a king my mafters, know you that?

Gent. You are a royall one, and we obey you.

Lear. Then theres life int, nay if you get it you shall get it with running. Exit King running.

Gent. A fight most pittifull in the meaneft wretch, paft speaking of in a king: thou haft one daughter who redeemes nature from the generall curfe which twaine hath brought her

⚫ to.

Edg. Haile gentle fir.

Gent. Sir fpeed you, what's your will?

Edg. Do you heare ought of a battell toward?
Gent. Moft fure and vulgar, euery ones heares

That can distinguish sense.

Edg. But by your fauour, how neeres the other army? Gent. Neere and on fpeed for't, the maine defcries, Stands on the hourely thoughts

Edg. I thanke you fir, thats all.

Gent. Though that the queene on special cause is heere,

His army is mou'd on.

Edg. I thanke you fir.

Glo. You euer gentle gods take my breath from me,

Let not my worfer spirit tempt me againe,

To dye before you please.

Edg. Well pray you father.

Glo. Now good fir what are you.

Exit.

Edg. A moft poore man, made lame by fortunes blowes,

Who by the art of knowne and feeling forrowes

Am pregnant to good pitty. Giue me your hand,

Ile leade you to fome biding.

Gloft. Hearty thankes, the bounty and the benizon of heauen to boot, to boot.

Enter

Enter Steward.

Stew. A proclaim'd prize, moft happy; that eyles head of Thou moft thine was first framed flesh to raise my fortunes. vnhappy traitor, briefely thy felfe remember, the fword is out that must destroy thee.

Glo. Now let thy friendly hand put ftrength enough to't.

Stew. Wherefore bolde pezant darst thou support a publifht traytor, hence leaft the infection of his fortune take like hold on thee, let go his arme.

Edg. Chill not let go fir without cagion.

Stew. Let go flaue, or thou dieft.

Edg. Good gentleman goe your gate, let poore volke paffe: and chud haue beene zwaggar'd out of my life, it would not haue bene zo long by a vortnight: nay come not neere the olde man, keepe out cheuore ye, or ile try whether your coftard or my bat be the harder, chill be plaine with you. Stew. Out dunghill.

They fight. Edg. Chil pick your teeth zir, come no matter for your foines.

Stew. Slaue thou hast slaine me, villaine take my purse : If euer thou wilt thriue, bury my body,

And giue the letters which thou findst about me
To Edmund earle of Glofter, feeke him out, vpon

The British party : ô vntimely death! death.

Edg. I know thee well, a feruiceable villaine,

As dutious to the vices of thy miftris,
As badneffe would defire.

Glo. What is he dead?

He dyes.

Edg. Sit you downe father, reft you, lets fee his pockets, Thefe letters that he fpeakes of may be my friends, Hee's dead, I am onely forry he had no other deathfman. Let vs fee, leaue gentle wax, and manners blame vs not,

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