The tyranny of the open night's too rough For nature to endure. Lear. Let me arone. Kent. Good my lord, enter here. enter. Lear. Thou think'st. 'tis much, that this contentious storm : Invades us to the skin so 'tis to thee; When the The body's delicate: the tempest in my mind To shut me out! Good my lord, enter here. Lear. Pr'ythee, go in thyself; seck thine own ease; [Storm still. This tempest will not give me leave to ponder | poverty, Nay, get thee in. I'll pray, and then I'll sleep. [Fool goes in. Poor naked wretches, wheresoe'er you are, That bide the pelting of this pitiless storm, How shall your houseless heads, and unfed sides, Your loop'd and window'd raggedness, defend you From seasons such as these? O, I have ta'e Too little care of this! Take physick, pomp; Expose thyself to feel what wretches feel; That thou may'st shake the superflux to them, And show the heavens more just. Edg. [Within.] Fathom and half, fathom and half! Poor Tom! [The Fool runs out from the hovel. Fool. Come not in here, nuncle, here's a spirit. Help me, help me! Kent. Give me thy hand. Who's there? Fool. A spirit, a spirit; he says his name's poor Tom. Kent. What art thou that dost grumble there i'the straw? Come forth. Enter EDGAR, disguised as a madman. Edg. Away! the foul fiend follows me ! Through the sharp hawthorn blows the cold wind.Humph! go to thy cold bed, and warm thee. Lear. Hast thou given all to thy two daughters? And art thou come to this? a-cold. — O, do de, do de, do de. Bless thee from whirlwinds, star-blasting, and taking! Do poor Tom some charity, whom the foul fiend vexes: There could I have him now, - and there, - and there, - and there again, and there. ― — Edg. Who gives any thing to poor Tom? whom the foul fiend hath led through fire and through flame, through ford and whirlpool, over bog and quagmire; that hath laid knives under his pillow, and halters in his pew; set ratsbane by his porridge; made him proud of heart, to ride on a bay trottinghorse over four-inched bridges, to course his own shadow for a traitor : — Bless thy five wits! Tom's Edg. A serving-man, proud in heart and mind that curled my hair; wore gloves in my cap, served the lust of my mistress's heart, and did the act of darkness with her; swore as many oaths as I spake words, and broke them in the sweet face of heaven: one, that slept in the contriving of lust, and waked to do it: Wine loved I deeply; dice dearly; and in woman, out-paramoured the Turk: False of heart, light of ear, bloody of hand; Hog in sloth, fox in stealth, wolf in greediness, dog in madness, lion in prey. Let not the creaking of shoes, nor the rustling of silks, betray thy poor heart to women: Keep thy foot out of brothels, thy hand out of plackets, thy pen from lenders' books, and defy the foul fiend. Still through the hawthorn blows the cold wind: Says suum, mun, ha no nonny, dolphin my boy, my boy, sessa; let him trot by. [Storm still continues. Lear. Why, thou were better in thy grave, than to answer with thy uncovered body this extremity of the skies. Is man no more than this? Consider him well: Thou owest the worm no silk, the beast no hide, the sheep no wool, the cat no perfume : Ha! here's three of us are sophisticated! — Thou art the thing itself: unaccommodated man is no more but such a poor, bare, forked animal as thou art. - Off, off, you lendings: Come; unbutton here. [Tearing off his clothes. Fool. Pr'ythee, nuncle, be contented; this is a naughty night to swim in. Now a little fire in a wild field were like an old lecher's heart; a small spark, all the rest of his body cold. Look, here comes a walking fire. Edg. This is the foul fiend Flibbertigibbet: he begins at curfew, and walks till the first cock, he gives the web and the pin, squints the eye, and makes the hare-lip; mildews the white wheat, and hurts the poor creature of earth. Edg. Take heed o'the foul fiend: Obey thy parents; keep thy word justly; swear not; commit not with man's sworn spouse; set not thy sweet heart on proud array: Tom's a-cold. Lear. What hast thou been? Saint Withold footed thrice the wold; And her troth plight, And, aroint thee, witch, aroint thee! Kent. How fares your grace? Enter GLOSTER, with a torch. Lear. What's he? Kent. Who's there? What is't you seek? Glo. What are you there? Your names? Edg. Poor Tom; that eats the swimming frog, the toad, the tadpole, the wall-newt, and the water; that in the fury of his heart, when the foul fiend rages, eats cow-dung for sallets; swallows the old rat, and the ditch-dog; drinks the green mantle of the standing pool; who is whipped from tything to tything, and stocked, punished, and imprisoned; who hath had three suits to his back, six shirts to his body, horse to ride, and weapon to wear, But mice, and rats, and such small deer, Have been Tom's food for seven long year. Beware my follower: - Peace, Smolkin; peace, thou fiend! Glo. What, hath your grace no better company? Edg. The prince of darkness is a gentleman; Modo he's call'd, and Mahu. Glo. Our flesh and blood, my lord, is grown so Lear. I will keep still with my philosopher. Kent. Good my lord, sooth him; let him take the fellow. With him; Edm. If the matter of this paper be certain, you have mighty business in hand. Corn. True, or false, it hath made thee earl of Gloster. Seek out where thy father is, that he may be ready for our apprehension. Edm. [Aside.] If I find him comforting the king, it will stuff his suspicion more fully. - I will persevere in my course of loyalty, though the conflict be sore between that and my blood. Corn. I will lay trust upon thee; and thou shalt find dearer father in my love. [Exeunt. SCENE VI. A Chamber in a Farm-House, adjoining the Castle. Enter GLOSTER, LEAR, KENT, Fool, and EDGAR. Glo. Here is better than the open air; take it thankfully I will piece out the comfort with what addition I can: I will not be long from you. : Kent. All the power of his wits has given way to his impatience :— The gods reward your kindness! [Exit GLOSTER. Edg. Frateretto calls me; and tells me, Nero is an angler in the lake of darkness. Pray, innocent, and beware the foul fiend. Pur! the cat is grey. Lear. Arraign her first; 'tis Goneril. I here take my oath before this honourable assembly, she kicked the poor king her father. Fool. Come hither, mistress; Is your name Goneril? Lear. She cannot deny it. Fool. Cry you mercy, I took you for a joint-stool. Lear. And here's another, whose warp'd looks proclaim What store her heart is made of. Kent. O pity!- Sir, where is the patience now, That you so oft have boasted to retain? Edg. My tears begin to take his part so much, They'll mar my counterfeiting. [Aside. Lear. The little dogs and all, Tray, Blanch, and Sweet-heart, see, they bark at me. Edg. Tom will throw his head at them :-Avaunt, you curs! Be thy mouth or black or white, Kent. Now, good my lord, lie here, and rest awhile. Do de, de de. Sessa. Come, march to wakes and fairs, and market towns:-Poor Tom, thy horn is dry. Lear. Then let them anatomize Regan, see what preeds about her heart: Is there any cause in nature, that makes these hard hearts? - You, sir, I entertain you for one of my hundred; only, I do not like the fashion of your garments: you will say, they are Persian attire; but let them be changed. [To EEGAR. SCENE VII. A Room in Gloster's Castle. Enter CORNWALL, REGAN, GONERIL, EDMUND, a id Servants. Corn. Post speedily to my lord your husband; show him this letter: — the army of France is landed: :- Seek out the villain Gloster. [Exeunt some of the Servants Reg. Hang him instantly. Gon. Pluck out his eyes. Corn. Leave him to my displeasure. - Edmund, keep you our sister company; the revenges we are bound to take upon your traitorous father, are not fit for your beholding. Advise the duke, where you are going, to a most festinate preparation; we are bound to the like. Our posts shall be swift, and intelligent betwixt us. Farewell, dear sister; farewell, my lord of Gloster. Enter Steward. How now? Where's the king? Stew. My lord of Gloster hath convey'd him hence : Some five or six and thirty of his knights, boast To have well-armed friends. Corn. traitor? Re-enter Servants, with GLOSTER. Reg. Ingrateful fox! 'tis he. Good my You are my guests: do me no foul play, friends. Keg. So white, and such a traitor ! Glo. Naughty lady, These hairs, which thou dost ravish from my chin, traitors Late footed in the kingdom? Reg. To whose hands have you sent the lunatick king? Speak. Glo. I have a letter guessingly set down, Which came from one that's of a neutral heart, And not from one oppos'd. - In his anointed flesh stick boarish fangs. And quench'd the stelled fires: yet, poor old course. Reg. Wherefore to Dover? Glo. Because I would not see thy cruel nails Pluck out his poor old eyes; nor thy fierce sister He holp the heavens to rain. : If wolves had at thy gate howl'd that stern time, Upon these eyes of thine I'll set my foot. [GLOSTER is held down in his chair, while Glo. He, that will think to live till he be old, : too. To see some mischief on him: - O! [Dies. Corn. Lest it see more, prevent it: - Out, vile jelly! Where is thy lustre now? Will quicken, and accuse thee: I am your host; [Tears out GLOSTER's other eye, and throws Corn. And what confederacy have you with the Edmund, enkindle all the sparks of nature, Out, treacherous villain! Glo. - [Draws. They fight. CORNWALL is wounded. Reg. Give me thy sword.-[To another Servant.] A peasant stand up thus! [Snatches a sword, comes behind, and stabs him. Serv. O, I am slain! - My lord, you have one eye left Corn. Cunning. Reg. And false. Then Edgar was abus'd. How'st, my lord? How look Glo. Reg. Turn out that eyeless villain;-throw this slave Glo. I am tied to the stake, and I must stand the Untimely comes this hurt: Give me your armı. 1 Serv. I'll never care what wickedness 1 do, If this man come to good. ACT IV. Old Man. Alack, sir, you cannot see your way. Glo. I have no way, and therefore want no eyes; I stumbled when I saw : Full oft 'tis seen, Our mean secures us; and our mere defects Prove our commodities. Ah, dear son Edgar, The food of thy abused father's wrath! Might I but live to see thee in my touch, I'd say, I had eyes again! Old Man. How now? Who's there? Edg. [Aside.] O gods! Who is't can say, I am at the worst ? I am worse than e'er I was. 'Tis poor mad Tom. Edg. [Aside.] And worse I may be yet: The worst is not, So long as we can say, This is the worst. As flies to wanton boys, are we to the gods; They kill us for their sport. To lead him where he would; his roguish madness Allows itself to any thing. 2 Serv. Go thou; I'll fetch some flax, and whites of eggs, To apply to his bleeding face. Now, heaven help him! [Exeunt severally. Edg. How should this be? Bad is the trade must play the fool to sorrow, Ang'ring itself and others. [Aside.] — Bless thee, master! Glo. Is that the naked fellow? Ay, my lord. Do as I bid thee, or rather do thy pleasure; Old Man. I'll bring him the best 'parrel that I have, Come on't what will. [Exit. Glo. Sirrah, naked fellow. Edg. Poor Tom's a-cold.. further. I cannot daub it Glo. Come hither, fellow. Bless thy sweet Glo. Know'st thou the way to Dover? Edg. Both stile and gate, horse-way, and footpath. Poor Tom hath been scared out of his good wits: Bless the good man from the foul fiend! Five fiends have been in poor Tom at once; of lust, as Obidicut; Hobbididance, prince of dumbness; Mahu, of stealing; Modo, of murder; and Flibbertigibbet, of mopping and mowing; who since possesses chamber-maids and waiting-women. So, bless thee, master! Glo. Here, take this purse, thou whom the heaven's plagues Have humbled to all strokes that I am wretched, And each man have enough. Dost thou know Dover? Edg. Ay, master. Glo. There is a cliff, whose high and bending head Looks fearfully in the confined deep : Bring me but to the very brim of it, And I'll repair the misery thou dost bear, With something rich about me: from that place I shall no leading need. Edg. Give me thy arm; Poor Tom shall lead thee. [Exeunt. SCENE II.—Before the Duke of Albany's Palace. Enter GONERIL and EDMUND; Steward meeting them. Gon. Welcome, my lord: I marvel, our mild husband Not met us on the way: - Now, where's your master? Steu. Madam, within; but never man so chang'd: |
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