Edg. Why, then your other senses grow im- | Look up a-height;-the shrill-gorg'd perfect By your eyes' anguish. Glo. So may it be, indeed : Methinks thy voice is speak'st alter'd; and thou In better phrase, and matter, than thou didst. Methinks he seems no bigger than his head: Diminish'd to her cock! her cock, a buoy That on the unnumber'd idle pebbles chafes, Glo. Set me where you stand. Edg. Give me your hand : You are now with- Of the extreme verge for all beneath the moon Glo. Let go my hand. Edg. Why I do trifle thus with his despair, Is done to cure it. Glo. O you mighty gods! This world I do renounce; and, in your sights, If I could bear it longer, and not fall To quarrel with your great opposeless wills, [He leaps and falls along. thought, he By this, had thought been past.-Alive, or Ho, you Sir! friend!-Hear you, Sir ?-speak! Glo. Away, and let me die. Edg. Hadst thou been aught but gossomer, feathers, air, So many fathom down precipitating, Thou hadst shiver'd like an egg: but thou dost breathe; Hast heavy substance: bleed'st not; speak'st; Ten masts at each make not the altitude, far lark so It was some fiend: Therefore, thou happy father, Think that the clearest gods, who make them honours Of men's impossibilities, have preserv'd thee. Affliction, till it do cry out itself, I took it for a man; often 'twould say, Enter LEAR, fantastically dressed up with The safer sense will ne'er accommodate Lear. No, they cannot touch me for coining; Edg. O thou side-piercing sight! Lear. Nature's above art in that respect.~ There's your press-money. That fellow han. dles his bow like a crow-keeper: draw me a clothier's yard. §--Look, look, a mouse! Peace, peace-this piece of toasted cheese will do't. There's my gauntlet; I'll prove it on a giant. -Bring up the brown bills. -O, well flown, bird!-i'the clout, i'the clout: ¶ hewgh!-Give the word. * Edg. Sweet marjoram. 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 aye and no to every that I said aye and no to, 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 sielt 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: Is't not the king? Lear. Ay, every inch a king: When I do stare, see, how the subject quakes. Thou shalt not die: Die for adultery! No: Let copulation thrive, for Gloster's bastard son Edg. From the dread summit of this chalky Got 'tween the lawful sheets. • Daws. bourn: +A vegetable gathered for pickling. 1 To't, luxury, pell-mell, for I lack soldiers.- Whose face between her forks presageth snow; The titchew, nor the soiled horse, goes to't Down from the waist they are centaurs, But to the girdle do the gods inherit, + There is the sulphurous pit, burning, scalding, stench, consumption ;-Fie, fie, fie! pah; pah! Give me an ounce of civet, good apothecary, to sweeten my imagination: there's money for thee. 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 [me? Shall so wear out to nought.-Dost thou know Lear. I remember thine eyes well enough. Dost thou squiny at me? No, do thy worst, blind Cupid; I'll not love.-Read thou this challenge; mark but the penning of it. Glo. Were all the letters suns, I could not see Thou hotly lust'st to use her in that kind For which thou whipp'st her. The usurer hangs the cozener. 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 : It were a delicate stratagem to shoe A troop of horse with felt: I'll put it in proof; And when I have stolen upon these sons-in-law, Then, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill. 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 The natural fool of fortune.-Use me well; Gent. Good Sir, Gent. Sir, speed you: What's your will? Edg. Do you hear aught, Sir, of a battle to ward? Gent. Most sure, and vulgar: every one hears that, Which can distinguish sound. Edg. But, by your favour, How near's the other army? Gent. Near, and on speedy foot; the main descry Stands on the hourly thought. t Edg. I thank you, Sir : that's all. Gent. Though that the queen on special cause is here, Glo. Hearty thanks : Take that of me, my friend, who have the power The bounty and the benison § of heaven To see the things thou dost not.-Now, now, now, now: Pull off my boots :-harder, harder ; so. Lear. If thou wilt weep my fortunes take my eyes. I know thee well enough; thy name is Gloster: Thou must be patient; we came crying hither. Thou know'st, the first time that we smell the air, [me. We wawl, and cry :-I will preach to thee; mark Glo. Alack, alack the day! Lear. When we are born, we cry, that we Enter STEWARD. Edg. Ch'ill not let go, Zir, without vurther | To match thy goodness? My life will be too 'casion. Stew. Let go, slave, or thou diest. Edg. Good gentleman, go your gait, and let poor volk pass. And ch'ud ha' been zwagger'd out of my life, 'twould not ha' been zo long as 'tis by a vortnight. Nay, come not near the old man; keep out, che vor'ye, or ise try whether your costard or my bati be the harder Ch'ill be plain with you. Stew. Out, dunghill ! Edg. Ch'ill pick your teeth, Zir: Come; no matter vor your foins. § [They fight; and EDGAR knocks him down. Stew. 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, To Edmund earl of Gloster; seek him out Upon the British party :-O untimely death! [Dies. Edg. I know thee well: A serviceable villain; As duteous to the vices of thy mistress, As badness would desire. Glo. What, is he dead? Edg. Sit you down, father; rest you.Let's see his pockets: these letters; that he speaks of, [sorry May be my friends.-He's dead; I am only He had no other death's-man.-Let us see:Leave, gentle wax; and, manners, blame us not: To know our enemies' minds, we'd rip their hearts; Their papers, is more lawful. [ [Reads.] Let our reciprocal vows be remembered. You have many opportunities to cut him off: if your will want not, time and place will be fruitfully offered. There is nothing| done, if he return the conqueror: Then am 1 the prisoner, and his bed my jail; from the loathed warmth whereof deliver me, and ply the place for your labour. sup short, And every measure fail me. Kent. To be acknowledg'd, madam, is o'er paid. All my reports go with the modest truth; These weeds are memories of those worser hours; I pr'ythee, put them off. Kent. Pardon me, dear madam ; Yet to be known, shortens my made intent : ‡ Cor. Then be it so, my good lord.-How Cure this great breach in his abused nature! Phys. So please your majesty, That we may wake the king? he hath siept long. Cor. Be govern'd by your knowledge, and proceed I'the sway of your own will. Is he array'd? Gent. Ay, madam: in the heaviness of his sleep, We put fresh garments on him. Phys. Be by, good madam, when we do awake him; I doubt not of his temperance. Phys. Please you, draw near.-Louder the music there. 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 GONERIL. O undistinguish'd space of woman's will!- Thee I'll rake up, ¶ the post unsanctified [Exit EDGAR, dragging out the Body. Glo. The king is mad: How stiff is my vile sense, That I stand up, and have ingenious feeling griefs; And woes, by wrong imaginations, lose The knowledge of themselves. of quick, cross lightning? to watch, (poor perdu !) { With this thin helm ? Mine enemy's dog, Though he had bit me, should have stood that night Against my fire: And wast thou fain, poor father, To hovel thee with swine, and rogues forlorn, In short and musty straw? Alack, alack! 'Tis wonder, that thy life and wits at once Had not concluded all.-He wakes; speak to him. Phys. Madam, do you: 'tis fittest. Cor. How does my royal lord? How fares your majesty ? Lear. You do me wrong, to take me out o'the grave: Thou art a soul in bliss; but I am bound 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 day-light ? SCENE VII-A Tent in the French Camp.- Enter CORDELIA and KENT. Cor. O thou good Kent, how shall I live and work, not Where I did lodge last night: Do not laugh at me; For as I am a man, I think this lady To be my child Cordelia. Cor. And so I am, I am. Lear. Be your tears wet? Yes, 'faith. I pray, weep not: If you have poison for me, I will drink it. Cor. No cause, no cause. Kent. In your own kingdom, Sir. Lear. Do not abuse me. Phys. Be comforted, good madam: the great Tell me,-but truly,-but then speak the truth, Edm. In honour'd love. Reg. But have you never found my brother's Most just and heavy causes make oppose. § Reg. Why is this reason'd? Gon. Combine together 'gainst the enemy: Alb. Let us then determine With the ancient of war on our proceedings. Edm. I shall attend you presently at your tent. Reg. Sister, you'll go with us? Gon. No. Reg. 'Tis most convenient; pray you, go with us. Gon. O, ho, I know the riddle: [Aside.] I will go. As they are going out, enter EDGAR disguised. Edg. If e'er your grace had speech with man so poor, Hear me one word. Alb. I'll overtake you.-Speak. [Exeunt EDMUND, REGAN, GONERIL, Officers, Soldiers, and Attendants. Edg. Before you fight the battle, ope this If you have victory, let the trumpet sound For him that brought it: wretched though I seem, letter. I can produce a champion, that will prove When time shall serve, let but the herald cry, Alb. Why, fare thee well; I will o'erlook thy paper. Re-enter EDMUND. Edm. The enemy's in view; draw up your powers Here is the guess of their true streng' and forces By diligent discovery;—but your ́aste Alb. We will greet the time. ¶ Exit.. Edm. To both these sisters have I sworn my love; Each jealous of the other, as the stung Her husband being alive. Now then, we'll use Let her, who would be rid of him, devise [Exit. SCENE II.-A Field between the Two Alarum within.-Enter, with Drum and Co- Enter EDGAR and GLOSTER. Edg. Here, father, take the shadow of this tree For your good host; pray that the right may If ever I return to you again, Glo. Grace go with you, Sir! [Exit EDGAR. Alarums; afterwards a Retreat.-Re-enter EDGAR. away; King Lear hath lost, he and his daughter ta'en: Glo. No further, Sir; a man may rot even here. Their going hence, even as their coming hither: [Exeunt. Glo. And that's true too. Edm. Some officers take them away: good Until their greater pleasures first be known Cor. We are not the first, Who, with best meaning, have incurr'd worst. Edm. Take them away. He that parts us shall bring a brand from And fire us hence, like foxes. Wipe thine eyes; The goujeers shall devour them, flesh, and fell, t Ere they shall make us weep: we'll see them starve first. Come. [Exeunt LEAR, and CORDELIA guarded. One step I have advanc'd thee; if thou dost ment Will not bear question; either say, thou'lt do't, Or thrive by other means. Off. I'll do't, my lord. Edm. About it; and write happy, when thou Mark, I say, instantly; and carry it so, Off. I cannot draw a cart, nor eat dried oats; [Exit OFFICER. Flourish. Enter ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, OFFICERS, and Attendants. Alb. Sir, you have shown to-day your valiant strain, And fortune led you well: You have the cap- Who were the opposites of this day's strife: Edm. Sir, I thought it fit To send the old and miserable king Which do command them. With him I sent the My reason all the same; and they are ready the We sweat, and bleed the friend hath lost his For thee, oppressed king, am I cast down; frown. too, And the best quarrels, in the heat, are curs'd Alb. Sir, by your patience, I hold you but a subject of this war, Reg. That's as we list to grace him. manded, Ere you had spoke so far. He led our powers; Gon. Not so hot : In his own grace he doth exalt himself, Who loses and who wins; who's in, who's More than in your advancement. |