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advantages of France. O heavens! that this treason were not, or not I the detector!

Corn. Go with me to the duchess.

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.

Lear. And here's another, whose warp'd looks proclaim

What store her heart is made of.-Stop her there!
Arms, arms, sword, fire!-Corruption in the place!
False justicer, why hast thou let her 'scape?
Edg. Bless thy five wits!

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, (A side.) mar my counterfeiting. Lear. The little dogs and all,

Edm. (Aside.) If I find him comforting the king, it will stuff his suspicion more fully.-I will They 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 a dearer father in my love. [Exeunt. SCENE VI.-A Chamber in a Farm-House, adjoin

ing the Castle.

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Lear. A king, a king!

Fool. No; he's a yeoman, that has a gentleman to his son: for he's a mad yeoman, that sees his son a gentleman before him."

Lear. To have a thousand with red burning spits Come hizzing in upon them:

Edg. The foul fiend bites my back.

Fool. He's mad, that trusts in the tameness of a wolf, a horse's health, a boy's love, or a whore's oath.

Lear. It shall be done, I will arraign them straight:

Come, sit thou here, most learned justicer;— (To Edgar.)

Thou, sapient sir, sit here. (To the Fool.)-Now, you she foxes!

Edg. Look, where he stands and glares!— Wantest thou eyes at trial, madam?

Come o'er the bourn, Bessy, to me:Fool. Her boat hath a leak,

And she must not speak

Why she dares not come over to thee. Edg. The foul fiend haunts poor Tom in the voice of a nightingale. Hopdance cries in Tom's belly for two white herrings. Croak not, black angel; I have no food for thee.

Kent. How do you, sir? Stand you not so amaz'd:

Will you lie down and rest upon the cushions? Lear. I'll see their trial first:-Bring in the evidence.

Thou robed man of justice, take thy place; (To Edgar.) And thou, his yoke-fellow of equity, (To the Fool.) Bench by his side:-You are of the commission, Sit you too. (To Kent.)

Edg. Let us deal justly.

Sleepest, or wakest thou, jolly shepherd?

Thy sheep be in the corn;

And for one blast of thy minikin mouth,

Thy sheep shall take no harm.

Par! 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.

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, Tooth that poisons, if it bite; Mastiff, grey-hound, mongrel grim, Hound, or spaniel, brach, or lym; Or bobtail tike, or trundle-tail; Tom will make them weep and wail: For, with throwing thus my head, Dogs leap the hatch, and all are fled. 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 breeds about her heart: Is there any cause in natare, 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 Edgar.)

Kent. Now, good my lord, lie here, and rest

awhile.

Lear. Make no noise, make no noise; draw the curtains: So, so, so: We'll go to supper i' the morning: So, so, so.

Fool. And I'll go to bed at noon.

Re-enter GLOSTER.

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Both welcome and protection. Take up thy master:
If thou should'st dally half an hour, his life,
With thine, and all that offer to defend him,
Stand in assured loss: Take up, take up;
And follow me, that will to some provision
Give thee quick conduct.

Kent.
Oppress'd nature sleeps:-
This rest might yet have balm'd thy broken senses,
Which, if convenience will not allow,
Stand in hard cure.-Come, help to bear thy master;
Thou must not stay behind. (To the Fool.)
Glo.
Come, come, away.
[Exeunt Kent, Gloster, and the Fool, bearing

off the King.

Edg. When we our betters see bearing our woes,
We scarcely think our miseries our foes.
Who alone suffers, suffers most i' the mind;
Leaving free things, and happy shews, behind:
But then the mind much sufferance doth o'erskip,
When grief hath mates, and bearing fellowship.
How light and portable my pain seems now,
When that, which makes me bend, makes the king
bow;

He childed, as I father'd!-Tom, away:
Mark the high noises; and thyself bewray,
When false opinion, whose wrong thought defiles
thee,

In thy just proof, repeals, and reconciles thee. Fool. Cry you mercy, I took you for a joint What will hap more to-night, safe scape the king! Lurk, lurk.

stool.

[Exit.

SCENE VII-A Room in Gloster's Castle. Enter CORNWALL, REGAN, GONERIL, EDMUND,

and Servants.

Corn. Post speedily to my lord your husband; shew 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?

[hence: Stew. My lord of Gloster hath convey'd him Some five or six and thirty of his knights, Hot questrists after him, met him at gate; Who, with some other of the lord's dependants, Are gone with him towards' Dover; where they boast

To have well-armed friends.
Corn.
Get horses for your mistress.
Gon. Farewell, sweet lord, and sister.
[Exeunt Goneril and Edmund.
Corn. Edmund, farewell,-Go, seek the traitor
Gloster,

Pinion him like a thief, bring him before us:
[Exeunt other Servants.
Though well we may not pass upon his life
Without the form of justice; yet our power
Shall do a courtesy to our wrath, which men
May blame, but not control. Who's there? The
traitor?

Re-enter Servants, with GLOSTER.

[consider

Reg. Ingrateful fox! 'tis he. Corn. Bind fast his corky arms. Glo. What mean your graces' ?-Good my friends, You are my guests: do me no foul play, friends. Corn. Bind him, I say. (Servants bind him.) Reg. Hard, hard:-O filthy traitor! Glo. Unmerciful lady as you are, I am none. Corn. To this chair bind him:-Villain, thou shalt find- (Regan plucks his beard.) Glo. By the kind gods, 'tis most ignobly done To pluck me by the beard.

Reg. So white, and such a traitor! Glo. Naughty lady, These bairs, which thou dost ravish from my chin, Will quicken, and accuse thee: I am your host; With robbers' hands, my hospitable favours You should not rule thus. What will you do? Corn. Come, sir, what letters had you late from France?

Reg. Be simple-answer'd, for we know the truth. Corn. And what confederacy have you with the traitors,

Late footed in the kingdom?

[king?

Reg. To whose hands have you sent the lunatic 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.

Corn.

Reg.

Cunning.

Corn. Where hast thou sent the king?

Glo.

And false. To Dover. Reg. Wherefore To Dover? Wast thou not charg'd at thy peril.— Corn. Wherefore to Dover? Let him first answer that. [course.

Glo. I am tied to the stake, and I must stand the Reg. Wherefore to Dover?

Glo. Because I would not see thy cruel nails

Pluck out his poor old eyes; nor thy fierce sister
In his anointed flesh stick boarish fangs.
The sea, with such a storm as his bare head
In hell-black night endur'd, would have buoy'd up,
And quench'd the stelled fires: yet, poor old heart,
He holp the heavens to rain.

If wolves had at thy gate howl'd that stern time,
Thou should'st have said, Good porter, turn the key;
All cruels else subscrib'd:-But I shall see
The winged vengeance overtake such children.
Corn. See it shalt thou never:-Fellows, bold
the chair:-

Upon these eyes of thine I'll set my foot.

(Gloster is held down in his chair, whit Cornwall plucks out one of his eyes, and sets his foot on it.)

Glo. He, that will think to live till he be old, Give me some help:-O cruel! O ye gods! Reg. One side will mock another; the other too. Corn. If you see vengeance,

Serv.

Hold your hand, my lord: I have serv'd you ever since I was a child;" But better service have I never done you, Than now to bid you hold.

Reg. How now, you dog? Serv. If you did wear a beard upon your chin, I'd shake it on this quarrel: What do you meas? Corn. My villain! (Draws, and runs at kim.) Serv. Nay, then come on, and take the chance of

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Than still contemn'd and flatter'd. To be worst,
The lowest, and most dejected thing of fortune,
Stands still in esperance, lives not in fear;
The lamentable change is from the best;
The worst returns to laughter. Welcome then,
Thou unsubstantial air, that I embrace!
The wretch, that thou hast blown unto the worst,
Owes nothing to thy blasts.-But who comes
here?-

Enter GLOSTER, led by an Old Man.
My father, poorly led ?-World, world, O world!
But that thy strange mutations make us hate thee,
Life would not yield to age.

years.

Old Man. O my good lord, I have been your tenant, and your father's tenant, these fourscore [gone: Glo. Away, get thee away; good friend, be Thy comforts can do me no good at all, Thee they may hurt.

Old Man. Álack, 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.

The

Old Man.
'Tis poor mad Tom.
Edg. (Aside.) And worse I may be yet:
worst is not,

So long as we can say, This is the worst.
Old Man. Fellow, where goest?
Glo.

Is it a beggar-man?
Old Man. Madman and beggar too.
Glo. He has some reason, else he could not beg.
I' the last night's storm I such a fellow saw;
Which made me think a man a worm: My son
Came then into my mind; and yet my mind
Was then scarce friends with him: I have heard
more since :

As flies to wanton boys, are we to the gods;
They kill us for their sport.
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?

Old Man.

Ay, my lord.

Glo. Then, pr'ythee, get thee gone: If, for my sake,

Thou wilt o'ertake us, hence a mile or twain,
I' the way to Dover, do it for ancient love;
And bring some covering for this naked soul,
Whom I'll entreat to lead me.

Old Man.
Alack, sir, he's mad.
Glo. 'Tis the times' plague, when madmen lead
the blind.

Do as I bid thee, or rather do thy pleasure;
Above the rest, be gone..

possesses chamber-maids and waiting-women. So, bless thee, master! [ven's plagues

Glo. Here, take this purse, thou whom the heaHave humbled to all strokes: that I am wretched, Makes thee the happier :-Heavens, deal so still! Let the superfluous, and lust-dieted man, That slaves your ordinance, that will not see Because he doth not feel, feel your power quickly; So distribution should undo excess, [Dover? And each man have enough.-Dost thou know 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. Give me thy arm; Poor Tom shall lead thee. [Exeunt. Enter GONERIL and EDMUND; Steward meeting SCENE II.-Before the Duke of Albany's Palace.

Edg.

them.

Gon. Welcome, my lord: I marvel, our mild
husband
[master?
Not met us on the way:-Now, where's your
Stew. Madam, within; but never man so chang'd:
I told him of the army that was landed;
He smil'd at it: I told him, you were coming;
His answer was, The worse: of Gloster's treachery,
And of the loyal service of his son,

When I inform'd him, then he call'd me sot;
And told me, I had turn'd the wrong side out:-
What most he should dislike, seems pleasant to
What like, offensive.
[him:
Gon.
Then shall you go no further.
(To Edmund.)

It is the cowish terror of his spirit,
That dares not undertake: he'll not feel wrongs,
Which tie him to an answer: Our wishes, on the

way,

May prove effects. Back, Edmund, to my brother;
Hasten his musters, and conduct his powers:
I must change arms at home, and give the distaff
Into my husband's hands. This trusty servant
Shall pass between us: ere long you are like to hear,
If you dare venture in your own behalf,
A mistress's command. Wear this; spare speech;
(Giving a favour.)
Decline your head: this kiss, if it durst speak,
Would stretch thy spirits up into the air;-
Conceive, and fare thee well.

Edm. Yours in the ranks of death.
Gon.

My most dear Gloster! Exit Edmund. To thee

O, the difference of man, and man
A woman's services are due; my fool
Usurps my bed.
Stew.

[have,

Old Man. I'll bring him the best 'parel that I

Come on't what will.

[Exit.

Glo. Sirrab, naked fellow.

Madam, here comes my lord. [Exit. Enter ALBANY. Gon. I have been worth the whistle. Alb. O Goneril You are not worth the dust, which the rade wind Blows in your face.-I fear your disposition : That nature, which contemns its origin, Cannot be border'd certain in itself;

(Aside.)

Edg. Poor Tom's a-cold.-I cannot daub it fur-She, that herself will sliver and disbranch

ther.

Glo. Come hither, fellow.

Edg. (Aside.) And yet I must.-Bless thy sweet eyes, they bleed.

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

From her material sap, perforce must wither,
And come to deadly use.

Gon. No more; the text is foolish.

Alb. Wisdom and goodness to the vile seem vile:
Filths savour but themselves. What have you done?
Tigers, not daughters, what have you perform'd?
A father, and a gracious aged man,
Whose reverence the head-lugg'd bear would lick,
Most barbarous, most degenerate! have you mad-
ded.

Could my good brother suffer you to do it?
A man, a prince, by him so benefited?

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Both, both, my lord.

This, letter, madam, craves a speedy answer; 'Tis from your sister.

Gon. (Aside.) One way I like this well; But being widow, and my Gloster with her, May all the building in my fancy pluck Upon my hateful life: Another way,

The news is not so tart.-I'll read and answer.

[Exit. Alb. Where was his son, when they did take his eyes? Mess. Come with my lady hither. Alb.

He is not here.
Mess. No, my good lord; I met him back again.
Alb. Knows he the wickedness?
Mess. Ay, my good lord; 'twas he inform'd
against him;

And quit the house on purpose, that their punishment
Might have the freer course.
Alb.

Gloster, I live

To thank thee for the love thou shew'dst the king,
And to revenge thine eyes.-Come hither, friend;
Tell me what more thou knowest. [Exeunt.

SCENE III.-The French Camp, near Dover.
Enter KENT and a Gentleman.

Kent. Why the king of France is so suddenly gone back know you the reason?

Gent. Something he left imperfect in the state, Which, since his coming forth, is thought of; which Imports to the kingdom so much fear and danger, That his personal return was most requir'd, And necessary.

Kent. Who hath he left behind him general? Gent. The Mareschal of France, Monsieur le Fer.

Kent. Did your letters pierce the queen to any demonstration of grief? [presence; Gent. Ay, sir; she took them, read them in my And now and then an ample tear trill'd down Her delicate cheek: it seem'd she was a queen Over her passion; who, most rebel-like, Sought to be king o'er her. Kent. O, then it mov'd her. Gent. Not to a rage: patience and sorrow strove Who should express her goodliest. You have seen Sunshine and rain at once; her smiles and tears Were like a better day: Those happy smiles, That play'd on her ripe lip, seem'd not to know What guests were in her eyes; which parted thence,

[row

As pearls from diamonds dropp'd.-In brief, sar-
Would be a rarity most belov'd, if all
Could so become it.
Kent.

Made she no verbal question? Gent. 'Faith, once, or twice, she heav'd the name of father

Pantingly forth, as if it press'd her heart;

Cried, Sisters! sisters!-Shame of ladies! sisters! Kent! father! sisters! What? the storm? the

night?

Let pity not be believ'd!-There she shook
The holy water from her heavenly eyes,

And clamour moisten'd: then away she started
To deal with grief alone.

Kent.

It is the stars,

The stars above us, govern our conditions;
Else one self mate and mate could not beget
Such different issues. You spoke not with her since!
Gent. No.

Kent. Was this before the king return'd?
Gent.
No, since.
Kent. Well, sir; the poor distress'd Lear is
i'the town:

Who sometime, in his better tune, remembers
What we are come about, and by no means
Will yield to see his daughter.

Gent.

Why, good sir!

Kent. A sovereign shame so elbows him: his own

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[Lear,

Gent. 'Tis so; they are afoot. Kent. Well, sir, I'll bring you to our master And leave you to attend him: some dear cause Will in concealment wrap me up awhile; When I am known aright, you shall not grieve Lending me this acquaintance. I pray you, go Along with me. [Exeunt.

SCENE IV. The same. A Tent.
Enter CORDELIA, Physician, and Soldiers.
Cor. Alack, 'tis he; why, he was met even now
As mad as the vex'd sea: singing aloud;
Crown'd with rank fumiter, and furrow weeds,
With harlocks, hemlock, nettles, cuckoo-flowers,
Darnel, and all the idle weeds, that grow
In our sustaining corn.-A century send forth;
Search every acre in the high-grown field,
And bring him to our eye. [Exit an Officer.
What can man's wisdom do,

In the restoring his bereaved sense?
He, that helps him, take all my outward worth.
Phy. There is means, madam:
Our foster-nurse of nature is repose,

The which he lacks; that to provoke in him,
Are many simples operative, whose power
Will close the eye of anguish.

Cor.

All bless'd secrets,

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In person there?

Stew.

Ay, madam.
Himself

Madam, with much ado: Your sister is the better soldier. [home? Reg. Lord Edmund spake not with your lord at Stew. No, madam. [him? Reg. What might import my sister's letter to Stew. I know not, lady.

Reg. 'Faith, he is posted hence on serious matter. It was great ignorance, Gloster's eyes being out, To let him live; where he arrives, he moves All hearts against us: Edmund, I think, is gone In pity of his misery, to despatch His nighted life; moreover, to descry The strength o'the enemy.

[letter. Stew. I must needs after him, madam, with my Reg. Our troops set forth to-morrow; stay with The ways are dangerous. [us;

Stew. I may not, madam; My lady charg'd my duty in this business. Reg. Why should she write to Edmund? Might not you

Transport her purposes by word? Belike, Something-I know not what :-I'll love thee much, Let me unseal the letter.

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[it:

Reg. I speak in understanding; you are, I know
Therefore, I do advise you, take this note:
My lord is dead; Edmund and I have talk'd;
And more convenient is he for my hand,
Than for your lady's:-You may gather more.
If you do find him, pray you, give him this;
And when your mistress hears thus much from you,
I pray, desire her call her wisdom to her.
So, fare you well.

If you do chance to hear of that blind traitor,
Preferment falls on him, that cuts him off.
Stew. 'Would I could meet him, madam! I would
What party I do follow.
Reg.

[shew Fare thee well. [Exeunt. SCENE VI.-The Country near Dover. Enter GLOSTER, and EDGAR dressed like a peasant. Glo. When shall we come to the top of that same hill? [labour. Edg. You do climb up it now; look, how we Glo. Methinks, the ground is even.

Edg.
Hark, do you hear the sea?

Horrible steep:

Glo. No, truly. Edg. Why, then your other senses grow imperBy your eyes' anguish. [fect Glo.

So may it be, indeed:

Methinks, thy voice is alter'd; and thon speak'st
In better phrase, and matter, than thou didst.
Edg. You are much deceiv'd; in nothing am I
But in my garments.
[chiang'd,
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,
Shew scarce so gross as beetles: half way down,
Hangs one that gathers samphire; dreadful trade!
Methinks, he seems no bigger than his head:
The fishermen, that walk upon the beach,
Appear like mice; and yon' tall anchoring bark,
Diminish'd to her cock; her cock, a buoy
Almost to small for sight: The murmuring surge,
That on the unnumber'd idle pebbles chafes,
Cannot be heard so high:-I'll look no more;
Lest my brain turn, and the deficient sight
Topple down beadlong.

Glo.

Set me where you stand. Edg. Give me your hand: You are now within a

foot

Of the extreme verge: for all beneath the moon Would I not leap upright. Glo. Let go my hand. Here, friend, is another purse; in it, a jewel Well worth a poor man's taking: Fairies and gods, Prosper it with thee! Go thou further off; Bid me farewell, and let me hear thee going. Edg. Now fare you well, good sir. (Seems to go.) Glo. With all my heart." 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, 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 Burn itself out. If Edgar live, O, bless him!— | Now, fellow, fare thee well.

(He leaps and falls along.)
Edg.
Gone, sir; farewell.
And yet I know not how conceit may rob
The treasury of life, when life itself
Yields to the theft: Had he been where he thought,
By this, had thought been past.-Alive, or dead?
Ho, you sir! friend!-Hear you, sir?-speak!
Thus might he pass indeed :-Yet he revives:
What are you, sir?

Glo.
Away, and let me die.
Edg. Had'st thou been aught but gossamer,
feathers, air,

So many fathom down precipitating,
Thou had'st shiver'd like an egg: but thou dost
breathe;
[sound.
Hast heavy substance; bleed'st not; speak'st; art
Ten masts at each make not the altitude,
Which thou hast perpendicularly fell;
Thy life's a miracle: Speak yet again.
Glo. But have I fallen, or no?

[bourn:

Edg. From the dread summit of this chalky
Look up a-height;-the shrill-gorg'd lark so far
Cannot be seen or heard: do but look up.
Glo. Alack, I have no eyes.-

Is wretchedness depriv'd that benefit,
To end itself by death? 'Twas yet some comfort,
When misery could beguile the tyrant's rage,
And frustrate his proud will.
Edg.
Up: So;-How is't? Feel you your legs? You

stand.

Glo. Too well, too well. Edg.

Give me your arm:

This is above all strangeness. Upon the crown o'the cliff, what thing was that Which parted from you?

Glo.

A poor unfortunate beggar. Edg. As I stood here below, methought, his eyes

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