Edg. You do climb up it now: look, how Thus might he pass indeed :-Yet he revives: we labour. What are you, sir? Glo. Methinks, the ground is even. Edg. Hark, do you hear the sea? Horrible steep: No, truly. Glo. Glo. Away, and let me die. Edg. Hadst thou been aught but gossamer, feathers, air, So many fathom down precipitating, And dizzy 'tis, to cast one's eyes so low! way air, Show scarce so gross as beetles: Half way down Methinks, he seems no bigger than his head: That on the unnumber'd idle pebbles chafes, 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 Glo. Let go my hand. Here, friend, is another purse; in it a jewel Prosper it with thee! Go thou further off; Glo. * Daws. [fort, To end itself by death? 'Twas yet some com- eyes Were two full moons; he had a thousand noses, sea; It was some fiend: Therefore, thou happy I took it for a man; often 'twould say, Enter LEAR, fantastically dressed up with Flowers. 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 handles his bow like a crow keeper: draw me a clo. thier'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. 0, well flown, bird!-i'the clout, i'the clout ¶¶: hewgh! Give the word ***. Edg. Sweet marjoram. $ Tumble. A vegetable gathered for pickling. Her cock-boat. 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 Is't not the king? [remember: Lear. Ay, every inch a king: When I do stare, see, how the subject quakes. I pardon that man's life; what was thy cause?Adultery. Thou shalt not die: Die for adultery! No: The wren goes to't, and the small gilded fly Does lecher in my sight. Let copulation thrive, for Gloster's bastard son Was kinder to his father, than my daughters Got 'tween the lawful sheets. To't, luxury, pell-mell, for I lack soldiers.--Behold yon simpering dame Whose face between her forks presageth snow; The fitchew, nor the soiled horse, goes to't Down from the waist they are centaurs, Butt to the girdle do the gods inherit‡, darkness, There is the sulphurous pit, burning, scalding, stench, consumption;-Fie, fie, fic! 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 naught.-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 thine ears: see how yon' justice rails upon yon' simple thief. Hark, in thine ear: Change places; and, handy-dandy, 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 mightst behold the great image of authority: a dog's obeyed in office. Thou rascal beadle, hold thy bloody hand: Why dost thou lash that whore? Strip thine own back; 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: Take that of me, my friend, who have the power Lear. If thou wilt weep my fortunes, take I know thee well enough; thy name is Gloster: Thou must be patient; we came crying hither, Thou knowst,the first time that we smell the air. We wawl, and cry:-I will preach to thee; mark me. [are come Glo. Alack, alack the day! Lear. When we are born, we cry, that we To this great stage of fools:-This a good block? 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; You shall have ransome. Let me have a surgeon, I am cut to the brains. 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, [What?. Lear. I will die bravely, like a bridegroom: 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. Lear. Then there's life in it. Nay, an you get it, you shall get it by running. Sa, sa, sa, [Exit. running; Attendants follow. Gent. A sight most pitiful in the meanest wretch, [daughter, Past speaking of in a king! Thou hast one sa. Look asquint. i. e., A man of tears. Who redeems nature from the general curse Edg. Hail, gentle sir. Gent. Sir, speed you: What's your will? Gent. Most sure, and vulgar: every one Let not my worsert spirit tempt me again Who, by the art of known and feeling sorrows, Enter Steward. Stew. A proclaim'd prize! most happy! Briefly thyself remember:-The sword is out 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 battt 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; [me, [Dies. Edg. I know thee well: A serviceable villain; Glo. . What, is he dead? GUNERIL. [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 Edg SCENE VII. A Tent in the French Camp. Enter CORDELIA and KENT. Kent. To be acknowledged, madam, is o'er- Cor. *The main body is expected to be descried every hour. + Evil genius. **Head. tt Club. Thrusts. To rip their papers is more lawful. ↑ Blessing. Go your way. I'll cover thee (the dead steward) in the sands. TC Dressed. *** Memorials. ttt Intent formed. Cor. Then be it so, my good lord.-How I will not swear, these are my hands:-let's see; Cor. O you kind gods, Cure this great breach in his abused nature! The untuned and jarring senses, O wind up, Of this child-change father! Phys. So please your majesty, That we may wake the king? he hath slept long. Cor. Be govern'd by your knowledge, and proceed I' the sway of your own will. Is he array'd? Had challenged pity of them. Was this a face, Lear. You do me wrong, to take me out 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 Cor. Still, still, far wide! [you die? Phys. He's scarce awake; let him alone awhile. Lear. Where have I been ?-Where am I? Fair day light? [pity, 1 am mightily abused.-I should even die with To see another thus.-I know not what to say. Cor. O, look upon me, sir, And hold your hands in benediction o'er me:No, sir, you must not kneel. Lear. Pray do not mock me: I am a very foolish fond old man, Fourscore and upward; and, to deal plainly, I fear, I am not in my perfect mind: [man: Methinks, I should know you, and know this Yet I am doubtful: for I am mainly ignorant What place this is: and all the skill I have Remembers not these garments; nor I know not WhereIdid lodge last night: Do not laugh at me, For, as I am a man, I think this lady To be my child Cordelia. If Cor. And so I am, I am. [weep not; Lear. Am I in France? No cause, no cause. In your own kingdom, sir. Lear. Do not abuse me. [great rage, Phys. Be comforted, good macam: the You see, is cured in him: and yet it is danger To make him event o'er the time he has lost. Desire him to go in; trouble him no more, Till further settling. Cor. Wil't please your highness walk? Lear. You must bear with me: Pray now forget and forgive: I am old, and foolish. [Exeunt LEAR, CORD. Physician, & Attendants. Gent. Holds it true, sir, ACT V. SCENE I. The Camp of the British Forecs | To change the course: He's full of alteration, near Dover. Enter, with Drums, and Colours, EDMUND, REGAN, Officers, Soldiers, and others. Edm. Know of the duke, if his last purpose. Or, whether since he is advised by aught [hold; * The allusion is to the forlorn hope in an army, called, in French, enfans perdus. To reconcile it to his apprehension. Forces. + Thin covering of hair. His settled resolution. Decision. You know the goodness I intend upon you: And bosom'd with her, as far as we call hers. Edm. Fear me not :She, and the duke her husband, Enter ALBANY, GONERIL, and Soldiers. Gon. I had rather lose the battle, than that sister Should loosen him and me. [Aside. Alb. Our very loving sister, well be met. Sir, this I hear,-The king is come to his daughter, With others, whom the rigour of our state Reg. 'Tis most convenient; pray you, go with us. [will go. Gon. O, ho, I know the riddle: [Aside.] I As they are going out, enter EDGAR, disguised. Edg. If e'er your grace had speech with man Hear me one word. [so poor, Alb. I'll overtake you.-Speak. [Exeunt EDMUND, REGAN, GONERIL, Officers, Soldiers and Attendants. Edg. Before you fight the battle, ope this letter. +Imposes on you. Re-enter EDMUND. powers. Edm. The enemy's in view, draw up your [forces, Here is the guess of their true strength and By diligent discovery:-but your haste Is now urged on you. Alb. We will greet the time. [Erit. Let her, who would be rid of him, devise Enter EDGAR and GLOSTER. Glo. Grace go with you, sir! [Exit EDG. Alarums; afterwards a Retreat. Re-enter EDGAR. Edg. Away, old man, give me thy hand, away; King Lear hath lost, he and his daughter ta'en : Give me thy hand, come on. Glo. No further, sir; a man may rot even here. [endure Edg. What, in ill thoughts again? Men must Their going hence, even as their coming hither: Ripeness is all tt: Come on. Glo. And that's true too. [Exeunt. SCENE III. The British Camp near Dover. Enter, in Conquest, with Drum & Colours, EDMUND; LEAR and CORDELIA, as Pri soners; Officers, Soldiers, &c. Edm. Some officers take them away: good guard; Until their greater pleasures first be known Cor. For thee, oppressed king, am I cast down; Myself could else out-frown false fortune's [sisters? Shall we not see these daughters, and these frown. Forbidden. ti. e., Emboldens him. i. e., All designs against your life will have an end. ** Make my party good. Opposition. Be ready to meet the occasion. ++ ie., To be ready prepared, is all. Pass judgment on them, |