In pity of his mifery, to dispatch His nighted life: Moreover to descry The ftrength o'th' Enemy. Stew. I muft needs after him, Madam, with my Letter. Reg. Our Troops fet forth to morrow, ftay with us: The ways are dangerous. Stew. I may not, Madam; My Lady cha g'd my duty in this business. Reg. Why should the write to Edmund? Might not you tranfport her purposes by word? Belike, Some things, I know not what Let me unfeal the Letter. Stew. Madam, I had rather -I'll love thee much Reg. I know your Lady do's not love her Husband, Reg. I fpeak in understanding: You're; I know't; And when your Miftrefs hears thus much from you, 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 should shew Enter Glofter and Edgar. Glo. When fhall I come to th' top of that fame Hill? Edg. You do climb up it now. Look how we labour. Glo. Methinks the ground is even. Edg. Horrible fteep. Hark, do you hear the Sea? Glo. Glo. No truly. Edg. Why then your other Senfes grow imperfect By your Eyes anguish. Glo. So may it be indeed. Methinks thy Voice is alter'd, and thou speak'st Edg. You're much deceived: in nothing am I chang'd But in my Garments. Gle. Methinks you're better spoken. Here's the place; ftand ftill. How fearful The Crows and Choughs, that wing the midway air Glo. Set me where you ftand. Edg. Give me your hand: You are now within a foot of th' extream Verge: Here Friend's, another purfe, in it, a Jewel Well worth a poor Man's taking. Fairies, and gods Edg. Why do I trifle thus with his despair? 'Tis done to cure it. Glo. O you mighty gods! This World I do renounce, and in your fights If I could bear it longer, and not fall [Seems to go. Το To quarrel with your great oppofelefs wills, Edg. Good Sir, farewel. [He leaps and falls along. And yet I know not how conceit may rob The treasure of Life, when Life it felf Yields to the Theft. Had he been where he thought, Thus night he pafs indeed-yet he revives. Glo. Away, and let me die. Edg. Had't thou been ought butGozemore, feathers and Air, So many fathom down precipitating, Thoud'ft fhiver'd like an Egg: but thou doft breath; Edg. From the dread Summet of this Chalky Bourn Glo, Alack, I have no Eyes; Is wretchedness depriv'd that benefit To end it felf by death? 'Twas yet fome comfort, Edg. Give me your arm. Up, fo--- How is't? Feel you your Legs? You ftande, Edg. This is above all ftrargenefs. Upon the Crown o'th' Cliff, what thing was that Glo. A poor unfortunate Beggar. Edg. As I ftood here below, methought his Eyes Of Of Mens impoffibilities, have preferv'd thee. That thing you speak of, Enough, enough, and die. he led me to that place, Edg. Bear free and patient thoughts. But who comes here? Enter Lear. The fafer Sense will ne'er accommodate Lear. No, they cannot touch me for Coyning, I am the King himfelf. Edg. O thou fide-piercing fight! Lear. Nature's above Art, in that refpe&t. There's your Prefs-mony. That Fellow handles his Bow like a Cow keeper: draw me a Clothier's Yard. Look, look, a Mouse. Peace, Peace, this piece of toafted Cheese will do't— There's my Gauntlet, I'll prove it on a Giant. Bring up the brown Bills. O well flown Bird: 'th' clout, i'th clout: Hewgh. Give the word. Edg. Sweet Marjoram, Glo. I know that Voice. Lear. Ha! Gonerill with a white Beard? They flatter'd me like a Dog, and told me I had white Hairs in my Beard, e'er the black ones were there. To fay Ay, and No, to every thing that I faid—Ay and No too, was no good Di. vinity. When the Rain came to wet me once, and Wind to make me chatter: when the Thunder would not peace at my bidding, there I found 'em, there I fmelt 'em 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 ftare, fee how the Subje& quakes. For For Glofter's Baftard Son was kinder to his Father, Than my Daughters got 'tween the lawful fheets. To't Luxury pell-mell, for I lack Soldiers. Behold yon fimpering Dame, whofe face, between her Forks, prefages Snow; that minces Virtue, and do's fhake the Head to hear of Pleafures name. The Fitchew, nor the foyled Horfe goes to't with a more riotous Appetite: down from the wafte they are Centaures, though Women all above: but to the Girdle do the Gods inherit, beneath is all the fiends. There's Hell, there's Darkness, there is the fulphurous Pit, Burning, Scalding, Stench, Confumption: Fie, fic, fie; pah, pah: Give me an Ounce of Civet; good Apothecary fweeten my Imagination: There's Mony for thee. Glo. O let me kifs that Hand. Lear. Let me wipe it firft, it fmells of Mortality. Glo. O ruin'd piece of Nature, this great World Shall fo wear out to naught. Do'st thou know me? Lear. I remember thine Eyes well enough: do'st thou fquiny 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 thy Letters Suns, I could not fee one, Edg. I would not take this from report ; It is, and my Heart breaks at it. Lear. Read. Glo. What, with this Cafe of Eyes? Lear. Oh ho, are you there with me? No Eyes in your Head, nor no Mony in your Purfe? Your Eyes are in heavy cafe, your Purfe in a light, yet you fee how this World goes. Glo. I fee it feelingly. Lear. What, art mad? A Man may fee how this World goes, with no Eyes. Look with thine Ears: See how yond Juftice rails upon yond fimple Thief. Hark in thine Ear: Change places, and Handy-dandy, which is the Juftice, which is the Thief: Thou haft feen a Farmer's Dog bark at a Beggar? Glo. Ay Sir. Lear. And the Creature run from the Cur: there thou might'ft behold the great Image of Authority, a Dog's obey'd in Office. Thou, Rafcal Beadle, hold thy bloody Hand: why do'st thou lafh that Whore? Strip thy own Back, thon hotly luft'ft to ufe her in that kind, for which thou |