EDGAR.] I entertain you for one of my hundred; | Hot equestrists after him, met him at gate; only, I do not like the fashion of your garments: Who, with some other of the lord's dependants, you will say, they are Persian attire; but let them Are gone with him towards Dover, where they boast be changed. To have well-armed friends. Corn. Get horses for your mistress Gon. Farewell, sweet lord, and sister. [Exeunt GONERIL, EDMUND, and OSWALD. Corn. Edmund, farewell.-Go, seek the traitor Gloster, 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 bed at noon. master? Re-enter GLOSTER. [meet Glo. Come hither, friend: where is the king my [gone. Kent. Here, sir: but trouble him not; his wits are Glo. Good friend, I pr'ythee take him in thy arms; I have o'er-heard a plot of death upon him. There is a litter ready; lay him in't, And drive toward Dover, friend, where thou shalt 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. Come, come, away. [Exeunt KENT, GLOSTER, and the Fool, bearing off the King. Glo. 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 shows 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, [bow: When that which makes me bend, makes the king 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. What will hap more to-night, safe 'scape the king! Lurk, lurk. [Exit. Pinion him like a thief, bring him before us. traitor? [consider Re-enter Servants, with GLOSTER. 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 2[ They bind him: 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 hairs, which thou dost ravish from my chin, Will quicken, and accuse thee. I am your host: With robbers' hands my hospitable favors You should not ruffle thus. What will you do! Corn. Come, sir, what letters had you late from [traitors To whose hands Have you sent the lunatic 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. Corn. Reg. Cunning. And false. To Dover. Wherefore [course. Corn. Where hast thou sent the king? Glo. Reg. To Dover? Wast thou not charg'd at perilCorn. Wherefore to Dover? Let him answer that 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 'rash 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 shouldst have said, "Good porter, turn the [key, The winged vengeance overtake such children. All cruels else "subscrib'd: but I shall see A questrist is one who goes in quest or search of another, "Shall do a courtesy," i, e., shall bend.- Corky, e dry; withered; husky Will quicken," i. e, will quicken into life." Favors," i. e., features." Footed," ie. t on foot. To rash is the old term for the stroke made wild boar with his fangs. "Stelled." i. e, star "Subscrib'd," i. e., yielded; submitted to the necessity of the occasion. Corn. See it shalt thou never.-Fellows, hold the | Thou unsubstantial air that I embrace : chair. Upon these eyes of thine I'll set my foot. Glo. He, that will think to live till he be old, Hold your hand, my lord. anger. thus! [Tearing out his other eye. Glo. All dark and comfortless.-Where's my son Edmund? Edmund, enkindle all the sparks of nature, Reg. Out, treacherous villain! Glo. O my follies! Then Edgar was abus'd.- Corn. I have receiv'd a hurt. Follow me, lady.- 1 Serv. I'll never care what wickedness I do, If this man comes to good. The wretch, that thou hast blown unto the worst, Old Man. O my good lord! I have been your tenant, and your father's tenant, these fourscore years. Glo. Away, get thee away; good friend, be gone: Old Man. Alack, sir! you cannot see your way. Old Man. Edg. [Aside.] O gods! How now! Who's there? is not So long as we can say, "This is the worst." As flies to wanton boys, are we to the gods; [Aside.] How should this be?— | Bad is the trade that must play fool to sorrow, Angering itself and others. [To him.] Bless thee, Glo. Is that the naked fellow? [master! 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, [lam' the way toward Dover, do it for ancient love; 1 Serv. Let's follow the old earl, and get the Bed- And bring some covering for this naked soul, To lead him where he would: his roguish madness Whom I'll entreat to lead me. Allows itself to any thing. 2 Serv. 2 Serv. Go thou: I'll fetch some flax, and whites of eggs, To apply to his bleeding face. him! Now, heaven help ACT IV. SCENE I.-The Heath. Enter EDGAR. Edg. Yes, better thus, unknown to be contemn'd, "To quit," i. e., to requite. The overture here means the opening the disclosure.-"Meet the old course of death," i. e., die a natural death.-d" The Bedlam,” i. e., the Bedlamite; the madman." In esperance," i. e., in hope. Edg. Poor Tom's a-cold.-[Aside.] I cannot fdaub it farther. Glo. Come hither, fellow. Edg. [Aside.] And yet I must.-[ To him.] Bless thy sweet eyes, they bleed. Glo. Know'st thou the way to Dover? Edg. Both stile and gate, horse-way and foot-path. Poor Tom hath been scared out of his good wits: bless thee, good man's son, 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 pos "Daub," i. e., disguise. sesses chamber-maids and waiting women. So, bless | And come to deadly use. thee, master! [plagues Glo. Here, take this purse, thou whom the heaven's Have humbled to all strokes: that I am wretched, Makes thee the happier :-Heavens, deal so still! Let the superfluous, and lust-dieted man, That braves your ordinance, that will not see Because he doth not feel, feel your power quickly; So distribution should undo excess, And each man have enough.-Dost thou know Dover? Edg. Ay, master. ́ Glo. There is a cliff, whose high and bending head Looks fearfully bin 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: [Exeunt. SCENE II-Before the Duke of ALBANY's Palace. Enter GONERIL and EDMUND; OSWALD meeting them. Gon. Welcome, my lord: I marvel, our mild husband Not met us on the way.-Now, where's your master? с [ery, Then, shall you go no farther. It is the cowish terror of his spirit, Edm. Yours in the ranks of death. Gon. My most dear Gloster! [Exit EDMUND. O, the difference of man, and man! To thee a woman's services are due: Madam, here comes my lord. [Exit OSWALD. Enter ALBANY. Gon. I have been worth the whistle. Alb. O Goneril! You are not worth the dust, which the rude wind Blows in your face.-I fear your disposition: That nature, which contemns its origin, Cannot be border'd certain in itself; She that herself will sliver and disbranch From her material sap, perforce must wither, "The superfluous," i. e., the pampered. In is put here for on. May prove effects," ie., may be consummated. "Worth the whistle," i. e., worth calling for.—“Sliver," i. e., tear off. Gon. No more: the text is foolish. Alb. Wisdom and goodness to the vile seem vile; Humanity must perforce prey on itself, Gon. France spreads his banners in our noiseless land; With plumed helm thy slayer begins threats; Whilst thou, a moral fool, sitt'st still, and criest, "Alack! why does he so?" Alb. See thyself, devil! Proper deformity seems not in the fiend So horrid, as in woman. my [shame, Gon. O vain fool! Alb. Thou changed and self-cover'd thing, for fitness Be-monster not thy feature. Were it To let these hands obey my blood, They are apt enough to dislocate and tear Thy flesh and bones: howe'er thou art a fiend, A woman's shape doth shield thee. Gon. Marry, your manhood now!Enter a Messenger. [dead; Alb. What news? Mess. O, my good lord! the duke of Cornwall's Slain by his servant, going to put out The other eye of Gloster. Alb. Gloster's eyes! Mess. A servant that he bred, thrill'd with remorse, Oppos'd against the act, bending his sword To his great master; who, thereat enrag'd, Flew on him, and amongst them fell'd him dead, But not without that harmful stroke, which since Hath pluck'd him after. Alb. This shows you are abova, You justicers, that these our nether crimes So speedily can venge!-But, O poor Gloster! Lost he his other eye? Mess. Both, both, my lord. This letter, madam, craves a speedy answer; [Giring it. '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. [To him.] I'll read, and 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. Whom 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? Gent. Ay, sir; she took them, read them in my And now and then an ample tear trill'd down Kent. Pantingly forth, as if it press'd her heart; Let pity not be believed!"-There she shook And clamor moisten'd: then, away she started Kent. It is the stars, Kent. Was this before the king return'd? No, since. Kent. Well, sir, the poor distress'd Lear's i' the Who sometime, in his better tune, remembers Gent. Why, good sir? Kent. A sovereign shame so elbows him; his own That stripp'd her from his benediction, turn'd her Alack, poor gentleman! "Question," i. e., discourse; conversation.-b That is, 'Let not pity be supposed to exist." And clamor moistened," i. e., accompanied her outcries with tears.-d" Conditions," i. ., dispositions.-"One self mate and mate," i. e., the selfsame husband and wife. 795 SCENE IV.-The Same. A Tent. Search every acre in the high-grown field, In the restoring his bereaved sense? All bless'd secrets, All you unpublish'd virtues of the earth, Mess. My mourning, and important tears, hath pitied. [Exeunt. SCENE V.-A Room in GLOSTER'S Castle. Reg. But are my brother's powers set forth? Reg. Himself in person there? Your sister is the better soldier. Reg. Lord Edmund spake not with your lord at Reg. What might import my sister's letter to him? To let him live: where he arrives he moves Osw. I must needs after him, madam, with my letter. I may not, madam; a Madam, I had rather Reg. I know your lady does not love her husband, I am sure of that; and, at her late being here, She gave strange ciliads, and most speaking looks To noble Edmund. I know, you are of her bosom. Osw. I, madam? Reg. I speak in understanding: y' are, I know it; 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, pray, desire her call her wisdom to her: I So, fare you well. If you do chance to hear of that blind traitor, Fare thee well. [Exeunt. Hark! do you hear the sea? Glo. Horribly steep. No, truly. Edg. Why, then your other senses grow imperfect By your eyes' anguish. Glo. And dizzy 'tis to cast one's eyes so low! Glo. Set me where you stand. Edg. Give me your hand; you are now within a foot Of th' 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 farther off: Bid me farewell, and let me hear thee going. Edg. Now fare you well, good sir. "Eiliads," i, e., glances of the eyes.-b"Take this note," i. e., observe what I am saying.- Samphire, a vegetable gathered for pickling-d "Her cock," i. e., her cock-boat"Topple," i, e., tumble. Glo. With all my heart. Edg. Why I do trifle thus with his despair, Is done to cure it. Glo. O, you mighty gods! [He leaps, and falls along. Glo. [air, Away, and let me die. Edg. Hadst thou been aught but gossamer, feathers, So many fathom down precipitating, Thou'dst shiver'd like an egg: but thou dost breathe; Hast heavy substance; bleed'st not; speak'st; art Ten masts at each make not the altitude, [sound. Which thou hast perpendicularly fell: Thy life's a miracle. Speak yet again. Glo. But have I fallen, or no? h Edg. From the dread summit of this chalky bourn. 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. Give me your arm: [Helping him wp. Up: so;-how is't? Feel you your legs? You stand. Glo. Too well, too well. Edg. This is above all strangeress. Upon the crown o' the cliff, what thing was that Which parted from you? Glo. A poor unfortunate beggar. Glo. I do remember now: henceforth I'll bear "Enough, enough!" and die. That thing you speak of, I took it for a man; often 'twould say, "The fiend, the fiend!" he led me to that place. Edg. Bear "free and patient thoughts. But whe comes here? Enter LEAR, fantastically dressed with 3 Straws and i Flowers. The safer sense will ne'er accommodate "Yields to the theft," i. e., is willing to be destroyel"Pass," i. e., die.-"At each," i. e, each added to the other.-"Bourn," i. e., boundary."Shrill-gorg'd," ie, shrill-throated,-"Whelk'd," i. e., twisted; convolved"The clearest," i. e., the purest.-"Free," L. e. pure"A clothier's yard," i. e., an arrow of a cloth-yard long |