SCENE 3.-Country near Dover.

Enter GLOSTER, and EDGAR dressed like a peasant.

Gloster.

HEN shall I come to the top of that same hill?

Edg. You do climb up it now: look,

how we labour.

Edg. Why, then, your other senses grow imperfect By your eyes' anguish.

Glo.

So may it be, indeed:

Methinks thy voice is alter'd; and thou speak'st

In better phrase and matter than thou didst.

Edg. You're much deceiv'd: in nothing am I chang'd

But in my garments.

Glo.

Methinks you're 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
Show scarce so gross as beetles: half way down
Hangs one that gathers samphire,-dreadful trade!
Methinks he seems no bigger than his head:
The fishernien, that walk upon the beach,
Appear like mice: the murmuring surge
That on th' 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 headlong.

Glo.

Set me where you stand.

Edg. Give me your hand :-you're 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, 's 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.

Glo.

With all my heart.

Edg. [Aside.] Why I do trifle thus with his

despair

Is done to cure it.

Glo. [Kneeling.] O you mighty gods!

This world I do renounce, and, in your sights,

Shake patiently my great affliction off.

If Edgar live, O, bless him!-

Now fare thee well.

[GLOSTER is about to leap, when EDGAR catches him.

Away, and let me die.

Edg. Had'st thou been aught but gossamer, feathers, air,

So many fathom down precipitating,

Thoud'st shiver'd like an egg: but thou dost

breathe;

Thy life's a miracle.

Hold! Who comes here?

Enter LEAR, fantastically dressed with wild flowers.

Lear. No, they cannot touch me for coining; I am the king himself.

Edg. [Aside.] 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 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.
Lear. Pass.

Glo. I know that voice.

To say

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.— "ay" and "no" to every thing that I said " ay" 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 'em, there I smelt '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 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:

For Gloucester's bastard son

Was kinder to his father than my daughters.

Down from the waist they are Centaurs.

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 peace of nature!-Dost thou know me?

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 one. Lear. Read.

Glo. What, with this case of eyes?

Lear. O, ho, are you there with me?

No eyes in

your head, nor no money in your purse? Yet you

see how this world goes.

Glo. I see it feelingly. Lear. What, art mad? world goes with no eyes.

A man may see how this
Look with thine ears:

see how yond justice rails upon yond simple thief. Hark, in thine ear: change places; and, handydandy, 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 might'st behold the great image of authority: A dog's obey'd in office.

The usurer hangs the cozener.

Through tatter'd clothes small vices do appear;
Robes and furr'd gowns hide all.

Get thee glass eyes;

And, like a scurvy politician, seem

To see the things thou dost not.-Now, now, now, now: Pull off my boots: harder, harder; so.

Edg. [Aside.] O, matter and impertinency mix'd Reason in madness!

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,

We waul and cry.-I will preach to thee: mark.
Glo. Alack, alack the day!

Lear. When we are born, we cry, that we are

come

To this great stage of fools. This' a good block;
[Taking EDGAR's hat.

It were a delicate stratagem, to shoe
A troop of horse with felt: I'll put 't in proof;
And when I have stol'n 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 ransom.

I am cut t' the brains.

Gent.

Lear.

Let me have a surgeon;

You shall have anything.

I will be jovial: come, come; I am a king,

My masters, know you that?

What!

Gent. You are a royal one, and we obey you.
Lear. Then there's life in't. Nay, an

You get it, you shall get it by running. Sa, sa, sa, sa.

[Exit.

Gent. A sight most pitiful in the meanest wretch, Past speaking of in a king!

[Exeunt Gentleman and Attendants.

Glo. You ever-gentle gods, take my breath from

me;

Let not my worser spirit tempt me again

To die before you please!

Enter OSWALD.

Osw.

A proclaim'd prize!