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. 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. Lear. Then let them anatomize Regan; see what breeds about her heart: Is there any cause in nature, 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 How now? Where's the king. say, they are Persian attire; but let them be, changed. [To Edgar.; and rest Some five or six and thirty of his knights, Hot questrists after him, met him at gate; Kent. Now, good my lord, lie here, a while. Stew. My lord of Gloster hath convey'd him bence : Lear. Make no noise, make no noise; draw the Who, with some other of the lord's departments, curtains: So, so, so: We'll go to supper i'the morn-Are gone with him towards Dover; where they ing: So, so, so. Fool. And I'll go to bed at noon. Re-enter Gloster. 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, He childed, as I father'd !-Tom, away: In thy just proof, repeals, and reconciles thee. [Exit. boast To have well-armed friends. Get horses for your mistress, [Exeunt Goneril and Edmund. Corn. Edmund, farewell.-Go, seek the traitor Gloster, Pinion him like a thief, bring him before us. Re-enter Servants, with Gloster. Reg. Ingrateful fox! 'tis he. Glo. What means your graces?-Good my friends, consider You are my guests: do me no foul play, friends. Reg. So white, and such a traitor! Glo. Reg. Be simple-answer'd, for we know the truth. Late footed in the kingdom? Reg. 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. Cunning. Corn. Where hast thou sent the king? Glo. And false. To Dover. Wherefore To Dover? Wast thou not charg'd at thy peril (3) Meaning Edmund, invested with his father's titles. (5) Bend to our wrath, (7) Live. (8) Features. course. 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, If wolves had at thy gate howl'd that stern time, Upon these eyes of thine I'll set my foot. [Gloster is held down in the chair, while 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 mean? Corn. My villain! [Draws, and runs at him. Serv. Nay, then come on, and take the chance of anger. [Drains. They fight. Cornwall is wounded. Reg. Give me thy sword.-[To another Servant.] A peasant stand up thus! [Snatches a sword, comes behind, and stabs him. Serv. O, I am slain!-My lord, you have one eve left [Dies. To see some mischief on him :-0! Corn. Lest it see more, prevent it:-Out, vile jelly! Where is thy lustre now? [Tears out Gloster's other eye, and throws it on the ground. Glo. All dark and comfortless.-Where's my son Edmund ? Edmund, enkindle all the sparks of nature, Reg. Out, treacherous villain! Thou call'st on him that hates thee: it was he That made the overture of thy treasons to us; Who is too good to pity thee. Glo. O my follies! Then Edgar was abus'd.- Corn. I have receiv'd a hurt :-Follow me, ladv. Turn out that eveless villain ;-throw this slave Upon the dunghill.-Regan, I bleed apace : Untimely comes this hurt; Give me your arm. [Exit Cornwall, led by Regan;-Servants unbind Gloster, and lead him out. (1) Starred. (2) Yielded, submitted to the necessity of the occasion. (3) Requite. (4) Laid open. (5) Madman. Edg. Yet better thus, and known to be contemn'd, Than still conternn'd, and flatter'd. To be worst, Thou unsubstantial air, that I embrace! Enter Gloster, led by an Old Man. Old Man. O my good lord, I have been your tenant, and your father's tenant, these forescore years. Glo. Away, get thee away; good friend, be gone: Thy comforts can do me no good at all, Thee they may hurt. Old Man. Alack, 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. 'Tis poor mad Tom. Edg. [Aside.] And worse I may be yet: The worst is not, So long as we can say, This is the worst. Glo. As flies to wanton boys, are we to the gods; (6) i. e. It is better to be thus contemned and know it, than to be flattered by those who secretly contemn us. (7) In hope. (8) Changes. Edg. Bad is the trade must play the fool to sorrow, Ang'ring itself and others. [Aside.]-Bless thee, master! How should this be?-When I inform'd him, then he call'd me sot; Glo. Is that the naked fellow? Old Man. Ay, my lord. Glo. Then, pr'ythee, get thee gone: If, for my sake, Thou wilt overtake us, hence a mile or twain, Old Man. the blind. Edg. Poor Tom's a-cold-I cannot daub' it further. [Aside. Glo. Come hither, fellow. Edg. [Aside.] And yet I must.-Bless thy sweet eves, 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, Obilicut; Hobbididance, prince of dumbness; Malu, of stealing; Modo, of murder; and Flibbertigibbet, of mopping and mowing; who since possesses chamber-inaids and waiting-women. So, bless thee, master! Glo. Here, take this purse, thou whom the heaven's plagues Have hunabled to all strokes: that I am wretched, And each man have enough.-Dost thou know Edg. Av, master. Glo. There is a cliff, whose high and bending head Looks fearfully in the confined deep : With something rich about me: from that place Poor Tom shall lead thee. Give me thy arm; [Exeunt. 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; My most dear Gloster! Madam, here comes my lord [Exit Steward. 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 contemus its origin, Cannot be border'd certain in itself; She that herself will sliver and disbranch 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 secm 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 inadded. Could my good brother suffer you to do it? Humanity must perforce prey on itself, Like monsters of the deep. Gon. Milk-liver'd man! That bear'st a cheek for blows, a head for wrongs; SCENE II.-Before the Duke of Albany's pal-Who hast not in thy brows an eye discerning ace. Enter Goneril and Edmund; Steward meeting them. Gon. Welcome, my lord: I marvel, our mild husband Not met us on the way :-Now, where's your master? 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, (1) Disguise. Thine honour from thy suffering; that not know'st, France spreads his banners in our noiseless land: Alb. (3) i. e. Our wishes on the road may be com (2) i. e. To make it subject to us, instead of pleted. acting in obedience to it. (4) Worth calling for. (5) Tear off. shame, Alb. Thou changed and self-cover'd thing, for | Sought to be king o'er her. Thy flesh and bones:-Howe'er thou art a fiend, Enter a Messenger. Alb. What news? Mess. O, my good lord, the duke of Cornwall's dead; Slain by his servant, going to put out The other eye of Gloster. Alb. Gloster's eyes! of father Pantingly forth, as if it press'd her heart; Cried, Sisters! sisters!-Shame of ladies! sisters! Mess. A servant that he bred, thrill'd with re- Kent! father! sisters! What? the storm? i'the To thank thee for the love thou show'dst the king, Kent. Why the king of France is so suddenly gone back know you the reason? Gent. Something he left imperfect in the state, Kent. Who hath he left behind him general? Gent. Ay, sir; she took them, read them in my And now and then an ample tear trill'd down (1) Inclination. (2) Discourse, conversation. night? Let pity not be believed!"—There she shook Kent. It is the stars, Who sometime, in his better tune, remembers Gent. That stripp'd her from his benediction, turn'd her Gent. Gent. 'Tis so; they are afoot. Kent. Well, sir, I'll bring you to our master Lear, [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-The same. A tent. Enter Cordelia, Physician, and Soldiers. Cor. Alack, 'tis he; why, he was met even now (6) Important business. (7) Fumitory. Mess. Madam, news; The British powers are marching hitherward. Cor. 'Tis known before; our preparation stands My mourning, and important tears, hath pitied. [Exeunt. SCENE V.-A room in Gloster's castle. Enter Regan and Steward. Reg. But are my brother's powers set forth? Ay, madam. Himself Stew. Reg. Lord Edmund spake not with your lord at home? Stew. No, madam. Reg. What might import my sister's letter to him? Stew. I know not, lady. Reg. 'Faith, he is posted hence on serious matter. His nighted life; moreover, to descry Stew. I must needs after him, madam, with my letter. Reg. Our troops set forth to-morrow; stay with us; The ways are dangerous. Stew. Madam, I had ratherReg. I know your lady does not love her husband; I am sure of that: and at her late being here, Reg. I speak in understanding; you are, know it: Therefore, I do advise you, take this note: (1) i. e. The reason which should guide it. If you do chance to hear of that blind traitor, Fare thee well. [Exe. What party I do follow. Edg. You do climb up it now: look, how we labour. Glo. Methinks, the ground is even. Hark, do you hear the sea? Horrible steep: No, truly. Edg. Why, then your other senses grow imper fect 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 are much deceiv'd; in nothing am I chang'd, But in my garments. 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! 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. Glo. To quarrel with your great opposeless wills, [He leaps, and falls along. (6) Observe what I am saying. (7) Infer more. (8) Daws. (9) A vegetable gathered for pickling. (10) Her cock-boat. (11) Tumble. |