Look up a-height; - the shrill-gorg'd" lark so far Is wretchedness depriv'd that benefit, To end itself by death? 'Twas yet some comfort, Edg. Give me your arm: Up: So;- How is 't? Feel you your legs? You - stand. Glo. Too well, too well. Edg. This is above all strangeness. Upon the crown o' the cliff, what thing was that Which parted from you? Glo. A poor unfortunate beggar. Edg. As I stood here below, methought, his eyes Were too full moons; he had a thousand noses, Horns whelk'd, and wav'd like the enridged sea; It was some fiend: Therefore, thou happy father, Think that the clearest gods, who make them honours Of men's impossibilities, have preserv'd thee. Glo. I do remember now: henceforth I'll bear Affliction, till it do cry out itself, Enough, enough, and, die.. That thing you speak of, I took it for a man; often 't would say, The fiend, the fiend: he led me to that place. Edg. Bear free and patient thoughts. - But who comes here? Enter LEAR, fantastically dressed up with Flowers. The safer sense will ne'er accommodate His master thus. Lear. No, they cannot touch me for coining; I am the king himself. Edg. O thou side-piercing sight! 6 Shrill-throated. 'Twisted, convolved. • The purest. 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. 9-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. 3 Edg. Sweet marjoram. Glo. I know that voice. They Lear. Ha! Goneril!-with a white beard! 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 remember: Is 't not the king? Lear Ay, every inch a king: Thou shalt not die: for Gloster's bastard son 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 Shall so wear out to nought.-Dost thou know me? Lear. I remember thine eyes well enough. Dost 9 An arrow of a cloth yard long. I Battle-axes. 2 The white mark for archers to aim at. 3 The watch word. Lik eness, manner. S 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. Edg. I would not take this from report ; — it is, And my heart breaks at it. Lear. Read. Glo. What, with the case of eyes? Lear. O, ho, are you there with me? No eyes in your head, nor no money in your purse? Your eyes are in a heavy case, your purse in a light: Yet you see how this world goes. Glo. I see it feelingly. Lear. What, art mad? A man may see how this world goes, with no eyes. Look with 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 might'st behold the great image of authority: a dog's obeyed in office. 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 To seal the accuser's lips. 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. O, matter and impertinency mix'd! Reason in madness! s Look asquint. 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 wawl, and cry: - I will preach to thee; mark me. Glo. Alack, alack the day! Lear. When we are born, we cry, that we are come To this great stage of fools; block? It were a delicate stratagem, to shoe This a good A troop of horse with felt: I'll put it in proof; 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. I am cut to the brains. Gent. Let me have a surgeon, You shall have any thing. Lear. No seconds? All myself? Why, this would make a man, a man of salt, 7 To use his eyes for garden water-pots, Ay, and for laying autumn's dust. Gent. Good sir, Lear. I will die bravely, like a bridegroom: What? 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. 6 Block anciently signified the head part of a hat. Lear. Then there's life in it. Nay, an you get it, you shall get it by running. Sa, sa, sa, sa. [Exit running; Attendants follow. Gent. A sight most pitiful in the meanest wretch; Past speaking of in a king! - Thou hast one daughter, Who redeems nature from the general curse Edg. Hail, gentle sir. Gent. Sir, speed you: What's your will? Edg. Do you hear aught, sir, of a battle toward? Gent. Most sure, and vulgar: every one hears that, Which can distinguish sound. Edg. How near 's the other army? But, by your favour, Gent. Near, and on speedy foot; the main descry Stands on the hourly thought. Edg. I thank you, sir: that's all. Gent. Though that the queen on special cause is here, Her army is mov'd on. Edg. I thank you, sir. [Exit Gent. Glo. You ever-gentle gods, take my breath from me; Let not my worser spirit tempt me again To die before you please! Edg. Well pray you, father. Glo. Now, good sir, what are you? Edg. A most poor man, made tame by fortune's blows; Who, by the art of known and feeling sorrows, Am pregnant to good pity. Give me your hand, I'll lead you to some biding. Glo. Hearty thanks: The main body is expected to be descried every hour. 9 Evil genius. |