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:

The wren goes to 't, and the small gilded fly
Does lecher in my sight.

Let copulation thrive; for Gloster's bastard son
Was kinder to his father, than my daughters
Got 'tween the lawful sheets.

-

To 't, luxury, pell-mell, for I lack soldiers.
Behold yond' simpering dame,
Whose face between her forks presageth snow;
That minces virtue, and does shake the head
To hear of pleasure's name;

The fitchew, nor the soiled horse, goes to 't

With a more riotous appetite.

Down from the waist they are centaurs,
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 sulphurous pit, burning, scalding, stench, consumption; -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 piece of nature! This great world Shall so wear out to nought. 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.

thou this challenge: mark but the penning of it.

Read

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 yond' justice rails upon yond' 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 obey'd in office.

Thou rascal beadle, hold thy bloody hand!

Why dost thou lash that whore? Strip thine own back;

Thou hotly lust'st to use her in that kind

For which thou whipp'st her. The usurer hangs the cozener.
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 th' accuser's lips. Get thee glass eyes;
And, like a scurvy politician, seem

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

Edg. O, matter and impertinency mix'd!

Reason in madness!

now:

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.

This a good block?

It were a delicate stratagem, to shoe

A troop of horse with felt: I'll put it in proof;
And when I have stolen 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. Your most dear daughter

- Sir,

Lear. No rescue? What! a prisoner? I am even

The natural fool of fortune. - Use me well;

You shall have ransom.

Let me have a surgeon,

I am cut to the brains.

Gent.

You shall have any thing.

Lear. No seconds? All myself?

Why, this would make a man, a man of salt,
To use his eyes for garden water-pots,

Ay, and for laying autumn's dust.

Gent.

Lear I will die bravely,

Good Sir,

Like a smug 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.

Lear. Then there's life in it.

get it by running. Sa, sa, sa, sa.

Nay, an you get it, you shall

[Exit: 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 cursc

Which twain have brought her to.

Edg. Hail, gentle Sir!

Sir, speed you: what's your will?

Gent.
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 to 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 bilding.

Briefly thyself remember:

That must destroy thee.

Glo.

Put strength enough to it.

Osw.

Thou old unhappy traitor,

the sword is out

Now let thy friendly hand

[EDGAR interposes.

Wherefore, bold peasant,

Hence;

Dar'st thou support a publish'd traitor?

Lest that th' infection of his fortune take

Like hold on thee. Let go his arm.

Edg. Chill not let go, zir, without varther 'casion.

Osw. Let go, slave, or thou diest.

Edg. Good gentleman, go your gait, and let poor volk pass. And ch'ud ha' been zwagger'd out of my life, 't would not ha' been zo long as 't is by a vortnight. Nay, come not near the old man; keep out, che vor'ye, or Ise try whether your costard or my ballow be the harder. Ch'ill be plain with you.

198

Osw. Out, dunghill!

Edg.

foins.

Ch'ill pick your teeth, zir. Come; no matter vor your [They fight; and EDGAR knocks him down. Villain, take my purse.

Osw. Slave, thou hast slain me.

If ever thou wilt thrive, bury my body;

-

And give the letters, which thou find'st about me,
To Edmund earl of Gloster: seek him out

Upon the British party:

- 0, untimely death!

Edg. I know thee well: a serviceable villain; As duteous to the vices of thy mistress,

As badness would desire.

Glo.

What! is he dead?

Edg. Sit you down, father; rest you.

Let's see his pockets: these letters, that he speaks of,
May be my friends. He's dead; I am only sorry

He had no other death's-man.

Let us see:

Leave, gentle wax; and, manners, blame us not:
To know our enemies' minds, we rip their hearts,
Their papers is more lawful.

[Dies.

[Reads.] "Let our reciprocal vows be remembered. You have many opportunities to cut him off: if your will want not, time and place will be fruitfully offered. There is nothing done, if he return the conqueror; then, am I the prisoner, and his bed my gaol, from the loathed warmth whereof deliver me, and supply the place for your labour.

"Your (wife, so I would say)
"affectionate servant,

O, undistinguish'd space of woman's will!
A plot upon her virtuous husband's life;
And the exchange, my brother!

GONERIL."

Here, in the sands,

Thee I'll rake up, the post unsanctified
Of murderous lechers; and in the mature time,
With this ungracious paper strike the sight
Of the death-practis'd duke. For him 't is well,
That of thy death and business I can tell,

Glo. The king is mad: how stiff is my vile sense,