But love, dear love, and our ag'd father's right: [Exeur!. Regan's Palace. Enter Regan and Stewards. Reg. But are my brother's powers fet forth? Stew. Ay, Madam. Reg. Himfelf in person there? Stew. With much ado, Your fifter is the better foldier. Reg. Lord Edmund spake not with your Lady at home? Reg. What might import my fifter's letter to him? Reg. Faith, he is posted hence on serious matter. His nighted life moreover, to defcry The ftrength o'th' enemy. Stew. I muft needs after him, Madam, with my letter. Reg. Our troops fet forth to-morrow: stay with us: The ways are dangerous. Stew. I may not, Madam; My Lady charg'd my duty in this business. Reg. Why fhould fhe write to Edmund? might not you Tranfport her purposes by word of mouth? Something- know not what-I'll love thee much Stew. Madam, I had rather Reg. I know your Lady do's not love her husband, I know't; Reg. I fpeak in understanding: you are ; If you do find him, pray you, give him this; If you do chance to hear of that blind traitor, Stew. Would I could meet him, Madam, I should fhew What party I do follow. Reg. Fare thee well. SCENE VI. [Exeunt. The Country near Dover. Glo. When fhall I come to th'top of that fame hill? Edg. Horrible fteep. Hark, do you hear the fea? Glo. No truly, not. Edg. Why then your other fenfes grow imperfect By your eyes anguish. Glo. So may it be indeed. Methinks thy voice is alter'd, and thou speak'st Edg. You're much deceiv'd: in nothing am I chang'd But in my garments. Glo. Sure you're better spoken. [fearful Edg. Come on, Sir, here's the place-stand ftill. How And dizzy 'tis, to caft one's eyes fo low! The crows and choughs, that wing the midway air, Almoft too fmall for fight. The murmuring furge, Cannot be heard fo high. I'll look no more, Topple down headlong. Glo. Set me where you ftand. Edg. Give me your hand: you're now within a foot Of A Of th' extream verge: for all below the moon Glo. Let go my hand: Here, friend, 's another purse, in it a Jewel Well worth a poor man's taking. Fairies and Gods Bid me farewel, and let me hear thee going. [Seems to g Edg. Why I do trifle thus with his despair, Is done to cure it. Glo. O you mighty Gods! This world I do renounce, and in your fights To quarrel with your great opposeless wills, Edg. Good Sir, farewel! [He leaps and falls alongs And yet I know not how conceit may rob The treasury of life, when life itself Yields to the theft. Had he been where he thought, By this had thought been paft.-Alive or dead? Hoa, you, Sir! friend! hear you, Sir? fpeak! Glo. Away, and let me die. Edg, Had'ft thou been ought but Gofs'mer, feathers, air, So many fathom down precipitating, Thou'dft fhiver'd like an egg: but thou doft breathe, Edg. From the dread fummit of this chalky borne! Glo. Alack, I have no eyes: Is wretchednefs depriv'd that benefit To end it felf by death? 'twas yet fome comfort, Edg. Give me your arm. Up, fo-how is't? feel you your legs? you ftand. Edg. This is above all strangeness. Upon the crown o' th' cliff, what thing was that Glo. A poor unfortunate beggar.. Edg. As I ftood here below, methought his eyes Were two full moons; he had a thousand nofes, Horns whelk'd and wav'd like the enridged fea : It was fome fiend. Therefore, thou happy father, Think that the cleareft Gods, who make them honours Of men's impoffibilities, have preferv'd thee. Glo. I do remember now: henceforth I'll bear Enough, enough, and die. That thing you speak of, The fiend, the fiend-he led me to that place. SCENE VII. Enter Lear, dreft madly with flowers. But who comes here? The fafer fenfe would ne'er accommodate His mafter thus. Lear. No, they cannot touch me for coyning, I am the King himself. Edg. O thou fide-piercing fight! Lear. Nature's above art in that refpect. There's your prefs-mony. That fellow handles his bow like a crowkeeper: draw me a clothier's yard. Look, look, a mouse! Peace, peace, this piece of toafted cheefe will do't there's my gauntlet, I'll prove it on a giant. Bring up the brown bills. O, well flown, barb! i'th' clout, i'th' clouts hewgh. Give the word. Edg. Sweet marjoram. Lear. Pafs. Glo. I know that voice. P Lear, Lear. Ha! Gonerill! hah, Regan! they flatter'd m like a dog, and told me I had white hairs in my beard, ere the black ones were there. To fay ay, and no, to every thing that I faid-Ay and no too, was no good divinity. When the rain came to wet me once, and wind to make me chatter; when the thunder would not peace at my bidding, there I found 'em, there I fmelt 'em out. Go to, they are not men of 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 ftare, fee how the fubject quakes. I pardon that man's life. What was thy caufe? Adultery? thou shalt not die; die for adultery? no, the wren goes to't, and the small gilded fly does letcher in my fight. Let copulation thrive for Glo'fter's baftard-fon was kinder to his father, than my daughters got 'tween the lawful fheets. To't, luxury, pell mell; for I lack foldiers. Behold yon fimpering dame, whofe face 'tween her forks prefages fnow; that minces virtue, and does fhake the head to hear of pleafure's name. The fitchew, nor the foyled horfe goes to't with a more riotous appetite: down from the wafte 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 fulphurous pit, burning, scalding, ftench, confumption: fie, fie, fie; pah, pah; give me an ounce of civet, good apothecary, to fweeten my imagination! there's mony 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 fo wear out to nought. Doft thou know me? Lear. I remember thine eyes well enough: doft thou fquint 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 funs, I could not fee one. Lear, Read, [Afide. |