King lear, p.10
King Lear, page 10
CORNWALL Go with me to the duchess.
EDMUND If the matter of this paper be certain, you have
mighty business in hand.
CORNWALL True or false, it hath made thee Earl of Gloucester.
Seek out where thy father is, that he may be ready for our
apprehension17.
Aside
EDMUND If I find him comforting the king, it will stuff
his suspicion19 more fully.— I will persevere in my course of
loyalty, though the conflict be sore between that and my
blood.
CORNWALL I will lay trust upon thee, and thou shalt find a dear
father in my love.
Exeunt
Act 3 Scene 6
running scene 10
Enter Kent and Gloucester
GLOUCESTER Here is better than the open air, take it thankfully. I
will piece out2 the comfort with what addition I can: I will not
be long from you.
Exit
KENT All the power of his wits have given way to his
impatience5: the gods reward your kindness!
Enter Lear, Edgar and Fool
Edgar disguised as Poor Tom
EDGAR Frateretto calls me, and tells me Nero is an angler6 in
the lake of darkness7. Pray, innocent, and beware the foul
fiend.
FOOL Prithee, nuncle, tell me whether a madman be a
gentleman or a yeoman10?
LEAR A king, a king!
FOOL No, he’s a yeoman that has a gentleman to12 his son,
for he’s a mad13 yeoman that sees his son a gentleman before
him.
LEAR To have a thousand15 with red burning spits
Come hizzing in upon ’em16—
EDGAR Bless thy five wits!
KENT O pity! Sir, where is the patience now
That you so oft have boasted to retain?
Aside
EDGAR My tears begin to take his part so much
They mar my counterfeiting21.
LEAR The little dogs and all,
Trey, Blanch and Sweetheart23, see, they bark at me.
EDGAR Tom will throw his head at them. Avaunt24, you curs!
Be thy mouth or black or25 white,
Tooth that poisons26 if it bite,
Mastiff, greyhound, mongrel grim27,
Hound or spaniel, brach or him28,
Or bobtail tyke or trundle-tail29,
Tom will make him weep and wail:
For, with throwing thus my head,
Dogs leapt the hatch32, and all are fled.
Do de, de, de. Sessa! Come, march to wakes33 and fairs and
market towns. Poor Tom, thy horn34 is dry.
LEAR Then let them anatomize35 Regan: see what breeds
about her heart. Is there any cause in nature that make
To Edgar
these hard hearts?— You, sir, I entertain37 for one of
my hundred; only I do not like the fashion of your garments:
you will say they are Persian39; but let them be changed.
Enter Gloucester
At a distance
KENT Now, good my lord, lie here and rest awhile.
LEAR Make no noise, make no noise: draw the curtains41.
So, so, we’ll go to supper i’th’morning.
Sleeps
FOOL And I’ll go to bed at noon.
To Kent
GLOUCESTER Come hither, friend: where is the king my master?
KENT Here, sir, but trouble him not: his wits are gone.
GLOUCESTER Good friend, I prithee take him in thy arms;
I have o’erheard a plot of death upon him:
There is a litter48 ready, lay him in’t
And drive toward Dover49, friend, where thou shalt meet
Both welcome and protection. Take up thy master:
If thou shouldst dally half an hour, his life,
With thine and all that offer to defend him,
Stand in assurèd loss. Take up, take up,
They carry Lear
And follow me, that will to some provision54
Give thee quick conduct. Come, come, away.
Exeunt
Act 3 Scene 7
running scene 11
Enter Cornwall, Regan, Goneril, Bastard [Edmund] and Servants
To Goneril
CORNWALL Post1 speedily to my lord your husband;
Gives a letter
show him this letter: the army of France is
landed.— Seek out the traitor Gloucester.
[Exeunt some Servants]
REGAN Hang him instantly.
GONERIL Pluck out his eyes.
CORNWALL Leave him to my displeasure. Edmund, keep you our
sister7 company: the revenges we are bound to take upon
your traitorous father are not fit for your beholding. Advise8
the duke where you are going, to a most festinate9
preparation: we are bound to the like. Our posts10 shall be swift
and intelligent11 betwixt us. Farewell, dear sister: farewell, my
lord of Gloucester12.
Enter Oswald
How now? Where’s the king?
OSWALD My lord of Gloucester hath conveyed him hence:
Some five- or six-and-thirty of his knights,
Hot questrists17 after him, met him at gate,
Who, with some other of the lord’s18 dependants,
Are gone with him toward Dover, where they boast
To have well-armèd friends.
CORNWALL Get horses for your mistress.
GONERIL Farewell, sweet lord, and sister.
Exeunt [Goneril, Edmund and Oswald]
CORNWALL Edmund, farewell.—
Go seek the traitor Gloucester,
Pinion him25 like a thief, bring him before us.
[Exeunt other Servants]
Though well we may not pass upon his life26
Without the form of justice, yet our power
Shall do a court’sy28 to our wrath, which men
May blame but not control.
Enter Gloucester and Servants
Who’s there? The traitor?
REGAN Ingrateful fox! ’Tis he.
CORNWALL Bind fast his corky31 arms.
GLOUCESTER What means your graces?
Good my friends, consider you are my guests:
Do me no foul play, friends.
CORNWALL Bind him, I say.
Servants bind him
REGAN Hard, hard. O, filthy traitor!
GLOUCESTER Unmerciful lady as you are, I’m none.
CORNWALL To this chair bind him.— Villain, thou shalt find—
Regan plucks his beard
GLOUCESTER By the kind gods, ’tis most ignobly done
To pluck me by the beard.
REGAN So white41, and such a traitor?
GLOUCESTER Naughty42 lady,
These hairs which thou dost ravish43 from my chin
Will quicken44 and accuse thee. I am your host:
With robbers’ hands my hospitable favours45
You should not ruffle46 thus. What will you do?
CORNWALL Come, sir, what letters had you late from France?
REGAN Be simple answered48, for we know the truth.
CORNWALL And what confederacy have you with the traitors
Late footed50 in the kingdom?
REGAN To whose hands you have sent the lunatic king? Speak.
GLOUCESTER I have a letter guessingly52 set down,
Which came from one that’s of a neutral heart,
And not from one opposed54.
CORNWALL Cunning.
REGAN And false.
CORNWALL Where hast thou sent the king?
GLOUCESTER To Dover.
REGAN Wherefore to Dover? Wast thou not charged at peril59—
CORNWALL Wherefore to Dover? Let him answer that.
GLOUCESTER I am tied to th’stake and I must stand the course61.
REGAN Wherefore to Dover?
GLOUCESTER Because I would not see thy cruel nails
Pluck out his poor old eyes, nor thy fierce sister
In his anointed65 flesh stick boarish fangs.
The sea, with such a storm as his bare head
In hell-black night endured, would have buoyed67 up
And quenched the stellèd68 fires:
Yet, poor old heart, he holp the heavens to rain69.
If wolves had at thy gate howled that stern70 time,
Thou shouldst have said ‘Good porter, turn the key71.’
All cruels else subscribe72: but I shall see
The wingèd vengeance73 overtake such children.
CORNWALL See’t shalt thou never. Fellows74, hold the chair.—
Upon these eyes of thine I’ll set my foot.
GLOUCESTER He that will think to live till he be old,
Cornwall grinds out his eye
Give me some help! O cruel! O you gods!
REGAN One side will mock another: th’other too.
CORNWALL If you see vengeance—
SERVANT Hold your hand, my lord:
I have served you ever since I was a child,
But better service have I never done you
Than now to bid you hold.
REGAN How now, you dog?
To Regan
SERVANT If you did wear a beard upon your chin,
I’d shake it on this quarrel.— What do you mean86?
They draw and fight
CORNWALL My villain87?
SERVANT Nay, then, come on, and take the chance of anger88.
To a Servant
REGAN Give me thy sword. A peasant stand up thus?
Kills him
SERVANT O, I am slain! My lord, you have one eye left
To see some mischief on him91. O!
Dies
CORNWALL Lest it see more, prevent it. Out, vile jelly!
Puts out
Gloucester’s other eye
Where is thy lustre now?
GLOUCESTER All dark and comfortless. Where’s my son Edmund?
Edmund, enkindle all the sparks of nature95
To quit96 this horrid act.
REGAN Out97, treacherous villain!
Thou call’st on him that hates thee: it was he
That made the overture99 of thy treasons to us,
Who is too good to pity thee.
GLOUCESTER O, my follies! Then Edgar was abused101.
Kind gods, forgive me that, and prosper him!
REGAN Go thrust him out at gates, and let him smell
His way to Dover.
Exit [a Servant] with Gloucester
How is’t, my lord? How look you?105
CORNWALL I have received a hurt: follow me, lady.—
Turn out that eyeless villain: throw this slave
Upon the dunghill.— Regan, I bleed apace108:
Untimely109 comes this hurt. Give me your arm.
Exeunt
Act 4
Scene 1
running scene 12
Enter Edgar Disguised as Poor Tom
EDGAR Yet better thus, and known to be contemned1,
Than still contemned and flattered2. To be worst,
The lowest and most dejected thing of fortune,
Stands still in esperance4, lives not in fear:
The lamentable change is from the best5,
The worst returns to laughter. Welcome, then,
Thou unsubstantial air that I embrace!
The wretch that thou hast blown unto the worst
Owes nothing to thy blasts.
Enter Gloucester and an Old Man
But who comes here? My father, poorly led10?
World, world, O world!
But that thy strange mutations12 make us hate thee,
Life would not yield to age13.
OLD MAN O, my good lord, I have been your tenant and your
father’s tenant these fourscore15 years.
GLOUCESTER Away, get thee away! Good friend, be gone:
Thy comforts can do me no good at all,
Thee they may hurt18.
OLD MAN You cannot see your way.
GLOUCESTER I have no way and therefore want no eyes:
I stumbled when I saw. Full oft ’tis seen
Our means secure us, and our mere defects22
Prove our commodities23. O dear son Edgar,
The food of thy abusèd24 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?
Aside
EDGAR O gods! Who is’t can say, ‘I am at the worst’?
I am worse than e’er I was.
OLD MAN ’Tis poor mad Tom.
Aside
EDGAR And worse I may be yet: the worst is not31
So long as we can say ‘This is the worst.’
OLD MAN Fellow, where goest?
GLOUCESTER Is it a beggar-man?
OLD MAN Madman and beggar too.
GLOUCESTER He has some reason36, else he could not beg.
I’th’last night’s storm I such a fellow saw,
Which made me think a man a worm: my son
Came then into my mind and yet my mind
Was then scarce friends with him. I have heard more since.
As flies to wanton41 boys are we to th’gods:
They kill us for their sport.
Aside
EDGAR How should this be?
Bad is the trade44 that must play fool to sorrow,
Ang’ring itself and others.— Bless thee, master!
GLOUCESTER Is that the naked fellow?
OLD MAN Ay, my lord.
GLOUCESTER Get thee away: if for my sake
Thou wilt o’ertake us hence a mile or twain
I’th’way toward Dover, do it for ancient love50,
And bring some covering for this naked soul,
Which I’ll entreat to lead me.
OLD MAN Alack, sir, he is mad.
GLOUCESTER ’Tis the time’s plague54, when madmen lead the blind.
Do as I bid thee, or rather do thy pleasure:
Above the rest56, be gone.
OLD MAN I’ll bring him the best ’pparel57 that I have,
Come on’t what will58.
Exit
GLOUCESTER Sirrah, naked fellow—
Aside
EDGAR Poor Tom’s a-cold.— I cannot daub it60 further.
GLOUCESTER Come hither, fellow.
Aside
EDGAR And yet I must.— Bless thy sweet eyes, they bleed.
GLOUCESTER Know’st thou the way to Dover?
EDGAR Both stile and gate, horseway and footpath. Poor
Tom hath been scared out of his good wits: bless thee, good
man’s son, from the foul fiend!
GLOUCESTER Here, take this purse, thou whom the heav’ns’ plagues
Gives a purse
Have humbled to all strokes68: that I am wretched
Makes thee the happier69: heavens, deal so still.
Let the superfluous and lust-dieted70 man,
That slaves your ordinance71, that will not see
Because he does not feel, feel your pow’r quickly72,
So distribution should undo excess,
And each man have enough. Dost thou know Dover?
EDGAR Ay, master.
GLOUCESTER There is a cliff, whose high and bending76 head
Looks fearfully in the confinèd77 deep:
Bring me but to the very brim78 of it
And I’ll repair the misery thou dost bear
With something rich about me80: from that place
I shall no leading need.
EDGAR Give me thy arm:
Poor Tom shall lead thee.
Exeunt
Act 4 Scene 2
running scene 13
Enter Goneril, Bastard [Edmund] and Steward [Oswald]
GONERIL Welcome, my lord1: I marvel our mild husband
Not met us on the way.— Now, where’s your master?
OSWALD Madam, within, but never man so changed.
I told him of the army4 that was landed,
He smiled at it: I told him you were coming,
His answer was ‘The worse’: of Gloucester’s treachery
And of the loyal service of his son
When I informed him, then he called me ‘sot’8
And told me I had turned the wrong side out9.
What most he should dislike seems pleasant to him;
What like, offensive.
To Edmund
GONERIL Then shall you go no further.
It is the cowish13 terror of his spirit,
That dares not undertake14: he’ll not feel wrongs
Which tie him to an answer. Our wishes on the way15
May prove effects. Back, Edmund, to my brother16:
Hasten his musters and conduct his powers17.
I must change names at home and give the distaff18
Into my husband’s hands. This trusty servant
Shall pass between us: ere long you are like20 to hear —
If you dare venture in your own behalf —
A mistress’s22 command. Wear this; spare speech.
Gives a favor
Decline your head: this kiss, if it durst speak,
Kisses him
Would stretch thy spirits24 up into the air.
Conceive25, and fare thee well.
EDMUND Yours in the ranks of death26.
Exit
GONERIL My most dear Gloucester!
O, the difference of man and man!
To thee a woman’s services29 are due:
My fool usurps30 my body.
OSWALD Madam, here comes my lord.
Exit
Enter Albany
GONERIL I have been worth the whistle32.
ALBANY O Goneril,33
You are not worth the dust which the rude34 wind
Blows in your face.
GONERIL Milk-livered36 man,
That bear’st a cheek for blows, a head for wrongs,
Who hast not in thy brows an eye discerning38
EDMUND If the matter of this paper be certain, you have
mighty business in hand.
CORNWALL True or false, it hath made thee Earl of Gloucester.
Seek out where thy father is, that he may be ready for our
apprehension17.
Aside
EDMUND If I find him comforting the king, it will stuff
his suspicion19 more fully.— I will persevere in my course of
loyalty, though the conflict be sore between that and my
blood.
CORNWALL I will lay trust upon thee, and thou shalt find a dear
father in my love.
Exeunt
Act 3 Scene 6
running scene 10
Enter Kent and Gloucester
GLOUCESTER Here is better than the open air, take it thankfully. I
will piece out2 the comfort with what addition I can: I will not
be long from you.
Exit
KENT All the power of his wits have given way to his
impatience5: the gods reward your kindness!
Enter Lear, Edgar and Fool
Edgar disguised as Poor Tom
EDGAR Frateretto calls me, and tells me Nero is an angler6 in
the lake of darkness7. Pray, innocent, and beware the foul
fiend.
FOOL Prithee, nuncle, tell me whether a madman be a
gentleman or a yeoman10?
LEAR A king, a king!
FOOL No, he’s a yeoman that has a gentleman to12 his son,
for he’s a mad13 yeoman that sees his son a gentleman before
him.
LEAR To have a thousand15 with red burning spits
Come hizzing in upon ’em16—
EDGAR Bless thy five wits!
KENT O pity! Sir, where is the patience now
That you so oft have boasted to retain?
Aside
EDGAR My tears begin to take his part so much
They mar my counterfeiting21.
LEAR The little dogs and all,
Trey, Blanch and Sweetheart23, see, they bark at me.
EDGAR Tom will throw his head at them. Avaunt24, you curs!
Be thy mouth or black or25 white,
Tooth that poisons26 if it bite,
Mastiff, greyhound, mongrel grim27,
Hound or spaniel, brach or him28,
Or bobtail tyke or trundle-tail29,
Tom will make him weep and wail:
For, with throwing thus my head,
Dogs leapt the hatch32, and all are fled.
Do de, de, de. Sessa! Come, march to wakes33 and fairs and
market towns. Poor Tom, thy horn34 is dry.
LEAR Then let them anatomize35 Regan: see what breeds
about her heart. Is there any cause in nature that make
To Edgar
these hard hearts?— You, sir, I entertain37 for one of
my hundred; only I do not like the fashion of your garments:
you will say they are Persian39; but let them be changed.
Enter Gloucester
At a distance
KENT Now, good my lord, lie here and rest awhile.
LEAR Make no noise, make no noise: draw the curtains41.
So, so, we’ll go to supper i’th’morning.
Sleeps
FOOL And I’ll go to bed at noon.
To Kent
GLOUCESTER Come hither, friend: where is the king my master?
KENT Here, sir, but trouble him not: his wits are gone.
GLOUCESTER Good friend, I prithee take him in thy arms;
I have o’erheard a plot of death upon him:
There is a litter48 ready, lay him in’t
And drive toward Dover49, friend, where thou shalt meet
Both welcome and protection. Take up thy master:
If thou shouldst dally half an hour, his life,
With thine and all that offer to defend him,
Stand in assurèd loss. Take up, take up,
They carry Lear
And follow me, that will to some provision54
Give thee quick conduct. Come, come, away.
Exeunt
Act 3 Scene 7
running scene 11
Enter Cornwall, Regan, Goneril, Bastard [Edmund] and Servants
To Goneril
CORNWALL Post1 speedily to my lord your husband;
Gives a letter
show him this letter: the army of France is
landed.— Seek out the traitor Gloucester.
[Exeunt some Servants]
REGAN Hang him instantly.
GONERIL Pluck out his eyes.
CORNWALL Leave him to my displeasure. Edmund, keep you our
sister7 company: the revenges we are bound to take upon
your traitorous father are not fit for your beholding. Advise8
the duke where you are going, to a most festinate9
preparation: we are bound to the like. Our posts10 shall be swift
and intelligent11 betwixt us. Farewell, dear sister: farewell, my
lord of Gloucester12.
Enter Oswald
How now? Where’s the king?
OSWALD My lord of Gloucester hath conveyed him hence:
Some five- or six-and-thirty of his knights,
Hot questrists17 after him, met him at gate,
Who, with some other of the lord’s18 dependants,
Are gone with him toward Dover, where they boast
To have well-armèd friends.
CORNWALL Get horses for your mistress.
GONERIL Farewell, sweet lord, and sister.
Exeunt [Goneril, Edmund and Oswald]
CORNWALL Edmund, farewell.—
Go seek the traitor Gloucester,
Pinion him25 like a thief, bring him before us.
[Exeunt other Servants]
Though well we may not pass upon his life26
Without the form of justice, yet our power
Shall do a court’sy28 to our wrath, which men
May blame but not control.
Enter Gloucester and Servants
Who’s there? The traitor?
REGAN Ingrateful fox! ’Tis he.
CORNWALL Bind fast his corky31 arms.
GLOUCESTER What means your graces?
Good my friends, consider you are my guests:
Do me no foul play, friends.
CORNWALL Bind him, I say.
Servants bind him
REGAN Hard, hard. O, filthy traitor!
GLOUCESTER Unmerciful lady as you are, I’m none.
CORNWALL To this chair bind him.— Villain, thou shalt find—
Regan plucks his beard
GLOUCESTER By the kind gods, ’tis most ignobly done
To pluck me by the beard.
REGAN So white41, and such a traitor?
GLOUCESTER Naughty42 lady,
These hairs which thou dost ravish43 from my chin
Will quicken44 and accuse thee. I am your host:
With robbers’ hands my hospitable favours45
You should not ruffle46 thus. What will you do?
CORNWALL Come, sir, what letters had you late from France?
REGAN Be simple answered48, for we know the truth.
CORNWALL And what confederacy have you with the traitors
Late footed50 in the kingdom?
REGAN To whose hands you have sent the lunatic king? Speak.
GLOUCESTER I have a letter guessingly52 set down,
Which came from one that’s of a neutral heart,
And not from one opposed54.
CORNWALL Cunning.
REGAN And false.
CORNWALL Where hast thou sent the king?
GLOUCESTER To Dover.
REGAN Wherefore to Dover? Wast thou not charged at peril59—
CORNWALL Wherefore to Dover? Let him answer that.
GLOUCESTER I am tied to th’stake and I must stand the course61.
REGAN Wherefore to Dover?
GLOUCESTER Because I would not see thy cruel nails
Pluck out his poor old eyes, nor thy fierce sister
In his anointed65 flesh stick boarish fangs.
The sea, with such a storm as his bare head
In hell-black night endured, would have buoyed67 up
And quenched the stellèd68 fires:
Yet, poor old heart, he holp the heavens to rain69.
If wolves had at thy gate howled that stern70 time,
Thou shouldst have said ‘Good porter, turn the key71.’
All cruels else subscribe72: but I shall see
The wingèd vengeance73 overtake such children.
CORNWALL See’t shalt thou never. Fellows74, hold the chair.—
Upon these eyes of thine I’ll set my foot.
GLOUCESTER He that will think to live till he be old,
Cornwall grinds out his eye
Give me some help! O cruel! O you gods!
REGAN One side will mock another: th’other too.
CORNWALL If you see vengeance—
SERVANT Hold your hand, my lord:
I have served you ever since I was a child,
But better service have I never done you
Than now to bid you hold.
REGAN How now, you dog?
To Regan
SERVANT If you did wear a beard upon your chin,
I’d shake it on this quarrel.— What do you mean86?
They draw and fight
CORNWALL My villain87?
SERVANT Nay, then, come on, and take the chance of anger88.
To a Servant
REGAN Give me thy sword. A peasant stand up thus?
Kills him
SERVANT O, I am slain! My lord, you have one eye left
To see some mischief on him91. O!
Dies
CORNWALL Lest it see more, prevent it. Out, vile jelly!
Puts out
Gloucester’s other eye
Where is thy lustre now?
GLOUCESTER All dark and comfortless. Where’s my son Edmund?
Edmund, enkindle all the sparks of nature95
To quit96 this horrid act.
REGAN Out97, treacherous villain!
Thou call’st on him that hates thee: it was he
That made the overture99 of thy treasons to us,
Who is too good to pity thee.
GLOUCESTER O, my follies! Then Edgar was abused101.
Kind gods, forgive me that, and prosper him!
REGAN Go thrust him out at gates, and let him smell
His way to Dover.
Exit [a Servant] with Gloucester
How is’t, my lord? How look you?105
CORNWALL I have received a hurt: follow me, lady.—
Turn out that eyeless villain: throw this slave
Upon the dunghill.— Regan, I bleed apace108:
Untimely109 comes this hurt. Give me your arm.
Exeunt
Act 4
Scene 1
running scene 12
Enter Edgar Disguised as Poor Tom
EDGAR Yet better thus, and known to be contemned1,
Than still contemned and flattered2. To be worst,
The lowest and most dejected thing of fortune,
Stands still in esperance4, lives not in fear:
The lamentable change is from the best5,
The worst returns to laughter. Welcome, then,
Thou unsubstantial air that I embrace!
The wretch that thou hast blown unto the worst
Owes nothing to thy blasts.
Enter Gloucester and an Old Man
But who comes here? My father, poorly led10?
World, world, O world!
But that thy strange mutations12 make us hate thee,
Life would not yield to age13.
OLD MAN O, my good lord, I have been your tenant and your
father’s tenant these fourscore15 years.
GLOUCESTER Away, get thee away! Good friend, be gone:
Thy comforts can do me no good at all,
Thee they may hurt18.
OLD MAN You cannot see your way.
GLOUCESTER I have no way and therefore want no eyes:
I stumbled when I saw. Full oft ’tis seen
Our means secure us, and our mere defects22
Prove our commodities23. O dear son Edgar,
The food of thy abusèd24 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?
Aside
EDGAR O gods! Who is’t can say, ‘I am at the worst’?
I am worse than e’er I was.
OLD MAN ’Tis poor mad Tom.
Aside
EDGAR And worse I may be yet: the worst is not31
So long as we can say ‘This is the worst.’
OLD MAN Fellow, where goest?
GLOUCESTER Is it a beggar-man?
OLD MAN Madman and beggar too.
GLOUCESTER He has some reason36, else he could not beg.
I’th’last night’s storm I such a fellow saw,
Which made me think a man a worm: my son
Came then into my mind and yet my mind
Was then scarce friends with him. I have heard more since.
As flies to wanton41 boys are we to th’gods:
They kill us for their sport.
Aside
EDGAR How should this be?
Bad is the trade44 that must play fool to sorrow,
Ang’ring itself and others.— Bless thee, master!
GLOUCESTER Is that the naked fellow?
OLD MAN Ay, my lord.
GLOUCESTER Get thee away: if for my sake
Thou wilt o’ertake us hence a mile or twain
I’th’way toward Dover, do it for ancient love50,
And bring some covering for this naked soul,
Which I’ll entreat to lead me.
OLD MAN Alack, sir, he is mad.
GLOUCESTER ’Tis the time’s plague54, when madmen lead the blind.
Do as I bid thee, or rather do thy pleasure:
Above the rest56, be gone.
OLD MAN I’ll bring him the best ’pparel57 that I have,
Come on’t what will58.
Exit
GLOUCESTER Sirrah, naked fellow—
Aside
EDGAR Poor Tom’s a-cold.— I cannot daub it60 further.
GLOUCESTER Come hither, fellow.
Aside
EDGAR And yet I must.— Bless thy sweet eyes, they bleed.
GLOUCESTER Know’st thou the way to Dover?
EDGAR Both stile and gate, horseway and footpath. Poor
Tom hath been scared out of his good wits: bless thee, good
man’s son, from the foul fiend!
GLOUCESTER Here, take this purse, thou whom the heav’ns’ plagues
Gives a purse
Have humbled to all strokes68: that I am wretched
Makes thee the happier69: heavens, deal so still.
Let the superfluous and lust-dieted70 man,
That slaves your ordinance71, that will not see
Because he does not feel, feel your pow’r quickly72,
So distribution should undo excess,
And each man have enough. Dost thou know Dover?
EDGAR Ay, master.
GLOUCESTER There is a cliff, whose high and bending76 head
Looks fearfully in the confinèd77 deep:
Bring me but to the very brim78 of it
And I’ll repair the misery thou dost bear
With something rich about me80: from that place
I shall no leading need.
EDGAR Give me thy arm:
Poor Tom shall lead thee.
Exeunt
Act 4 Scene 2
running scene 13
Enter Goneril, Bastard [Edmund] and Steward [Oswald]
GONERIL Welcome, my lord1: I marvel our mild husband
Not met us on the way.— Now, where’s your master?
OSWALD Madam, within, but never man so changed.
I told him of the army4 that was landed,
He smiled at it: I told him you were coming,
His answer was ‘The worse’: of Gloucester’s treachery
And of the loyal service of his son
When I informed him, then he called me ‘sot’8
And told me I had turned the wrong side out9.
What most he should dislike seems pleasant to him;
What like, offensive.
To Edmund
GONERIL Then shall you go no further.
It is the cowish13 terror of his spirit,
That dares not undertake14: he’ll not feel wrongs
Which tie him to an answer. Our wishes on the way15
May prove effects. Back, Edmund, to my brother16:
Hasten his musters and conduct his powers17.
I must change names at home and give the distaff18
Into my husband’s hands. This trusty servant
Shall pass between us: ere long you are like20 to hear —
If you dare venture in your own behalf —
A mistress’s22 command. Wear this; spare speech.
Gives a favor
Decline your head: this kiss, if it durst speak,
Kisses him
Would stretch thy spirits24 up into the air.
Conceive25, and fare thee well.
EDMUND Yours in the ranks of death26.
Exit
GONERIL My most dear Gloucester!
O, the difference of man and man!
To thee a woman’s services29 are due:
My fool usurps30 my body.
OSWALD Madam, here comes my lord.
Exit
Enter Albany
GONERIL I have been worth the whistle32.
ALBANY O Goneril,33
You are not worth the dust which the rude34 wind
Blows in your face.
GONERIL Milk-livered36 man,
That bear’st a cheek for blows, a head for wrongs,
Who hast not in thy brows an eye discerning38
