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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 the cause?
Adultery?

Thou shalt not die; die for adultery? No,
The wren goes to't, and the fmall gilded flie
Does lecher in my fight.

Let copulation thrive, for Glofter's baftard fon
Was kinder to his father, than my daughters
Got 'tween the lawful sheets.

To't, luxury, pell mell; for I lack foldiers.
Behold yond fimpering Dame,

"Whofe face between her forks prefages fnow;
That minces virtue, and does shake the head
To hear of pleasure's name.

8

7 The fitchew, nor the foyled horse, goes to't With a more riotous appetite;

Down from the waifte they're centaurs,

Though women all above;

But to the girdle do the Gods inherit,

Beneath is all the fiend's; there's hell, there's darkness, There is the fulphurous pit, burning, fcalding, ftench, confumption. Fy, fy, fy; pah, pah;

Give me an ounce of civet, good apothecary,
To sweeten my imagination! there's mony for thee.
Glo. O, let me kifs that hand.

Lear. Let me wipe it firft, it fmells of mortality. Glo. O ruin'd piece of nature! This great world Shall fo wear out to nought. Do'st thou know me? Lear. I remember thine eyes well enough: doft

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thou fquiny 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. Edg. I would not take this from report. It is, And my heart breaks at it.

Lear. Read.

Glo. What, with this cafe of eyes?

Lear. Oh, ho, are you there with me? no eyes in your head, nor no mony in your purfe? your eyes are in a heavy cafe, your purse in a light; yet you fee how this world goes.

Glo. I fee it feelingly.

Lear. What, art mad? a man may fee how this world goes, with no eyes. Look with thine ears: fee, how yond justice rails upon yond fimple thief. Hark in thine ear. Change places, and handy-dandy, which is the juftice, which is the thief? Thou haft feen a farmer's dog bark at a beggar.

Glo. Ay, Sir.

Lear. And the creature run from the cur.

There

thou might'ft behold the great image of authority; a

dog's obey'd in office.-

Thou rafcal beadle, hold thy bloody hand:

Why doft thou lafh that whore? ftrip thy own back; Thou hotly luft'ft to use her in that kind,

For which thou whip'ft her. Th' ufurer hangs the

cozener.

Through tatter'd cloaths fmall vices do appear;
Robes and furr'd gowns hide all. Plate fin with
gold,

And the ftrong lance of juftice hurtlefs breaks :
Arm it in rags, a pigmy's ftraw doth pierce it.

9 Robes and furr'd gowns hide all] From bide all to acefer's lips, the whole paffage is

VOL. VI.

wanting in the first edition, being added, I fuppofe, at his revifal.

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130

None does offend, none, I say, none; 'I'll able 'em ;
Take that of me, my friend, who have the pow'r
To feal th' accufer's lips. Get thee glass eyes,
And, like a fcurvy politician, feem

To see the things thou doft not.

Now, now, now, now. Pull off my boots. Harder, harder. So.

Edg. O matter and impertinency mixt. Reason in madness !

Lear. If thou wilt weep my fortunes, take my eyes. I know thee well enough, thy name is Glofter. Thou must be patient; we came crying hither; Thou know'ft, the first time that we fmell the air, We wawle and cry. I will preach to thee. MarkGlo. Alack, alack the day!

Lear. When we are born, we cry, that we are come To this great ftage of fools.-This a good block !It were a delicate ftratagem to shoe

A troop of horse with Felt; I'll put't in proof;
And when I've ftol'n upon thefe fons-in-law,
Then kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill.

1 -I'll able 'em ;] An old phrafe fignifying to qualify, or uphold them. So Scogan, contemporary with Chaucer, fays,

Set all my life after thyne ordi

nance

And able me to mercie or thou
deme.

But the Oxford Editor alters it,
to abfive. WARBURTON.

2 -This a good block !] 1 do not fee how this block correfponds either with his foregoing or following train of thoughts. Madmen think not wholly at random. I would read thus a good Flock. Flocks are wooll moulded together. The fentence then follows properly:

It were a delicate fratagem to free

A troop of korfe with felt ;—

that is, with flocks kneaded to a
mass, a practice I believe fome-
times ufed in former ages, for
it is mentioned in Ariofio.

-Fece nel cader firepito quanto
Aceffe avuto fotto i piedi il

feltro.

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Enter a Gentleman, with Attendants.

Gent. O, here he is, lay hand upon him.-Sir, Your moft dear daughter

Lear. No refcue? What, a prifoner? I am even The natural fool of fortune. Use me weli,

You shall have ranfome. Let me have furgeons,
I am cut to th' brains.

Gent. You fhall have any thing.
Lear. No feconds? all myself?

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

And laying autumn's duft. I will die bravely,
Like a fmug 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't. Come, an' you get it, You shall get it by running. Sa, fa, fa, fa.

[Exit. Gent. A fight moft pitiful in the meaneft wretch, Past speaking of in a King. Thou haft one daughter, Who redeems nature from the general curfe

Which twain have brought her to.

Edg. Hail, gentle Sir.

Gent. Sir, fpeed you.

What's your Will?

Edg. Do you hear aught, Sir, of a battle toward? Gent. Moft fure, and vulgar; every one hears that, Which can diftinguish found.

Edg. But by your favour,

How near's the other army?

Gent. Near, and on speedy foot. + The main defcry Stands on the hourly thought.

3-a man of falt ;] Would make a man melt away like falt in hot weather.

• Then there's life in it.] The cafe is not yet defperate.

K

2

-The main defery

Stands on the hourly thought.] The main body is expected to be defery'd every hour. The expreffion is harsh.

Edg.

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 worfer spirit tempt me again

To die before you please!

Edg. Well pray you, father.

Gle. Now, good Sir, what are you?

Edg. A molt poor man, made tame to fortune's blows,

Who, by the art of known and feeling forrows, Am pregnant to good pity. Give me your hand, I'll lead you to fome biding.

Glo. Hearty thanks;

The bounty and the benizon of heav'n

To boot, and boot!

SCENE IX.

Enter Steward.

Stew. A proclaim'd prize! most happy!
-That eyelefs head of thine was first fram'd flesh,
To raise my fortunes. Old unhappy traitor,
5 Briefly thyself remember. The fword is out,
That must destroy thee.

Glo. Let thy friendly hand

Put ftrength enough to it.

Stew. Wherefore, bold peasant,

[Edgar opposes.

Dar'st thou fupport a publish'd traitor? Hence,

4 Who, by the art of known and feeling furrows. ] i. e. forrows paft and prefent; but the Oxford Editor lofes all this fenfe, by altering it to

-knowing and feeling. WARB.

5 Briefy thyself remember:] i. e. quickly recollect the past offences of thy life, and recommend thy felf to heaven.

WARBURTON.

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