course.

Reg. Wherefore to Dover?

Glo. Because I would not see thy cruel nails Pluck out his poor old eyes; nor thy fierce sister In his anointed flesh stick boarish fangs. The sea, with such a storm as his bare head

In hell-black night endur'd, would have buoy'd up,
And quench'd the stelled' fires; yet, poor old heart,
He holp the heavens to rain.

If wolves had at thy gate howl'd that stern time,
Thou should'st have said, Good porter, turn the key;
All cruels else subscrib'd:-But I shall see
The winged vengeance overtake such children.
Corn. See it shalt thou never :-Fellows, hold
the chair:

Upon these eyes of thine I'll set my foot.

[Gloster is held down in the chair, while Cornwall plucks out one of his eyes, and sets his foot on it.

Glo. He, that will think to live till he be old, Give me some help :-O cruel! O ye gods! Reg. One side will mock another; the other too. Corn. If you see vengeance,Serv.

Hold your hand, my lord. I have serv'd you ever since I was a child; But better service have I never done you, Than now to bid you hold.

Reg. How now, you dog! Serv. If you did wear a beard upon your chin, I'd shake it on this quarrel: What do you mean? Corn. My villain! [Draws, and runs at him. Serv. Nay, then come on, and take the chance of anger.

[Drains. They fight. Cornwall is wounded. Reg. Give me thy sword.-[To another Servant.] A peasant stand up thus!

[Snatches a sword, comes behind, and stabs him. Serv. O, I am slain!-My lord, you have one eve left

[Dies.

To see some mischief on him :-0! Corn. Lest it see more, prevent it:-Out, vile jelly!

Where is thy lustre now?

[Tears out Gloster's other eye, and throws it on the ground.

Glo. All dark and comfortless.-Where's my son Edmund ?

Edmund, enkindle all the sparks of nature,
To quit this horrid act.

Reg.

Out, treacherous villain! Thou call'st on him that hates thee: it was he That made the overture of thy treasons to us; Who is too good to pity thee.

Glo.

O my follies!

Then Edgar was abus'd.-
Kind gods, forgive me that, and prosper him!
Reg. Go, thrust him out at gates, and let him smell
His way to Dover.-How is't, my lord? How look
you?

Corn. I have receiv'd a hurt :-Follow me,

ladv.

Turn out that eveless villain ;-throw this slave Upon the dunghill.-Regan, I bleed apace : Untimely comes this hurt; Give me your arm. [Exit Cornwall, led by Regan;-Servants unbind Gloster, and lead him out.

(1) Starred.

(2) Yielded, submitted to the necessity of the occasion.

(3) Requite. (4) Laid open. (5) Madman.

Edg. Yet better thus, and known to be contemn'd,

Than still conternn'd, and flatter'd. To be worst,
The lowest, and most dejected thing of fortune,
Stands still in esperance, lives not in fear:
The lamentable change is from the best;
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.-But who comes
here?

Enter Gloster, led by an Old Man.
My father, poorly led?-World, world, O world!
But that thy strange mutations make us hate thee,
Life would not yield to age.

Old Man. O my good lord, I have been your tenant, and your father's tenant, these forescore

years.

Glo. Away, get thee away; good friend, be gone: Thy comforts can do me no good at all, Thee they may hurt.

Old Man. Alack, sir, you cannot see your way. Glo. I have no way, and therefore want no eyes; I stumbled when I saw: Full oft 'tis seen, Our mean secures us; and our mere defects Prove our commodities.-Ah, dear son Edgar The food of thy abused 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? Edg. [Aside.] 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. Edg. [Aside.] And worse I may be yet: The

worst is not,

So long as we can say, This is the worst.
Old Man. Fellow, where goest?

Glo.
Is it a beggar-man?
Old Man. Madman and beggar too.
Glo. He has some reason, else he could not beg.
I'the 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 wanton boys, are we to the gods;
They kill us for their sport.

(6) i. e. It is better to be thus contemned and know it, than to be flattered by those who secretly

contemn us.

(7) In hope.

(8) Changes.

Edg.

Bad is the trade must play the fool to sorrow, Ang'ring itself and others. [Aside.]-Bless thee,

master!

Glo. Is that the naked fellow? Old Man.

Ay, my lord.

Glo. Then, pr'ythee, get thee gone: If, for my sake,

Thou wilt overtake us, hence a mile or twain,
the way to Dover, do it for ancient love;
And bring some covering for this naked soul,
Whom l'il entreat to lead me.

Old Man.
Alack, sir, he's mad.
Glo. 'Tis the time's plague, when madmen lead

the blind.

Edg. Poor Tom's a-cold-I cannot daub' it further.

[Aside.

Glo. Come hither, fellow. Edg. [Aside.] And yet I must.-Bless thy sweet eves, they bleed.

Glo. Know'st thou the way to Dover? Edg. Both stile and gate, horse-way, and footpath. Poor Tom hath been scared out of his good wits: Bless the good man from the foul fiend! Five fiends have been in poor Tom at once; of lust, as, Obilicut; Hobbididance, prince of dumbness; Malu, of stealing; Modo, of murder; and Flibbertigibbet, of mopping and mowing; who since possesses chamber-inaids and waiting-women. So, bless thee, master!

Glo. Here, take this purse, thou whom the heaven's plagues

Have hunabled to all strokes: that I am wretched,
Makes the happier :-Heavens, deal so still!
Let the superfluous, and lust-dieted man,
That slaves your ordinance, that will not see
Because he doth not feel, feel your power quickly;
So distribution should undo excess,

And each man have enough.-Dost thou know
Dover?

Edg. Av, master.

Glo. There is a cliff, whose high and bending head

Looks fearfully in the confined deep :
Bring me but to the very brim of it,
And I'll repair the misery thou dost bear,

With something rich about me: from that place
I shall no leading need.
Edg.

Poor Tom shall lead thee.

Give me thy arm;

[Exeunt.

Then shall you go no further. [To Edmund. It is the cowish terror of his spirit, That dares not undertake: he'll not feel wrongs, Which tie him to an answer: Our wishes, on the

way,

May prove effects.' Back, Edmund, to my brother;
Hasten his musters, and conduct his powers:
I must change arms at home, and give the distaff
Into my husband's hands. This trusty servant
Shall pass between us: ere long you are like to hear
If you dare venture in your own behalf,
A mistress's command. Wear this; spare speech;
[Giving a favour.
Decline your head: this kiss, if it durst speak,
Would stretch thy spirits up into the air ;-
Conceive, and fare thee well.
Edm. Yours in the ranks of death.
Gon.

My most dear Gloster!
[Exit Edmund.
O, the difference of man, and man! To thee
A woman's services are due; my fool
Usurps my bed.
Slew.

Madam, here comes my lord [Exit Steward.

Enter Albany.

Gon. I have been worth the whistle." Alb. O Goneril! You are not worth the dust which the rude wind Blows in your face.-I fear your disposition: That nature, which contemus its origin, Cannot be border'd certain in itself; She that herself will sliver and disbranch From her material sap, perforce must wither And come to deadly use.

Gon. No more; the text is foolish.

Alb. Wisdom and goodness to the vile secm vile. Filths savour but themselves. What have you done? Tigers, not daughters, what have you perform'd? A father, and a gracious aged man,

Whose reverence the head-lugg'd bear would lick, Most barbarous, most degenerate! have you inadded.

Could my good brother suffer you to do it?
A man, a prince, by him so benefited?
If that the heavens do not their visible spirits
Send quickly down to tame these vile offences,
Twill come,

Gon. Welcome, my lord: I marvel, our mild husband

Not met us on the way :-Now, where's your master?

Stew. Madam, within; but never man so chang'd: I told him of the army that was landed; He smil'd at it: I told him, you were coming; His answer was, The worse: of Gloster's treachery, And of the loyal service of his son,

(1) Disguise.

Thine honour from thy suffering; that not know'st,
Fools do those villains pity, who are punish'd
Ere they have done their mischief. Where's thy
drum?

France spreads his banners in our noiseless land:
With plumed helm thy slayer begins threats;
Whilst thou, a moral fool, sit'st still, and cri'st,
Alack! Why does he so?

Alb.
See thyself, devil!
Proper deformity seems not in the fiend
So horrid, as in woman.
Gon.
O vain fool!

(3) i. e. Our wishes on the road may be com

(4) Worth calling for.

(5) Tear off.

Mess. Madam, news; The British powers are marching hitherward.

Cor. 'Tis known before; our preparation stands
In expectation of them.-O dear father,
It is thy business that I go about,
Therefore great France

My mourning, and important tears, hath pitied.
No blown' ambition doth our arms incite,
But love, dear love, and our ag'd father's right:
Soon may I hear, and see him.

[Exeunt. SCENE V.-A room in Gloster's castle. Enter Regan and Steward.

Reg. But are my brother's powers set forth?

Ay, madam.

Himself

Stew.
Madam, with much ado :
Your sister is the better soldier.

Reg. Lord Edmund spake not with your lord at

home?

Stew. No, madam.

Reg. What might import my sister's letter to him? Stew. I know not, lady.

Reg. 'Faith, he is posted hence on serious matter.
It was great ignorance, Gloster's eyes being out,
To let him live; where he arrives, he moves
All hearts against us: Edmund, I think, is gone,
In pity of his misery, to despatch

His nighted life; moreover, to descry
The strength o'the enemy.

Stew. I must needs after him, madam, with my letter.

Reg. Our troops set forth to-morrow; stay with us;

The ways are dangerous.

Stew.

Madam, I had ratherReg. I know your lady does not love her husband;

I am sure of that: and at her late being here,
She gave strange ciliads, and most speaking looks
To noble Edmund: I know, you are of her bosom.
Stew. I, madam?

Reg. I speak in understanding; you are, know it:

Therefore, I do advise you, take this note:
My lord is dead; Edmund and I have talk'd;
And more convenient is he for my hand,
Than for your lady's :-You may gather more."
If you do find him, pray you, give him this;
And when your mistress hears thus much from you,
I pray, desire her call her wisdom to her.
So, fare you well.

(1) i. e. The reason which should guide it.
(2) Importunate. (3) Inflated, swelling.
(4) i. e. His life made dark as night.
(5) A cast, or significant glance of the eye.

If you do chance to hear of that blind traitor,
Preferment falls on him that cuts him off.
Stew. 'Would I could meet him, madam! {
would show

Fare thee well. [Exe.

What party I do follow.
Reg.
SCENE VI.-The country near Dover. Enter
Gloster, and Edgar, dressed like a peasant.
Glo. When shall we come to the top of that same
hill?

Edg. You do climb up it now: look, how we labour.

Glo. Methinks, the ground is even.
Edg.

Hark, do you hear the sea?
Glo.

Horrible steep:

No, truly.

Edg. Why, then your other senses grow imper

fect By your eyes' anguish. Glo. So may it be, indeed: Methinks, thy voice is alter'd; and thou speak'st In better phrase, and matter, than thou didst. Edg. You are much deceiv'd; in nothing am I chang'd, But in my garments.

Glo.

Methinks, you are better spoken. Edg. Come on, sir; here's the place :-Stand still. -How fearful

And dizzy 'tis, to cast one's eyes so low!
The crows, and choughs, that wing the midway air,
Show scarce so gross as beetles: Half way down
Hangs one that gathers samphire;' dreadful trade!
Methinks, he seems no bigger than his head :
The fishermen, that walk upon the beach,
Appear like mice; and yon' tall anchoring bark,
Diminish'd to her cock;10 her cock, a buoy
Almost too small for sight: The murmuring surge,
That on the number'd idle pebbles chafes,
Cannot be heard so high:-I'll look no more;
Lest my brain turn, and the deficient sight
Topple1 down headlong.

Glo.

Set me where you stand. Edg. Give me your hand: You are now within a foot

Of the extreme verge for all beneath the moon Would I not leap upright.

Glo.

Let go my hand.
Here, friend, is another purse; in it, a jewel
Well worth a poor man's taking: Fairies, and gods,
Prosper it with thee! Go thou further off;
Bid me farewell, and let me hear thee going.
Edg. Now fare you well, good sir. [Seems to go.
Glo.
With all my heart.
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 sights,
Shake patiently my great affliction off:
If I could bear it longer, and not fall

To quarrel with your great opposeless wills,
My snuff, and loathed part of nature, should
Burn itself out. If Edgar live, O, bless him!-
Now, fellow, fare thee well.

[He leaps, and falls along.
Edg.
Gone, sir? Farewell.
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 past.-Alive, or dead?

(6) Observe what I am saying. (7) Infer more. (8) Daws. (9) A vegetable gathered for pickling. (10) Her cock-boat. (11) Tumble.