GLOUCESTER
When shall I come to the top of that same hill?
EDGAR
You do climb up it now. Look how we labour.
GLOUCESTER
the ground is even.
EDGAR
Horrible steep.
Hark, do you hear the sea?
GLOUCESTER
No, truly.
EDGAR
Why, then, your other senses grow imperfect
By your eyes’ anguish.
GLOUCESTER
So may it be indeed.
voice is alter’d; and speak’st
In better phrase and matter than .
EDGAR
Y’are much deceiv’d: in nothing am I chang’d
But in my garments.
GLOUCESTER
you’re better spoken.
EDGAR
Come on, sir; here’s the place. Stand still. How fearful
And dizzy 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!
he seems no bigger than his head.
The fishermen that walk upon the beach
Appear like mice; and yond tall anchoring bark,
Diminish’d to her cock; her cock a buoy
Almost too small for sight: the murmuring surge
That on th’unnumber’d idle pebble chafes
Cannot be heard so high. I’ll look no more;
Lest my brain turn, and the deficient sight
Topple down headlong.
GLOUCESTER
Set me where you stand.
EDGAR
Give me your hand.
You are now within a foot of th’extreme verge.
For all beneath the moon would I not leap upright.
GLOUCESTER
Let go my hand.
Here, friend, ’s another purse; in it a jewel
Well worth a poor man’s taking. Fairies and gods
Prosper it with ! Go further off;
Bid me farewell, and let me hear going.
EDGAR
Now fare well, good sir.
GLOUCESTER
With all my heart.
EDGAR
Why I do trifle thus with his despair
Is done to cure it.
GLOUCESTER
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 well.
EDGAR
Gone, sir, farewell.
EDGAR
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?
Ho you, sir! friend! Hear you, sir? speak!
Thus might he pass indeed: yet he revives.
What are you, sir?
GLOUCESTER
Away, and let me die.
EDGAR
Hadst been but gossamer, feathers, air,
So many fathom down precipitating,
Thou’dst shiver’d like an egg: but breathe;
heavy substance; bleed’st not; speak’st; art sound.
Ten masts at each make not the altitude
Which perpendicularly fell.
life is a miracle. Speak yet again.
GLOUCESTER
But have I fall’n, or no?
EDGAR
From the dread summit of this chalky bourn.
Look up a-height, the shrill-gorg’d lark so far
Cannot be seen or heard. Do but look up.
GLOUCESTER
, I have no eyes.
Is wretchedness depriv’d that benefit
To end itself by death? yet some comfort
When misery could beguile the tyrant’s rage
And frustrate his proud will.
EDGAR
Give me your arm.
Up, so. How is’t? Feel you your legs? You stand.
GLOUCESTER
Too well, too well.
EDGAR
This is above all strangeness.
Upon the crown o’ the cliff what thing was that
Which parted from you?
GLOUCESTER
A poor unfortunate beggar.
EDGAR
As I stood here below, methought his eyes
Were two full moons; he had a thousand noses,
Horns whelk’d and waved like the enraged sea.
It was some fiend. Therefore, happy father,
Think that the clearest gods, who make them honours
Of men’s impossibilities, have preserv’d .
GLOUCESTER
I do remember now: henceforth I’ll bear
Affliction till it do cry out itself
‘Enough, enough,’ and die. That thing you speak of,
I took it for a man; often ’twould say,
‘The fiend, the fiend’; he led me to that place.
EDGAR
Bear free and patient thoughts. But who comes here?
EDGAR
The safer sense will accommodate
His master thus.
LEAR
No, they cannot touch me for coining. I am the King himself.
EDGAR
O side-piercing sight!
LEAR
Nature’s above art in that respect. There’s your press money. That fellow handles his bow like a crow-keeper: draw me a clothier’s yard. Look, look, a mouse! Peace, peace, this piece of toasted cheese will do’t. There’s my gauntlet; I’ll prove it on a giant. Bring up the brown bills. O, well flown, bird! i’ the clout, i’ the clout. Hewgh! Give the word.
EDGAR
Sweet marjoram.
LEAR
Pass.
GLOUCESTER
I know that voice.
LEAR
Ha! Goneril with a white beard! They flattered me like a dog; and told me I had white hairs in my beard the black ones were there. To say ‘ay’ and ‘no’ to everything I said ‘ay’ and ‘no’ to was no good divinity. When the rain came to wet me once, and the wind to make me chatter; when the thunder would not peace at my bidding; there I found ’em, there I smelt ’em out. Go to, they are not men o’ their words: they told me I was everything; a lie, I am not ague-proof.
GLOUCESTER
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 cause?
Adultery? 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 Gloucester’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 simp’ring dame,
Whose face between her forks presages 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 fiend’s; 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 .
GLOUCESTER
O, let me kiss that hand!
LEAR
Let me wipe it first; it smells of mortality.
GLOUCESTER
O ruin’d piece of nature, this great world
Shall so wear out to . know me?
LEAR
I remember eyes well enough. squiny at me?
No, do worst, blind Cupid; I’ll not love.
Read this challenge; mark but the penning of it.
GLOUCESTER
Were all the letters suns, I could not see one.
EDGAR
I would not take this from report,
It is, and my heart breaks at it.
LEAR
Read.
GLOUCESTER
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.
GLOUCESTER
I see it feelingly.
LEAR
What, art mad? A man may see how the world goes with no eyes. Look with ears. See how yon justice rails upon yon simple thief. Hark, in ear: change places; and, handy-dandy, which is the justice, which is the thief? seen a farmer’s dog bark at a beggar?
GLOUCESTER
Ay, sir.
LEAR
And the creature run from the cur? There mightst behold the great image of authority: a dog’s obeyed in office.
rascal beadle, hold bloody hand!
Why lash that whore? Strip own back;
hotly lusts to use her in that kind
For which whipp’st her. The usurer hangs the cozener.
Through tatter’d clothes great 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 pygmy’s straw does 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 the accuser’s lips. Get glass eyes,
And like a scurvy politician, seem
To see the things not. Now, now, now, now:
Pull off my boots: harder, harder, so.
EDGAR
O, matter and impertinency mix’d!
Reason in madness!
LEAR
If wilt weep my fortunes, take my eyes.
I know well enough, name is Gloucester.
must be patient; we came crying :
know’st the first time that we smell the air
We wawl and cry. I will preach to : mark.
GLOUCESTER
, 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’t in proof
And when I have stol’n upon these son-in-laws,
Then kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill!
GENTLEMAN
O, here he is: lay hand upon him. Sir,
Your most dear daughter—
LEAR
No rescue? What, a prisoner? I am even
The natural fool of fortune. Use me well;
You shall have ransom. Let me have surgeons;
I am cut to the brains.
GENTLEMAN
You shall have anything.
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.
GENTLEMAN
Good sir.
LEAR
I will die bravely, like a smug bridegroom.
What! I will be jovial. Come, come,
I am a king, my masters, know you that.
GENTLEMAN
You are a royal one, and we obey you.
LEAR
Then there’s life in’t. Come, and you get it,
You shall get it by running. Sa, sa, sa, sa!
GENTLEMAN
A sight most pitiful in the meanest wretch,
Past speaking of in a king! one daughter
Who redeems nature from the general curse
Which twain have brought her to.
EDGAR
Hail, gentle sir.
GENTLEMAN
Sir, speed you. What’s your will?
EDGAR
Do you hear , sir, of a battle toward?
GENTLEMAN
Most sure and vulgar.
Everyone hears that, which can distinguish sound.
EDGAR
But, by your favour,
How near’s the other army?
GENTLEMAN
Near and on speedy foot; the main descry
Stands on the hourly thought.
EDGAR
I thank you sir, that’s all.
GENTLEMAN
Though that the queen on special cause is here,
Her army is mov’d on.
EDGAR
I thank you, sir.
GLOUCESTER
You ever-gentle gods, take my breath from me;
Let not my worser spirit tempt me again
To die before you please.
EDGAR
Well pray you, father.
GLOUCESTER
Now, good sir, what are you?
EDGAR
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 biding.
GLOUCESTER
Hearty thanks:
The bounty and the benison of heaven
To boot, and boot.
OSWALD
A proclaim’d prize! Most happy!
That eyeless head of was first fram’d flesh
To raise my fortunes. old unhappy traitor,
Briefly thyself remember. The sword is out
That must destroy .
GLOUCESTER
Now let friendly hand
Put strength enough to’t.
OSWALD
, bold peasant,
Dar’st support a publish’d traitor? ;
Lest that th’infection of his fortune take
Like hold on . Let go his arm.
EDGAR
Chill not let go, zir, without vurther ’casion.
OSWALD
Let go, slave, or diest!
EDGAR
Good gentleman, go your gait, and let poor volke pass. An chud ha’ bin zwaggered out of my life, ’twould not ha’ bin zo long as by a vortnight. Nay, come not near th’old man; keep out, che vor , or ise try whether your costard or my ballow be the harder: chill be plain with you.
OSWALD
Out, dunghill!
EDGAR
Chill pick your teeth, zir. Come! No matter vor your foins.
OSWALD
Slave, slain me. Villain, take my purse.
If ever wilt thrive, bury my body;
And give the letters which find’st about me
To Edmund, Earl of Gloucester. Seek him out
Upon the British party. O, untimely death!
EDGAR
I know well. A serviceable villain,
As duteous to the vices of mistress
As badness would desire.
GLOUCESTER
What, is he dead?
EDGAR
Sit you down, father; rest you.
Let’s see these pockets; the letters that he speaks of
May be my friends. He’s dead; I am only sorry
He had no other deathsman. 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.
‘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, ‘Goneril.’
O indistinguish’d space of woman’s will!
A plot upon her virtuous husband’s life,
And the exchange my brother! Here in the sands
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 well
That of death and business I can tell.
GLOUCESTER
The King is mad: how stiff is my vile sense,
That I stand up, and have ingenious feeling
Of my huge sorrows! Better I were distract:
So should my thoughts be sever’d from my griefs,
And woes by wrong imaginations lose
The knowledge of themselves.
EDGAR
Give me your hand.
Far off I hear the beaten drum.
Come, father, I’ll bestow you with a friend.