The First Web Folio Edition of Shakespeare's Works
Fields near Dover. |
[Enter GLOUCESTER, and EDGAR dressed like a peasant] |
GLOUCESTER | When shall we come to the top of that same hill? |
EDGAR | You do climb up it now: look, how we labour. |
GLOUCESTER | Methinks the ground is even. |
EDGAR | Horrible steep. | ||
Hark, do you hear the sea? | 5 |
GLOUCESTER | No, truly. |
EDGAR | Why, then, your other senses grow imperfect | ||
By your eyes' anguish. |
GLOUCESTER | So may it be, indeed: | ||
Methinks thy voice is alter'd; and thou speak'st | 10 | ||
In better phrase and matter than thou didst. |
EDGAR | You're much deceived: in nothing am I changed | ||
But in my garments. |
GLOUCESTER | Methinks you're better spoken. |
EDGAR | Come on, sir; here's the place: stand still. How fearful | 15 | |
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: | 20 | ||
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 the unnumber'd idle pebbles chafes, | 25 | ||
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 | 30 | |
Of the 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 | 35 | ||
Prosper it with thee! Go thou farther off; | |||
Bid me farewell, and let me hear thee going. |
EDGAR | Now fare you well, good sir. |
GLOUCESTER | With all my heart. |
EDGAR | Why I do trifle thus with his despair | 40 | |
Is done to cure it. |
GLOUCESTER | [Kneeling] 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 | 45 | ||
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 falls forward] |
EDGAR | Gone, sir: farewell. | 50 | |
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! | 55 | ||
Thus might he pass indeed: yet he revives. | |||
What are you, sir? |
GLOUCESTER | Away, and let me die. |
EDGAR | Hadst thou been aught but gossamer, feathers, air, | ||
So many fathom down precipitating, | |||
Thou'dst shiver'd like an egg: but thou dost breathe; | 60 | ||
Hast heavy substance; bleed'st not; speak'st; art sound. | |||
Ten masts at each make not the altitude | |||
Which thou hast perpendicularly fell: | |||
Thy life's a miracle. Speak yet again. |
GLOUCESTER | But have I fall'n, or no? | 65 |
EDGAR | From the dread summit of this chalky bourn. | ||
Look up a-height; the shrill-gorged lark so far | |||
Cannot be seen or heard: do but look up. |
GLOUCESTER | Alack, I have no eyes. | ||
Is wretchedness deprived that benefit, | 70 | ||
To end itself by death? 'Twas 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. | 75 |
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. | 80 |
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 enridged sea: | |||
It was some fiend; therefore, thou happy father, | |||
Think that the clearest gods, who make them honours | 85 | ||
Of men's impossibilities, have preserved thee. |
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 | 90 | ||
'The fiend, the fiend:' he led me to that place. |
EDGAR | Bear free and patient thoughts. But who comes here? | ||
[Enter KING LEAR, fantastically dressed with wild flowers] | |||
The safer sense will ne'er accommodate | |||
His master thus. |
KING LEAR | No, they cannot touch me for coining; I am the | 95 | |
king himself. |
EDGAR | O thou side-piercing sight! |
KING 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, | 100 | ||
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. | 105 |
EDGAR | Sweet marjoram. |
KING LEAR | Pass. |
GLOUCESTER | I know that voice. |
KING LEAR | Ha! Goneril, with a white beard! They flattered | ||
me like a dog; and told me I had white hairs in my | 110 | ||
beard ere the black ones were there. To say 'ay' | |||
and 'no' to every thing that I said!--'Ay' and 'no' | |||
too 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 | 115 | ||
found 'em, there I smelt 'em out. Go to, they are | |||
not men o' their words: they told me I was every | |||
thing; 'tis a lie, I am not ague-proof. |
GLOUCESTER | The trick of that voice I do well remember: | ||
Is 't not the king? | 120 |
KING LEAR | Ay, every inch a king: | ||
When I do stare, see how the subject quakes. | |||
I pardon that man's life. What was thy cause? Adultery? | |||
Thou shalt not die: die for adultery! No: | |||
The wren goes to 't, and the small gilded fly | 125 | ||
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. | 130 | ||
Behold yond simpering 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 | 135 | ||
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 fiends'; | 140 | ||
There's hell, there's darkness, there's the | |||
sulphurous pit, | |||
Burning, scalding, stench, consumption; fie, | |||
fie, fie! pah, pah! Give me an ounce of civet, | |||
good apothecary, to sweeten my imagination: | 145 | ||
there's money for thee. |
GLOUCESTER | O, let me kiss that hand! |
KING 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 nought. Dost thou know me? | 150 |
KING LEAR | I remember thine eyes well enough. Dost thou squiny | ||
at me? No, do thy worst, blind Cupid! I'll not | |||
love. Read thou this challenge; mark but the | |||
penning of it. |
GLOUCESTER | Were all the letters suns, I could not see one. | 155 |
EDGAR | I would not take this from report; it is, | ||
And my heart breaks at it. |
KING LEAR | Read. |
GLOUCESTER | What, with the case of eyes? |
KING LEAR | O, ho, are you there with me? No eyes in your | 160 | |
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. |
KING LEAR | What, art mad? A man may see how this world goes | 165 | |
with no eyes. Look with thine ears: see how yond | |||
justice rails upon yond simple thief. Hark, in | |||
thine ear: change places; and, handy-dandy, which | |||
is the justice, which is the thief? Thou hast seen | |||
a farmer's dog bark at a beggar? | 170 |
GLOUCESTER | Ay, sir. |
KING LEAR | And the creature run from the cur? There thou | ||
mightst behold the great image of authority: a | |||
dog's obeyed in office. | |||
Thou rascal beadle, hold thy bloody hand! | 175 | ||
Why dost thou lash that whore? Strip thine own back; | |||
Thou hotly lust'st to use her in that kind | |||
For which thou whipp'st her. The usurer hangs the cozener. | |||
Through tatter'd clothes small vices do appear; | |||
Robes and furr'd gowns hide all. Plate sin with gold, | 180 | ||
And the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks: | |||
Arm it in rags, a pigmy'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 thee glass eyes; | 185 | ||
And like a scurvy politician, seem | |||
To see the things thou dost not. Now, now, now, now: | |||
Pull off my boots: harder, harder: so. |
EDGAR | O, matter and impertinency mix'd! Reason in madness! |
KING LEAR | If thou wilt weep my fortunes, take my eyes. | 190 | |
I know thee well enough; thy name is Gloucester: | |||
Thou must be patient; we came crying hither: | |||
Thou know'st, the first time that we smell the air, | |||
We wawl and cry. I will preach to thee: mark. |
GLOUCESTER | Alack, alack the day! | 195 |
KING 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 sons-in-law, | 200 | ||
Then, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill! | |||
[Enter a Gentleman, with Attendants] |
Gentleman | O, here he is: lay hand upon him. Sir, | ||
Your most dear daughter-- |
KING LEAR | No rescue? What, a prisoner? I am even | ||
The natural fool of fortune. Use me well; | 205 | ||
You shall have ransom. Let me have surgeons; | |||
I am cut to the brains. |
Gentleman | You shall have any thing. |
KING LEAR | No seconds? all myself? | ||
Why, this would make a man a man of salt, | 210 | ||
To use his eyes for garden water-pots, | |||
Ay, and laying autumn's dust. |
Gentleman | Good sir,-- |
KING LEAR | I will die bravely, like a bridegroom. What! | ||
I will be jovial: come, come; I am a king, | 215 | ||
My masters, know you that. |
Gentleman | You are a royal one, and we obey you. |
KING LEAR | Then there's life in't. Nay, if you get it, you | ||
shall get it with running. Sa, sa, sa, sa. | |||
[Exit running; Attendants follow] |
Gentleman | A sight most pitiful in the meanest wretch, | 220 | |
Past speaking of in a king! Thou hast 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 aught, sir, of a battle toward? | 225 |
Gentleman | Most sure and vulgar: every one 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 | 230 | |
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 moved on. |
EDGAR | I thank you, sir. | 235 | |
[Exit Gentleman] |
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? | 240 |
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: | 245 | |
The bounty and the benison of heaven | |||
To boot, and boot! | |||
[Enter OSWALD] |
OSWALD | A proclaim'd prize! Most happy! | ||
That eyeless head of thine was first framed flesh | |||
To raise my fortunes. Thou old unhappy traitor, | 250 | ||
Briefly thyself remember: the sword is out | |||
That must destroy thee. |
GLOUCESTER | Now let thy friendly hand | ||
Put strength enough to't. | |||
[EDGAR interposes] |
OSWALD | Wherefore, bold peasant, | 255 | |
Darest thou support a publish'd traitor? Hence; | |||
Lest that the infection of his fortune take | |||
Like hold on thee. Let go his arm. |
EDGAR | Ch'ill not let go, zir, without vurther 'casion. |
OSWALD | Let go, slave, or thou diest! | 260 |
EDGAR | Good gentleman, go your gait, and let poor volk | ||
pass. An chud ha' bin zwaggered out of my life, | |||
'twould not ha' bin zo long as 'tis by a vortnight. | |||
Nay, come not near th' old man; keep out, che vor | |||
ye, or ise try whether your costard or my ballow be | 265 | ||
the harder: ch'ill be plain with you. |
OSWALD | Out, dunghill! |
EDGAR | Ch'ill pick your teeth, zir: come; no matter vor | ||
your foins. | |||
[They fight, and EDGAR knocks him down] |
OSWALD | Slave, thou hast slain me: villain, take my purse: | 270 | |
If ever thou wilt thrive, bury my body; | |||
And give the letters which thou find'st about me | |||
To Edmund earl of Gloucester; seek him out | |||
Upon the British party: O, untimely death! | |||
[Dies] |
EDGAR | I know thee well: a serviceable villain; | 275 | |
As duteous to the vices of thy 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 | 280 | ||
May be my friends. He's dead; I am only sorry | |||
He had no other death's-man. Let us see: | |||
Leave, gentle wax; and, manners, blame us not: | |||
To know our enemies' minds, we'ld rip their hearts; | |||
Their papers, is more lawful. | 285 | ||
[Reads] | |||
'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 goal; from | 290 | ||
the loathed warmth whereof deliver me, and supply | |||
the place for your labour. | |||
'Your--wife, so I would say-- | |||
'Affectionate servant, | |||
'GONERIL.' | 295 | ||
O undistinguish'd space of woman's will! | |||
A plot upon her virtuous husband's life; | |||
And the exchange my brother! Here, in the sands, | |||
Thee I'll rake up, the post unsanctified | |||
Of murderous lechers: and in the mature time | 300 | ||
With this ungracious paper strike the sight | |||
Of the death practised duke: for him 'tis well | |||
That of thy 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 | 305 | ||
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: | 310 | |
[Drum afar off] | |||
Far off, methinks, I hear the beaten drum: | |||
Come, father, I'll bestow you with a friend. | |||
[Exeunt] |
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