SCENE V. A Room in Gloster's Castle. Enter REGAN and Steward. Reg. But are my brother's powers set forth? Stew. Reg. In person there? Stew. Ay, madam. Himself 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? Reg. 'Faith, he is posted hence on serious matter. All hearts against us. Edmund, I think, is gone, 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. Reg. Why should she write to Edmund? Might not you Transport her purposes by word? Belike, Something I know not what.-I'll love thee much, Stew. Madam, I had rather Reg. I know your lady does not love her husband; I am sure of that; and, at her late being here, She gave strange œiliads, and most speaking looks To noble Edmund. I know you are of her bosom. Stew. I, madam? Reg. I speak in understanding; you are, I know it; My lord is dead; Edmund and I have talked; If you do chance to hear of that blind traitor, Stew. 'Would I could meet him, madam! I would show What party I do follow. Reg. Fare thee well. SCENE VI. The Country near Dover. [Exeunt. Enter GLOSTER and EDGAR, dressed like a Peasant. Hark, do you hear the sea? Glo. Horrible steep. No, truly. Edg. Why, then your other senses grow imperfect Glo. In better phrase, and matter, than thou didst. Edg. You are much deceived; in nothing am I changed 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! down The crows, and choughs, that wing the midway air, Almost too small for sight. The murmuring surge, Glo. 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; Is done to cure it. Glo. Edg. [He leaps, and falls along. Gone, sir? farewell.And yet I know not how conceit may rob The treasury of life, Yields to the theft. when life itself Had he been where he thought, By this, had thought been past.-Alive, or dead? Glo. Away, and let me die. Edg. Hadst thou been aught but gossamer, feathers, air, So many fathom down precipitating, Thou hadst shivered like an egg: but thou dost breathe; 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. Edg. 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. Glo. Alack, I have no eyes. Is wretchedness deprived that benefit, To end itself by death? 'Twas yet some comfort, And frustrate his proud will. Edg. Give me your arm; Up.-So-how is't? Feel you your legs? You stand. Glo. Too well, too well. Edg. This is above all strangeness. A poor, unfortunate beggar. Upon the crown o' the cliff, what thing was that Glo. Edg. As I stood here below, methought his eyes Glo. I do remember now; henceforth I'll bear Enough, enough, and die. That thing you speak of, The fiend, the fiend: he led me to that place. Edg. Bear free and patient thoughts.- But who comes here? Enter LEAR, fantastically dressed up with flowers. The safer sense will ne'er accommodate His master thus. Lear. No, they cannot touch me for coining; I am the king himself. Edg. O thou side-piercing sight! Lear. Nature's above art in that respect. There's your press-money. That fellow handles his bow like a crowkeeper; 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. Edg. Sweet marjoram. Lear. Pass. Glo. 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, ere the black ones were there. To say ay, and no, to every thing 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 found them, there I smelt them 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. Glo. 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. Thou shalt not die. Die for adultery! No; The wren goes to't, and the small gilded fly Let copulation thrive, for Gloster's bastard son To't, luxury, pell-mell, for I lack soldiers.- Whose face between her forks presageth snow; The fitchew, nor the soiled horse, goes to't Down from the waist they are centaurs, But to the girdle do the gods inherit, Beneath is all the fiends'; 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 thee. Glo. O, let me kiss that hand! Lear. Let me wipe it first; it smells of mortality. Glo. O ruined piece of nature! This great world Shall so wear out to nought.-Dost thou know me? 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. Glo. Were all the letters suns, I could not see one. Edg. I would not take this from report;-it is, And my heart breaks at it. Lear. Read. Glo. 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. Glo. I see it feelingly. Lear. What, art mad? A man may see how this world goes with no eyes. Look with thine ears; see how yon' justice rails upon yon' 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? Glo. Ay, sir. Lear. And the creature run from the cur? There thou |