"Tis Gloster's character, who has betray'd His double trust, of subject and of host. Reg. Then double be our vengeance; this confirms Th' intelligence that we but now receiv'd, That he has been this night to seek the king. But who, sir, was the kind discoverer? Corn. Our eagle, quick to spy, and fierce to seize, Our trusty Edmund. Reg. 'Twas a noble service; O, Cornwall, take him to thy deepest trust, And wear him as a jewel at thy heart. Edm. Think, sir, how hard a fortune I sustain, Corn. Edmund, thou shalt find A father in our love, and from this minute And that's to punish the discarded traitor; At his just sufferings, nor brook the sight, Corn. (c.) Bring in the traitor. [Exit EDMUNd, r. Enter GLOSTER, brought in by two Servants, L. Bind fast his arms. Glost. (L.) What mean your graces? You are my guests; pray, do me no foul play. Corn. Bind him, [They bind him.] I say, hard, harder yet. Reg. (L. C.) Now, traitor, thou shalt find [Crosses half way up the Stage. Corn. Speak, rebel, where hast thou sent the king? Whom, spite of our decree, thou saved'st last night. Glost. I'm tied to th' stake, and I must stand the course. traitor. Reg. Say where, and why, thou hast conceal'd him, [Comes down to GLOSTER. FGlost. Because I would not see thy cruel hands Tear out his poor old eyes, nor thy fierce sister Carve his anointed flesh; but I shall see The swift wing'd vengeance overtake such children.. Corn. See't thou shalt never: slaves, perform your work; [The Servants take GLOSTER out, L Out with those treacherous eyes; dispatch, I say. Glost. Without, L.] He that will think to live 'till he be old, Give me some help. O cruel! oh, ye gods! Edw. (R. C.) Hold, hold, my lord, I bar your cruelty; I cannot love your safety, and give way To such inhuman practice. Corn. Ah, my villain! Edw. I have been your servant from my infancy; But better service have I never done you, Than with this boldness. Corn. Take thy death, slave. [Stabs EDWARD, and puts up his dagger. Edw. Nay, then, revenge, whilst yet my blood is warm! [Draws his sword, runs CORNWALL through the body, and is carried off by Guard, R. CORNWALL is supported by Servants. Reg. Help here are you not hurt, my lord? Glost. [Without, L.] sparks of nature To quit this horrid act. Edmund, enkindle all the Reg. Out, treacherous villain, * Thou call'st on him that hates thee; it was he That broach'd thy treason, shew'd us thy dispatches; Then Edgar was abus'd; kind gods, forgive me that! Reg. How is't my lord? [To CORN. Corn. Turn out that eyeless villain, let him smell His way to Cambray; Regan, I bleed apace; give me your arm. [Exit REGAN, L. Exeunt CORNWALL, supported by his Servants, R. SCENE II.-The open Country. Enter EDGAR, in disguise, R. Edg. The lowest and most abject thing of fortune Stands still in hope, and is secure from fear. The lamentable change is from the best, The worst returns to better.-Who comes here? [Retires half way up the Stage. My father poorly led! depriv'd of sight! The precious stones torn from their bleeding rings But that thy strange mutations make us hate thee, Enter GLOSTER, led by an OLD MAN, L. Old M. O, my good lord, I have been your tenant, And your father's tenant, these fourscore years. Glost. Away, get thee away; good friend, be gone; Thy comforts can do me no good at all; Thee they may hurt. Old M. You cannot see your way. Glost. I have no way, and therefore want no eyes; Might I but live to see thee in my touch, I'd say I had eyes again. Edg. Alas! he's sensible that I was wrong'd, And, should I own myself, his tender heart Would break betwixt the extremes of grief and joy. Old M. How now? who's there? [Aside. Edg. [Advances R. of GLOSTER.] A charity for poor O gods! and must I still pursue this trade, Old M. (R. c.) 'Tis poor mad Tom. [Aside. Glost. (R. c.) In the late storm I such a fellow saw, Which made me think a man a worm. Where is the lunatic? Old M. Here, my lord. Glost. Get thee now away; if for my sake Thou wilt o'ertake us hence a mile or two, l'th' way to Dover, do't for ancient love, And bring some cov'ring for this naked wretch, Whom I'll intreat to lead me. Old M. Alack, my lord, he's mad. Glost. 'Tis the times' plague, when madmen lead the blind. Do as I bid thee. Old M. I'll bring him the best 'parel that I have, Come on't what will. Glost. Sirrah! naked fellow ! [Exit, L. Edg. (R.) Poor Tom's a-cold.-I cannot fool it longer. [Aside, And yet I must.-Bless thy sweet eyes, they bleed; Believe't, poor Tom e'en weeps his blind to see 'em. Glost. Know'st thou the way to Dover? Edg. Both stile and gate, horse-way and foot-path. Poor Tom has been scared out of his good wits. Bless every true man's son from the foul fiend ! Glost. Here, take this purse; that I am wretched Makes thee the happier. Heav'n deal so still! Thus let the griping usurer's hoard be scatter'd, So distribution shall undo excess, And each man have enough. Dost thou know Dover? Edg. Ay, master. Glost. There is a cliff, whose high and bending head Looks dreadfully down on the roaring deep; Bring me but to the very brink of it, And I'll repair the poverty thou bear'st With something rich about me.-From that place Edg. Give me thy arm; poor Tom shall guide thee. Enter KENT, in his own character, and CORDELIA, L. Cord. (L.) Ah me! your fear's too true, it was the king; I spoke but even now with some that met him, Crown'd with rank fumiter, and furrow weeds, In our sustaining corn: conduct me to him, Kent. (c.) I will, good lady. Ha! Gloster here!-Turn, poor dark man, and hear A friend's condolement, who, at sight of thine, Forgets his own distress; thy old true Kent. Glost. How! Kent? From whence return'd? Kent. I have not, since my banishment, been absent, But in disguise follow'd th' abandon'd king. "Twas me thou saw'st with him in the late storm. Glost. Let me embrace thee; had I eyes, I now Should weep for joy; but let this trickling blood Suffice instead of tears. [Sees GLOSTER. Cord. (L. c.) O, misery! That brought thee to this pass; 'twas I that caus'd it ; I cast me at thy feet, and beg of thee [Kneels, To crush these weeping eyes to equal darkness, If that will give thee any recompense. [Aside Glost. I think, Cordelia's voice; rise, pious princess, And take a dark man's blessing. [CORDELIA rises.-KENT and GLOSTER retire up and confer. Cord. O, my Edgar! My virtue's now grown guilty, works the bane That you should hate me too. Edg. O, wave this cutting speech, and spare to wound A heart that's on the rack. [Retire up; GLOSTER and KENT come down L. Glost. (L.) No longer cloud thee, Kent, in that disguise; There's business for thee, and of noblest weight; Our injur'd country is at length in arms, Urg'd by the king's inhuman wrongs and mine, That task be thine. Edg. [Aside.] Brave Britons! then there's life in't yet. [Comes down L. Kent. (R. C.) Then have we one cast for our fortune still. Come, princess, I'll bestow you with the king, Then on the spur to head these forces. Farewell, good Gloster; to our conduct trust. Glost. And be your cause as prosp'rous, as 'tis just. [Exeunt KENT and CORDELIA, R. EDGAR and GLOSTER, L. SCENE III.-Albany's Palace. Enter GONERIL, with a letter, and OswALD, L. Gon. (L. c.) It was great ignorance, Gloster's eyes being out, To let him live; where he arrives, he moves In pity to his misery, to dispatch him. Osw. (L.) No, madam, he's return'd on speedy sum mons Back to your sister. |