Gon. Ah! I like not that;

Such speed must have the wings of love. Where's Albany?

Osw. Madam, within; but never man so chang'd; I told him of the uproar of the peasants,

He smil'd at it; when I inform'd him

Of Gloster's treason

Gon. Trouble him no further;

It is his eoward spirit.

Back to our sister.

Hasten her musters on, and let her know,

I have given the distaff into my husband's hands; That done, with special care deliver these dispatches In private, to young Gloster.

Enter Captain of the Guard, R.

Cap. (R.) O, madam, most unseasonable news!
The Duke of Cornwall's dead of his late wound,
Whose loss your sister has in part supply'd,
Making brave Edmund general of her forces.
Gon. One way, I like this well;

But, being a widow, and my Gloster with her,

'T may blast the promis'd harvest of our love. [Aside. A word more, sir: [To OSWALD] add speed to your journey;

And if you chance to meet with that blind traitor,
Preferment falls on him that cuts him off.

[Exeunt GONERIL and Captain, R. Oswald, L.

SCENE IV.-Another part of the Country.

Enter GLOSTER, and EDGAR, as a Peasant, L. U. E. Glost. When shall we come to'th' top of that same hill?

Edg. We climb it now; mark, how we labour.
Glost. Methinks, the ground is even.

Edg. Horribly steep. Hark, do you hear the sea?
Glost. No, truly.

Edg. Why, then your other senses grow imperfect By your eyes' anguish.

Glost. 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 alter'd,

But my garments.

Glost. Methinks, you're better spoken.

Edg. Come on, sir; [Crosses to R.] here's the place. How fearful

And dizzy 'tis, to cast one's eyes so low!

The crows and choughs, that wing the midway air,
Shew scarce so big as beetles; half way down
Hangs one that gathers samphire; dreadful trade!
The fishermen, that walk upon the beach,
Appear like mice; and yon tall anch'ring bark
Seems lessen'd to her cock; her cock, a buoy,
Almost too small for sight; the murm'ring surge
Cannot be heard so high. I'll look no more;
Lest my brain turn, and the disorder make me
Tumble down headlong.

Glost. Set me where you stand.

Edg. [Puts him across to R.] You are now within a foot of th' extreme verge:

For all beneath the moon I would not now

Leap forward.

Glost. (R.) Let go my hand.

Here is another purse, in it a jewel

Well worth a poor man's taking. Get thee farther,
Bid me farewell, and let me hear thee going.

Edg. Fare you well, sir. [Retires a little, R.] That
I do trifle thus

With his despair, is with design to cure it.

[Aside. Glost. [Kneels.] Thus, mighty gods, this world I do

renounce,

And in your sight shake my afflictions off;
If I could bear them longer, and not fall
To quarrel with your great opposeless wills,
My snuff and feebler part of nature shou'd
Burn itself out. If Edgar live, oh, bless him!
Now, fellow, fare thee well.

[Prepares to fall, when EDGAR advances, and
catches him.

Edg. Hold-who comes here?

Enter KING LEAR, with a Coronet of Flowers on his head, and straw in his hand, L. U. E.

Lear. No, no; they cannot touch me for coining; I am the king himself.

Edg. O, 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. A mouse, a mouse! Peace, hoa! There's my gauntlet'; I'll prove

it on a giant. Bring up the brown bills; well flown, barb; I'th' white; i'th' white ;-Hewgh! give the word.

Edg. Sweet Majoram.

Lear. Pass.

Glost. I know that voice.

[EDGAR crosses to L.

Lear. Ha, Goneril! With a white beard? They flatter'd me like a dog, and told me I had white hairs on my chin, before the black ones were there. (R.) To say ay and no to every thing that I said. Ay, and no too, was no good divinity. When the rain came once to wet me, and the winds to make me chatter, when the thunder wou'd not peace at my bidding, there I found 'em, there I smelt them out. Go to, they are

not men of their words; they told me I was every thing; 'tis a lie;

I am not ague-proof. (L.)

Glost. That voice I 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 the cause?
Adultery?

Thou shalt not die. Die for adultery? No.
The wren goes to't, and the small gilded fly

Engenders in my sight. (R.) Let copulation thrive;
For Gloster's bastard son was kinder to his father,
Than were my daughters, got i'th' lawful bed.
To't, luxury, pell mell: for I lack soldiers.
There's money for thee.

Glost. (R. c.) Let me kiss that hand.

Lear. Let me wipe it first; it smells of mortality.

Glost. Speak, sir, do you know me?

Lear. I remember thine eyes well enough.

Nay, do

thy worst, blind Cupid, I'll not love.-Read me this

challenge; mark but the penning of it.

Glost. Were all the letters suns, I could not see.

Lear. Read, read, read.

Glost. What, with this case of eyes?

Lear. O ho are you there with me? No eyes in your head, nor no money in your purse? Yet you see how this world goes.

Glost. I see it feelingly.

Lear. What, art mad? A man may see how this world goes, with no eyes. Look with thy ears: see how yon justice rails on yon simple thief. Hark in thine ear;

shake 'em together, and the first that drops, be it thief or justice, is a villain.-Thou hast seen a farmer's dog bark at a beggar!

Glost. Ay, sir.

Lear. (c.) And the man run from the cur; there thou might'st behold the great image of authority; a dog's obey'd in office. Thou rascal beadle, hold thy bloody hand! Why dost thou lash that strumpet? Thou hotly lust'st to enjoy her in that kind for which thou whip'st her; do, do! the judge that sentenc'd her has been beforehand with thee.

Glost. How stiff is my vile'sense that yields not yet! Lear. I tell thee, the usurer hangs the cozener. Through tatter'd clothes small vices do appear; Robes and fur gowns hide all. Plate sin with gold, And the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks : Arm it in rags, a pigmy's straw doth pierce it.Why there 'tis for thee, friend; make much of it; It has the power to seal the accuser's lips. Get thee glass eyes, and, like a scurvy politician, seem to see the things thou dost not. Pull, pull, off my boots; hard, harder; so, so.

Glost. O, matter and impertinency mixt ! Reason in madness!

Lear. If thou wilt weep my fortunes, take my eyes. I know thee well enough, thy name is Gloster. Thou must be patient; we came crying hither; Thou know'st, the first time that we taste the air, We wail and cry. I'll preach to thee; mark me. Edg. Break, lab'ring heart!

Lear. When we are born, we cry, that we are come To this great stage of fools.

Enter Physician and two Knights, R. U. E. Phys. (R.) O! here he is; lay hand upon him—sir Your dearest daughter sends

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. Oh! I am cut to the brains.

Phys. You shall have any thing.

Lear. No seconds? All myself?

I will die bravely, like a bridegroom. What!
I will be jovial; come, come; I am a king,
My masters, know you that?

[Crosses to R.

Phys. You are a royal one, and we obey you.

Lear. It were an excellent stratagem to shoe a troop of horse with felt; I'll put it in proof.-No noise, no noise.-Now will we steal upon these sons-in-law, and then-Kill, kill, kill, kill!

[Exeunt KING LEAR, and the Physician, R. Edg. A sight most moving in the meanest wretch, Past speaking in a king.

Glost. (R.) Now, good sir, what are you ?

Edg. (c.) A most poor man, made tame to fortune's strokes,

And prone to pity by experienc'd sorrows.

Give me your hand.

Glost. You, gentle gods, take my breath from me, And let not my ill-genius tempt me more

To die before you please.

Enter OSWALD, L.

Osw. (L.) A proclaim'd prize! O, most happily met! That eyeless head of thine was first fram'd flesh To raise my fortunes. Thou old, unhappy, traitor, The sword is out that must destroy thee.

[Draws his sword. Glost. Now let thy friendly hand put strength enough [EDGAR raises his staff.

to't.

Osw. Wherefore, bold peasant,

Dar'st thou suppport a publish'd traitor? Hence,
Lest I destroy thee too; let go his arm.

Edg. Chill not let go, zir, without 'vurther 'casion.
Osw. (L. c.) Let go, slave; or thou diest.

Edg. (L. c.) Good gentleman, go your gate, and let poor volk pass; and chu'd ha' bin' zwagger'd out of my life, it would not have been zo long as 'tis by a vortnight. -Nay, an' thou com'st near th' old man, I'st try whether your costard or my ballow be th' harder.

Osw. Out, dunghill!

Edg. Chill pick your teeth, zir: come, no matter vor your foines. [EDGAR knocks him down. Osm. Slave, thou hast slain me; oh! untimely death!

Edg. I know thee well, a serviceable villain; As duteous to the vices of thy mistress,

As lust could wish.

Glost. (c.) What? Is he dead?

Edg. This is a letter-carrier, and may have Some papers of intelligence, that may stand

[Dies.