King Lear (Modern, Quarto) :: Internet Shakespeare Editions

About this text
Title: King Lear (Modern, Quarto)
Editor: Michael Best
Textual editors: James D. Mardock, Eric Rasmussen
Coordinating editor: Michael Best
ISBN: 978-1-55058-463-9
Copyright Michael Best. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
King Lear (Modern, Quarto)
[Act 4, scene 1 in Folio]
 15.0.12177[Scene 15]
 15.0.221781915Enter Edgar [disguised as Poor Tom].
 15.121791916Edgar
 Yet better thus, and known to be contemned,
 15.221801917Than still contemned and flattered. To be worst,
 15.321811918The lowest and most dejected thing of fortune
 15.421821919Stands still in esperance, lives not in fear.
 15.521831920The lamentable change is from the best;
 15.621841921The worst returns to laughter.35.3
 15.6.12188Enter Gloucester, led by an Old Man.
 15.721891922Who's here? My father, parti-eyed? 2190World, world, O world!
 15.821911923But that thy strange mutations make us hate thee,
 15.921921924Life would not yield to age.
 15.9.1[Edgar stands aside.]
 15.1021931925Old Man
 O my good lord, I have been your tenant,
 15.112194And your 1926father's tenant, this fourscore--
 15.1221951927Gloucester
 Away, get thee away. Good friend, be gone.
 15.1321961928Thy comforts can do me no good at all,
 15.1421971929Thee they may hurt.
 15.1521981930Old Man
 Alack, sir, you cannot see your way.
 15.1621991931Gloucester
 I have no way and therefore want no eyes;
 15.1722001932I stumbled when I saw. Full oft 'tis seen
 15.1822011933Our means secure us, and our mere defects
 15.1922021934Prove our commodities. Ah, dear son Edgar,
 15.2022031935The food of thy abusèd father's wrath,
 15.2122041936Might I but live to see thee in my touch
 15.2222051937I'd say I had eyes again.
 22061938Old Man
 I'd say I had eyes again.  How now, who's there?
 15.2322071939Edgar
 [Aside] O gods! Who is't can say "I am at the worst"?
 15.2422081940I am worse then ere I was.
 22091941Old Man
 I am worse then ere I was.  'Tis poor mad Tom.
 15.2522101942Edgar
 [Aside] And worse I may be yet. The worst is not
 15.2622111943As long as we can say, "This is the worst."
 15.2722121944Old Man
 [To Edgar] Fellow, where goest?
 15.2822131945Gloucester
 Is it a beggar man?
 22141946Old Man
 Is it a beggar man?  Madman, and beggar too.
 15.2922151947Gloucester
 'A has some reason, else he could not beg.
 15.3022161948In the last night's storm I such a fellow saw,
 15.3122171949Which made me think a man a worm. My son
 15.3222181950Came then into my mind, and yet my mind
 15.3322191951Was then scarce friends with him. 2220I have heard more since.
 15.3422211952As flies to wanton boys are we to th'gods;
 15.3522221953They kill us for their sport.
 22231954112Edgar
 They kill us for their sport.  [Aside] How should this be?
 15.362224Bad is the trade that must play the 1955fool to sorrow,
 15.372225Angering itself and others. [Aloud] Bless thee master.
 15.3822261956Gloucester
 Is that the naked fellow?
 22271957Old Man
 Is that the naked fellow?  Ay, my lord.
 15.3922281958Gloucester
 Then prithee get thee gone. If for my sake
 15.4022291959Thou wilt o'ertake us hence a mile or twain
 15.4122301960I'th'way toward Dover, do it for ancient love,
 15.4222311961And bring some covering for this naked soul,
 15.4322321962Who I'll entreat to lead me.
 15.4422331963Old Man
 Alack sir, he is mad.
 15.4522341964Gloucester
 'Tis the time's plague 2235when madmen lead the blind.
 15.4622361965Do as I bid thee--or rather, do thy pleasure.
 15.4722371966Above the rest, be gone.
 15.4822381967Old Man
 I'll bring him the best 'parel that I have,
 15.4922391968Come on't what will.
 15.50.1[Exit.]
 22401969Gloucester
 Come on't what will.  Sirrah, naked fellow.
 15.5022411970Edgar
 Poor Tom's a cold. [Aside] I cannot dance it farther.
 15.5122421971Gloucester
 Come hither, fellow.
 15.5222431972Edgar35.1
 2244Bless thy sweet eyes, they bleed.
 15.5322451973Gloucester
 Know'st thou the way to Dover?
 15.5422461974Edgar
 Both stile and gate, horse-way, and footpath, 22471975poor Tom hath been scared out of his good wits. 1976Bless 2248the good man from the foul fiend. 2248.11977Five fiends have been in poor Tom at once: 2248.21978of lust, as Obidicut; Hobbididence, Prince of darkness; 2248.31979Mahu of stealing, Modo of murder, Flibbertigibbet, of 2248.41980mocking and mowing, who since possesses chambermaids 2248.51981and waiting women. So bless thee master.
 15.5522491982Gloucester
 Here, take this purse, thou whom the heavens' plagues
 15.5622501983Have humbled to all strokes. That I am wretched
 15.572251Makes thee 1984the happier. Heavens deal so still.
 15.5822521985Let the superfluous and lust-dieted man
 15.5922531986That stands your ordinance, that will not see
 15.6022541987Because he does not feel, feel your power quickly;
 15.6122551988So distribution should undo excess,
 15.6222561989And each man have enough. Dost thou know Dover?
 15.6322571990Edgar
 Ay, master.
 15.6422581991Gloucester
 There is a cliff, whose high and bending head
 15.6522591992Looks firmly in the confinèd deep.
 15.6622601993Bring me but to the very brim of it,
 15.6722611994And I'll repair the misery thou dost bear
 15.6822621995With something rich about me. 1996From that place
 15.692263I shall no leading need.
 22641997Edgar
 I shall no leading need.  Give me thy arm.
 15.702265Poor Tom shall lead thee.
 15.70.138[Exeunt.]
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King Lear (Modern, Quarto)
