Yet better thus, and known to be contemned,

21801917Than still contemned and flattered. To be worst,

21811918The lowest and most dejected thing of fortune

21821919Stands still in esperance, lives not in fear.

21831920The lamentable change is from the best;

21841921The worst returns to laughter. Welcome, then,

21891922Who's here? My father, parti-eyed? 2190World, world, O world!

21911923But that thy strange mutations make us hate thee,

21921924Life would not yield to age.

O my good lord, I have been your tenant,

2194And your 1926father's tenant, this fourscore--

Away, get thee away. Good friend, be gone.

21961928Thy comforts can do me no good at all,

21971929Thee they may hurt.

Alack, sir, you cannot see your way.

I have no way and therefore want no eyes;

22001932I stumbled when I saw. Full oft 'tis seen

22011933Our means secure us, and our mere defects

22021934Prove our commodities. Ah, dear son Edgar,

22031935The food of thy abusèd father's wrath,

22041936Might I but live to see thee in my touch

22051937I'd say I had eyes again.

I'd say I had eyes again. How now, who's there?

[Aside] O gods! Who is't can say "I am at the worst"?

22081940I am worse then ere I was.

I am worse then ere I was. 'Tis poor mad Tom.

[Aside] And worse I may be yet. The worst is not

22111943As long as we can say, "This is the worst."

[To Edgar] Fellow, where goest?

Is it a beggar man?

Is it a beggar man? Madman, and beggar too.

'A has some reason, else he could not beg.

22161948In the last night's storm I such a fellow saw,

22171949Which made me think a man a worm. My son

22181950Came then into my mind, and yet my mind

22191951Was then scarce friends with him. 2220I have heard more since.

22211952As flies to wanton boys are we to th'gods;

22221953They kill us for their sport.

They kill us for their sport. [Aside] How should this be?

2224Bad is the trade that must play the 1955fool to sorrow,

2225Angering itself and others. [Aloud] Bless thee master.

Is that the naked fellow?

Is that the naked fellow? Ay, my lord.

Then prithee get thee gone. If for my sake

22291959Thou wilt o'ertake us hence a mile or twain

22301960I'th'way toward Dover, do it for ancient love,

22311961And bring some covering for this naked soul,

22321962Who I'll entreat to lead me.

Alack sir, he is mad.

'Tis the time's plague 2235when madmen lead the blind.

22361965Do as I bid thee--or rather, do thy pleasure.

22371966Above the rest, be gone.

I'll bring him the best 'parel that I have,

22391968Come on't what will.

Come on't what will. Sirrah, naked fellow.

Poor Tom's a cold. [Aside] I cannot dance it farther.

Come hither, fellow.

37[Aside] And yet I must. [Aloud] 2244Bless thy sweet eyes, they bleed.

Know'st thou the way to Dover?

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.

Here, take this purse, thou whom the heavens' plagues

22501983Have humbled to all strokes. That I am wretched

2251Makes thee 1984the happier. Heavens deal so still.

22521985Let the superfluous and lust-dieted man

22531986That stands your ordinance, that will not see

22541987Because he does not feel, feel your power quickly;

22551988So distribution should undo excess,

22561989And each man have enough. Dost thou know Dover?

Ay, master.

There is a cliff, whose high and bending head

22591992Looks firmly in the confinèd deep.

22601993Bring me but to the very brim of it,

22611994And I'll repair the misery thou dost bear

22621995With something rich about me. 1996From that place

2263I shall no leading need.

I shall no leading need. Give me thy arm.

2265Poor Tom shall lead thee.