24312280Glo. When shall we come to'th top of that same hill?

24322281Edg. You do climbe it vp now, looke how we labour?

24332282Glo. Me thinkes the ground is euen.

24342283Edg. Horrible steepe: hearke, do you heare the sea?

24362284Glo. No truly.

24372285Edg. Why then your other senses grow imperfect

24382286By your eies anguish.

24392287Glo. So may it be indeed,

24402288Methinkes thy voice is altered, and thou speakst

24412289With better phrase and matter then thou didst.

24422290Edg. Y'are much deceiued, in nothing am I changd,

24432291But in my garments.

24442292Glo. Me thinkes y'are better spoken.

24452293Edg. Come on sir, here's the place, stand still, how fearfull

24472294And dizy tis to cast ones eye so low:

24482295The Crowes and Choughes that wing the midway ayre

24492296Shew scarse so grosse as beetles, halfe way downe

24502297Hangs one that gathers Sampire, dreadfull trade,

24512298Me thinkes he seemes no bigger then his head:

24522299The fishermen that walke vpon the beake

24532300Appeare like Mice; and yon tall Anchoring barke

24542301Diminisht to her cocke; her cocke aboue

24552302Almost too small for sight. The murmuring surge,

24562303That on the vnnumbred idle peebles chafe,

24572304Cannot be heard: it is so hie Ile looke no more

24582305Least my braine turne, and the deficient sight

24592306Topple downe headlong.

24602307Glo. Set me where you stand.

24612308Edg. Giue me your hand: you are now within a foot

24622309Of the extreme verge; for all beneath the Moone

24632310Would I not leape vpright.

24642311Glo. Let go my hand:

24652312Heere friend's another purse, in it a Iewell

24662313Well worth a poore mans taking. Fairies and Gods

24672314Prosper it with thee: go thou farther off,

24682315Bid me farewell, and let me heare thee going.

24692316Edg. Now fare you well good sir.

24702317Glo. With all my heart.

24712318Edg. Why I do trifle thus with his dispaire, tis done to cure it.

24732319Glo. O you mighty Gods, He kneels

24742320This world I do renounce, and in your sights

24752321Shake patiently my great affliction off,

24762322If I could beare it longer, and not fall

24772323To quarrell with your great opposelesse wils,

24782324My snuffe and loathed part of nature should

24792325Burne it selfe out: if Edgar liue, O blesse,

24802326Now fellow fare thee well. He falles

24812327Edg. Gon sir, farewell, and yet I know not how conceite may

24822328rob the treasury of life, when life it selfe yeelds to the theft: had

24842329he bene where he thought, by this thought had been past: Aliue

24852330or dead? Ho you sir, heare you sir, speake, thus might hee passe

24872331indeed, yet he reuiues, what are you sir?

24892332Glo. Away, and let me dye.

24902333Edg. Hadst thou bene ought but gosmore feathers ayre,

24922334So many fadome downe precipitating,

24932335Thou hadst shiuerd like an Egge, but thou dost breath,

24942336Hast heauy substance, bleedst not, speakst, art sound:

24952337Ten Masts at each make not the altitude,

24962338That thou hast perpendicularly fell,

24972339Thy lifes a mircale, speake yet againe.

24982340Glo. But haue I fallen or no?

24992341Edg. From the dread summons of this chalkie borne.

25002342Looke vp a hight; the shrill gorg'd Larke so farre

25012343Cannot be seene or heard, do but looke vp.

25022344Glo. Alacke, I haue no eyes:

25032345Is wretchednesse depriu'd that benefite

25042346To end it selfe by death? Twas yet some comfort.

25052347When misery could beguile the Tyrants rage,

25062348And frustrate his proud will.

25072349Edg. Giue me your arme:

25082350Vp, so, how feele you your legges? you stand.

25092351Glo. Too well, too well.

25102352Edg. This is aboue all strangenesse:

25112353Vpon the crowne of the cliffe, what thing was that

25122354Which parted from you?

25132355Glo. A poore vnfortunate begger.

25142356Edg. As I stood heere below, methought his eyes

25152357Were two full Moones; a had a thousand noses,

25162358Hornes, welkt and waued like the enridged sea.

25172359It was some fiend, therefore thou happy Father

25182360Thinke that the cleerest Gods, who made their honors

25192361Of mens impossibilities, haue preserued thee.

25202362Glo. I do remember now, henceforth Ile beare

25212363Affliction till it do cry out it selfe

25222364Enough, enough, and dye: that thing you speake of,

25232365I tooke it for a man: often would he say

25242366The fiend, the fiend, he led me to that place.

25252367Edg. Bare, free, and patient thoughts : but who comes heere,

25282368The safer sense will nere accommodate his maister thus.

25302370Lear. No, they cannot touch me for coyning, I am the King

25312371himselfe.

25322372Edg. O thou side piercing sight.

25332373Lear. Nature is aboue Art in that respect, ther's your presse-

25342374money. That fellow handles his bow like a Crow-keeper, draw

25352375me a clothiers yard. Looke, looke, a Mouse; peace, peace, this

25362376tosted cheese will do it. Ther's my gantlet, Ile proue it on a Gy-

25372377ant, bring vp the browne bils. O well flowne birde in the ayre.

25392378Hagh, giue the word.

25402379Edg. Sweet Margerum.

25412380Lear. Passe,

25422381Glo. I know that voice.

25432382Lear. Ha Gonorill, ha Regan, they flatter'd me like a dogge, and

25442383told me I had white haires in my beard, ere the black ones were

25452384there; to say I and no to all I saide : I and no too was no good

25472385Diuinity. When the raine came to wet me once, and the wind to

25482386make me chatter, when the thunder would not peace at my bid-

25492387ding, there I found them, there I smelt them out : goe too, they

25502388are not men of their words, they told mee I was euery thing, tis

25512389a lye, I am not argue-proofe.

25522390Glost. The tricke of that voyce I doe, well remember, ist not

25532391the King?

25542392Lear. I, euery inch a King: when I do stare see how the subiect

25552393quakes: I pardon that mans life, what was thy cause, Adulterie?

25572394thou shalt not dye for adultery: no, the wren goes toot, and the

25582395small guilded flye do letcher in my sight; let copulation thriue.

25602396For Glosters bastard son was kinder to his father then my daugh-

25612397ters got tweene the lawfull sheets, toot Luxury, pell mell, for I

25622398want souldiers. Behold yon simpring dame, whose face between

25632399her forkes presageth snow, that minces vertue, and do shake the

25652400head, heare of pleasures name to fichew, nor the soyled Horsse

25662401goes toot with a more riotous appetite: downe from the waste

25672402they are Centaures, though women all aboue, but to the girdle

25682403do the gods inherit, beneath is all the fiends, theres Hell, theres

25692404darknesse, fie, fie, fie, pah, pah: Giue mee an ounce of Ciuet,

25722405good Apothecary, to sweeten my imagination, ther's money for

25732406thee.

25742407Glo. O let me kisse that hand.

25752408Lear. Here wipe it first, it smels of mortality.

25772409Glo. O ruin'd peece of nature, this great world shold so weare

25782410out to nought, do you know me?

25802411Lear. I remember thy eyes well enough, dost thou squiny on

25812412me: no, do thy worst blinde Cupid, Ile not loue: Read thou that

25822413challenge, marke the penning on't.

25842414Glo. Were all the letters suns I could not see one.

25852415Edg. I would not take this from report, it is, & my hart breaks

25862416at it.

25872417Lear. Read.

25882418Glo. What, with the case of eyes.

25892419Lear. O ho, are you there with me? No eyes in your head nor

25902420money in your purse? your eyes are in a heauy case, your pursse

25912421in a light; yet you see how this world goes?

25932422Glo. I see it feelingly.

25942423Lea. What art mad? A man may see how the world goes with

25952424no eyes. Looke with thy eares, see how yon Iustice railes vppon

25962425yon simple theefe: hearke in thy eare, handy dandy, which is the

25972426theefe, which is the Iustice. Thou hast seene a farmers dog barke

25992427at a begger.

26002428Glo. I sir.

26012429Lear. And the creature run from the cur? There thou mightst

26022430behold the great image of Authoritie, a dogge, so bad in office.

26032431Thou Rascall Beadle hold thy bloody hand; why dost thou lash

26042432that whore? strip thine owne backe, thy blood hotly lusts to vse

26052433her in that kind for which thou whipst her. The vsurer hangs the

26062434cozener, through tattered ragges small vices do appeare, Robes

26082435and furd-gownes hides all. Get thee glasse eyes, and like a scur-

26132436uy politician, seeme to see the things thou doest not; No, now

26142437pull off my boots, harder, harder, so.

26162438Edg. O matter and impertinency, mixt reason in madnesse.

26182439Lear. If thou wilt weepe my fortune, take my eyes; I know

26192440thee well enough, thy name is Gloster, thou must be patient, we

26202441came crying hither: thou knowst the first time that we smel the

26212442aire, we waile and cry. I will preach to thee, marke me.

26232443Glo. Alack, alack, the day.

26242444Lear. When we are borne, we crie that wee are come to this

26252445great stage of fooles: this a good blocke. It were a delicate stra-

26262446tagem to shoot a troope of horse with fell, and when I haue stole

26282447vpon these sonnes in law, then kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill.

26312449Gent. O here he is, lay hands vpon him sirs.

26332450Lear. No rescue, what a prisoner? I am eene the naturall foole

26342451of Fortune : vse me well, you shall haue a ransom. Let me haue

26352452a Chirurgeon, I am cut to'th braines.

26372453Gent. You shall haue any thing.

26382454Lear. No seconds, all my selfe: why this would make a man

26392455of salt 2640to vse his eyes for garden water-pottes, I and laying Au-

2640.12456tumnes dust.Gent. Good Sir.

2457Lear. I will dye brauely 2641like a Bridegroome. What, I will bee

26422458iouiall: Come, come, I am a King my masters, know you that?

26432459Gent. You are a royall one, and we obey you.

26442460Lear. Then theres life int, nay if you get it you shall get it

26452461with running. Exit King running.

26462462Gent. A sight most pittifull in the meanest wretch, past spea-

26472463king of in a king: thou hast one daughter who redeemes nature

26482464from the generall curse which twaine hath brought her to.

26502465Edg. Haile gentle sir.

26512466Gent. Sir speed you, what's your will?

26522467Edg. Do you heare ought of a battell toward?

26532468Gent. Most sure and vulgar, euery ones heares

26542469That can distinguish sense.

26552470Edg. But by your fauour, how neeres the other army?

26572471Gent. Neere and on the speed for't, the maine descries,

26582472Stands on the hourely thoughts.

26592473Edg. I thanke you sir, thats all.

26602474Gent. Though that the Queene on speciall cause is heere,

26612475His army is mou'd on.

26622476Edg. I thanke you sir. Exit

26632477Glo. You euer gentle gods take my breath from me,

26642478Let not my worser spirit tempt me againe,

26652479To dye before you please.

26662480Edg. Well pray you father.

26672481Glo. Now good sir what are you.

26682482Edg. A most poore man, made lame by fortunes blowes,

26692483Who by the Art of knowne and feeling sorrowes

26702484Am pregnant to good pitty. Giue me your hand,

26712485Ile lead you to some biding.

26722486Glost. Hearty thankes, the bounty and benizon of heauen

26742487to boot, to boot.

26762489Stew. A proclaim'd prize, most happy; that eyles head of thine

26772490was first framed flesh to raise my fortunes. Thou most vnhappy

26782491Traitor, briefely thy selfe remember, the sword is out that must

26802492destroy thee.

26812493Glo. Now let thy friendly hand put strength enough to't.

26832494Stew. Wherefore bolde pezant darst thou support a publisht

26842495traytor, hence least the infection of his fortune take like hold on

26862496thee, let go his arme.

26872497Edg. Chill not let go sir without cagion.

26892498Stew. Let go slaue, or thou diest.

26902499Edg. Good Gentleman goe your gate, let poore volke passe:

26912500and chud haue been zwaggar'd out of my life, it would not haue

26922501bene zo long by a vortnight: nay come not neere the olde man,

2502keepe out cheuore ye, or ile try whether your costard or my bat

26942503be the harder, chill be plaine with you.

26962504Stew. Out dunghill. They fight.

26972505Edg. Chil pick your teeth zir, come no matter for your foines.

26992506Stew. Slaue thou hast slaine me, Villaine take my purse:

27002507If euer thou wilt thriue, bury my body,

27012508And giue the Letters which thou findst about me

27022509To Edmund Earle of Gloster, seeke him out, vpon

27032510The British party: ô vntimely death! death.

27042512Edg. I know thee well, a seruiceable villaine,

27052513As dutious to the vices of thy Mistris,

27062514As badnesse would desire.

27072515Glo. What is he dead?

27082516Edg, Sit you downe father, rest you, lets see his pockets,

27092517These Letters that he speakes of may be my friends,

27102518Hee's dead, I am onely sorry he had no other deathsman.

27112519Let vs see, leaue gentle wax, and manners blame vs not,

27132520To know our enemies minds wee'd rip their hearts,

27142521Their papers is more lawfull.

27162523 Let your reciprocall vowes be remembred,

2524You haue many opportunities to cut him off.

27172525If your will want not, time and place will be fruitfully offered.

27182526There is nothing done: If he returne the Conqueror,

27192527Then am I the prisoner, and his bed my Iayle,

27202528From the loath'd warmth whereof deliuer me,

2529And supply the place for your labour.

27242532Edg. O vndistinguisht space of womans wit,

27252533A plot vpon her vertuous husbands life,

27262534And the exchange my Brother: heere in the sands

27272535Thee Ile rake vp, the post vnsanctified

27282536Of murtherous letchers, and in the mature time

27292537With this vngracious paper strike the sight

27302538Of the death practisd Duke, for him tis well,

27312539That of his death and businesse I can tell.

27322540Glo. The King is mad, how stiffe is my vilde sense,

27342541That I stand vp, and haue ingenious feeling

27352542Of my huge sorrowes, better I were distract,

27362543So should my thoughts be senced from my greefes,

27382544And woes by wrong imaginations, lose

27392545The knowledge of themselues.

27402547Edg. Giue me your hand:

27412548Farre off methinkes I heare the beaten drum.

27422549Come Father Ile bestow you with a friend. Exit