[4.4]
When shall we come to the top of that same hill?
We climb it now, mark how we labor.
Methinks the ground is even.
Horrible steep. Hark, do you hear the sea?
No, truly.
Why then your other senses grow imperfect
So may it be indeed.
4.4.91726Methinks thy voice is altered, and thou speak'st
4.4.101727In better phrase and matter than thou didst.
You are much deceived. In nothing am I altered
Methinks you are better spoken.
Come on, sir, here's the place. How fearful
4.4.151732And dizzy 'tis to cast one's eyes so low.
4.4.161733The crows and choughs that wing the midway air
4.4.171734Show scarce so big as beetles. Halfway down
4.4.181735Hangs one that gathers samphire, dreadful trade!
4.4.201737Appear like mice, and yon tall anchoring bark
4.4.221739Almost too small for sight. The murmuring surge
4.4.231740Cannot be heard so high. I'll look no more
4.4.241741Lest my brain turn, and the disorder make me
Set me where you stand.
You are now within a foot of the extreme verge.
4.4.281745For all beneath the moon I would not now
Let go my hand.
4.4.311748Here, friend, is another purse, in it a jewel
4.4.321749Well worth a poor man's taking; get thee further,
4.4.331750Bid me farewell, and let me hear thee going.
Fare you well, sir. -- That I do trifle thus
4.4.351752With this his despair is with design to cure it.
Thus, mighty gods, this world I do renounce,
4.4.371754And in your sight shake my afflictions off.
4.4.381755If I could bear them longer and not fall
4.4.391756To quarrel with your great opposeless wills,
4.4.401757My snuff and feebler part of nature should
4.4.411758Burn itself out. If Edgar live, oh bless him.
Gone, sir! Farewell.
4.4.451762The treasury of life. Had he been where he thought,
4.4.461763By this had thought been past -- Alive, or dead?
4.4.471764Hoa sir, friend; hear you, sir, speak --
4.4.481765Thus might he pass indeed -- yet he revives.
Away, and let me die.
Hadst thou been ought but gossamer, feathers, air,
4.4.531770Thou hadst shivered like an egg. But thou dost breathe,
4.4.541771Hast heavy substance, bleed'st not, speak'st, art sound.
But have I fallen or no?
From the dread summit of this chalky bourn.
4.4.581775Look up a-height, the shrill-tuned lark so high
4.4.591776Cannot be seen or heard; do but look up.
Alack, I have no eyes.
Give me your arm.
4.4.641781Up, so, how is it? Feel you your legs? You stand.
Too well, too well.
Upon the crown of the cliff, what thing was that
A poor, unfortunate beggar.
As I stood here below, methought his eyes
4.4.701787Were two full moons, wide nostrils breathing fire.
4.4.711788It was some fiend. Therefore, thou happy father,
4.4.721789Think that the all-powerful gods, who make them honors
4.4.731790Of men's impossibilities, have preserved thee.
'Tis wonderful. Henceforth I'll bear affliction
4.4.751792Till it expire. The goblin which you speak of,
4.4.761793I took it for a man. Oft-times it would say,
4.4.771794"The fiend, the fiend." He led me to that place.
Bear free and patient thoughts -- but who comes here?
4.4.78.11796Enter Lear, a coronet of flowers on his head. Wreaths and garlands about him. No, no, they cannot touch me for coining. I am the king himself.
Oh, piercing sight.
Nature's above art in that respect. There's your press-money.
4.4.821800That fellow handles his bow like a cow-keeper -- draw me a
4.4.831801clothier's yard. A mouse, a mouse! Peace hoa. There's my
4.4.841802gauntlet, I'll prove it on a giant. Bring up the brown bills. O
4.4.851803well flown, bird. In the white, in the white -- Hewgh! Give
Sweet marjoram.
Pass.
I know that voice.
Ha! Gonerill with a white beard! They flattered me like a
4.4.911809dog, and told me I had white hairs on my chin before the black
4.4.921810ones were there. To say "Aye" and "No" to everything that I said "Aye"
4.4.931811and "No" to was no good divinity. When the rain came once to wet
4.4.941812me, and the winds to make me chatter; when the thunder would not
4.4.951813peace at my bidding, there I found them, there I smelt them out. Go
4.4.961814too, they are not men of their words. They told me I was a king;
That voice I well remember, is it not the king's?
Aye, every inch a king. When I do stare,
4.4.1011819I pardon that man's life. What was the cause?
4.4.1021820Adultery? Thou shalt not die. Die for adultery!
4.4.1031821The wren goes to it, and the small gilded fly
4.4.1041822Engenders in my sight. Let copulation thrive,
4.4.1051823For Gloster's bastard son was kinder to his father
4.4.1061824Than were my daughters got in the lawful bed.
4.4.1071825To it, luxury, pell-mell, for I lack soldiers.
Not all my sorrows past so deep have touched me,
4.4.1091827As these sad accents. Sight were now a torment --
Behold that simpering lady, she that starts
4.4.1111829At pleasure's name, and thinks her ear profaned
4.4.1121830With the least wanton word. Would you believe it?
4.4.1131831The fitcher nor the pampered steed goes to it
4.4.1141832With such a riotous appetite. Down from the waist they are
4.4.1151833centaurs, though women all above. But to the girdle do the gods
4.4.1161834inherit, beneath is all the fiends: there's hell, there's
4.4.1171835darkness, the sulphurous unfathomed -- fie! Fie! Pah!
4.4.1181836-- an ounce of civet, good apothecary, to sweeten my
Let me kiss that hand.
Let me wipe it first, it smells of mortality.
Speak, sir. Do you know me?
I remember thy eyes well enough. Nay, do thy worst, blind
4.4.1241842Cupid, I'll not love. Read me this challenge, mark
Were all the letters suns, I could not see.
I would not take this from report. Wretched Cordelia,
4.4.1281846What will thy virtue do when thou shalt find
Read.
What, with this case of eyes?
Oh ho! Are you there with me? No eyes in your head, and no money
4.4.1341852in your purse? Yet you see how this world goes.
I see it feelingly.
What? Art mad? A man may see how this world goes with no eyes.
4.4.1371855Look with thy ears, see how yon justice rails on that simple
4.4.1381856thief. Shake them together, and the first that drops, be it thief
4.4.1391857or justice, is a villain. Thou hast seen a farmer's dog
Aye, sir.
And the man ran from the cur. There thou might'st behold the
4.4.1431861great image of authority: a dog's obeyed in office. Thou, rascal
4.4.1441862beadle, hold thy bloody hand; why dost thou lash that strumpet?
4.4.1451863Thou hotly lust'st to enjoy her in that kind for which thou
4.4.1461864whip'st her. Do, do, the judge that sentenced her has been
How stiff is my vile sense that yields not yet?
I tell thee the usurer hangs the cozener. Through tattered robes
4.4.1501868small vices do appear, robes and fur gowns hide all. Place sins
4.4.1511869with gold -- why there it is for thee, my friend, make much of it.
4.4.1521870It has the power to seal the accuser's lips. Get thee glass eyes,
4.4.1531871and like a scurvy politician, seem to see the things thou dost
4.4.1541872not. Pull, pull off my boots, hard, harder, so, so.
O matter and impertinency mixed,
If thou wilt weep my fortunes, take my eyes.
4.4.1581876I know thee well enough, thy name is Gloster.
4.4.1591877Thou must be patient, we came crying hither --
4.4.1601878Thou know'st, the first time that we taste the air
4.4.1611879We wail and cry -- I'll preach to thee, mark.
Break, laboring heart.
When we are born, we cry that we are come
Oh, here he is, lay hand upon him. Sir,
No rescue? What, a prisoner? I am even the natural fool of
4.4.1681887Fortune. Use me well, you shall have ransom. Let me have
You shall have anything.
No seconds? All myself? I will die bravely like a smug
4.4.1721891bridegroom, flushed and pampered as a priest's whore. I am a king,
You are a royal one, and we obey you.
It were an excellent stratagem to shoe a troop of horse with
4.4.1761895felt. I'll put in proof -- no noise, no noise -- now
4.4.1771896will we steal upon these sons-in-law, and then -- kill,
A sight most moving in the meanest wretch,
4.4.1801900Past speaking in a king. Now, good sir, what are you?
A most poor man made tame to fortune's strokes,
4.4.1821902And prone to pity by experienced sorrows. Give me your hand.
You ever-gentle gods, take my breath from me,
A proclaimed prize! Oh, most happily met.
4.4.1871908That eyeless head of thine was first framed flesh
4.4.1881909To raise my fortunes. Thou old, unhappy traitor,
Now let thy friendly hand put strength enough to it.
Wherefore, bold peasant,
4.4.1921913Dar'st thou support a published traitor? Hence,
'Chill not let go, zir, without 'vurther 'casion.
Let go, slave, or thou diest.
Good gentleman, go your gait, and let poor volk pass. And 'chu'd
4.4.1971918ha' bin zwaggered out of my life, it would not a bin zo long as
4.4.1981919'tis by a vortnight. Nay, an' thou com'st near th' old
4.4.1991920man, I'ce try whether your costard or my ballow be th' harder.
Out, dunghill.
'Chill pick your teeth, zir. Come, no matter vor your voines.
Slave, thou hast slain me. Oh, untimely death.
I know thee well; a serviceable villain,
What, is he dead?
Sit you, sir, and rest you.
4.4.2101931Our party in good stead to know. What's here?
4.4.2131935Let our mutual loves be remembered. You have many opportunities
4.4.2141936to cut him off. If he return the conqueror then I am still a
4.4.2151937prisoner, and his bed my jail, from the loathed warmth of which
4.4.2161938deliver me, and supply the place for your labor.
4.4.2181941And the exchange my brother. Here in the sands
4.4.2201943Grieved only that thou hadst no other deathsman.
4.4.2221945These letters to the sight of the injured duke
4.4.2231946As best shall serve our purpose. Come, your hand.
4.4.225.21950A chamber. Lear asleep on a couch. Cordelia, [Physician] and attendants standing by him. His sleep is sound, and may have good effect
We have employed the utmost power of art,
O Regan, Gonerill, inhuman sisters,
4.4.2321957Had he not been your father, these white hairs
4.4.2331958Had challenged sure some pity. Was this a face
4.4.2351960My enemy's dog, though he had bit me, should
4.4.2361961Have stood that night against my fire. He wakes, speak to
Madam, do you, 'tis fittest.
How does my royal lord? How fares Your Majesty?
You do me wrong to take me out of the grave.
4.4.2431968Be used still like a wretched mortal. No, no,
Speak to me, sir, who am I?
You are a soul in bliss, but I am bound
Sir, do you know me?
You are a spirit, I know. Where did you die?
Still, still, far wide.
Madam, he's scarce awake. He'll soon grow more composed.
Where have I been? Where am I? Fair daylight!
4.4.2541979I am mightily abused. I should even die with pity
Oh, look upon me, sir,
4.4.2581983And hold your hands in blessing over me. Nay,
Pray do not mock me.
4.4.2621987Fourscore and upward, and to deal plainly with you,
Nay, then farewell to patience. Witness for me
4.4.2651990Ye mighty powers, I never complained till now!
Methinks I should know you, and know this man,
4.4.2681993What place this is, and all the skill I have
4.4.2701995Where I did sleep last night. Pray do not mock me
Oh, my dear, dear father!
Be your tears wet? Yes faith. Pray do not weep.
4.4.2762001I know I have given thee cause, and am so humbled
4.4.2792004That thou couldst grant it; but I'm well assured
4.4.2802005Thou canst not. Therefore I do stand thy justice.
4.4.2812006If thou hast poison for me, I will drink it,
Oh pity, sir, a bleeding heart, and cease
Tell me, friends, where am I?
In your own kingdom, sir.
Do not abuse me.
Be comforted, good madam, for the violence
You must bear with me, I am old and foolish.
The gods restore you. Hark, I hear afar
4.4.2942020The beaten drum; old Kent's a man of his word.
4.4.2962022Like the fierce thunderer's, when the earth-born sons
4.4.2972023Stormed heaven, to fight this injured father's battle.
4.4.3032029Such tempest as his poor aged head sustained.
4.4.3052031'Tis your own cause; for that your succors bring.
4.4.3062032Revenge yourselves, and right an injured king.