The Country near Dover.
 Enter GLOUCESTER, and EDGAR dressed like a peasant.

Gloucester	When shall I come to th'top of that same hill?

Edgar	You do climb up it now; look how we labour.

Gloucester	Methinks the ground is even.

Edgar								Horrible steep.
	Hark, do you hear the sea?

Gloucester										No, truly.

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

Gloucester								So may it be, indeed.
	Methinks thy voice is altered, and thou speak'st
	In better phrase and matter than thou didst.

Edgar	You're much deceived. In nothing am I changed
	But in my garments.

Gloucester						Methinks you're better spoken.

Edgar	Come on, sir; here's the place. Stand still. How fearful
	And dizzy 'tis to cast one's eyes so low!
	The crows and choughs that wing the midway air
	Show scarce so gross as beetles. Halfway down
	Hangs one that gathers samphire-dreadful trade!
	Methinks he seems no bigger than his head.
	The fishermen that walk upon the beach
	Appear like mice, and yond tall anchoring bark
	Diminished to her cock, her cock a buoy
	Almost too small for sight. The murmuring surge
	That on th'unnumbered idle pebble chafes
	Cannot be heard so high. I'll look no more,
	Lest my brain turn, and the deficient sight
	Topple down headlong.

Gloucester								Set me where you stand.

Edgar	Give me your hand. You are now within a foot
	Of th'extreme verge. For all beneath the moon
	Would I not leap upright.

Gloucester							Let go my hand.
	Here, friend, 's another purse; in it a jewel
	Well worth a poor man's taking. Fairies and gods
	Prosper it with thee! Go thou further off.
	Bid me farewell, and let me hear thee going.

Edgar	Now fare ye well, good sir.

Gloucester								With all my heart.

Edgar	[Aside.] Why I do trifle thus with his despair
	Is done to cure it.

Gloucester	[Kneeling.]			O you mighty gods,
	This world I do renounce, and in your sights
	Shake patiently my great affliction off!
	If I could bear it longer, and not fall
	To quarrel with your great opposeless wills,
	My snuff and loathd part of nature should
	Burn itself out. If Edgar live, O, bless him!
	[Rising.]
	Now, fellow, fare thee well.
							[GLOUCESTER leaps, and falls forward.

Edgar								Gone, sir; farewell.
	And yet I know not how conceit may rob
	The treasury of life when life itself
	Yields to the theft. Had he been where he thought,
	By this had thought been past. Alive or dead?
	Ho, you sir, friend! Hear you, sir? Speak!-
	Thus might he pass indeed; yet he revives.
	-What are you, sir?

Gloucester								Away, and let me die.

Edgar	Hadst thou been aught but gossamer, feathers, air,
	So many fathom down precipitating
	Thou'dst shivered like an egg; but thou dost breathe,
	Hast heavy substance, bleed'st not, speak'st, art sound.
	Ten masts at each make not the altitude
	Which thou hast perpendicularly fell.
	Thy life's a miracle. Speak yet again.

Gloucester	But have I fallen or no?

Edgar	From the dread summit of this chalky bourn.
	Look up a-height; the shrill-gorged lark so far
	Cannot be seen or heard. Do but look up.

Gloucester	Alack, I have no eyes.
	Is wretchedness deprived that benefit
	To end itself by death? 'Twas yet some comfort
	When misery could beguile the tyrant's rage,
	And frustrate his proud will.

Edgar									Give me your arm.
	Up-so. How is't? Feel you your legs? You stand.

Gloucester	Too well, too well.

Edgar						This is above all strangeness.
	Upon the crown o'th'cliff what thing was that
	Which parted from you?

Gloucester								A poor unfortunate beggar.

Edgar	As I stood here below methought his eyes
	Were two full moons; he had a thousand noses,
	Horns whelked and waved like the enridgd sea.
	It was some fiend. Therefore, thou happy father,
	Think that the clearest gods, who make them honours
	Of men's impossibilities, have preserved thee.

Gloucester	I do remember now. Henceforth I'll bear
	Affliction till it do cry out itself
	'Enough, enough,' and die. That thing you speak of-
	I took it for a man-often 'twould say
	'The fiend, the fiend'; he led me to that place.

Edgar	Bear free and patient thoughts.

           Enter LEAR, fantastically dressed with wild flowers.

								But who comes here?
	The safer sense will ne'er accommodate
	His master thus.

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

Edgar	O thou side-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. Look, look, a mouse. Peace, peace; 
	this piece of toasted cheese will do't. There's my 
	gauntlet; I'll prove it on a giant. Bring up the brown 
	bills. O, well flown bird; i'th'clout, i'th'clout-hewgh! 
	Give the word.

Edgar	Sweet marjoram.

Lear	Pass.

Gloucester	I know that voice.

Lear	Ha, Goneril with a white beard! They flattered me like a 
	dog, and told me I had the white hairs in my beard ere the 
	black ones were there. To say 'ay' and 'no' to everything 
	that I said! 'Ay' and 'no' too was no good divinity. When 
	the rain came to wet me once, and the wind to make me 
	chatter, when the thunder would not peace at my bidding, 
	there I found 'em, there I smelt 'em out. Go to, they are 
	not men o'their words: they told me I was everything; 'tis 
	a lie, I am not ague-proof.

Gloucester	The trick of that voice I do 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 thy cause?
	Adultery?
	Thou shalt not die. Die for adultery! No;
	The wren goes to't, and the small gilded fly
	Does lecher in my sight.
	Let copulation thrive; for Gloucester's bastard son
	Was kinder to his father than my daughters
	Got 'tween the lawful sheets.
	To't, luxury, pell-mell, for I lack soldiers.
	Behold yond simp'ring dame
	Whose face between her forks presages snow,
	That minces virtue and does shake the head
	To hear of pleasure's name;
	The fitchew nor the soild horse goes to't
	With a more riotous appetite.
	Down from the waist they are Centaurs,
	Though women all above;
	But to the girdle do the gods inherit,
	Beneath is all the fiend's:
	There's hell, there's darkness, there is the sulphurous 
	pit-burning, scalding, stench, consumption. Fie, fie, 
	fie! Pah, pah! Give me an ounce of civet, good apothecary, 
	sweeten my imagination. There's money for thee.

Gloucester	O, let me kiss that hand.

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

Gloucester	O ruined piece of nature! This great world
	Shall so wear out to naught. Dost thou knoW me?

Lear	I remember thine eyes well enough. Dost thou squiny at me? 
	No, do thy worst, blind Cupid; I'll not love. Read thou 
	this challenge; mark but the penning of it.

Gloucester	Were all thy letters suns, I could not see.

Edgar	[Aside.] I would not take this from report; it is,
	And my heart breaks at it.

Lear	Read.

Gloucester	What, with the case of eyes?

Lear	O ho, are you there with me? No eyes in your head, nor no 
	money in your purse? Your eyes are in a heavy case, your 
	purse in a light: yet you see how this world goes.

Gloucester	I see it feelingly.

Lear	What, art mad? A man may see how this world goes with no 
	eyes. Look with thine ears. See how yond justice rails upon 
	yond simple thief. Hark in thine ear; change places and, 
	handy-dandy, which is the justice, which is the thief? Thou 
	hast seen a farmer's dog bark at a beggar?

Gloucester	Ay, sir.

Lear	And the creature run from the cur? There thou mightst 
	behold the great image of authority: a dog's obeyed in 
	office.
	Thou rascal beadle, hold thy bloody hand.
	Why dost thou lash that whore? Strip thy own back;
	Thou hotly lusts to use her in that kind
	For which thou whipp'st her. The usurer hangs the cozener.
	Thorough tattered clothes great vices do appear;
	Robes and furred gowns hide all. Plate sin with gold,
	And the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks;
	Arm it in rags, a pigmy's straw does pierce it.
	None does offend, none, I say, none; I'll able 'em.
	Take that of me, my friend, who have the power
	To seal th'accuser's lips. Get thee glass eyes,
	And like a scurvy politician seem
	To see the things thou dost not. Now, now, now, now;
	Pull off my boots; harder, harder-so.

Edgar	O, matter and impertinency mixed;
	Reason in madness.

Lear	If thou wilt weep my fortunes, take my eyes;
	I know thee well enough; thy name is Gloucester.
	Thou must be patient; we came crying hither.
	Thou know'st the first time that we smell the air
	We wawl and cry. I will preach to thee: mark.

Gloucester	Alack, alack the day!

Lear	When we are born we cry that we are come
	To this great stage of fools. This' a good block.
	It were a delicate stratagem to shoe
	A troop of horse with felt; I'll put't in proof;
	And when I have stol'n upon these son-in-laws,
	Then kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill!

                  Enter 1st GENTLEMAN, with ATTENDANTS.

1st Gentleman	O, here he is; lay hand upon him.-Sir,
	Your most dear daughter-

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;
	I am cut to th'brains.

1st Gentleman								You shall have anything.

Lear	No seconds? All myself?
	Why this would make a man a man of salt,
	To use his eyes for garden water-pots,
	Ay, and laying autumn's dust. I will die bravely,
	Like a smug bridegroom. What, I will be jovial.
	Come, come, I am a king, masters, know you that?

1st Gentleman	You are a royal one, and we obey you.

Lear	Then there's life in't. Come, an you get it you shall get 
	it by running. Sa, sa, sa, sa.
						   [Exit running, followed by ATTENDANTS.

1st Gentleman	A sight most pitiful in the meanest wretch,
	Past speaking of in a king! Thou hast one daughter
	Who redeems nature from the general curse
	Which twain have brought her to.

Edgar	Hail, gentle sir.

1st Gentleman						Sir, speed you; what's your will?

Edgar	Do you hear aught, sir, of a battle toward?

1st Gentleman	Most sure and vulgar; everyone hears that
	Which can distinguish sound.

Edgar								But, by your favour,
	How near's the other army?

1st Gentleman	Near, and on speedy foot. The main descry
	Stands on the hourly thought.

Edgar							I thank you, sir; that's all.

1st Gentleman	Though that the queen on special cause is here,
	Her army is moved on.

Edgar						I thank you, sir.
												[Exit 1st GENTLEMAN.

Gloucester	You ever-gentle gods, take my breath from me;
	Let not my worser spirit tempt me again
	To die before you please.

Edgar								Well pray you, father.

Gloucester	Now, good sir, what are you?

Edgar	A most poor man made tame to fortune's blows;
	Who, by the art of known and feeling sorrows,
	Am pregnant to good pity. Give me your hand,
	I'll lead you to some biding.

Gloucester									Hearty thanks;
	The bounty and the benison of heaven
	To boot, and boot!

                              Enter OSWALD.

Oswald							A proclaimed prize! Most happy!
	That eyeless head of thine was first framed flesh
	To raise my fortunes. Thou old unhappy traitor,
	Briefly thyself remember; the sword is out
	That must destroy thee.

Gloucester							Now let thy friendly hand
	Put strength enough to't.
												[EDGAR interposes.

Oswald									Wherefore, bold peasant,
	Dar'st thou support a published traitor? Hence,
	Lest that th'infection of his fortune take
	Like hold on thee. Let go his arm.

Edgar	Chill not let go, zir, without vurther 'casion.

Oswald	Let go, slave, or thou diest.

Edgar	Good gentleman, go your gait, and let poor volk pass. An 
	chud ha' bin zwaggered out of my life, 'twould not ha' bin 
	zo long as 'tis by a vortnight. Nay, come not near th'old 
	man; keep out, che vor' ye, or Ise try whether your costard 
	or my ballow be the harder. Chill be plain with you.

Oswald	Out, dunghill!

Edgar	Chill pick your teeth, zir. Come; no matter vor your foins.
							  [They fight, EDGAR knocks him down.

Oswald	Slave, thou hast slain me. Villain, take my purse;
	If ever thou wilt thrive, bury my body,
	And give the letters which thou find'st about me
	To Edmund Earl of Gloucester. Seek him out
	Upon the British party. O untimely death,
	Death!
												[Dies.
Edgar	I know thee well; a serviceable villain,
	As duteous to the vices of thy mistress
	As badness would desire.

Gloucester								What, is he dead?

Edgar	Sit you down, father; rest you.
	Let's see these pockets; the letters that he speaks of
	May be my friends. He's dead; I am only sorry
	He had no other deathsman. Let us see.
	Leave, gentle wax; and manners blame us not.
	To know our enemies' minds we rip their hearts;
	Their papers is more lawful.

	[Reads.]	"Let our reciprocal vows be remembered. You have 
	many opportunities to cut him off; if your will want not, 
	time and place will be fruitfully offered. There is nothing 
	done if he return the conqueror; then am I the prisoner, 
	and his bed my gaol; from the loathed warmth whereof 
	deliver me, and supply the place for your labour.
		Your -wife so I would say-affectionate servant,
												GONERIL."

	O indistinguished space of woman's will!
	A plot upon her virtuous husband's life,
	And the exchange my brother! Here, in the sands,
	Thee I'll rake up, the post unsanctified
	Of murderous lechers; and in the mature time
	With this ungracious paper strike the sight
	Of the death-practised duke. For him 'tis well
	That of thy death and business I can tell.

Gloucester	The king is mad. How stiff is my vile sense
	That I stand up and have ingenious feeling
	Of my huge sorrows! Better I were distract;
	So should my thoughts be severed from my griefs,
	And woes by wrong imaginations lose
	The knowledge of themselves.
												[Drum afar off.
Edgar									Give me your hand.
	Far off methinks I hear the beaten drum.
	Come, father, I'll bestow you with a friend.
												[Exeunt.
