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ACT IV.
Scene I. The heath.[3996]
Enter Edgar.
Edg. Yet better thus, and known to be contemn'd,[3997]
Than still contemn'd and flatter'd. To be worst,[3998]
The lowest and most dejected thing of fortune,[3999]
Stands still in esperance, lives not in fear:[4000]
The lamentable change is from the best; 5
The worst returns to laughter. Welcome then,[4001][4002]
Thou unsubstantial air that I embrace![4002]
The wretch that them hast blown unto the worst[4002]
Owes nothing to thy blasts. But who comes here?[4002][4003][4004]
Than still contemn'd and flatter'd. To be worst,[3998]
The lowest and most dejected thing of fortune,[3999]
Stands still in esperance, lives not in fear:[4000]
The lamentable change is from the best; 5
The worst returns to laughter. Welcome then,[4001][4002]
Thou unsubstantial air that I embrace![4002]
The wretch that them hast blown unto the worst[4002]
Owes nothing to thy blasts. But who comes here?[4002][4003][4004]
Enter Gloucester, led by an Old Man.[4005]
My father, poorly led? World, world, O world![4005][4006] 10
But that thy strange mutations make us hate thee,[4007]
Life would not yield to age.[4008]
But that thy strange mutations make us hate thee,[4007]
Life would not yield to age.[4008]
Old Man. O, my good lord, I have been your tenant,[4009]
and your father's tenant, these fourscore years.[4009][4010]
and your father's tenant, these fourscore years.[4009][4010]
Glou. Away, get thee away; good friend, be gone: 15
Thy comforts can do me no good at all;
Thee they may hurt.
Thy comforts can do me no good at all;
Thee they may hurt.
Old Man. Alack, sir, you cannot see your way.[4011]
Glou. I have no way and therefore want no eyes;
I stumbled when I saw: full oft 'tis seen, 20
Our means secure us, and our mere defects[4012]
Prove our commodities. Ah, dear son Edgar,[4013]
The food of thy abused father's wrath!
Might I but live to see thee in my touch,
I'ld say I had eyes again!
I stumbled when I saw: full oft 'tis seen, 20
Our means secure us, and our mere defects[4012]
Prove our commodities. Ah, dear son Edgar,[4013]
The food of thy abused father's wrath!
Might I but live to see thee in my touch,
I'ld say I had eyes again!
Old Man. How now! Who 's there?[4014] 25
Edg. [Aside] O gods! Who is't can say 'I am at the worst'?[4015][4016]
I am worse than e'er I was.[4017]
I am worse than e'er I was.[4017]
Old Man. 'Tis poor mad Tom.
Edg. [Aside] And worse I may be yet: the worst is not[4015]
So long as we can say 'This is the worst.'[4018]
So long as we can say 'This is the worst.'[4018]
Old Man. Fellow, where goest?
Glou. Is it a beggar-man? 30
Old Man. Madman and beggar too.
Glou. He has some reason, else he could not beg.[4019]
I' the last night's storm I such a fellow saw,[4020]
Which made me think a man a worm: my son
Came then into my mind, and yet my mind 35
Was then scarce friends with him: I have heard more since.[4021]
As flies to wanton boys, are we to the gods;[4022]
They kill us for their sport.[4023]
I' the last night's storm I such a fellow saw,[4020]
Which made me think a man a worm: my son
Came then into my mind, and yet my mind 35
Was then scarce friends with him: I have heard more since.[4021]
As flies to wanton boys, are we to the gods;[4022]
They kill us for their sport.[4023]
Edg. [Aside] How should this be?[4015][4024][4025]
Bad is the trade that must play fool to sorrow,[4024][4026]
Angering itself and others. Bless thee, master![4024][4027] 40
Bad is the trade that must play fool to sorrow,[4024][4026]
Angering itself and others. Bless thee, master![4024][4027] 40
Glou. Is that the naked fellow?
Old Man. Ay, my lord.
Glou. Then, prithee, get thee gone: if for my sake[4028]
Thou wilt o'ertake us hence a mile or twain[4029]
I' the way toward Dover, do it for ancient love;[4030]
And bring some covering for this naked soul,[4031] 45
Who I'll entreat to lead me.[4032]
Thou wilt o'ertake us hence a mile or twain[4029]
I' the way toward Dover, do it for ancient love;[4030]
And bring some covering for this naked soul,[4031] 45
Who I'll entreat to lead me.[4032]
Old Man. Alack, sir, he is mad.
Glou. 'Tis the times' plague, when madmen lead the blind.[4033]
Do as I bid thee, or rather do thy pleasure;[4034]
Above the rest, be gone.
Do as I bid thee, or rather do thy pleasure;[4034]
Above the rest, be gone.
Glou. Sirrah, naked fellow,—[4037]
Glou. Come hither, fellow.
Glou. Know'st thou the way to Dover?
Edg. Both stile and gate, horse-way and foot-path. Poor[4040]
Tom hath been scared out of his good wits. Bless thee, good[4040][4041][4042]
man's son, from the foul fiend! Five fiends have been in poor[4040][4042][4043]
Tom at once; of lust, as Obidicut; Hobbididence, prince of[4043][4044] 60
dumbness; Mahu, of stealing; Modo, of murder; Flibbertigibbet,[4043][4045]
of mopping and mowing; who since possesses[4043][4046]
chambermaids and waiting-women. So, bless thee, master![4043][4047]
Tom hath been scared out of his good wits. Bless thee, good[4040][4041][4042]
man's son, from the foul fiend! Five fiends have been in poor[4040][4042][4043]
Tom at once; of lust, as Obidicut; Hobbididence, prince of[4043][4044] 60
dumbness; Mahu, of stealing; Modo, of murder; Flibbertigibbet,[4043][4045]
of mopping and mowing; who since possesses[4043][4046]
chambermaids and waiting-women. So, bless thee, master![4043][4047]
Glou. Here, take this purse, thou whom the heavens' plagues[4048]
Have humbled to all strokes: that I am wretched[4049] 65
Makes thee the happier. Heavens, deal so still![4049]
Let the superfluous and lust-dieted man,[4050]
That slaves your ordinance, that will not see[4051]
Because he doth not feel, feel your power quickly;[4052]
So distribution should undo excess[4053] 70
And each man have enough. Dost thou know Dover?
Have humbled to all strokes: that I am wretched[4049] 65
Makes thee the happier. Heavens, deal so still![4049]
Let the superfluous and lust-dieted man,[4050]
That slaves your ordinance, that will not see[4051]
Because he doth not feel, feel your power quickly;[4052]
So distribution should undo excess[4053] 70
And each man have enough. Dost thou know Dover?
Edg. Ay, master.
Scene II. Before the Duke of Albany's palace.
Enter Goneril and Edmund.[4059]
Gon. Welcome, my lord: I marvel our mild husband
Not met us on the way.
Not met us on the way.
Enter Oswald.[4060]
Now, where's your master?
Osw. Madam, within; but never man so changed.[4061]
I told him of the army that was landed;[4061]
He smiled at it: I told him you were coming;[4061] 5
His answer was, 'The worse:' of Gloucester's treachery[4061]
And of the loyal service of his son[4061]
When I inform'd him, then he call'd me sot[4061]
And told me I had turn'd the wrong side out:[4061]
What most he should dislike seems pleasant to him;[4061][4062] 10
What like, offensive.[4061][4063]
I told him of the army that was landed;[4061]
He smiled at it: I told him you were coming;[4061] 5
His answer was, 'The worse:' of Gloucester's treachery[4061]
And of the loyal service of his son[4061]
When I inform'd him, then he call'd me sot[4061]
And told me I had turn'd the wrong side out:[4061]
What most he should dislike seems pleasant to him;[4061][4062] 10
What like, offensive.[4061][4063]
Gon. [To Edm.] Then shall you go no further.
It is the cowish terror of his spirit,[4064]
That dares not undertake: he'll not feel wrongs,
Which tie him to an answer. Our wishes on the way[4065]
May prove effects. Back, Edmund, to my brother;[4065][4066] 15
Hasten his musters and conduct his powers:
I must change arms at home and give the distaff[4067]
Into my husband's hands. This trusty servant
Shall pass between us: ere long you are like to hear,[4068]
If you dare venture in your own behalf,[4069] 20
A mistress's command. Wear this; spare speech;
It is the cowish terror of his spirit,[4064]
That dares not undertake: he'll not feel wrongs,
Which tie him to an answer. Our wishes on the way[4065]
May prove effects. Back, Edmund, to my brother;[4065][4066] 15
Hasten his musters and conduct his powers:
I must change arms at home and give the distaff[4067]
Into my husband's hands. This trusty servant
Shall pass between us: ere long you are like to hear,[4068]
If you dare venture in your own behalf,[4069] 20
A mistress's command. Wear this; spare speech;
[Giving a favour.[4070]
Decline your head: this kiss, if it durst speak,
Would stretch thy spirits up into the air:
Conceive, and fare thee well.[4071]
Would stretch thy spirits up into the air:
Conceive, and fare thee well.[4071]
Edm. Yours in the ranks of death.
Gon. My most dear Gloucester![4072] 25
[Exit Edmund.[4073]
O, the difference of man and man![4072][4074][4075]
To thee a woman's services are due:[4075][4076]
My fool usurps my body.[4075]
To thee a woman's services are due:[4075][4076]
My fool usurps my body.[4075]
Osw. Madam, here comes my lord. [Exit.
Enter Albany.[4077]
Gon. I have been worth the whistle.[4078]
Alb. O Goneril![4079]
You are not worth the dust which the rude wind[4079][4080] 30
Blows in your face. I fear your disposition:[4081]
That nature which contemns its origin[4081][4082]
Cannot be border'd certain in itself;[4081][4083]
She that herself will sliver and disbranch[4081][4084]
From her material sap, perforce must wither[4081][4085] 35
And come to deadly use.[4081]
You are not worth the dust which the rude wind[4079][4080] 30
Blows in your face. I fear your disposition:[4081]
That nature which contemns its origin[4081][4082]
Cannot be border'd certain in itself;[4081][4083]
She that herself will sliver and disbranch[4081][4084]
From her material sap, perforce must wither[4081][4085] 35
And come to deadly use.[4081]
Alb. Wisdom and goodness to the vile seem vile:[4081]
Filths savour but themselves. What have you done?[4081][4087]
Tigers, not daughters, what have you perform'd?[4081] 40
A father, and a gracious aged man,[4081]
Whose reverence even the head-lugg'd bear would lick,[4081][4088]
Most barbarous, most degenerate! have you madded.[4081]
Could my good brother suffer you to do it?[4081]
A man, a prince, by him so benefited![4081][4089] 45
If that the heavens do not their visible spirits[4081]
Send quickly down to tame these vile offences,[4081][4090][4091]
It will come,[4081][4090][4092]
Humanity must perforce prey on itself,[4081][4093][4094]
Like monsters of the deep.[4081][4093]
Filths savour but themselves. What have you done?[4081][4087]
Tigers, not daughters, what have you perform'd?[4081] 40
A father, and a gracious aged man,[4081]
Whose reverence even the head-lugg'd bear would lick,[4081][4088]
Most barbarous, most degenerate! have you madded.[4081]
Could my good brother suffer you to do it?[4081]
A man, a prince, by him so benefited![4081][4089] 45
If that the heavens do not their visible spirits[4081]
Send quickly down to tame these vile offences,[4081][4090][4091]
It will come,[4081][4090][4092]
Humanity must perforce prey on itself,[4081][4093][4094]
Like monsters of the deep.[4081][4093]
Gon. Milk-liver'd man! 50
That bear'st a cheek for blows, a head for wrongs;[4095]
Who hast not in thy brows an eye discerning[4096][4097]
Thine honour from thy suffering; that not know'st[4096][4098][4099]
Fools do those villains pity who are punish'd[4098][4099][4100]
Ere they have done their mischief. Where's thy drum?[4098] 55
France spreads his banners in our noiseless land,[4098][4101]
With plumed helm thy state begins to threat,[4098][4102]
Whiles thou, a moral fool, sit'st still and criest[4098][4103]
'Alack, why does he so?'[4098]
That bear'st a cheek for blows, a head for wrongs;[4095]
Who hast not in thy brows an eye discerning[4096][4097]
Thine honour from thy suffering; that not know'st[4096][4098][4099]
Fools do those villains pity who are punish'd[4098][4099][4100]
Ere they have done their mischief. Where's thy drum?[4098] 55
France spreads his banners in our noiseless land,[4098][4101]
With plumed helm thy state begins to threat,[4098][4102]
Whiles thou, a moral fool, sit'st still and criest[4098][4103]
'Alack, why does he so?'[4098]
Alb. See thyself, devil![4104]
Proper deformity seems not in the fiend[4104][4105] 60
So horrid as in woman.[4104]
Proper deformity seems not in the fiend[4104][4105] 60
So horrid as in woman.[4104]
Gon. O vain fool!
Alb. Thou changed and self-cover'd thing, for shame,[4106][4107]
Be-monster not thy feature. Were 't my fitness[4106][4108][4109]
To let these hands obey my blood,[4106][4109][4110]
They are apt enough to dislocate and tear[4106][4109][4111] 65
Thy flesh and bones: howe'er thou art a fiend,[4106][4112]
A woman's shape doth shield thee.[4106]
Be-monster not thy feature. Were 't my fitness[4106][4108][4109]
To let these hands obey my blood,[4106][4109][4110]
They are apt enough to dislocate and tear[4106][4109][4111] 65
Thy flesh and bones: howe'er thou art a fiend,[4106][4112]
A woman's shape doth shield thee.[4106]
Enter a Messenger.
Alb. What news?[4114]
Mess. O, my good lord, the Duke of Cornwall's dead,[4115][4116] 70
Slain by his servant, going to put out[4116]
The other eye of Gloucester.[4116]
Slain by his servant, going to put out[4116]
The other eye of Gloucester.[4116]
Alb. Gloucester's eyes!
Mess. A servant that he bred, thrill'd with remorse,[4117]
Opposed against the act, bending his sword[4118]
To his great master; who thereat enraged[4118][4119] 75
Flew on him and amongst them fell'd him dead,[4120]
But not without that harmful stroke which since[4121][4122]
Hath pluck'd him after.[4122]
Opposed against the act, bending his sword[4118]
To his great master; who thereat enraged[4118][4119] 75
Flew on him and amongst them fell'd him dead,[4120]
But not without that harmful stroke which since[4121][4122]
Hath pluck'd him after.[4122]
Alb. This shows you are above,[4123][4124]
You justicers, that these our nether crimes[4123][4124][4125]
So speedily can venge. But, O poor Gloucester![4123] 80
Lost he his other eye?[4123]
You justicers, that these our nether crimes[4123][4124][4125]
So speedily can venge. But, O poor Gloucester![4123] 80
Lost he his other eye?[4123]
Mess. Both, both, my lord.[4126]
This letter, madam, craves a speedy answer;[4126]
'Tis from your sister.[4126]
This letter, madam, craves a speedy answer;[4126]
'Tis from your sister.[4126]
Gon. [Aside] One way I like this well;[4127]
But being widow, and my Gloucester with her,[4128]
May all the building in my fancy pluck[4129] 85
Upon my hateful life: another way,[4130]
The news is not so tart. I'll read, and answer. [Exit.[4130][4131]
But being widow, and my Gloucester with her,[4128]
May all the building in my fancy pluck[4129] 85
Upon my hateful life: another way,[4130]
The news is not so tart. I'll read, and answer. [Exit.[4130][4131]
Alb. Where was his son when they did take his eyes?[4132]
Mess. Come with my lady hither.
Alb. He is not here.[4133]
Mess. No, my good lord; I met him back again. 90
Alb. Knows he the wickedness?
Mess. Ay, my good lord; 'twas he inform'd against him,
And quit the house on purpose, that their punishment[4134]
Might have the freer course.
And quit the house on purpose, that their punishment[4134]
Might have the freer course.
Scene III. The French camp near Dover.[4140]
Enter Kent and a Gentleman.