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Gent. Something he left imperfect in the state which[4143]
since his coming forth is thought of, which imports to the[4143][4144]
kingdom so much fear and danger that his personal return[4143][4145] 5
was most required and necessary.[4143]
since his coming forth is thought of, which imports to the[4143][4144]
kingdom so much fear and danger that his personal return[4143][4145] 5
was most required and necessary.[4143]
Kent. Who hath he left behind him general?[4146]
Gent. The Marshal of France, Monsieur La Far.[4147]
Gent. Ay, sir; she took them, read them in my presence,[4149]
And now and then an ample tear trill'd down
Her delicate cheek: it seem'd she was a queen[4150]
Over her passion, who most rebel-like[4150][4151]
Sought to be king o'er her.[4150]
And now and then an ample tear trill'd down
Her delicate cheek: it seem'd she was a queen[4150]
Over her passion, who most rebel-like[4150][4151]
Sought to be king o'er her.[4150]
Gent. Not to a rage: patience and sorrow strove[4152]
Who should express her goodliest. You have seen[4153]
Sunshine and rain at once: her smiles and tears[4154]
Were like a better way: those happy smilets[4154][4155]
That play'd on her ripe lip seem'd not to know[4156] 20
What guests were in her eyes; which parted thence
As pearls from diamonds dropp'd. In brief,[4157][4158]
Sorrow would be a rarity most beloved,[4157]
If all could so become it.[4157]
Who should express her goodliest. You have seen[4153]
Sunshine and rain at once: her smiles and tears[4154]
Were like a better way: those happy smilets[4154][4155]
That play'd on her ripe lip seem'd not to know[4156] 20
What guests were in her eyes; which parted thence
As pearls from diamonds dropp'd. In brief,[4157][4158]
Sorrow would be a rarity most beloved,[4157]
If all could so become it.[4157]
Kent. Made she no verbal question?[4159]
Gent. Faith, once or twice she heaved the name of 'father'[4160] 25
Pantingly forth, as if it press'd her heart;
Cried 'Sisters! sisters! Shame of ladies! sisters![4161]
Kent! father! sisters! What, i' the storm? i' the night?[4161][4162]
Let pity not be believed!' There she shook[4163]
The holy water from her heavenly eyes, 30
And clamour moisten'd: then away she started[4164]
To deal with grief alone.
Pantingly forth, as if it press'd her heart;
Cried 'Sisters! sisters! Shame of ladies! sisters![4161]
Kent! father! sisters! What, i' the storm? i' the night?[4161][4162]
Let pity not be believed!' There she shook[4163]
The holy water from her heavenly eyes, 30
And clamour moisten'd: then away she started[4164]
To deal with grief alone.
Kent. It is the stars,[4165][4166]
The stars above us, govern our conditions;[4166]
Else one self mate and mate could not beget[4167]
Such different issues. You spoke not with her since?[4168] 35
The stars above us, govern our conditions;[4166]
Else one self mate and mate could not beget[4167]
Such different issues. You spoke not with her since?[4168] 35
Gent. No.
Kent. Was this before the king return'd?
Gent. No, since.
Kent. Well, sir, the poor distressed Lear's i' the town;[4169]
Who sometime in his better tune remembers[4170]
What we are come about, and by no means[4171] 40
Will yield to see his daughter.[4171]
Who sometime in his better tune remembers[4170]
What we are come about, and by no means[4171] 40
Will yield to see his daughter.[4171]
Gent. Why, good sir?
Kent. A sovereign shame so elbows him: his own unkindness[4172]
That stripp'd her from his benediction, turn'd her[4173]
To foreign casualties, gave her dear rights
To his dog-hearted daughters: these things sting[4174][4175] 45
His mind so venomously that burning shame[4174][4175]
Detains him from Cordelia.[4174][4176]
That stripp'd her from his benediction, turn'd her[4173]
To foreign casualties, gave her dear rights
To his dog-hearted daughters: these things sting[4174][4175] 45
His mind so venomously that burning shame[4174][4175]
Detains him from Cordelia.[4174][4176]
Gent. Alack, poor gentleman!
Kent. Of Albany's and Cornwall's powers you heard not?[4177]
Gent. 'Tis so; they are afoot.[4178]
Scene IV. The same. A tent.
Enter, with drum and colours, Cordelia, Doctor, and Soldiers.[4181]
Cor. Alack, 'tis he: why, he was met even now
As mad as the vex'd sea; singing aloud;[4182]
Crown'd with rank fumiter and furrow-weeds,[4183]
With bur-docks, hemlock, nettles, cuckoo-flowers,[4184]
Darnel, and all the idle weeds that grow 5
In our sustaining corn. A century send forth;[4185]
Search every acre in the high-grown field,
And bring him to our eye. [Exit an Officer.] What can man's wisdom[4186][4187][4188][4189]
In the restoring his bereaved sense?[4186][4188][4190]
He that helps him take all my outward worth.[4186][4191] 10
As mad as the vex'd sea; singing aloud;[4182]
Crown'd with rank fumiter and furrow-weeds,[4183]
With bur-docks, hemlock, nettles, cuckoo-flowers,[4184]
Darnel, and all the idle weeds that grow 5
In our sustaining corn. A century send forth;[4185]
Search every acre in the high-grown field,
And bring him to our eye. [Exit an Officer.] What can man's wisdom[4186][4187][4188][4189]
In the restoring his bereaved sense?[4186][4188][4190]
He that helps him take all my outward worth.[4186][4191] 10
Enter a Messenger.[4197]
Cor. 'Tis known before; our preparation stands
In expectation of them. O dear father,
It is thy business that I go about;[4199]
Therefore great France[4199] 25
My mourning and important tears hath pitied.[4200]
No blown ambition doth our arms incite,[4201]
But love, dear love, and our aged father's right:[4202]
Soon may I hear and see him! [Exeunt.[4203]
In expectation of them. O dear father,
It is thy business that I go about;[4199]
Therefore great France[4199] 25
My mourning and important tears hath pitied.[4200]
No blown ambition doth our arms incite,[4201]
But love, dear love, and our aged father's right:[4202]
Soon may I hear and see him! [Exeunt.[4203]
Scene V. Gloucester's castle.
Enter Regan and Oswald.[4204]
Reg. But are my brother's powers set forth?[4205]
Osw. Ay, madam.[4205]
Reg. Lord Edmund spake not with your lord at home?[4209]
Osw. No, madam. 5
Reg. What might import my sister's letter to him?[4210]
Osw. I know not, lady.
Reg. Faith, he is posted hence on serious matter.[4211]
It was great ignorance, Gloucester's eyes being out,
To let him live: where he arrives he moves 10
All hearts against us: Edmund, I think, is gone,[4212]
In pity of his misery, to dispatch[4213]
His nighted life; moreover, to descry[4213]
The strength o' the enemy.[4213][4214]
It was great ignorance, Gloucester's eyes being out,
To let him live: where he arrives he moves 10
All hearts against us: Edmund, I think, is gone,[4212]
In pity of his misery, to dispatch[4213]
His nighted life; moreover, to descry[4213]
The strength o' the enemy.[4213][4214]
Osw. I must needs after him, madam, with my letter.[4215] 15
Reg. Our troops set forth to-morrow: stay with us;[4216]
The ways are dangerous.
The ways are dangerous.
Reg. Why should she write to Edmund? Might not you[4218]
Transport her purposes by word? Belike,[4218][4219] 20
Something—I know not what: I'll love thee much,[4220]
Let me unseal the letter.
Transport her purposes by word? Belike,[4218][4219] 20
Something—I know not what: I'll love thee much,[4220]
Let me unseal the letter.
Osw. Madam, I had rather—[4221]
Reg. I know your lady does not love her husband;
I am sure of that: and at her late being here[4222]
She gave strange œillades and most speaking looks[4223] 25
To noble Edmund. I know you are of her bosom.[4224]
I am sure of that: and at her late being here[4222]
She gave strange œillades and most speaking looks[4223] 25
To noble Edmund. I know you are of her bosom.[4224]
Osw. I, madam?[4225]
Reg. I speak in understanding: you are; I know't:[4226]
Therefore I do advise you, take this note:[4227]
My lord is dead; Edmund and I have talk'd; 30
And more convenient is he for my hand
Than for your lady's: you may gather more.[4228]
If you do find him, pray you, give him this;[4229]
And when your mistress hears thus much from you,
I pray, desire her call her wisdom to her. 35
So, fare you well.[4230]
If you do chance to hear of that blind traitor,
Preferment falls on him that cuts him off.
Therefore I do advise you, take this note:[4227]
My lord is dead; Edmund and I have talk'd; 30
And more convenient is he for my hand
Than for your lady's: you may gather more.[4228]
If you do find him, pray you, give him this;[4229]
And when your mistress hears thus much from you,
I pray, desire her call her wisdom to her. 35
So, fare you well.[4230]
If you do chance to hear of that blind traitor,
Preferment falls on him that cuts him off.
Osw. Would I could meet him, madam! I should show[4231]
What party I do follow.
What party I do follow.
Reg. Fare thee well. [Exeunt.[4232] 40
Scene VI. Fields near Dover.
Enter Gloucester, and Edgar dressed like a peasant.[4233]
Glou. When shall we come to the top of that same hill?[4234]
Edg. You do climb up it now: look, how we labour.[4235]
Glou. Methinks the ground is even.
Glou. No, truly.
Edg. Why then your other senses grow imperfect 5
By your eyes' anguish.
By your eyes' anguish.
Glou. So may it be indeed:
Methinks thy voice is alter'd, and thou speak'st[4239]
In better phrase and matter than thou didst.[4240]
Methinks thy voice is alter'd, and thou speak'st[4239]
In better phrase and matter than thou didst.[4240]
Edg. You're much deceived: in nothing am I changed[4241]
But in my garments.
But in my garments.
Glou. Methinks you're better spoken.[4242] 10
Edg. Come on, sir; here's the place: stand still. How fearful[4243]
And dizzy 'tis to cast one's eyes so low![4244]
The crows and choughs that wing the midway air
Show scarce so gross as beetles: half way down
Hangs one that gathers samphire, dreadful trade![4245] 15
Methinks he seems no bigger than his head:
The fishermen that walk upon the beach[4246]
Appear like mice; and yond tall anchoring bark[4247]
Diminish'd to her cock; her cock, a buoy[4248]
Almost too small for sight: the murmuring surge 20
That on the unnumber’d idle pebbles chafes[4249]
Cannot be heard so high. I'll look no more,[4250]
Lest my brain turn and the deficient sight
Topple down headlong.
And dizzy 'tis to cast one's eyes so low![4244]
The crows and choughs that wing the midway air
Show scarce so gross as beetles: half way down
Hangs one that gathers samphire, dreadful trade![4245] 15
Methinks he seems no bigger than his head:
The fishermen that walk upon the beach[4246]
Appear like mice; and yond tall anchoring bark[4247]
Diminish'd to her cock; her cock, a buoy[4248]
Almost too small for sight: the murmuring surge 20
That on the unnumber’d idle pebbles chafes[4249]
Cannot be heard so high. I'll look no more,[4250]
Lest my brain turn and the deficient sight
Topple down headlong.
Glou. Set me where you stand.
Edg. Give me your hand: you are now within a foot[4251][4252] 25
Of the extreme verge: for all beneath the moon[4251][4253]
Would I not leap upright.[4251][4254]
Of the extreme verge: for all beneath the moon[4251][4253]
Would I not leap upright.[4251][4254]
Glou. Let go my hand.
Here, friend, 's another purse; in it a jewel
Well worth a poor man's taking: fairies and gods[4255]
Prosper it with thee! Go thou farther off;[4256] 30
Bid me farewell, and let me hear thee going.
Here, friend, 's another purse; in it a jewel
Well worth a poor man's taking: fairies and gods[4255]
Prosper it with thee! Go thou farther off;[4256] 30
Bid me farewell, and let me hear thee going.
Edg. Now fare you well good sir.[4257]
Glou. With all my heart.
Glou. [Kneeling] O you mighty gods![4259]
This world I do renounce, and in your sights 35
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 loathed part of nature should[4260]
Burn itself out. If Edgar live, O bless him![4261] 40
Now, fellow, fare thee well. [He falls forward.[4262]
This world I do renounce, and in your sights 35
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 loathed part of nature should[4260]
Burn itself out. If Edgar live, O bless him![4261] 40
Now, fellow, fare thee well. [He falls forward.[4262]
Edg. Gone, sir: farewell.[4263][4264]
And yet I know not how conceit may rob[4263][4265][4266]
The treasury of life, when life itself[4263][4265][4267]
Yields to the theft: had he been where he thought[4263][4265]
By this had thought been past. Alive or dead?[4263][4265][4268] 45
Ho, you sir! friend! Hear you, sir! speak![4263][4269]
Thus might he pass indeed: yet he revives.[4263][4270]
What are you, sir?[4263]
And yet I know not how conceit may rob[4263][4265][4266]
The treasury of life, when life itself[4263][4265][4267]
Yields to the theft: had he been where he thought[4263][4265]
By this had thought been past. Alive or dead?[4263][4265][4268] 45
Ho, you sir! friend! Hear you, sir! speak![4263][4269]
Thus might he pass indeed: yet he revives.[4263][4270]
What are you, sir?[4263]
Glou. Away, and let me die.
Edg. Hadst thou been aught but gossamer, feathers, air,[4271]
So many fathom down precipitating, 50
Thou'dst shiver'd like an egg: but thou dost breathe;[4272]
Hast heavy substance; bleed'st not; speak'st; art sound.[4273]
Ten masts at each make not the altitude[4274]
Which thou hast perpendicularly fell:[4275]
Thy life's a miracle. Speak yet again. 55
So many fathom down precipitating, 50
Thou'dst shiver'd like an egg: but thou dost breathe;[4272]
Hast heavy substance; bleed'st not; speak'st; art sound.[4273]
Ten masts at each make not the altitude[4274]
Which thou hast perpendicularly fell:[4275]
Thy life's a miracle. Speak yet again. 55
Glou. But have I fall'n, or no?[4276]
Edg. From the dread summit of this chalky bourn.[4277]
Look up a-height; the shrill-gorged lark so far[4278]
Cannot be seen or heard: do but look up.[4279]
Look up a-height; the shrill-gorged lark so far[4278]
Cannot be seen or heard: do but look up.[4279]
Glou. Alack, I have no eyes. 60
Is wretchedness deprived that benefit,
To end itself by death? 'Twas yet some comfort,[4280]
When misery could beguile the tyrant's rage
And frustrate his proud will.
Is wretchedness deprived that benefit,
To end itself by death? 'Twas yet some comfort,[4280]
When misery could beguile the tyrant's rage
And frustrate his proud will.
Glou. Too well, too well.
Edg. This is above all strangeness.
Upon the crown o' the cliff, what thing was that[4283]
Which parted from you?
Upon the crown o' the cliff, what thing was that[4283]
Which parted from you?
Glou. A poor unfortunate beggar.[4284]
Edg. As I stood here below, methought his eyes[4285]
Were two full moons; he had a thousand noses,[4286] 70
Horns whelk'd and waved like the enridged sea:[4287]
It was some fiend; therefore, thou happy father,
Think that the clearest gods, who make them honours[4288]
Of men's impossibilities, have preserved thee.
Were two full moons; he had a thousand noses,[4286] 70
Horns whelk'd and waved like the enridged sea:[4287]
It was some fiend; therefore, thou happy father,
Think that the clearest gods, who make them honours[4288]
Of men's impossibilities, have preserved thee.
Glou. I do remember now: henceforth I'll bear 75
Affliction till it do cry out itself
'Enough, enough,' and die. That thing you speak of,[4289]
I took it for a man; often 'twould say[4290]
'The fiend, the fiend:' he led me to that place.[4291]
Affliction till it do cry out itself
'Enough, enough,' and die. That thing you speak of,[4289]
I took it for a man; often 'twould say[4290]
'The fiend, the fiend:' he led me to that place.[4291]
Edg. Bear free and patient thoughts. But who comes
here? 80
here? 80
Enter Lear, fantastically dressed with wild flowers.[4292]