The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 8 of 9]

The safer sense will ne'er accommodate [4293][4294][4295]
His master thus.[4294]

Lear. No, they cannot touch me for coining; I am the [4296]
king himself.

Edg. O thou side-piercing sight![4297] 85

Lear. Nature's above art in that respect. There's your [4298]
press-money. That fellow handles his bow like a crow-keeper:[4299]
draw me a clothier's yard. Look, look, a mouse![4299]
Peace, peace; this piece of toasted cheese will do 't.[4300]
There's my gauntlet; I'll prove it on a giant. Bring up 90
the brown bills. O, well flown, bird! i' the clout, i' the [4301][4302]
clout: hewgh! Give the word.[4302][4303]

Edg. Sweet marjoram.

Lear. Pass.

Glou. I know that voice. 95

Lear. Ha! Goneril, with a white beard! They flattered [4304]
me like a dog, and told me I had white hairs in my [4305]
beard ere the black ones were there. To say 'ay' and 'no'
to every thing that I said! 'Ay' and 'no' too was no good [4306]
divinity. When the rain came to wet me once and the wind [4307] 100
to make me chatter; when the thunder would not peace at
my bidding; there I found 'em, there I smelt 'em out. Go [4308]
to, they are not men o' their words: they told me I was [4309]
every thing; 'tis a lie, I am not ague-proof.[4310]

Glou. The trick of that voice I do well remember:[4311] 105
Is't not the king?[4311]

Lear. Ay, every inch a king:[4312][4313]
When I do stare, see how the subject quakes.[4312][4314]
I pardon that man's life. What was thy cause?[4312][4315][4316]
Adultery?[4315][4317][4318]
Thou shalt not die: die for adultery! No:[4318][4319] 110
The wren goes to't, and the small gilded fly[4318]
Does lecher in my sight.[4318][4320]
Let copulation thrive; for Gloucester's bastard son[4318]
Was kinder to his father than my daughters[4318][4321]
Got 'tween the lawful sheets.[4318][4322] 115
To't, luxury, pell-mell! for I lack soldiers.[4318]
Behold yond simpering dame,[4323][4324]
Whose face between her forks presages snow,[4323][4325]
That minces virtue and does shake the head[4323][4326]
To hear of pleasure's name;[4323][4327] 120
The fitchew, nor the soiled horse, goes to't[4323][4328]
With a more riotous appetite.[4323][4328][4329]
Down from the waist they are Centaurs,[4323][4330]
Though women all above:[4323]
But to the girdle do the gods inherit,[4323] 125
Beneath is all the fiends';[4331][4332]
There's hell, there's darkness, there's the sulphurous pit,[4331][4333]
Burning, scalding, stench, consumption; fie, fie, fie! pah,[4334]
pah! Give me an ounce of civet, good apothecary, to [4335]
sweeten my imagination: there's money for thee.[4335] 130

Glou. O, let me kiss that hand!

Lear. Let me wipe it first; it smells of mortality.[4336]

Glou. O ruin'd piece of nature! This great world [4337]
Shall so wear out to nought. Dost thou know me?[4337][4338]

Lear. I remember thine eyes well enough. Dost thou [4339] 135
squiny at me? No, do thy worst, blind Cupid; I'll not love.[4340]
Read thou this challenge; mark but the penning on't.[4341]

Glou. Were all the letters suns, I could not see one.[4342]

Edg. I would not take this from report: it is,[4343]
And my heart breaks at it.[4343] 140

Lear. Read.

Glou. What, with the case of eyes?[4344]

Lear. O, ho, are you there with me? No eyes in your
head, nor no money in your purse? Your eyes are in a [4345][4346]
heavy case, your purse in a light: yet you see how this[4345][4347] 145
world goes.[4348]

Glou. I see it feelingly.

Lear. What, art mad? A man may see how this world [4349]
goes with no eyes. Look with thine ears: see how yond [4350][4351]
justice rails upon yond simple thief. Hark, in thine ear:[4351][4352] 150
change places, and, handy-dandy, which is the justice, which [4353][4354]
is the thief? Thou hast seen a farmer's dog bark at a[4353]
beggar?

Glou. Ay, sir.[4355]

Lear. And the creature run from the cur? There thou 155
mightst behold the great image of authority: a dog's obeyed [4356]
in office.
Thou rascal beadle, hold thy bloody hand![4357]
Why dost thou lash that whore? Strip thine own back;[4357][4358]
Thou hotly lust'st to use her in that kind[4357][4359] 160
For which thou whip'st her. The usurer hangs the cozener.[4357][4360]
Through tatter'd clothes small vices do appear;[4361][4362]
Robes and furr'd gowns hide all. Plate sin with gold,[4361][4363][4364]
And the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks;[4361][4364]
Arm it in rags, a pigmy's straw does pierce it.[4361][4364][4365] 165
None does offend, none, I say, none; I'll able 'em:[4361][4364][4366]
Take that of me, my friend, who have the power[4361][4364]
To seal the accuser's lips. Get thee glass eyes,[4361][4364]
And, like a scurvy politician, seem[4361]
To see the things thou dost not.[4361] 170
Now, now, now, now: pull off my boots: harder, harder:[4367][4368]
so.[4368]

Edg. O, matter and impertinency mix'd![4369][4370]
Reason in madness![4369]

Lear. If thou wilt weep my fortunes, take my eyes.[4371][4372] 175
I know thee well enough; thy name is Gloucester:[4371]
Thou must be patient; we came crying hither:[4371]
Thou know'st, the first time that we smell the air,[4371][4373]
We wawl and cry. I will preach to thee: mark.[4371][4374]

Glou. Alack, alack the day![4371] 180

Lear. When we are born, we cry that we are come[4371]
To this great stage of fools. This 's a good block.[4371][4375]
It were a delicate stratagem, to shoe[4371][4376]
A troop of horse with felt: I'll put 't in proof;[4371][4377]
And when I have stol'n upon these sons-in-law,[4371][4378] 185
Then, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill![4371]

Enter a Gentleman, with Attendants.[4379]

Gent. O, here he is: lay hand upon him. Sir,[4371][4380]
Your most dear daughter—[4371][4381]

Lear. No rescue? What, a prisoner? I am even[4371][4382]
The natural fool of fortune. Use me well;[4371] 190
You shall have ransom. Let me have a surgeon;[4371][4383]
I am cut to the brains.[4371][4384]

Gent. You shall have any thing.[4371]

Lear. No seconds? all myself?[4371]
Why, this would make a man a man of salt,[4371][4385]
To use his eyes for garden water-pots,[4371][4386] 195
Ay, and laying autumn's dust.[4371][4387]

Gent. Good sir,—[4371][4387]

Lear. I will die bravely, like a smug bridegroom. What![4371][4387][4388]
I will be jovial: come, come; I am a king,[4371][4387]
My masters, know you that.[4371][4387] 200

Gent. You are a royal one, and we obey you.[4371]

Lear. Then there's life in't. Nay, if you get it, you[4371][4389][4390]
shall get it by running. Sa, sa, sa, sa.[4371][4389]

[Exit running; Attendants follow.[4391]

Gent. A sight most pitiful in the meanest wretch,[4371]
Past speaking of in a king! Thou hast one daughter,[4371][4392] 205
Who redeems nature from the general curse[4371]
Which twain have brought her to.[4371][4393]

Edg. Hail, gentle sir.

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

Edg. Do you hear aught, sir, of a battle toward?[4394]

Gent. Most sure and vulgar: every one hears that,[4395][4396] 210
Which can distinguish sound.[4395][4397]

Edg. But, by your favour,[4398]
How near's the other army?[4398][4399]

Gent. Near and on speedy foot; the main descry [4400]
Stands on the hourly thought.

Edg. I thank you, sir: that's all.[4401]

Gent. Though that the queen on special cause is here, 215
Her army is moved on.

Edg. I thank you, sir. [Exit Gent.[4402]

Glou. You ever-gentle gods, take my breath from me;[4403]
Let not my worser spirit tempt me again
To die before you please!

Edg. Well pray you, father.[4404]

Glou. Now, good sir, what are you? 220

Edg. A most poor man, made tame to fortune's blows;[4405]
Who, by the art of known and feeling sorrows,[4406]
Am pregnant to good pity. Give me your hand,
I'll lead you to some biding.

Glou. Hearty thanks:[4407]
The bounty and the benison of heaven[4407][4408] 225
To boot, and boot![4407]

Enter Oswald.[4409]

Osw. A proclaim'd prize! Most happy![4410][4411]
That eyeless head of thine was first framed flesh[4410][4412]
To raise my fortunes. Thou old unhappy traitor,[4410][4413]
Briefly thyself remember: the sword is out[4410]
That must destroy thee.[4410]

Glou. Now let thy friendly hand[4410][4414] 230
Put strength enough to't. [Edgar interposes.[4410][4415]

Osw. Wherefore, bold peasant,[4410]
Darest thou support a publish'd traitor? Hence![4410][4416]
Lest that the infection of his fortune take[4410][4417]
Like hold on thee. Let go his arm.[4410]

Edg. Chill not let go, zir, without vurther 'casion.[4418] 235

Osw. Let go, slave, or thou diest!

Edg. Good gentleman, go your gait, and let poor volk [4419]
pass. An chud ha' been zwaggered out of my life, 'twould [4420]
not ha' been zo long as 'tis by a vortnight. Nay, come not [4421]
near th' old man; keep out, che vor ye, or I'se try whether [4422] 240
your costard or my ballow be the harder: chill be plain [4423]
with you.

Osw. Out, dunghill! [They fight.[4424]

Edg. Chill pick your teeth, zir: come; no matter vor [4425]
your foins. [Oswald falls.[4426] 245

Osw. 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 [4427]
To Edmund earl of Gloucester; seek him out [4428]
Upon the British party. O, untimely death![4428][4429][4430] 250
Death! [Dies.[4430][4431]

Edg. I know thee well: a serviceable villain,
As duteous to the vices of thy mistress [4432]
As badness would desire.

Glou. What, is he dead?

Edg. Sit you down, father; rest you.[4433][4434][4435] 255
Let's see these pockets: the letters that he speaks of[4433][4434][4436]
May be my friends. He's dead; I am only sorry[4433][4437][4438]
He had no other deathsman. Let us see:[4433][4437]
Leave, gentle wax; and, manners, blame us not:[4433][4439][4440]
To know our enemies' minds, we'ld rip their hearts;[4440][4441] 260
Their papers, is more lawful.[4442]

[Reads] 'Let our reciprocal vows be remembered. You [4443][4444][4445]
have many opportunities to cut him off: if your will want[4444]
not, time and place will be fruitfully offered. There is[4444]
nothing done, if he return the conqueror: then am I[4444][4446] 265
the prisoner, and his bed my gaol; from the loathed[4444][4447]
warmth whereof deliver me, and supply the place for your[4444][4448]
labour.

'Your—wife, so I would say—affectionate servant,[4449]
'Goneril.' 270
O undistinguish'd space of woman's will![4450]
A plot upon her virtuous husband's life;
And the exchange my brother! Here, in the sands,[4451]
Thee I'll rake up, the post unsanctified [4452]
Of murderous lechers; and in the mature time [4453] 275
With this ungracious paper strike the sight
Of the death-practised duke: for him 'tis well [4454]
That of thy death and business I can tell.[4455]

Glou. The king is mad: how stiff is my vile sense,[4456]
That I stand up, and have ingenious feeling 280
Of my huge sorrows! Better I were distract:
So should my thoughts be sever'd from my griefs,[4457]
And woes by wrong imaginations lose [4458]
The knowledge of themselves. [Drum afar off.[4459]

Edg. Give me your hand:[284, 285]
Far off, methinks, I hear the beaten drum:[4460] 285
Come, father, I'll bestow you with a friend. [Exeunt.[4461]

Scene VII. A tent in the French camp. Lear on a bed asleep, soft music playing; Gentleman, and others attending.

Enter Cordelia, Kent, and Doctor.[4462]

The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 8 of 9]

About This Book

Scene VII. A tent in the French camp. Lear on a bed asleep, soft music playing; Gentleman, and others attending.