Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. King Lear (1623 First Folio Edition)
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Scene i
2178: Actus Quartus. Scena Prima.
2179: [ Enter Edgar.]
2180:
Edg.
Yet better thus, and knowne to be contemn'd,
2181: Then still contemn'd and flatter'd, to be worst:
2182: The lowest, and most deiected thing of Fortune,
2183: Stands still in esperance, liues not in feare:
2184: The lamentable change is from the best,
2185: The worst returnes to laughter. Welcome then,
2186: Thou vnsubstantiall ayre that I embrace:
2187: The Wretch that thou hast blowne vnto the worst,
2188: Owes nothing to thy blasts.
2189: [ Enter Glouster, and an Oldman.]
2190: But who comes heere? My Father poorely led?
2191: World, World, O world!
2192: But that thy strange mutations make vs hate thee,
2193: Life would not yeelde to age.
2194:
Oldm.
O my good Lord, I haue bene your Tenant,
2195: And your Fathers Tenant, these fourescore yeares.
2196:
Glou.
Away, get thee away: good Friend be gone,
2197: Thy comforts can do me no good at all,
2198: Thee, they may hurt.
2199:
Oldm.
You cannot see your way.
2200:
Glou.
I haue no way, and therefore want no eyes:
2201: I stumbled when I saw. Full oft 'tis seene,
2202: Our meanes secure vs, and our meere defects
2203: Proue our Commodities. Oh deere Sonne Edgar,
2204: The food of thy abused Fathers wrath:
2205: Might I but liue to see thee in my touch,
2206: I'ld say I had eyes againe.
2207:
Oldm.
How now? who's there?
2208:
Edg.
O Gods! Who is't can say I am at the worst?
2209: I am worse then ere I was.
2210:
Old.
'Tis poore mad Tom.
2211:
Edg.
And worse I may be yet: the worst is not,
2212: So long as we can say this is the worst.
2213:
Oldm.
Fellow, where goest?
2214:
Glou.
Is it a Beggar-man?
2215:
Oldm.
Madman, and beggar too.
2216:
Glou.
He has some reason, else he could not beg.
2217: I'th' last nights storme, I such a fellow saw;
2218: Which made me thinke a Man, a Worme. My Sonne
2219: Came then into my minde, and yet my minde
2220: Was then scarse Friends with him.
2221: I haue heard more since:
2222: As Flies to wanton Boyes, are we to th' Gods,
2223: They kill vs for their sport.
2224:
Edg.
How should this be?
2225: Bad is the Trade that must play Foole to sorrow,
2226: Ang'ring it selfe, and others. Blesse thee Master.
2227:
Glou.
Is that the naked Fellow?
2228:
Oldm.
I, my Lord.
2229:
Glou.
Get thee away: If for my sake
2230: Thou wilt ore-take vs hence a mile or twaine
2231: I'th' way toward Douer, do it for ancient loue,
2232: And bring some couering for this naked Soule,
2233: Which Ile intreate to leade me.
2234:
Old.
Alacke sir, he is mad.
2235:
Glou.
'Tis the times plague,
2236: When Madmen leade the blinde:
2237: Do as I bid thee, or rather do thy pleasure:
2238: Aboue the rest, be gone.
2239:
Oldm.
Ile bring him the best Parrell that I haue
2240: Come on't what will. [ Exit]
2241:
Glou.
Sirrah, naked fellow.
2242:
Edg.
Poore Tom's a cold. I cannot daub it further.
2243:
Glou.
Come hither fellow.
2244:
Edg.
And yet I must:
2245: Blesse thy sweete eyes, they bleede.
2246:
Glou.
Know'st thou the way to Douer?
2247:
Edg.
Both style, and gate; Horseway, and foot-path:
2248: poore Tom hath bin scarr'd out of his good wits. Blesse
2249: thee good mans sonne, from the foule Fiend.
2250:
Glou.
Here take this purse, y whom the heau'ns plagues
2251: Haue humbled to all strokes: that I am wretched
2252: Makes thee the happier: Heauens deale so still:
2253: Let the superfluous, and Lust-dieted man,
2254: That slaues your ordinance, that will not see
2255: Because he do's not feele, feele your powre quickly:
2256: So distribution should vndoo excesse,
2257: And each man haue enough. Dost thou know Douer?
2258:
Edg.
I Master.
2259:
Glou.
There is a Cliffe, whose high and bending head
2260: Lookes fearfully in the confined Deepe:
2261: Bring me but to the very brimme of it,
2262: And Ile repayre the misery thou do'st beare
2263: With something rich about me: from that place,
2264: I shall no leading neede.
2265:
Edg.
Giue me thy arme;
2266: Poore Tom shall leade thee. [ Exeunt.]