Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. King Lear (1623 First Folio Edition)
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Scene v
2430: Scena Quinta.
2431: [ Enter Gloucester, and Edgar.]
2432:
Glou.
When shall I come to th' top of that same hill?
2433:
Edg.
You do climbe vp it now. Look how we labor.
2434:
Glou.
Me thinkes the ground is eeuen.
2435:
Edg.
Horrible steepe.
2436: Hearke, do you heare the Sea?
2437:
Glou.
No truly.
2438:
Edg.
Why then your other Senses grow imperfect
2439: By your eyes anguish.
2440:
Glou.
So may it be indeed.
2441: Me thinkes thy voyce is alter'd, and thou speak'st
2442: In better phrase, and matter then thou did'st.
2443:
Edg.
Y'are much deceiu'd: In nothing am I chang'd
2444: But in my Garments.
2445:
Glou.
Me thinkes y'are better spoken.
2446:
Edg.
Come on Sir,
2447: Heere's the place: stand still: how fearefull
2448: And dizie 'tis, to cast ones eyes so low,
2449: The Crowes and Choughes, that wing the midway ayre
2450: Shew scarse so grosse as Beetles. Halfe way downe
2451: Hangs one that gathers Sampire: dreadfull Trade:
2452: Me thinkes he seemes no bigger then his head.
2453: The Fishermen, that walk'd vpon the beach
2454: Appeare like Mice: and yond tall Anchoring Barke,
2455: Diminish'd to her Cocke: her Cocke, a Buoy
2456: Almost too small for sight. The murmuring Surge,
2457: That on th' vnnumbred idle Pebble chafes
2458: Cannot be heard so high. Ile looke no more,
2459: Least my braine turne, and the deficient sight
2460: Topple downe headlong.
2461:
Glou.
Set me where you stand.
2462:
Edg.
Giue me your hand:
2463: You are now within a foote of th' extreme Verge:
2464: For all beneath the Moone would I not leape vpright.
2465:
Glou.
Let go my hand:
2466: Heere Friend's another purse: in it, a Iewell
2467: Well worth a poore mans taking. Fayries, and Gods
2468: Prosper it with thee. Go thou further off,
2469: Bid me farewell, and let me heare thee going.
2470:
Edg.
Now fare ye well, good Sir.
2471:
Glou.
With all my heart.
2472:
Edg.
Why I do trifle thus with his dispaire,
2473: Is done to cure it.
2474:
Glou.
O you mighty Gods!
2475: This world I do renounce, and in your sights
2476: Shake patiently my great affliction off:
2477: If I could beare it longer, and not fall
2478: To quarrell with your great opposelesse willes,
2479: My snuffe, and loathed part of Nature should
2480: Burne it selfe out. If Edgar liue, O blesse him:
2481: Now Fellow, fare thee well.
2482:
Edg.
Gone Sir, farewell:
2483: And yet I know not how conceit may rob
2484: The Treasury of life, when life it selfe
2485: Yeelds to the Theft. Had he bin where he thought,
2486: By this had thought bin past. Aliue, or dead?
2487: Hoa, you Sir: Friend, heare you Sir, speake:
2488: Thus might he passe indeed: yet he reuiues.
2489: What are you Sir?
2490:
Glou.
Away, and let me dye.
2491:
Edg.
Had'st thou beene ought
2492: But Gozemore, Feathers, Ayre,
2493: (So many fathome downe precipitating)
2494: Thou'dst shiuer'd like an Egge: but thou do'st breath:
2495: Hast heauy substance, bleed'st not, speak'st, art sound,
2496: Ten Masts at each, make not the altitude
2497: Which thou hast perpendicularly fell,
2498: Thy life's a Myracle. Speake yet againe.
2499:
Glou.
But haue I falne, or no?
2500:
Edg.
From the dread Somnet of this Chalkie Bourne
2501: Looke vp a height, the shrill-gorg'd Larke so farre
2502: Cannot be seene, or heard: Do but looke vp.
2503:
Glou.
Alacke, I haue no eyes:
2504: Is wretchednesse depriu'd that benefit
2505: To end it selfe by death? 'Twas yet some comfort,
2506: When misery could beguile the Tyrants rage,
2507: And frustrate his proud will.
2508:
Edg.
Giue me your arme.
2509: Vp, so: How is't? Feele you your Legges? You stand.
2510:
Glou.
Too well, too well.
2511:
Edg.
This is aboue all strangenesse,
2512: Vpon the crowne o'th' Cliffe. What thing was that
2513: Which parted from you?
2514:
Glou.
A poore vnfortunate Beggar.
2515:
Edg.
As I stood heere below, me thought his eyes
2516: Were two full Moones: he had a thousand Noses,
2517: Hornes wealk'd, and waued like the enraged Sea:
2518: It was some Fiend: Therefore thou happy Father,
2519: Thinke that the cleerest Gods, who make them Honors
2520: Of mens Impossibilities, haue preserued thee.
2521:
Glou.
I do remember now: henceforth Ile beare
2522: Affliction, till it do cry out it selfe
2523: Enough, enough, and dye. That thing you speake of,
2524: I tooke it for a man: often 'twould say
2525: The Fiend, the Fiend, he led me to that place.
2526:
Edgar.
Beare free and patient thoughts.
2527: [ Enter Lear.]
2528: But who comes heere?
2529: The safer sense will ne're accommodate
2530: His Master thus.
2531:
Lear.
No, they cannot touch me for crying. I am the
2532: King himselfe.
2533:
Edg.
O thou side-piercing sight!
2534:
Lear.
Nature's aboue Art, in that respect. Ther's your
2535: Presse-money. That fellow handles his bow, like a Crow-keeper:
2536: draw mee a Cloathiers yard. Looke, looke, a
2537: Mouse: peace, peace, this peece of toasted Cheese will
2538: doo't. There's my Gauntlet, Ile proue it on a Gyant.
2539: Bring vp the browne Billes. O well flowne Bird: i'th'
2540: clout, i'th' clout: Hewgh. Giue the word.
2541:
Edg.
Sweet Mariorum.
2542:
Lear.
Passe.
2543:
Glou.
I know that voice.
2544:
Lear.
Ha! Gonerill with a white beard? They flatter'd
2545: me like a Dogge, and told mee I had the white hayres in
2546: my Beard, ere the blacke ones were there. To say I, and
2547: no, to euery thing that I said: I, and no too, was no good
2548: Diuinity. When the raine came to wet me once, and the
2549: winde to make me chatter: when the Thunder would not
2550: peace at my bidding, there I found 'em, there I smelt 'em
2551: out. Go too, they are not men o'their words; they told
2552: me, I was euery thing: 'Tis a Lye, I am not Agu-proofe.
2553:
Glou.
The tricke of that voyce, I do well remember:
2554: Is't not the King?
2555:
Lear.
I, euery inch a King.
2556: When I do stare, see how the Subiect quakes.
2557: I pardon that mans life. What was thy cause?
2558: Adultery? thou shalt not dye: dye for Adultery?
2559: No, the Wren goes too't, and the small gilded Fly
2560: Do's letcher in my sight. Let Copulation thriue:
2561: For Glousters bastard Son was kinder to his Father,
2562: Then my Daughters got 'tweene the lawfull sheets.
2563: Too't Luxury pell-mell, for I lacke Souldiers.
2564: Behold yond simpring Dame, whose face betweene her
2565: Forkes presages Snow; that minces Vertue, & do's shake
2566: the head to heare of pleasures name. The Fitchew, nor
2567: the soyled Horse goes too't with a more riotous appe-tite:
2568: Downe from the waste they are Centaures, though
2569: Women all aboue: but to the Girdle do the Gods inhe-rit,
2570: beneath is all the Fiends. There's hell, there's darke-nes,
2571: there is the sulphurous pit; burning, scalding, stench,
2572: consumption: Fye, fie, fie; pah, pah: Giue me an Ounce
2573: of Ciuet; good Apothecary sweeten my immagination:
2574: There's money for thee.
2575:
Glou.
O let me kisse that hand.
2576:
Lear.
Let me wipe it first,
2577: It smelles of Mortality.
2578:
Glou.
O ruin'd peece of Nature, this great world
2579: Shall so weare out to naught.
2580: Do'st thou know me?
2581:
Lear.
I remember thine eyes well enough: dost thou
2582: squiny at me? No, doe thy worst blinde Cupid, Ile not
2583: loue. Reade thou this challenge, marke but the penning
2584: of it.
2585:
Glou.
Were all thy Letters Sunnes, I could not see.
2586:
Edg.
I would not take this from report,
2587: It is, and my heart breakes at it.
2588:
Lear.
Read.
2589:
Glou.
What with the Case of eyes?
2590:
Lear.
Oh ho, are you there with me? No eies in your
2591: head, nor no mony in your purse? Your eyes are in a hea-uy
2592: case, your purse in a light, yet you see how this world
2593: goes.
2594:
Glou.
I see it feelingly.
2595:
Lear.
What, art mad? A man may see how this world
2596: goes, with no eyes. Looke with thine eares: See how
2597: yond Iustice railes vpon yond simple theefe. Hearke in
2598: thine eare: Change places, and handy-dandy, which is
2599: the Iustice, which is the theefe: Thou hast seene a Far-mers
2600: dogge barke at a Beggar?
2601:
Glou.
I Sir.
2602:
Lear.
And the Creature run from the Cur: there thou
2603: might'st behold the great image of Authoritie, a Dogg's
2604: obey'd in Office. Thou, Rascall Beadle, hold thy bloody
2605: hand: why dost thou lash that Whore? Strip thy owne
2606: backe, thou hotly lusts to vse her in that kind, for which
2607: thou whip'st her. The Vsurer hangs the Cozener. Tho-rough
2608: tatter'd cloathes great Vices do appeare: Robes,
2609: and Furr'd gownes hide all. Place sinnes with Gold, and
2610: the strong Lance of Iustice, hurtlesse breakes: Arme it in
2611: ragges, a Pigmies straw do's pierce it. None do's offend,
2612: none, I say none, Ile able 'em; take that of me my Friend,
2613: who haue the power to seale th' accusers lips. Get thee
2614: glasse-eyes, and like a scuruy Politician, seeme to see the
2615: things thou dost not. Now, now, now, now. Pull off my
2616: Bootes: harder, harder, so.
2617:
Edg.
O matter, and impertinency mixt,
2618: Reason in Madnesse.
2619:
Lear.
If thou wilt weepe my Fortunes, take my eyes.
2620: I know thee well enough, thy name is Glouster:
2621: Thou must be patient; we came crying hither:
2622: Thou know'st, the first time that we smell the Ayre
2623: We wawle, and cry. I will preach to thee: Marke.
2624:
Glou.
Alacke, alacke the day.
2625:
Lear.
When we are borne, we cry that we are come
2626: To this great stage of Fooles. This a good blocke:
2627: It were a delicate stratagem to shoo
2628: A Troope of Horse with Felt: Ile put't in proofe,
2629: And when I haue stolne vpon these Son in Lawes,
2630: Then kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill.
2631: [ Enter a Gentleman.]
2632:
Gent.
Oh heere he is: lay hand vpon him, Sir.
2633: Your most deere Daughter===
2634:
Lear.
No rescue? What, a Prisoner? I am euen
2635: The Naturall Foole of Fortune. Vse me well,
2636: You shall haue ransome. Let me haue Surgeons,
2637: I am cut to'th' Braines.
2638:
Gent.
You shall haue any thing.
2639:
Lear.
No Seconds? All my selfe?
2640: Why, this would make a man, a man of Salt
2641: To vse his eyes for Garden water-pots. I wil die brauely,
2642: Like a smugge Bridegroome. What? I will be Iouiall:
2643: Come, come, I am a King, Masters, know you that?
2643:
Gent.
You are a Royall one, and we obey you.
2645:
Lear.
Then there's life in't. Come, and you get it,
2646: You shall get it by running: Sa, sa, sa, sa. [ Exit.]
2647:
Gent.
A sight most pittifull in the meanest wretch,
2648: Past speaking of in a King. Thou hast a Daughter
2649: Who redeemes Nature from the generall curse
2650: Which twaine haue brought her to.
2651:
Edg.
Haile gentle Sir.
2652:
Gent.
Sir, speed you: what's your will?
2653:
Edg.
Do you heare ought (Sir) of a Battell toward.
2654:
Gent.
Most sure, and vulgar:
2655: Euery one heares that, which can distinguish sound.
2656:
Edg.
But by your fauour:
2657: How neere's the other Army?
2658:
Gent.
Neere, and on speedy foot: the maine descry
2659: Stands on the hourely thought.
2660:
Edg.
I thanke you Sir, that's all.
2661:
Gent.
Though that the Queen on special cause is here
2662: Her Army is mou'd on. [ Exit.]
2663:
Edg.
I thanke you Sir.
2664:
Glou.
You euer gentle Gods, take my breath from me,
2665: Let not my worser Spirit tempt me againe
2666: To dye before you please.
2667:
Edg.
Well pray you Father.
2668:
Glou.
Now good sir, what are you?
2669:
Edg.
A most poore man, made tame to Fortunes blows
2670: Who, by the Art of knowne, and feeling sorrowes,
2671: Am pregnant to good pitty. Giue me your hand,
2672: Ile leade you to some biding.
2673:
Glou.
Heartie thankes:
2674: The bountie, and the benizon of Heauen
2675: To boot, and boot.
2676: [ Enter Steward.]
2677:
Stew.
A proclaim'd prize: most happie
2678: That eyelesse head of thine, was first fram'd flesh
2679: To raise my fortunes. Thou old, vnhappy Traitor,
2680: Breefely thy selfe remember: the Sword is out
2681: That must destroy thee.
2682:
Glou.
Now let thy friendly hand
2683: Put strength enough too't.
2684:
Stew.
Wherefore, bold Pezant,
2685: Dar'st thou support a publish'd Traitor? Hence,
2686: Least that th' infection of his fortune take
2687: Like hold on thee. Let go his arme.
2688:
Edg.
Chill not let go Zir,
2689: Without vurther 'casion.
2690:
Stew.
Let go Slaue, or thou dy'st.
2691:
Edg.
Good Gentleman goe your gate, and let poore
2692: volke passe: and 'chud ha' bin zwaggerd out of my life,
2693: 'twould not ha' bin zo long as 'tis, by a vortnight. Nay,
2694: come not neere th' old man: keepe out che vor' ye, or Ile
2695: try whither your Costard, or my Ballow be the harder;
2696: chill be plaine with you.
2697:
Stew.
Out Dunghill.
2698:
Edg.
Chill picke your teeth Zir: come, no matter vor
2699: your foynes.
2700:
Stew.
Slaue thou hast slaine me: Villain, take my purse;
2701: If euer thou wilt thriue, bury my bodie,
2702: And giue the Letters which thou find'st about me,
2703: To Edmund Earle of Glouster: seeke him out
2703: Vpon the English party. Oh vntimely death, death.
2705:
Edg.
I know thee well. A seruiceable Villaine,
2706: As duteous to the vices of thy Mistris,
2707: As badnesse would desire.
2708:
Glou.
What, is he dead?
2709:
Edg.
Sit you downe Father: rest you.
2710: Let's see these Pockets; the Letters that he speakes of
2711: May be my Friends: hee's dead; I am onely sorry
2712: He had no other Deathsman. Let vs see:
2713: Leaue gentle waxe, and manners: blame vs not
2714: To know our enemies mindes, we rip their hearts,
2715: Their Papers is more lawfull.
2716: [ Reads the Letter.]
2717: Let our reciprocall vowes be remembred. You haue manie
2718: opportunities to cut him off: if your will want not, time and
2719: place will be fruitfully offer'd. There is nothing done. If hee
2720: returne the Conqueror, then am I the Prisoner, and his bed, my
2721: Gaole, from the loathed warmth whereof, deliuer me, and sup-ply
2722: the place for your Labour.
2723: Your (Wife, so I would say) affectio-nate
2724: Seruant. Gonerill.
2725: Oh indistinguish'd space of Womans will,
2726: A plot vpon her vertuous Husbands life,
2727: And the exchange my Brother: heere, in the sands
2728: Thee Ile rake vp, the poste vnsanctified
2729: Of murtherous Letchers: and in the mature time,
2730: With this vngracious paper strike the sight
2731: Of the death-practis'd Duke: for him 'tis well,
2732: That of thy death, and businesse, I can tell.
2733:
Glou.
The King is mad:
2734: How stiffe is my vilde sense
2735: That I stand vp, and haue ingenious feeling
2736: Of my huge Sorrowes? Better I were distract,
2737: So should my thoughts be seuer'd from my greefes,
2738: [ Drum afarre off.]
2739: And woes, by wrong imaginations loose
2740: The knowledge of themselues.
2741:
Edg.
Giue me your hand:
2742: Farre off methinkes I heare the beaten Drumme.
2743: Come Father, Ile bestow you with a Friend. [ Exeunt.]