Act IVScene VI
The country near Dover
Enter Gloucester, and Edgar dressed like a peasant.
Gloucester
When shall I come to the top of that same hill?
Edgar
You do climb up it now. Look how we labour.
Gloucester
Methinks the ground is even.
Edgar
Horrible steep.Hark, do you hear the sea?
Gloucester
No, truly.
Edgar
Why, then, your other senses grow imperfectBy your eyes’ anguish.
Gloucester
So may it be indeed.Methinks thy voice is alter’d; and thou speak’stIn better phrase and matter than thou didst.
Edgar
Y’are much deceiv’d: in nothing am I chang’dBut in my garments.
Gloucester
Methinks you’re better spoken.
Edgar
Come on, sir; here’s the place. Stand still. How fearfulAnd dizzy ’tis to cast one’s eyes so low!The crows and choughs that wing the midway airShow scarce so gross as beetles. Half way downHangs one that gathers samphire—dreadful trade!Methinks he seems no bigger than his head.The fishermen that walk upon the beachAppear like mice; and yond tall anchoring bark,Diminish’d to her cock; her cock a buoyAlmost too small for sight: the murmuring surgeThat on th’unnumber’d idle pebble chafesCannot be heard so high. I’ll look no more;Lest my brain turn, and the deficient sightTopple down headlong.
Gloucester
Set me where you stand.
Edgar
Give me your hand.You are now within a foot of th’extreme verge.For all beneath the moon would I not leap upright.
Gloucester
Let go my hand.Here, friend, ’s another purse; in it a jewelWell worth a poor man’s taking. Fairies and godsProsper it with thee! Go thou further off;Bid me farewell, and let me hear thee going.
Edgar
Now fare ye well, good sir.
Seems to go.
Gloucester
With all my heart.
Edgar
Aside.
Why I do trifle thus with his despairIs done to cure it.
Gloucester
O you mighty gods!This world I do renounce, and in your sights,Shake patiently my great affliction off:If I could bear it longer, and not fallTo quarrel with your great opposeless wills,My snuff and loathed part of nature shouldBurn itself out. If Edgar live, O, bless him!Now, fellow, fare thee well.
Edgar
Gone, sir, farewell.
Gloucester leaps, and falls along
And yet I know not how conceit may robThe treasury of life when life itselfYields to the theft. Had he been where he thought,By this had thought been past. Alive or dead?Ho you, sir! friend! Hear you, sir? speak!Thus might he pass indeed: yet he revives.What are you, sir?
Gloucester
Away, and let me die.
Edgar
Hadst thou been aught but gossamer, feathers, air,So many fathom down precipitating,Thou’dst shiver’d like an egg: but thou dost breathe;Hast heavy substance; bleed’st not; speak’st; art sound.Ten masts at each make not the altitudeWhich thou hast perpendicularly fell.Thy life is a miracle. Speak yet again.
Gloucester
But have I fall’n, or no?
Edgar
From the dread summit of this chalky bourn.Look up a-height, the shrill-gorg’d lark so farCannot be seen or heard. Do but look up.
Gloucester
Alack, I have no eyes.Is wretchedness depriv’d that benefitTo end itself by death? ’Twas yet some comfortWhen misery could beguile the tyrant’s rageAnd frustrate his proud will.
Edgar
Give me your arm.Up, so. How is’t? Feel you your legs? You stand.
Gloucester
Too well, too well.
Edgar
This is above all strangeness.Upon the crown o’ the cliff what thing was thatWhich parted from you?
Gloucester
A poor unfortunate beggar.
Edgar
As I stood here below, methought his eyesWere two full moons; he had a thousand noses,Horns whelk’d and waved like the enraged sea.It was some fiend. Therefore, thou happy father,Think that the clearest gods, who make them honoursOf men’s impossibilities, have preserv’d thee.
Gloucester
I do remember now: henceforth I’ll bearAffliction till it do cry out itself‘Enough, enough,’ and die. That thing you speak of,I took it for a man; often ’twould say,‘The fiend, the fiend’; he led me to that place.
Edgar
Bear free and patient thoughts. But who comes here?
Enter Lear, fantastically dressed up with flowers.
The safer sense will ne’er accommodateHis master thus.
Lear
No, they cannot touch me for coining. I am the King himself.
Edgar
O thou side-piercing sight!
Lear
Nature’s above art in that respect. There’s your press money. That fellow handles his bow like a crow-keeper: draw me a clothier’s yard. Look, look, a mouse! Peace, peace, this piece of toasted cheese will do’t. There’s my gauntlet; I’ll prove it on a giant. Bring up the brown bills. O, well flown, bird! i’ the clout, i’ the clout. Hewgh! Give the word.
Edgar
Sweet marjoram.
Lear
Pass.
Gloucester
I know that voice.
Lear
Ha! Goneril with a white beard! They flattered me like a dog; and told me I had white hairs in my beard ere the black ones were there. To say ‘ay’ and ‘no’ to everything I said ‘ay’ and ‘no’ to was no good divinity. When the rain came to wet me once, and the wind to make me chatter; when the thunder would not peace at my bidding; there I found ’em, there I smelt ’em out. Go to, they are not men o’ their words: they told me I was everything; ’tis a lie, I am not ague-proof.
Gloucester
The trick of that voice I do well remember:Is’t not the King?
Lear
Ay, every inch a king.When I do stare, see how the subject quakes.I pardon that man’s life. What was thy cause?Adultery? Thou shalt not die: die for adultery! No:The wren goes to’t, and the small gilded flyDoes lecher in my sight. Let copulation thrive;For Gloucester’s bastard son was kinder to his fatherThan my daughters got ’tween the lawful sheets.To’t, luxury, pell-mell! for I lack soldiers.Behold yond simp’ring dame,Whose face between her forks presages snow;That minces virtue, and does shake the headTo hear of pleasure’s name.
The fitchew nor the soiled horse goes to’t with a more riotous appetite. Down from the waist they are centaurs, though women all above. But to the girdle do the gods inherit, beneath is all the fiend’s; there’s hell, there’s darkness, there is the sulphurous pit; burning, scalding, stench, consumption. Fie, fie, fie! pah, pah! Give me an ounce of civet, good apothecary, to sweeten my imagination. There’s money for thee.
Gloucester
O, let me kiss that hand!
Lear
Let me wipe it first; it smells of mortality.
Gloucester
O ruin’d piece of nature, this great worldShall so wear out to naught. Dost thou know me?
Lear
I remember thine eyes well enough. Dost thou squiny at me? No, do thy worst, blind Cupid; I’ll not love. Read thou this challenge; mark but the penning of it.
Gloucester
Were all the letters suns, I could not see one.
Edgar
I would not take this from report,It is, and my heart breaks at it.
Lear
Read.
Gloucester
What, with the case of eyes?
Lear
O, ho, are you there with me? No eyes in your head, nor no money in your purse? Your eyes are in a heavy case, your purse in a light, yet you see how this world goes.
Gloucester
I see it feelingly.
Lear
What, art mad? A man may see how the world goes with no eyes. Look with thine ears. See how yon justice rails upon yon simple thief. Hark, in thine ear: change places; and, handy-dandy, which is the justice, which is the thief? Thou hast seen a farmer’s dog bark at a beggar?
Gloucester
Ay, sir.
Lear
And the creature run from the cur? There thou mightst behold the great image of authority: a dog’s obeyed in office.
Thou rascal beadle, hold thy bloody hand!Why dost thou lash that whore? Strip thine own back;Thou hotly lusts to use her in that kindFor which thou whipp’st her. The usurer hangs the cozener.Through tatter’d clothes great vices do appear;Robes and furr’d gowns hide all. Plate sin with gold,And the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks;Arm it in rags, a pygmy’s straw does pierce it.None does offend, none, I say none; I’ll able ’em;Take that of me, my friend, who have the powerTo seal the accuser’s lips. Get thee glass eyes,And like a scurvy politician, seemTo see the things thou dost not. Now, now, now, now:Pull off my boots: harder, harder, so.
Edgar
O, matter and impertinency mix’d!Reason in madness!
Lear
If thou wilt weep my fortunes, take my eyes.I know thee well enough, thy name is Gloucester.Thou must be patient; we came crying hither:Thou know’st the first time that we smell the airWe wawl and cry. I will preach to thee: mark.
Gloucester
Alack, alack the day!
Lear
When we are born, we cry that we are comeTo this great stage of fools. This a good block:It were a delicate stratagem to shoeA troop of horse with felt. I’ll put’t in proofAnd when I have stol’n upon these son-in-laws,Then kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill!
Enter a Gentleman with Attendants.
Gentleman
O, here he is: lay hand upon him. Sir,Your most dear daughter—
Lear
No rescue? What, a prisoner? I am evenThe natural fool of fortune. Use me well;You shall have ransom. Let me have surgeons;I am cut to the brains.
Gentleman
You shall have anything.
Lear
No seconds? All myself?Why, this would make a man a man of salt,To use his eyes for garden water-pots,Ay, and for laying autumn’s dust.
Gentleman
Good sir.
Lear
I will die bravely, like a smug bridegroom.What! I will be jovial. Come, come,I am a king, my masters, know you that.
Gentleman
You are a royal one, and we obey you.
Lear
Then there’s life in’t. Come, and you get it,You shall get it by running. Sa, sa, sa, sa!
Exit running. Attendants follow.
Gentleman
A sight most pitiful in the meanest wretch,Past speaking of in a king! Thou hast one daughterWho redeems nature from the general curseWhich twain have brought her to.
Edgar
Hail, gentle sir.
Gentleman
Sir, speed you. What’s your will?
Edgar
Do you hear aught, sir, of a battle toward?
Gentleman
Most sure and vulgar.Everyone hears that, which can distinguish sound.
Edgar
But, by your favour,How near’s the other army?
Gentleman
Near and on speedy foot; the main descryStands on the hourly thought.
Edgar
I thank you sir, that’s all.
Gentleman
Though that the queen on special cause is here,Her army is mov’d on.
Edgar
I thank you, sir.
Exit Gentleman.
Gloucester
You ever-gentle gods, take my breath from me;Let not my worser spirit tempt me againTo die before you please.
Edgar
Well pray you, father.
Gloucester
Now, good sir, what are you?
Edgar
A most poor man, made tame to fortune’s blows;Who, by the art of known and feeling sorrows,Am pregnant to good pity. Give me your hand,I’ll lead you to some biding.
Gloucester
Hearty thanks:The bounty and the benison of heavenTo boot, and boot.
Enter Oswald.
Oswald
A proclaim’d prize! Most happy!That eyeless head of thine was first fram’d fleshTo raise my fortunes. Thou old unhappy traitor,Briefly thyself remember. The sword is outThat must destroy thee.
Gloucester
Now let thy friendly handPut strength enough to’t.
Edgar interposes.
Oswald
Wherefore, bold peasant,Dar’st thou support a publish’d traitor? Hence;Lest that th’infection of his fortune takeLike hold on thee. Let go his arm.
Edgar
Chill not let go, zir, without vurther ’casion.
Oswald
Let go, slave, or thou diest!
Edgar
Good gentleman, go your gait, and let poor volke pass. An chud ha’ bin zwaggered out of my life, ’twould not ha’ bin zo long as ’tis by a vortnight. Nay, come not near th’old man; keep out, che vor ye, or ise try whether your costard or my ballow be the harder: chill be plain with you.
Oswald
Out, dunghill!
Edgar
Chill pick your teeth, zir. Come! No matter vor your foins.
They fight, and Edgar knocks him down.
Oswald
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 meTo Edmund, Earl of Gloucester. Seek him outUpon the British party. O, untimely death!
Dies.
Edgar
I know thee well. A serviceable villain,As duteous to the vices of thy mistressAs badness would desire.
Gloucester
What, is he dead?
Edgar
Sit you down, father; rest you.Let’s see these pockets; the letters that he speaks ofMay be my friends. He’s dead; I am only sorryHe had no other deathsman. Let us see:Leave, gentle wax; and, manners, blame us not.To know our enemies’ minds, we rip their hearts,Their papers is more lawful.
Reads.
‘Let our reciprocal vows be remembered. You have many opportunities to cut him off: if your will want not, time and place will be fruitfully offered. There is nothing done if he return the conqueror: then am I the prisoner, and his bed my gaol; from the loathed warmth whereof deliver me, and supply the place for your labour. ‘Your (wife, so I would say) affectionate servant, ‘Goneril.’
O indistinguish’d space of woman’s will!A plot upon her virtuous husband’s life,And the exchange my brother! Here in the sandsThee I’ll rake up, the post unsanctifiedOf murderous lechers: and in the mature time,With this ungracious paper strike the sightOf the death-practis’d Duke: for him ’tis wellThat of thy death and business I can tell.
Exit Edgar, dragging out the body.
Gloucester
The King is mad: how stiff is my vile sense,That I stand up, and have ingenious feelingOf my huge sorrows! Better I were distract:So should my thoughts be sever’d from my griefs,And woes by wrong imaginations loseThe knowledge of themselves.
A drum afar off.
Edgar
Give me your hand.Far off methinks I hear the beaten drum.Come, father, I’ll bestow you with a friend.
Exeunt.