The Tragedy of King Lear

ACT IV. Scene I. The heath

Enter Edgar.

  Edg. Yet better thus, and known to be contemn'd,     Than still contemn'd and flatter'd. To be worst,     The lowest and most dejected thing of fortune,     Stands still in esperance, lives not in fear.     The lamentable change is from the best;     The worst returns to laughter. Welcome then,     Thou unsubstantial air that I embrace!     The wretch that thou hast blown unto the worst     Owes nothing to thy blasts.

Enter Gloucester, led by an Old Man.

     But who comes here?     My father, poorly led? World, world, O world!     But that thy strange mutations make us hate thee,     Life would not yield to age.  Old Man. O my good lord,     I have been your tenant, and your father's tenant,     These fourscore years.  Glou. Away, get thee away! Good friend, be gone.     Thy comforts can do me no good at all;     Thee they may hurt.  Old Man. You cannot see your way.  Glou. I have no way, and therefore want no eyes;     I stumbled when I saw. Full oft 'tis seen     Our means secure us, and our mere defects     Prove our commodities. Ah dear son Edgar,     The food of thy abused father's wrath!     Might I but live to see thee in my touch,     I'ld say I had eyes again!  Old Man. How now? Who's there?  Edg. [aside] O gods! Who is't can say 'I am at the worst'?     I am worse than e'er I was.  Old Man. 'Tis poor mad Tom.  Edg. [aside] And worse I may be yet. The worst is not     So long as we can say 'This is the worst.'  Old Man. Fellow, where goest?  Glou. Is it a beggarman?  Old Man. Madman and beggar too.  Glou. He has some reason, else he could not beg.     I' th' last night's storm I such a fellow saw,     Which made me think a man a worm. My son     Came then into my mind, and yet my mind     Was then scarce friends with him. I have heard more since.     As flies to wanton boys are we to th' gods.     They kill us for their sport.  Edg. [aside] How should this be?     Bad is the trade that must play fool to sorrow,     Ang'ring itself and others. – Bless thee, master!  Glou. Is that the naked fellow?  Old Man. Ay, my lord.  Glou. Then prithee get thee gone. If for my sake     Thou wilt o'ertake us hence a mile or twain     I' th' way toward Dover, do it for ancient love;     And bring some covering for this naked soul,     Who I'll entreat to lead me.  Old Man. Alack, sir, he is mad!  Glou. 'Tis the time's plague when madmen lead the blind.     Do as I bid thee, or rather do thy pleasure.     Above the rest, be gone.  Old Man. I'll bring him the best 'parel that I have,     Come on't what will. Exit.  Glou. Sirrah naked fellow-  Edg. Poor Tom's acold. [Aside] I cannot daub it further.  Glou. Come hither, fellow.  Edg. [aside] And yet I must. – Bless thy sweet eyes, they bleed.  Glou. Know'st thou the way to Dover?  Edg. Both stile and gate, horseway and footpath. Poor Tom hathbeen     scar'd out of his good wits. Bless thee, good man's son,from     the foul fiend! Five fiends have been in poor Tom at once:of     lust, as Obidicut; Hobbididence, prince of dumbness; Mahu,of     stealing; Modo, of murder; Flibbertigibbet, of mopping and     mowing, who since possesses chambermaids and waiting women.So,     bless thee, master!  Glou. Here, take this Purse, thou whom the heavens' plagues     Have humbled to all strokes. That I am wretched     Makes thee the happier. Heavens, deal so still!     Let the superfluous and lust-dieted man,     That slaves your ordinance, that will not see     Because he does not feel, feel your pow'r quickly;     So distribution should undo excess,     And each man have enough. Dost thou know Dover?  Edg. Ay, master.  Glou. There is a cliff, whose high and bending head     Looks fearfully in the confined deep.     Bring me but to the very brim of it,     And I'll repair the misery thou dost bear     With something rich about me. From that place     I shall no leading need.  Edg. Give me thy arm.     Poor Tom shall lead thee.Exeunt

Scene II. Before the Duke of Albany's Palace

Enter Goneril and [Edmund the] Bastard.

  Gon. Welcome, my lord. I marvel our mild husband     Not met us on the way.

Enter [Oswald the] Steward.

     Now, where's your master?  Osw. Madam, within, but never man so chang'd.     I told him of the army that was landed:     He smil'd at it. I told him you were coming:     His answer was, 'The worse.' Of Gloucester's treachery     And of the loyal service of his son     When I inform'd him, then he call'd me sot     And told me I had turn'd the wrong side out.     What most he should dislike seems pleasant to him;     What like, offensive.  Gon. [to Edmund] Then shall you go no further.     It is the cowish terror of his spirit,     That dares not undertake. He'll not feel wrongs     Which tie him to an answer. Our wishes on the way     May prove effects. Back, Edmund, to my brother.     Hasten his musters and conduct his pow'rs.     I must change arms at home and give the distaff     Into my husband's hands. This trusty servant     Shall pass between us. Ere long you are like to hear     (If you dare venture in your own behalf)     A mistress's command. Wear this. [Gives a favour.]     Spare speech.     Decline your head. This kiss, if it durst speak,     Would stretch thy spirits up into the air.     Conceive, and fare thee well.  Edm. Yours in the ranks of death! Exit.  Gon. My most dear Gloucester!     O, the difference of man and man!     To thee a woman's services are due;     My fool usurps my body.  Osw. Madam, here comes my lord. Exit.

Enter Albany.

  Gon. I have been worth the whistle.  Alb. O Goneril,     You are not worth the dust which the rude wind     Blows in your face! I fear your disposition.     That nature which contemns it origin     Cannot be bordered certain in itself.     She that herself will sliver and disbranch     From her material sap, perforce must wither     And come to deadly use.  Gon. No more! The text is foolish.  Alb. Wisdom and goodness to the vile seem vile;     Filths savour but themselves. What have you done?     Tigers, not daughters, what have you perform'd?     A father, and a gracious aged man,     Whose reverence even the head-lugg'd bear would lick,     Most barbarous, most degenerate, have you madded.     Could my good brother suffer you to do it?     A man, a prince, by him so benefited!     If that the heavens do not their visible spirits     Send quickly down to tame these vile offences,     It will come,     Humanity must perforce prey on itself,     Like monsters of the deep.  Gon. Milk-liver'd man!     That bear'st a cheek for blows, a head for wrongs;     Who hast not in thy brows an eye discerning     Thine honour from thy suffering; that not know'st     Fools do those villains pity who are punish'd     Ere they have done their mischief. Where's thy drum?     France spreads his banners in our noiseless land,     With plumed helm thy state begins to threat,     Whiles thou, a moral fool, sit'st still, and criest     'Alack, why does he so?'  Alb. See thyself, devil!     Proper deformity seems not in the fiend     So horrid as in woman.  Gon. O vain fool!  Alb. Thou changed and self-cover'd thing, for shame!     Bemonster not thy feature! Were't my fitness     To let these hands obey my blood,     They are apt enough to dislocate and tear     Thy flesh and bones. Howe'er thou art a fiend,     A woman's shape doth shield thee.  Gon. Marry, your manhood mew!

Enter a Gentleman.

  Alb. What news?  Gent. O, my good lord, the Duke of Cornwall 's dead,     Slain by his servant, going to put out     The other eye of Gloucester.  Alb. Gloucester's eyes?  Gent. A servant that he bred, thrill'd with remorse,     Oppos'd against the act, bending his sword     To his great master; who, thereat enrag'd,     Flew on him, and amongst them fell'd him dead;     But not without that harmful stroke which since     Hath pluck'd him after.  Alb. This shows you are above,     You justicers, that these our nether crimes     So speedily can venge! But O poor Gloucester!     Lose he his other eye?  Gent. Both, both, my lord.     This letter, madam, craves a speedy answer.     'Tis from your sister.  Gon. [aside] One way I like this well;     But being widow, and my Gloucester with her,     May all the building in my fancy pluck     Upon my hateful life. Another way     The news is not so tart. – I'll read, and answer.Exit.  Alb. Where was his son when they did take his eyes?  Gent. Come with my lady hither.  Alb. He is not here.  Gent. No, my good lord; I met him back again.  Alb. Knows he the wickedness?  Gent. Ay, my good lord. 'Twas he inform'd against him,     And quit the house on purpose, that their punishment     Might have the freer course.  Alb. Gloucester, I live     To thank thee for the love thou show'dst the King,     And to revenge thine eyes. Come hither, friend.     Tell me what more thou know'st.Exeunt

Scene III. The French camp near Dover

Enter Kent and a Gentleman.

  Kent. Why the King of France is so suddenly gone back know youthe     reason?  Gent. Something he left imperfect in the state, which since his     coming forth is thought of, which imports to the kingdom somuch     fear and danger that his personal return was most requiredand     necessary.  Kent. Who hath he left behind him general?  Gent. The Marshal of France, Monsieur La Far.  Kent. Did your letters pierce the Queen to any demonstration of     grief?  Gent. Ay, sir. She took them, read them in my presence,     And now and then an ample tear trill'd down     Her delicate cheek. It seem'd she was a queen     Over her passion, who, most rebel-like,     Sought to be king o'er her.  Kent. O, then it mov'd her?  Gent. Not to a rage. Patience and sorrow strove     Who should express her goodliest. You have seen     Sunshine and rain at once: her smiles and tears     Were like, a better way. Those happy smilets     That play'd on her ripe lip seem'd not to know     What guests were in her eyes, which parted thence     As pearls from diamonds dropp'd. In brief,     Sorrow would be a rarity most belov'd,     If all could so become it.  Kent. Made she no verbal question?  Gent. Faith, once or twice she heav'd the name of father     Pantingly forth, as if it press'd her heart;     Cried 'Sisters, sisters! Shame of ladies! Sisters!     Kent! father! sisters! What, i' th' storm? i' th' night?     Let pity not be believ'd!' There she shook     The holy water from her heavenly eyes,     And clamour moisten'd. Then away she started     To deal with grief alone.  Kent. It is the stars,     The stars above us, govern our conditions;     Else one self mate and mate could not beget     Such different issues. You spoke not with her since?  Gent. No.  Kent. Was this before the King return'd?  Gent. No, since.  Kent. Well, sir, the poor distressed Lear's i' th' town;     Who sometime, in his better tune, remembers     What we are come about, and by no means     Will yield to see his daughter.  Gent. Why, good sir?  Kent. A sovereign shame so elbows him; his own unkindness,     That stripp'd her from his benediction, turn'd her     To foreign casualties, gave her dear rights     To his dog-hearted daughters- these things sting     His mind so venomously that burning shame     Detains him from Cordelia.  Gent. Alack, poor gentleman!  Kent. Of Albany's and Cornwall's powers you heard not?  Gent. 'Tis so; they are afoot.  Kent. Well, sir, I'll bring you to our master Lear     And leave you to attend him. Some dear cause     Will in concealment wrap me up awhile.     When I am known aright, you shall not grieve     Lending me this acquaintance. I pray you go     Along with me. Exeunt.

Scene IV. The French camp

Enter, with Drum and Colours, Cordelia, Doctor, and Soldiers.

  Cor. Alack, 'tis he! Why, he was met even now     As mad as the vex'd sea, singing aloud,     Crown'd with rank fumiter and furrow weeds,     With hardocks, hemlock, nettles, cuckoo flow'rs,     Darnel, and all the idle weeds that grow     In our sustaining corn. A century send forth.     Search every acre in the high-grown field     And bring him to our eye. [Exit an Officer.] What can man's        wisdom     In the restoring his bereaved sense?     He that helps him take all my outward worth.  Doct. There is means, madam.     Our foster nurse of nature is repose,     The which he lacks. That to provoke in him     Are many simples operative, whose power     Will close the eye of anguish.  Cor. All blest secrets,     All you unpublish'd virtues of the earth,     Spring with my tears! be aidant and remediate     In the good man's distress! Seek, seek for him!     Lest his ungovern'd rage dissolve the life     That wants the means to lead it.

Enter Messenger.

  Mess. News, madam.     The British pow'rs are marching hitherward.  Cor. 'Tis known before. Our preparation stands     In expectation of them. O dear father,     It is thy business that I go about.     Therefore great France     My mourning and important tears hath pitied.     No blown ambition doth our arms incite,     But love, dear love, and our ag'd father's right.     Soon may I hear and see him!Exeunt

Scene V. Gloucester's Castle

Enter Regan and [Oswald the] Steward.

  Reg. But are my brother's pow'rs set forth?  Osw. Ay, madam.  Reg. Himself in person there?  Osw. Madam, with much ado.     Your sister is the better soldier.  Reg. Lord Edmund spake not with your lord at home?  Osw. No, madam.  Reg. What might import my sister's letter to him?  Osw. I know not, lady.  Reg. Faith, he is posted hence on serious matter.     It was great ignorance, Gloucester's eyes being out,     To let him live. Where he arrives he moves     All hearts against us. Edmund, I think, is gone,     In pity of his misery, to dispatch     His nighted life; moreover, to descry     The strength o' th' enemy.  Osw. I must needs after him, madam, with my letter.  Reg. Our troops set forth to-morrow. Stay with us.     The ways are dangerous.  Osw. I may not, madam.     My lady charg'd my duty in this business.  Reg. Why should she write to Edmund? Might not you     Transport her purposes by word? Belike,     Something- I know not what- I'll love thee much-     Let me unseal the letter.  Osw. Madam, I had rather-  Reg. I know your lady does not love her husband;     I am sure of that; and at her late being here     She gave strange eliads and most speaking looks     To noble Edmund. I know you are of her bosom.  Osw. I, madam?  Reg. I speak in understanding. Y'are! I know't.     Therefore I do advise you take this note.     My lord is dead; Edmund and I have talk'd,     And more convenient is he for my hand     Than for your lady's. You may gather more.     If you do find him, pray you give him this;     And when your mistress hears thus much from you,     I pray desire her call her wisdom to her.     So farewell.     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     What party I do follow.  Reg. Fare thee well. Exeunt.

Scene VI. The country near Dover

Enter Gloucester, and Edgar [like a Peasant].

  Glou. When shall I come to th' top of that same hill?  Edg. You do climb up it now. Look how we labour.  Glou. Methinks the ground is even.  Edg. Horrible steep.     Hark, do you hear the sea?  Glou. No, truly.  Edg. Why, then, your other senses grow imperfect     By your eyes' anguish.  Glou. So may it be indeed.     Methinks thy voice is alter'd, and thou speak'st     In better phrase and matter than thou didst.  Edg. Y'are much deceiv'd. In nothing am I chang'd     But in my garments.  Glou. Methinks y'are better spoken.  Edg. Come on, sir; here's the place. Stand still. How fearful     And dizzy 'tis to cast one's eyes so low!     The crows and choughs that wing the midway air     Show scarce so gross as beetles. Halfway down     Hangs one that gathers sampire- dreadful trade!     Methinks he seems no bigger than his head.     The fishermen that walk upon the beach     Appear like mice; and yond tall anchoring bark,     Diminish'd to her cock; her cock, a buoy     Almost too small for sight. The murmuring surge     That on th' unnumb'red idle pebble chafes     Cannot be heard so high. I'll look no more,     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     Of th' extreme verge. For all beneath the moon     Would I not leap upright.  Glou. Let go my hand.     Here, friend, is another purse; in it a jewel     Well worth a poor man's taking. Fairies and gods     Prosper it with thee! Go thou further off;     Bid me farewell, and let me hear thee going.  Edg. Now fare ye well, good sir.  Glou. With all my heart.  Edg. [aside]. Why I do trifle thus with his despair     Is done to cure it.  Glou. O you mighty gods! He kneels.     This world I do renounce, and, in your sights,     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     Burn itself out. If Edgar live, O, bless him!     Now, fellow, fare thee well.                                  He falls [forward and swoons].  Edg. Gone, sir, farewell. -     And yet I know not how conceit may rob     The treasury of life when life itself     Yields 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?  Glou. Away, and let me die.  Edg. Hadst thou been aught but gossamer, feathers, air,     So many fadom 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 altitude     Which thou hast perpendicularly fell.     Thy life is a miracle. Speak yet again.  Glou. But have I fall'n, or no?  Edg. From the dread summit of this chalky bourn.     Look up a-height. The shrill-gorg'd lark so far     Cannot be seen or heard. Do but look up.  Glou. Alack, I have no eyes!     Is wretchedness depriv'd that benefit     To end itself by death? 'Twas yet some comfort     When misery could beguile the tyrant's rage     And frustrate his proud will.  Edg. Give me your arm.     Up- so. How is't? Feel you your legs? You stand.  Glou. Too well, too well.  Edg. This is above all strangeness.     Upon the crown o' th' cliff what thing was that     Which parted from you?  Glou. A poor unfortunate beggar.  Edg. As I stood here below, methought his eyes     Were two full moons; he had a thousand noses,     Horns whelk'd and wav'd like the enridged sea.     It was some fiend. Therefore, thou happy father,     Think that the clearest gods, who make them honours     Of men's impossibility, have preserv'd thee.  Glou. I do remember now. Henceforth I'll bear     Affliction 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.  Edg. Bear free and patient thoughts.

Enter Lear, mad, [fantastically dressed with weeds].

     But who comes here?     The safer sense will ne'er accommodate     His master thus.  Lear. No, they cannot touch me for coming;     I am the King himself.  Edg. 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. Drawme     a clothier's yard. Look, look, a mouse! Peace, peace; thispiece     of toasted cheese will do't. There's my gauntlet; I'll proveit     on a giant. Bring up the brown bills. O, well flown, bird!i'     th' clout, i' th' clout! Hewgh! Give the word.  Edg. Sweet marjoram.  Lear. Pass.  Glou. I know that voice.  Lear. Ha! Goneril with a white beard? They flatter'd me like adog,     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' too was no good divinity. When the rain came to wet me     once, and the wind to make me chatter; when the thunderwould     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 Iwas     everything. 'Tis a lie- I am not ague-proof.  Glou. 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 fly     Does lecher in my sight.     Let copulation thrive; for Gloucester's bastard son     Was kinder to his father than 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 presageth snow,     That minces virtue, and does shake the head     To 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's 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.  Glou. O, let me kiss that hand!  Lear. Let me wipe it first; it smells of mortality.  Glou. O ruin'd piece of nature! This great world     Shall so wear out to naught. Dost thou know me?  Lear. I remember thine eyes well enough. Dost thou squiny atme?     No, do thy worst, blind Cupid! I'll not love. Read thou this     challenge; mark but the penning of it.  Glou. Were all the letters suns, I could not see one.  Edg. [aside] I would not take this from report. It is,     And my heart breaks at it.  Lear. Read.  Glou. What, with the case of eyes?  Lear. O, ho, are you there with me? No eyes in your head, norno     money in your purse? Your eyes are in a heavy case, yourpurse     in a light. Yet you see how this world goes.  Glou. I see it feelingly.  Lear. What, art mad? A man may see how the world goes with noeyes.     Look with thine ears. See how yond justice rails upon yond     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?  Glou. Ay, sir.  Lear. And the creature run from the cur? There thou mightstbehold     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 kind     For which thou whip'st her. The usurer hangs the cozener.     Through tatter'd clothes small 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 power     To seal th' accuser's lips. Get thee glass eyes     And, like a scurvy politician, seem     To see the things thou dost not. Now, now, now, now!     Pull off my boots. Harder, harder! So.  Edg. 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 air     We wawl and cry. I will preach to thee. Mark.  Glou. Alack, alack the day!  Lear. When we are born, we cry that we are come     To this great stage of fools. This' a good block.     It were a delicate stratagem to shoe     A troop of horse with felt. I'll put't in proof,     And when I have stol'n upon these sons-in-law,     Then kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill!

Enter a Gentleman [with Attendants].

  Gent. O, here he is! Lay hand upon him. – Sir,     Your most dear daughter-  Lear. No rescue? What, a prisoner? I am even     The natural fool of fortune. Use me well;     You shall have ransom. Let me have a surgeon;     I am cut to th' brains.  Gent. 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 waterpots,     Ay, and laying autumn's dust.  Gent. 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?  Gent. You are a royal one, and we obey you.  Lear. Then there's life in't. Nay, an you get it, you shall getit     by running. Sa, sa, sa, sa!                              Exit running. [Attendants follow.]  Gent. A sight most pitiful in the meanest wretch,     Past speaking of in a king! Thou hast one daughter     Who redeems nature from the general curse     Which twain have brought her to.  Edg. Hail, gentle sir.  Gent. Sir, speed you. What's your will?  Edg. Do you hear aught, sir, of a battle toward?  Gent. Most sure and vulgar. Every one hears that     Which can distinguish sound.  Edg. But, by your favour,     How near's the other army?  Gent. Near and on speedy foot. The main descry     Stands on the hourly thought.  Edg. I thank you sir. That's all.  Gent. Though that the Queen on special cause is here,     Her army is mov'd on.  Edg. I thank you, sir                                               Exit [Gentleman].  Glou. You ever-gentle gods, take my breath from me;     Let not my worser spirit tempt me again     To die before you please!  Edg. Well pray you, father.  Glou. Now, good sir, what are you?  Edg. 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.  Glou. Hearty thanks.     The bounty and the benison of heaven     To boot, and boot!

Enter [Oswald the] Steward.