The fitchew nor the soilèd horse goes to’t

With a more riotous appetite. Down from the waist

They’re 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, 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 ruined 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 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 thy letters suns, I could not see.

EDGAR (aside)

I would not take this from report; it is,

And my heart breaks at it.

LEAR (to Gloucester) 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 this 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 An 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 thy own back.

Thou hotly lusts to use her in that kind

For which thou whip‘st her. The usurer hangs the

cozener.

Through tattered clothes great vices do appear;

Robes and furred 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.

EDGAR (aside)

O, matter and impertinency mixed—170

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 waul and cry. I will preach to thee. Mark.

GLOUCESTER Alack, alack the day!

LEAR ⌈removing his crown of weeds⌉

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 180

A troop of horse with felt. I’ll put’t in proof,

And when I have stol’n upon these son-in-laws,

Then kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill!

Enter ⌈two ⌉Gentlemen

⌈FIRST⌉GENTLEMAN

O, here he is. Lay hand upon him. ⌈To Lear⌉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 surgeons;

I am cut to th’ brains.

⌈FIRST⌉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.

I will die bravely, like a smug bridegroom. What,

I will be jovial. Come, come, I am a king.

Masters, know you that?

⌈FIRST⌉GENTLEMAN

You are a royal one, and we obey you.

LEAR Then there’s life in’t. Come, an you get it, you shall get it by running. Sa, sa, sa, sa!

Exit running ⌈pursued by a Gentleman⌉

⌈FIRST⌉GENTLEMAN

A sight most pitiful in the meanest wretch,

Past speaking in a king. Thou hast a daughter

Who redeems nature from the general curse

Which twain have brought her to.

EDGAR Hail, gentle sir.

⌈FIRST⌉GENTLEMAN Sir, speed you. What’s your will?

EDGAR

Do you hear aught, sir, of a battle toward?

⌈FIRST⌉+GENTLEMAN

Most sure and vulgar, everyone hears that

That can distinguish sound.

EDGAR But, by your favour,

How near’s the other army?

⌈FIRST⌉ GENTLEMAN,

Near and on speedy foot. The main descry

Stands in the hourly thought.

EDGAR

I thank you, sir. That’s all.

⌈FIRST⌉GENTLEMAN

Though that the Queen on special cause is here,

Her army is moved 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 again

To 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 ⌈rising⌉

Hearty thanks.

The bounty and the benison of heaven

To boot and boot.

Enter Oswald the steward

OSWALD

A proclaimed prize! Most happy!

That eyeless head of thine was first framed flesh

To raise my fortunes. Thou old unhappy traitor,

Briefly thyself remember. The sword is out

That must destroy thee.

GLOUCESTER

Now let thy friendly hand

Put strength enough to’t.

OSWALD (to Edgar)

Wherefore, bold peasant,

Durst thou support a published traitor? Hence,