GLOUCESTER

The trick of that voice I do well remember.

Is’t not the King?

LEAR Ay, every inch a king.

⌈Gloucester kneels⌉

When I do stare, see how the subject quakes!

I pardon that man’s life. What was thy cause?

Adultery? Thou shalt not 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 yon 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’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’s the sulphury pit, burning, scalding,

Stench, consummation. 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 Here, wipe it first; it smells of mortality.

GLOUCESTER

O ruined piece of nature! This great world

Shall so wear out to naught. Do you know me?

LEAR I remember thy eyes well enough. Dost thou squiny on me?

No, do thy worst, blind Cupid, I’ll not love.

Read thou that challenge. Mark the penning of’t.

GLOUCESTER

Were all the letters suns, I could not see one.

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 the world goes with no eyes; look with thy ears. See how yon justice rails upon yon simple thief. Hark in thy ear: handy-dandy, which is the thief, which is the justice? 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 thine own back.

Thy blood as hotly lusts to use her in that kind

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

cozener.

Through tattered rags small vices do appear;

Robes and furred gowns hides all. Get thee glass eyes,

And, like a scurvy politician, seem

To see the things thou dost not. No tears, now.

Pull off my boots. Harder, harder! So.

EDGAR (aside)

O, matter and impertinency mixed—

Reason in madness!

LEAR

If thou wilt weep my fortune, 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 wail and cry. I will preach to thee. Mark me.

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

A troop of horse with felt; and when I have stole

upon

These son-in-laws, then kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill!

Enter three Gentlemen

⌈FIRST⌉ GENTLEMAN

O, here he is. Lay hands upon him, sirs.

(To Lear) Your most dear—

LEAR

No rescue? What, a prisoner? I am e’en

The natural fool of fortune. Use me well.

You shall have ransom. Let me have a surgeon;

I am cut to the 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,

Ay, and laying autumn’s dust.

⌈FIRST⌉ GENTLEMAN Good sir—

LEAR

I will die bravely, like a bridegroom.

What, I will be jovial. Come, come,

I am a king, my masters, know you that?

⌈FIRST⌉ GENTLEMAN

You are a royal one, and we obey you.

LEAR Then there’s life in’t. Nay, an you get it, you shall get it with running.

Exit running, pursued by two Gentlemen

⌈FIRST⌉ GENTLEMAN

A sight most pitiful in the meanest wretch,

Past speaking in a king. Thou hast one daughter

Who redeems nature from the general curse

Which twain hath brought her to.

EDGAR Hail, gentle sir.

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

EDGAR

Do you hear aught of a battle toward?

⌈FIRST⌉ GENTLEMAN

Most sure and vulgar, everyone hears that

That can distinguish sense.

EDGAR But, by your favour,

How near’s the other army?

⌈FIRST⌉ GENTLEMAN

Near and on speedy foot, the main; descriers

Stands on the hourly thoughts.

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 lame by fortune’s blows,

Who by the art of known and feeling sorrows