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Alb. Where was his son, when they did take)
his eyes?

Mes. Come with my lady hither.
Alb. He is hot here.

Mes. No, my good lord; I met him back again. 5
Alb. Knows he the wickedness?

Mes. Ay, my good lord; 'twas he inform'd

against him;

[ment

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Else one self mate and mate could not beget
Such different issues. You spoke not with her
Gent. No.

[since?

Kent. Was this before the king return'd?
Gent. No, since.

[town:
Kent. Well, sir; the poor distressed Lear is i' the
Who sometimes, in his better tune, remembers
What we are come about, and by no means

And quit the house on purpose, that their punish-Will yield to see his daughter.
10 Gent. Why, good sir?
Might have the freer course.

Alb. Gloster, I live

To thank thee for the love thou shew'dst the king,
And to revenge thine eyes.-Come hither, friend;
Tell me what more thou knowest.

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[Exeunt.

Kent. Why the king of France is so suddenly gone back,

Know

you the reason?

[own unkindness, Kent. A sovereign shame so elbows him his 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 15 His mind so venomously, that burning shame' Detains him from Cordelia.

[201

Gent. Something he left imperfect in the state, Which since his coming forth is thought of; which Imports to the kingdom so much fear and dauger, That his personal return was most requir'd and 25

necessary.

Kent. Who hath he left behind him general?
Gent. The mareschal of France, Monsieur le Fer.
the queen
Kent. Did your letters pierce
To any demonstration of grief?

[my presence;|30||
Gent. Ay, sir; she took them, read them in
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 day'. Those happy smiles,
That play'd on her ripe lip, seem'd not to know
What guestswere in her eyes: which parted thence,
As pearls from diamonds dropt. In brief, sorrow
Would be a rarity most belov'd, if all
Could so become it.

Kent. Made she no verbal question?
Gent. Yes; once, or twice, she heav'd the
name of father'

Pantingly forth, as if it press'd her heart;
Cry'd, Sisters! sisters!-Shame of ladies! sisters!
Kent! father! sisters! What! i' the storm?
i' the night?

Gent. Alack, poor gentleman!

Kent. Of Albany's and Cornwall's powers you
heard not?

[Lear,
Gent. "Tis so; they are afoot.
Kent. Well, sir, I'll bring you to our master
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
[Exeunt.
Lending me this acquaintance. I pray you, go
Along with me.

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A Tent in the Camp at Dover.
Enter Cordelia, Physician, 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,
35 With harlocks, hemlocks, nettles, cuckoo-flowers,
Darnel, and all the idle weeds that grow
In our sustaining corn.-A century send forth;
Search every acre in the high-grown field,
-What can man's
And bring him to our eye.-

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A better day is the best day, and the best day is a day most favourable to the productions of the earth. Such are the days in which there is a due mixture of rain and sunshine. such a thing as pity be supposed to exist!

'i. e. her outcries were accompanied with tears. The metaphor is here preserved with great knowbeing a high caustic salt, that has all the effect of fire

* The same husband and the same wife.
ledge of nature; the venom of poisonous animals
the part.
i. e. the reason which should guide it.

upon

It

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Reg. Himself in person there?

Stew. Madam, with much adot

Your sister is the better soldier.

10

[at home? 15

[him?

Reg. Lord Edmund spake not with your lady
Stew. No, madam.

[ter.

Reg. What might import my sister's letter to
Stew. I know not, lady.
Reg.'Faith, he is posted hence on serious mat-20
It was great ignorance, Gloster's eyes being out,
To let him live; where he arrives, he moves
All hearts against ús: Edmund, I think, is gone,
In pity of his misery, to dispatch

His nighted life; moreover, to descry
The strength o' the enemy.

Stew. I must needs after him, madam, with my
letter.

[us;

Reg. Our troops set forth to-morrow; stay with The ways are dangerous.

Stew. 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.

· Stew. Madam, I had rather—

[band;

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Edg. Horrible steep:

Hark, do you hear the sea?

Glo. No, truly.

[fect

Edg. Why, then your other senses grow imperBy your eyes' anguish.

Glo. So may it be, indeed:

Methinks, thy voice is alter'd; and thou speak'st
In better phrase, and matter, than thou didst.
Edg. You are much deceiv'd; in nothing am
I chang❜d,
But in my garments.

Glo. Methinks, you are better spoken.

Edg. Come on, sir: here's the place :-stand
still.-How fearful

25 And dizzy 'tis, to cast one's eyes so low! [air,
The crows, and choughs, that wing the midway
Shew scarce so gross as beetles: Half way down
Hangs one that gathers samphire'; dreadful trade!
Methinks, he seems no bigger than his head :
30 The fishermen, that walk upon the beach,

Appear like mice; and yon' tall anchoring bark,
Dininish'd to her cock; her cock, a buoy,
Almost too small for sight: The murmuring surge,
That on the unnumber'd idle pebbles chafes,
35 Cannot be heard so high:-I'll look no more;
Lest my brain turn, and the deficient sight
Topple down headlong.

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Reg. I know your lady does not love her husI am sure of that: and, at her late being here, She gave strange œiliads *, and most speaking looks To noble Edmund: I know, you are of her bosom. Stew. I, madam?

1

Reg. I speak in understanding; you are, I know
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, fare you well.

If you do chance to hear of that blind traitor,
Preferment falls on him that cuts him off.

45

Glo. Let go my hand.

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. [Seems to go.
Glo. With all
my
Edg. Why do I trifle thus with his despair?→
50'Tis done to cure it.

Stew. 'Would I could meet him, madam! 155 would shew

heart.

Glo. 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 fall
lo quarrel with your great opposeless wills,
My snuff, and loathed part of nature, should

3 i. e. his life made

Important for importunate. 2 i. e. no inflated, no swelling pride. dark as night by the extinction of his eyes. • Eillade, Fr. a cast, or significant glance of the eye. Note means in this place not a letter, but a remark. i. e. You may infer more than I have directly told you. "Samphire grows in great plenty on most of the sea-cliffs in this country: it is terrible to see how people gather it, hanging by a rope several fathom from the top of the i. e. her cock-boat. impending rocks as it were in the air." Smith's History of Waterford.

? To topple is to tumble. 10 Upright has the same sense as the Latin supinus.

1

Burn

Burn itself out. If Edgar live, O, bless him!
No, fellow, fare thee well.

[He leaps, and falls along.
Edg. Gone, sir? far well,
And yet I know not how conceit may rob
The treasury of life, when life itself

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Enter Lear, fantastically drest up with flowers, 5 The safer sense will ne'er accommodate Hs master thus.

Yields to the theft :Had he been wherchethought,
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. 10
What are you, sir?

Glo. Away, and let me die.

[feathers, air,
Edg. Hadst thou been aught but Gossomer',
So many fathom down precipitating, [breathe;
Thou hadst shiver'd like an egg: but thou dost 15
Hast heavy substance; bleed'st not; speak'st; art

sound.

4

[bourn ':

Ten masts at each make not the altitude,
Which thou hast perpendicularly fallen;
Thy life's a miracle; Speak yet again.
Glo. But have I fallen, or no?
Edg. From the dread summit of this chalky
Look up a-height;-the shrill-gorg'd lark so far
Cannot be seen or heard: do but look up.

Glo. Alack, I have no eyes.

Is wretchedness depriv'd that benefit,

201

Lear. No, they cannot touch me for coining: 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'; 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 wordR.

Edg. Sweet marjoram.
Lear. Pass.

Glo. I know that voice,

Lear. Ha! Goneril!-with a white beard! They flatter'd 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 every thing I said! 25 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 thunder would not peace at my bidding; there I found them, there I smelt them out. Go to, they are not men o' their [stand. 30 words: they told me I was every thing; 'tis a ie; I am not ague-proof.

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
Glo. Too well, too well.

Edg. This is above all strangeness.

Upon the crown o' the cliff, what thing was that
Which parted from you?

Glo. A poor unfortunate beggar.

[ber:

Glo. The trick of that voice I do well rememIs 't not the king?

Lear. Ay, every inch a king:

35 When I do stare, see, how the subject quakes.
I pardon that man's life: What was the cause?→→
Adultery.-

Edg.As I stood here below, methought, his eyes
Were two full moons; he had a thousand noses,
Horns welk'd, and wav'd like the enridged sea;
It was some fiend: Therefore, thou happy father, 40
Think that the clearest gods, who make them

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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 Gloster's bastard son
Was kinder to his father, than my daughters
Got 'tween the lawful sheets.

To't, luxury 10, pell-mell, for I lack soldiers.45 Behold yon' simpering dame,

Whose face between her forks" presageth snow;
That minces virtue, and does shake the head

1i. e. when life is willing to be destroyed. Thus he might die in reality.We still use the word passing-bell. 'Gossomore, the white and cobweb-like exha.ations that fly about in hot sunny weather. Skinner says, it signifies the down of the sow-thistle, which is driven to and fro by the wind. * In Mr. Rowe's edition it is, Ten masts at least. Dr. Johnson says, "Bourn seems here to signify a hill. Its common signification is a brook.-Milton, in Comus, uses bosky bourn, in the same sense perhaps with Shakspeare: But in both authors it may mean only a boundary. 'i.e. the purest, the most free from evil. 'In several counties, to this day, they call a stuffed figure representing a man, and armed with a bow and arrows, set up to fright the crows from the fruit and corn, a crow-keeper, as well as a scare-crow. 。 Lear supposes himself in a garrison, and, before he lets Edgar pass, requires the watch-word. 'Trick (says Sir Thomas Hanmer) is a word frequently used for the air, or that peculiarity in a face, voice, or gesture, which distinguishes it from others. We still say, "he has a trick of winking with his eyes, of speaking loud," &c. 10 Luxury was the ancient appropriate term for incontinence. "That is, according to Dr. Warburton, her hand held before her face in sign of modesty, with the fingers spread out, forky.-Dr. Johnson believes, that the forks were two prominences of the ruff rising on each side of the face.

Το

To hear of pleasure's name;

The fitchew, nor the soyled horse', goes to 't
With a more riotous appetite.

Down from the waist they are centaurs,
Though women all above:

5
But to the girdle do the gods inherit, [ness,
Beneath is all the fiends'; there's hell, there's dark-
There is the sulphurous pit, burning, scalding,

10

stench,consumption;-Fie,fie, fie! pah! pah! Give me an ounce of civet, good apothecary, To sweeten my imagination! there's money for Glo. O, let me kiss that hand! [thee. Lear. Let me wipe it first; it smells of mortality. Glo. Q ruin'd piece of nature! this great world Shall so wear out to nought.-Dost thou know me: 15 Lear. I remember thine eyes well enough. Dost thon squiny at me? No, do thy worst, blind Cupid; I'll not love.-Read thou this challenge; inark but the penning of it.

Glo. Were all the letters suns, I could not see one. 20 Edg. I would not take this from report;it is, And my heart breaks at it.

Lear. Read.

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4

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 pigmy's straw doth 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 the accuser's lips. Get thee glass eyes;
And, like a scurvy politician, seem [now, now:
To see the things thou dost not.-Now, now,
Pull off my boots;-harder, harder; so.

Edg. O, matter and impertinency mixt;
Reason in madness!

Lear. If thou wilt weep my fortunes, take my eyes.
know thee well enough; thy name is Gloster;
Thou must be patient; we caine crying hither.
Thou know'st, the first time that we smell the air,
We wawle, and cry:-I will preach to thee; mark
Glo. Alack, alack the day!

[me. Lear. When we are born, we cry, that we are [block?—

come

To this great stage of fools;- -This a good
It were a delicate stratagem, to shoe

A troop of horse with felt: I'll put it in proof;
And when I have stolen 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 the brains.

Gent. You shall have any thing.
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.---

Gent. 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?

Gent. You are a royal one, and we obey you.
Lear. Then there's life in it. Nay, come, an

you get it,

You shall get it by running. Sa, sa, sa, sa. [Exit.

A polecat. 2 Soyled horse is a term used for a horse that has been fed with hay and corn in the stable during the winter, and is turned out in the spring. to take the first flush of grass, or has it cut and carried in to him. This at once cleanses the animal, and fills him with blood. The case of eyes is the socket of either eye. This is an old phrase, signifying to qualify, or uphold them. Dr. Johnson proposes to read, a good flock.—“ Flocks (he adds) are wool moulded together. It is very common for madmen to catch an accidental hint, and strain it to the purpose predominant in their minds. Lear picks up a flock, and immediately thinks to surprize his enemies by a troop of horse shod with flocks or felt. Yet block may stand, if we suppose that the sight of a block put him in mind of mounting his horse.". -Mr. Steevens thinks Dr. Johnson's explanation is very ingenious; but believes there is no occasion to adopt it, as the speech itself, or at least the action that should accompany it, will furnish all the connection which he has sought for from an extraneous circumstance. Upon the king's saying, I will preach to thee, the poet seems to have meant him to pull off his hat, and keep turning it and feeling it, in the attitude of one of the preachers of those times (whom Mr. Steevens has seen so represented in ancient prints), till the idea of felt, which the good hat or block was made of, raises the stratagem in his brain of shoeing a troop of horse with a substance soft as that which he held and moulded between his hands. This makes him start from his preachment.-Block anciently signified the head-part of the hat, or the thing on which a hat is formed, and sometimes the hat itself. Mr. Malone believes a man of sult is a man made up of tears.

Gent,

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Glo. Now, good sir, what are you?

[blows;

20

death!-

Glo, What, is he dead?

[of,

Edg. Sit you down, father; rest you.-
Let's see his pockets: these letters, that he speaks
May be my friends.-He's dead; I am only sorry
He had no other death's-man.-Let us see:-
Leave, gentle wax, and, manners, blame us not:
To know our enemies' minds, we'd rip their
Their papers are more lawful.
[hearts;

Reads the letter.

"Let our reciprocal vows be remember'd. "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,

Edg. A most poor man, made tame to fortune's 25 and his bed my gaol; from the loath'd warmth

Who, by the art of known and feeling sorrows 2,

Am pregnant to good pity. Give me your hand,
I'll lead you to some biding.

Glo. Hearty thanks:

The bounty and the benizon of heaven

To boot, and boot!

Enter Steward.

"whereof deliver me, and supply the place for
your labour.

"Your (wife, so I would say) affectionate
"servant,
"GONERIL."

300 undistinguish'd space of woman's will!-
A plot upon her virtuous husband's life;
And the exchange,my brother!--Here, in thesands,
Thee I'll rake up, the most unsanctified
Of murderous léchers; and, in the mature time,
With this ungracious paper strike the sight
Of the death-practis'd' duke: For him 'tis well,
That of thy death and business I can tell.

Stew. A proclaim'd prize! Most happy!
That eyeless head of thine was first fram'd flesh
To raise my fortunes.-Thou old unhappy traitor, 35
Briefly thyself remember:-The sword is out
That must destroy thee.

Glo. Now let thy friendly hand
Put strength enough to it.

[Edgar opposes.
Stew. Wherefore, bold peasant,
Dar'st thou support a publish'd traitor? Hence;
Lest that the infection of his fortune take
Like hold on thee. Let go his arm.

Edg.Chill not let go, zir, without vurther'casion.
Stew. Let go, slave, or thou dy'st.

40

[Exit Edgar, removing the body. Glo. The king is mad: How stiff is my vile

sense,

That I stand up, and have ingenious feeling"
Of my huge sorrows! Better I were distract:
So should my thoughts be sever'd from my griefs;
And woes, by wrong imaginations, lose
45 The knowledge of themselves.

Edg. Good gentleman, go your gait, and let poor volk pass. And ch'udha' been zwagger'd out of my life, 'twould not ha' been zo long as 'tis by a vortnight. Nay, come not near the old man; keep out, che vor' ye', or ise try whether 50 your costard or my bat be the harder: Ch'ill be plain with you.

Stew. Out, dunghill!

Edg. Ch'ill pick your teeth, zir: Come; no matter for your foyns. [Edgar knocks him down.|55|

Re-enter Edgar.

Edg. Give me your hand:
Far of, methinks, I hear the beaten drum.
Come, father, I'll bestow you with a friend.
[Exeunt,

SCENE VII.

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The main body is expected to be desery'd every hour. i. e. sorrows past and present. quickly recollect the past offences of thy life, and recommend thyseir to heaven. Gang your gate is a common expression in the North. i.c. I warn you. Edgar counterfeits the western dialect. • i. c. head. 'i. e. club. To foyn is to make what we call a thrust in fencing. 'i. e. I'll cover.-In Staffordshire, to rake the fire, is to cover it with fuel for the night. 10 The duke of Albany, whose death is machinated by practice or treason. "Ingenious feeling signities a feeling from an understanding not disturbed or disordered, but which, representing things as they are, makes the sense of pain the more exquisite.

To

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