SCENE VII.
Enter Glo'ster, with a Torch.
Lear.
What's he?
Kent.
Who's there? what is't you seek?
Glo.
What are you there? Your names?
Edg.
Poor Tom, that eats the swimming frog, the
toad, the tadpole; the wall-newt, and the water-newt;
that in the fury of his heart, when the foul
fiend rages, eats cow-dung for sallets, swallows the
old rat, and the ditch-dog, drinks the green mantle
of the standing pool; who is whipt from tything to
tything, and stock-punish'd, and imprison'd: who
hath had three suits to his back, six shirts to his body;
Horse to ride, and weapon to wear;
But mice, and rats, and such 2 notesmall deer
Have been Tom's food for seven long year.
-- 93 --
Beware my follower. Peace, Smolkin, peace, thou fiend!
Glo.
What, hath your Grace no better company?
Edg.
The Prince of Darkness is a gentleman; Mohu
he's called, and Mahu.
Glo
Our flesh and blood, my Lord, is grown so vile,
That it doth hate what gets it.
Edg.
Tom's a-cold.
Glo.
Go in with me; my duty cannot suffer
T'obey in all your Daughters' hard commands;
Though their injunction be to bar my doors,
And let this tyrannous night take hold upon you,
Yet have I ventur'd to come seek you out,
And bring you, where both fire and food is ready.
Lear.
First, let me talk with this Philosopher.
—What is the cause of thunder?
Kent.
My good Lord, take his offer.
Go into th' house.
Lear.
I'll talk a word with this same learned Theban.
—What is your study?
Edg.
How to prevent the fiend, and to kill vermin.
Lear.
Let us ask you one word in private.
Kent.
Importune him once more to go, my Lord.
His wits begin t'unsettle.
Glo.
Canst thou blame him?
[Storm still.
His Daughters seek his death. Ah, that good Kent!—
He said, it would be thus—poor banish'd man!—
Thou say'st, the King grows mad; I'll tell thee, friend,
I'm almost mad myself; I had a son,
Now out-law'd from my blood; he sought my life,
But lately, very late; I lov'd him, friend,
No father his son dearer. True to tell thee,
The grief hath craz'd my wits. What a night's this!
I do beseech your Grace.
Lear.
O cry you mercy, Sir.
—Noble Philosopher, your company.
Edg.
Tom's a-cold.
Glo.
In, fellow, into th' hovel; keep thee warm.
-- 94 --
Lear.
Come, let's in all.
Kent.
This way, my Lord.
Lear.
With him;
I will keep still with my Philosopher.
Kent.
Good my Lord, sooth him; let him take the
fellow.
Glo.
Take him you on.
Kent.
Sirrah, come on; along with us.
Lear.
Come, good Athenian.
Glo.
No words, no words, hush.
Edg.
3 note
Child Rowland to the dark tower came,
His word was still, fy, foh, and fum,
I smell the blood of a British man.
[Exeunt.
Samuel Johnson [1765], The plays of William Shakespeare, in eight volumes, with the corrections and illustrations of Various Commentators; To which are added notes by Sam. Johnson (Printed for J. and R. Tonson [and] C. Corbet [etc.], London) [word count] [S11001].
