Kent.
Who's there ^note, besides ^note foul weather?

Gent.
One minded like the weather, most unquietly.

Kent.
I know you. Where's the king?

Gent.
Contending with the fretful elements ^note;
Bids the wind blow the earth into the sea,
Or swell the curled waters 'bove the main ^note,
That things might change or cease; tears his white hair,
Which the impetuous blasts, with eyeless rage,
Catch in their fury, and make nothing of;
Strives in his little world of man to out-scorn ^note

The to-and-fro-conflicting ^note wind and rain. ^note
This night, wherein ^note the cub-drawn bear would couch,
The lion and the belly-pinched ^note wolf
Keep their fur dry, unbonneted he runs,
And bids what will take all. ^note

Kent.
But who is with him?

Gent.
None but the fool; who labours to out-jest
His heart-struck ^note injuries.

Kent.
Sir I do know you;
And dare, upon the warrant of my note ^note,
Commend ^note a dear thing to you. There is ^note division,
Although as yet the face of it be ^note cover'd
With mutual cunning ^note, 'twixt Albany and Cornwall;
Who have—as who have not, that ^note their great stars ^note
Throned ^note and set high?— ^noteservants, who seem no less,
Which are to France the spies and speculations ^note
Intelligent of our state; ^note what hath ^note been seen,
Either in snuffs and packings of the dukes,
Or the hard rein which both of them have ^note borne
Against the old kind king, or something deeper,
Whereof perchance these are but furnishings,— ^{note note}
But ^note true it is, from France there comes a power
Into this scatter'd ^note kingdom; who already,

Wise in our negligence, have secret feet ^note
In some of our best ports, and are at point
To show their open banner. Now to you:
If on my credit you dare build so far ^note
To make your speed to Dover, you shall find
Some that will thank you, making just report
Of how unnatural and bemadding ^note sorrow
The king hath cause to plain.
I am a gentleman of blood and breeding,
And from some knowledge and assurance offer
This office to you. ^{note note note note}

Gent.
I will ^note talk further ^note with you.

Kent.
No, do not.
For confirmation that I am ^note much more
Than my out-wall, open this purse and take
What it contains. If you shall see Cordelia,—
As fear ^note not but you shall,—show her this ^note ring,
And she will tell you who your ^note fellow is
That yet you do not know. Fie on this storm!
I will go seek the king.

Gent.
Give me your hand:
Have you no more to say? ^note

Kent.
Few words, but, to effect, more than all yet;
That when we have found the king,—in which your pain
That way, I'll this,—he that first lights on him
Holla ^note the other. ^note [Exeunt severally. ^note

^note Scene II. [Footnote: Another part ^note of the heath. Storm still. ^note Enter Lear and Fool.

Lear.
Blow, winds ^note, and crack ^note your cheeks! rage! blow! ^note
You ^note cataracts ^note and hurricanoes ^note, spout
Till you have drench'd our ^note steeples, drown'd ^note the cocks!
You sulphurous and thought-executing ^note fires,
Vaunt-couriers ^note to ^note oak-cleaving thunderbolts,
Singe ^note my white head! And thou, all-shaking thunder,
Smite ^note flat the thick rotundity o' the ^note world!
Crack ^note nature's moulds ^note, all germins ^note spill at once
That make ^note ingrateful ^note man! ^note

Fool.

O nuncle, court holy-water in a dry house is better than this rain-water ^note out o' door ^note. Good nuncle, in,

and ^note ask thy daughters' blessing: here's a night pities ^note neither wise man nor fool ^note. ^note

Lear.
Rumble thy bellyful ^note! Spit, fire! spout, rain! ^note
Nor rain, wind, thunder, fire, are my daughters:
I tax ^note not you, you elements, with unkindness;
I never gave you kingdom ^note, call'd you children,
You owe me no subscription ^note: then ^note let fall
Your horrible pleasure; here I stand, your slave ^note,
A poor, infirm, weak and despised old man:
But yet I call you servile ministers,
That have with two pernicious daughters join'd ^note
Your high-engender'd ^note battles ^note 'gainst a head
So old and white as this. O! O! ^note 'tis foul! ^note

Fool.

He that has a house to put's ^note head in has a good head-piece.

  The cod-piece that will house
    Before the head has any,
  The head and he shall louse;
    So beggars marry many.
  The man ^note that makes his toe
    What he his heart ^note should make
  Shall of ^note a corn cry woe,
    And turn his sleep to wake. ^note

For there was never yet fair woman but ^note she made mouths in a glass.

^{note note}

Lear.
No, I will be the pattern of all patience;
I will say nothing. Enter Kent. ^note

Kent.
Who's there?

Fool.

Marry, here's grace and a cod-piece; that's a wise man and a fool.

Kent.
Alas, sir, are you ^note here? things that love night
Love not such nights as these; the wrathful skies
Gallow the ^note very wanderers ^note of the dark,
And make ^note them keep their caves: since I was man,
Such sheets of fire, such bursts of horrid thunder,
Such groans of roaring wind and rain, I never ^note
Remember to have heard: man's nature cannot carry
The affliction nor the fear ^note.

Kent.
Let the great gods,
That keep this dreadful pother ^note o'er our heads,
Find out their enemies now. Tremble, thou wretch,
That hast within thee undivulged crimes,
Unwhipp'd of justice: hide thee, thou bloody hand;
Thou perjured ^note, and thou simular ^note man ^note of virtue
That art incestuous ^note: caitiff, to pieces shake ^note,
That under covert and convenient ^note seeming

Hast ^note practised on man's life: close pent-up guilts,
Rive your concealing continents ^note and cry ^note
These dreadful summoners grace. I am a man
More sinn'd against than ^note sinning. ^note

Kent.
Alack, bare-headed!
Gracious my lord, hard by here is a hovel;
Some friendship will it lend you 'gainst the tempest:
Repose you there; while ^note I to this hard house—
More harder than the stones ^note whereof 'tis raised;
Which even but now, demanding after you ^note,
Denied me to come in—return, and force
Their scanted courtesy. ^note

Lear.
My wits begin ^note to turn.
Come on, my boy: how dost, my boy? art cold?
I am ^note cold myself. Where is this ^note straw, my fellow?
The art of our necessities is strange,
That ^note can make vile ^note things precious. Come, your hovel.
Poor fool ^note and knave, I have one part in ^note my heart ^note
That's sorry ^note yet for thee.

Fool. [Singing] ^note
He that has and ^note a little tiny ^note wit,—
  With hey, ho, ^note the wind and the rain ^note,—

Must make content with his fortunes fit,
  For ^note the rain it raineth every day. ^note

Lear.
True, my good ^note boy. Come, bring us to this hovel. ^note [Exeunt ^note Lear and Kent.

Fool.

This is ^note a brave night to cool a courtezan ^note. I'll speak a prophecy ere ^note I go: ^note

  When priests are more in word ^note than matter;
  When brewers mar their malt with water;
  When nobles are their tailors' tutors;
  No heretics burn'd, but wenches' suitors;
  When every case in law is right;
  No squire in debt, nor no ^note poor knight;
  When slanders do not live ^note in tongues,
  Nor ^note cutpurses come not to throngs;
  When usurers tell their gold i' the field,
  And bawds and whores do churches build;
  Then shall the realm of Albion
  Come to great confusion: ^note
  Then comes the time, who lives to see't,
  That going shall be used with feet. ^note

This prophecy Merlin shall make; for I live ^note before his time.

^note Scene III. [Footnote: Gloucester's castle. ^note Enter ^note Gloucester and Edmund.

Glou.

Alack, alack, Edmund, I like not this unnatural dealing. When I desired their leave that I might pity him, they took ^note from me the use of mine own house; charged me, on pain of their perpetual ^note displeasure, neither to speak of him, entreat for him, nor ^note any way sustain him.

Edm.

Most savage and ^note unnatural!

Glou.

Go to; say you nothing. There's a ^note division betwixt ^note the dukes, and a worse matter than that: I have received a letter this night; 'tis dangerous to be spoken; I have locked the letter in my closet: these injuries the king now bears will be revenged home; there is ^note part of a power already footed ^note: we must incline to the king. I will seek ^note him and privily relieve him: go you, and maintain talk with the duke, that my charity be not of him perceived: if he ask for me, I am ill and gone to bed. Though ^note I die for it ^note, as no less is threatened me, the king my old master must be relieved. There is some strange thing ^note toward, Edmund; pray you, be careful. ^note

Edm.
This courtesy, forbid thee, ^note shall the duke

Instantly know, and of that letter too:
This seems a fair deserving, and must draw me ^note
That which my father loses ^note; no less than all:
The ^note younger rises when the old doth ^note fall. ^note [Exit. ^note Scene IV. [Footnote: The heath ^note. Before a hovel. Enter Lear, Kent, and Fool.

Kent.
Here is the place, my lord; good my lord, enter:
The tyranny of the ^note open night's ^note too rough
For nature to endure. ^note [Storm still. ^note

Lear.
Let me alone.

Kent.
Good my lord, enter here ^note. ^note

Lear.
Wilt ^note break my ^note heart?

Kent.
I had ^note rather break mine own. Good my lord, enter. ^note

Lear.
Thou think'st 'tis ^note much that this contentious ^note storm
Invades us to the skin: so 'tis ^note to thee;
But where the greater malady is fix'd

The lesser is scarce felt. Thou'ldst ^note shun a bear,
But if thy ^note flight lay ^note toward the raging ^note sea
Thou'ldst ^note meet the bear i' the mouth. When the mind's ^note free
The body's ^note delicate: the ^note tempest in my mind ^note
Doth from my senses take all feeling else
Save what beats ^note there. Filial ingratitude! ^note
Is it not as this mouth should tear this hand ^note
For lifting food to't ^note? But I will punish home ^note.
No, I will weep no more. In such a night
To shut me out! Pour on; I will endure. ^note
In such a night as this! O Regan, Goneril!
Your old kind father, whose frank heart gave you ^note all,— ^note
O, that way madness lies; let me shun that;
No more of that.

Kent.
Good my lord, enter here. ^note

Lear.
Prithee, go in thyself; seek thine own ^note ease:
This tempest will not give me leave to ponder
On things would hurt me more. But I'll go in. [To the Fool] ^note
In, boy; go first. You houseless poverty,— ^note
Nay, get thee in. I'll pray, and then I'll sleep. ^note [Fool goes in. ^note
Poor naked wretches, wheresoe'er you are,

That bide the pelting of this pitiless storm ^note,
How shall your houseless heads and unfed sides,
Your loop'd ^note and window'd ^note raggedness, defend you
From seasons such as these? O, I have ta'en
Too little care of this! Take physic, pomp;
Expose thyself to feel what wretches feel,
That thou mayst shake the superflux to them ^note
And show the heavens more just.

Edg. [Within] ^{note note}
Fathom and half, fathom and half!
Poor Tom! ^note [The Fool runs out from the hovel. ^note

Fool.

Come not in here, nuncle, here's a spirit. Help me, help me! ^note

Kent.

Give me thy hand. Who's there? ^note

Fool.

A spirit, a spirit: ^note he says his name's ^note poor Tom.

Kent.

What art thou that dost grumble there i' the ^note straw? Come forth. ^{note note}

Edg. ^note

Away! the foul fiend follows me! ‘Through ^note the sharp hawthorn ^note blows the cold wind ^note. ^note’ Hum! ^note go to thy cold ^note bed and warm thee. ^note

^note

Lear.

Hast thou ^note given all to thy two ^note daughters? and art thou come to this?

Edg.

Who gives any thing to poor Tom? whom the foul fiend hath led through fire and through flame, ^note through ford ^note and whirlpool ^note, o'er bog and quagmire; that hath ^note laid knives under his pillow and halters in his pew ^note; set ratsbane ^note by his porridge ^note; made him proud of heart, to ride on a bay trotting-horse over four-inched ^note bridges, to course his own shadow for a traitor. Bless ^note thy five wits! Tom's a-cold. O, do de, do de, do de. ^note Bless ^note thee from whirlwinds, star-blasting ^note, and taking! Do poor Tom some charity, whom the foul fiend vexes. There could I have him now, and there, and there ^note again ^note, and there.

Lear.
What, have his ^note daughters brought him to this pass ^note?
Couldst thou save nothing? Didst thou give them ^note all?

Fool.

Nay, he reserved a blanket, else we had been all shamed ^note.

Lear.
Now, all the plagues that in the pendulous air
Hang fated o'er men's faults light ^note on thy daughters!

Kent.
He hath no daughters, sir.

Lear.
Death, traitor! nothing could have subdued nature

To such a lowness but his unkind daughters.
Is it the fashion that discarded fathers
Should have thus little mercy on their flesh?
Judicious punishment! 'twas this flesh begot
Those pelican daughters ^note. ^note

Edg.
Pillicock sat on ^note Pillicock-hill ^note:
Halloo, halloo, loo, loo! ^{note note}

Fool.

This cold night will turn us all to fools and madmen.

Edg.

Take heed o' the ^note foul fiend: obey thy parents; keep thy word justly ^note; swear not; commit not with man's sworn spouse; set not ^note thy sweet heart ^note on proud array. Tom's a-cold.

Lear.

What hast thou been?

Edg.

A serving-man, proud in heart and mind; that curled my hair; wore gloves ^note in my cap; served the lust of my mistress' ^note heart and did the act of darkness with her; swore as many oaths as I spake words and broke them in the sweet face of heaven: one that slept in the contriving of ^note lust and waked to do it: wine loved I deeply ^note, dice dearly, and in woman out-paramoured the Turk: false of heart, light of ear, bloody of hand ^note; hog in sloth, fox in stealth, wolf in greediness, dog in madness, lion in prey. Let not the creaking of shoes nor the rustling ^note of silks ^note betray thy

poor heart to woman ^note: keep thy foot out of brothels ^note, thy hand out of plackets ^note, thy pen from lenders' books ^note, and defy the foul fiend.

  ‘Still through the hawthorn ^{note note} blows the cold wind. ^note’
  Says suum, mun, ha, no, nonny ^note.
  Dolphin my boy, my boy ^note, sessa! let ^note him trot by ^note. [Storm still. ^note

Lear.

Why, ^note thou wert ^note better in thy grave ^note than to answer with thy uncovered body this extremity of the skies. Is man no more than ^note this? Consider ^note him well. Thou owest the worm no silk, the beast no hide, the sheep no wool, the cat no perfume. Ha! ^note here's ^note three on 's ^note are sophisticated ^note. Thou art the thing itself: unaccommodated man is no more but such a poor, bare, forked animal as thou art. Off, off, you lendings ^note! come, unbutton here. ^{note note}

Fool.

Prithee ^note, nuncle, be contented ^note; 'tis a naughty night

to swim in. Now a little fire in a wild field ^note were like an old lecher's heart, a small spark, all ^note the rest on's ^note body cold. Look, here comes a walking fire.

Edg.

This is the foul fiend ^note Flibbertigibbet ^note: he begins at curfew and walks till the ^note first cock; he gives ^note the web and the pin, squints ^note the eye and makes the hare-lip ^note; mildews the white wheat and hurts the poor creature ^note of earth ^note.

  Saint Withold ^note footed thrice the 'old ^note;
  He met the night-mare ^note and her nine-fold ^note;
    Bid her alight ^note,
    And her troth plight ^note,
  And aroint thee, witch, ^note aroint ^note thee! ^{note note}

Kent.

How fares your grace?

Lear.

What's he?

Kent.

Who's ^note there? What is't you seek?

Glou.

What are you there? Your names?

Edg.

Poor Tom, that eats the swimming frog, the toad, the tadpole ^note, the wall-newt ^note and the water ^note; that in the fury ^note of his heart, when the foul fiend rages, eats cow-dung for sallets ^note; swallows the old rat and the ditch-dog; drinks the green mantle of the standing pool; who is whipped from tithing to tithing, and stock-punished ^note, and imprisoned; who hath had ^note three suits to his back, six shirts to his body, horse to ride and weapon to wear; ^note

  But mice and rats and such small deer ^note
  Have ^note been Tom's food for seven long year.

Beware my follower. Peace, Smulkin ^note; peace, thou fiend!

Glou.

What, hath your grace no better company?

Edg.

The prince of darkness is a gentleman: Modo ^note he's call'd, and Mahu ^note. ^note

Glou.
Our flesh and blood is grown so vile, my lord, ^note
That it doth hate what gets it ^note. ^note

Edg.
Poor ^note Tom's a-cold ^note.

Glou.
Go in with me: my duty cannot suffer
To obey in all your daughters' hard commands:
Though ^note their injunction be to bar my doors
And let this tyrannous night take hold upon you,
Yet have I ventured ^note to come seek you out
And bring you where both fire and food ^note is ^note ready. ^note

Lear.
First let me talk with this philosopher.
What is the cause of thunder?

Kent.
Good my ^note lord, take his offer; go into the house. ^note

Lear.
I'll talk ^note a word with this same ^note learned Theban.
What is your study? ^note

Edg.
How to prevent the fiend and to kill vermin.

Lear.
Let me ^note ask you one word in private ^note.

Kent.
Importune him once more ^note to go, my lord;
His wits begin to unsettle. ^note

Glou.
Canst thou blame him? [Storm still. ^note
His daughters seek his death: ah ^note, that good Kent!
He said it would be thus, poor banish'd man!
Thou say'st ^note the king grows mad; I'll tell thee, friend,
I am ^note almost mad myself: I had a son,
Now outlaw'd ^note from my blood; he sought ^note my life,
But lately, very late: I loved him, friend, ^note
No father his son dearer: truth ^note to tell thee,
The grief hath ^note crazed my wits. What a night's ^note this!

I do beseech your grace,— ^note

Lear.
O, cry you mercy, sir.
Noble ^note philosopher, your company. ^note

Edg.
Tom's a-cold ^note.

Glou.
In, fellow, there, into the ^note hovel: keep thee warm.

Lear.
Come, let's in all.

Kent.
This way, my lord.

Lear.
With him;
I ^note will keep still with my philosopher. ^note

Kent.
Good my lord, soothe him; let him take the fellow. ^note

Glou.
Take him you on.

Kent.
Sirrah, come on; go along with us. ^note

Lear.
Come, good Athenian.

Glou.
No words, no words: ^note hush. ^note

Edg.
Child Rowland to the dark tower ^note came ^note:
  His word was still ‘Fie, foh, and fum,
    I smell the blood of a British man.’ [Exeunt. ^note

^note Scene V. [Footnote: Gloucester's castle. ^note Enter Cornwall and Edmund. ^note

Corn.

I will have my ^note revenge ere I depart his ^note house.

Edm.

How, my lord, I may be censured, that nature thus gives way to loyalty, something fears me to think of.

Corn.

I now perceive, it was not altogether your brother's evil disposition made him seek his death, but a provoking merit ^note, set a-work ^note by a reproveable badness in himself ^note.

Edm.

How malicious is my fortune, that I must repent to be just! This is the letter ^note he spoke of, which approves him an intelligent party to the advantages ^note of France. O heavens! that this treason were not ^note, or not I the detector!

Corn.

Go with me to the duchess.

Edm.

If the matter of this paper be certain, you have mighty business in hand.

Corn.

True or false, it hath made thee earl of Gloucester. Seek out where thy father is, that he may be ready for our apprehension.

Edm. [Aside] ^note

If I find him comforting the king, it will stuff his suspicion more fully.—I will persever ^note in my course of loyalty, though the conflict be sore between that and my blood.

Corn.

I will lay trust upon thee, and thou shalt find a dearer ^note father in my love.

^note Scene VI. [Footnote: A chamber in a farmhouse adjoining the castle. ^note Enter Gloucester, Lear, Kent, Fool, and Edgar. ^note

Glou.

Here is better than the open air; take it thankfully. I will piece out the comfort with what addition I can: I will not be long from you.

Kent.

All the power of his wits have ^note given way to his ^{note note}impatience: the gods reward ^note your kindness!

Edg.

Frateretto ^note calls me, and tells me Nero ^note is an angler in the lake of darkness. Pray, innocent, and ^note beware the foul fiend.

Fool.

Prithee, nuncle, tell me whether a madman be ^note a gentleman ^note or a yeoman.

Lear.

A king, a king!

Fool.

No, he's a yeoman that has a gentleman to his son, for he's a mad ^note yeoman that sees his son a gentleman before him.

Lear. ^note

To have a thousand with red burning spits Come hissing ^note in upon 'em,— ^{note note}

Edg.

The foul fiend bites my back.

Fool.

He's mad that trusts ^note in the tameness of a wolf, a horse's health ^note, a boy's love, or a whore's oath. ^note

Lear.

It shall be done; I will arraign them ^note straight.

Come, sit thou here, most learned justicer ^note;

Thou, sapient sir, sit here. Now, you ^note she foxes! ^note

Edg.

Look, where he ^note stands and glares! Wantest ^note thou eyes ^note at trial, madam? ^{note note}

  Come o'er the bourn ^note, Bessy, to me. ^{note note}

Fool.
    Her boat hath a leak,
    And she must not speak ^note
  Why she dares not come over to thee. ^note

Edg.

The foul fiend haunts poor Tom in the voice of a nightingale. Hopdance cries in Tom's belly for two white herring ^note. Croak not, black angel; I have no food for thee.

Kent.
How do you, sir? Stand you not so amazed:
Will you lie down and rest upon the cushions? ^{note note}

Lear.
I'll see their trial first. Bring ^note in the ^note evidence. [To Edgar] ^note
Thou robed ^note man of justice take thy place;

[To the Fool] ^note
And thou, his yoke-fellow of equity,
Bench by his side. [To Kent] ^note You are o' the ^note commission;
Sit you too.

Edg.

  Let us deal justly. ^note
Sleepest or wakest thou, jolly shepherd?
  Thy sheep be in the corn;
And for one blast of thy minikin mouth,
  Thy sheep shall take no harm. ^note

Pur! the cat is gray.

Lear. ^note

Arraign her first; 'tis Goneril. I here take my oath before this honourable assembly, she ^note kicked the poor king her father. ^{note note}

Fool.
Come hither, mistress. Is your name Goneril?

Lear.
She cannot ^note deny it.

Fool.
Cry you mercy, I took you for a joint-stool ^note.

Lear.
And here's another, whose warp'd looks proclaim
What store ^note her heart is made on ^note. Stop her there! ^note
Arms, arms, sword, fire! Corruption ^note in the place ^note!
False justicer, why hast thou let her 'scape? ^note

Edg.
Bless thy five wits!

Kent.
O pity! Sir, where is the patience now,
That you so oft have boasted to retain ^note?

Edg. [Aside] ^note
My tears begin to take his part so much,
They'll ^note mar my counterfeiting ^note.

Lear.
The little dogs and all,
Tray, Blanch, and Sweet-heart, see, they bark at me.

Edg.

Tom will throw his head at them. Avaunt, you curs!

  Be thy mouth or black or white,
  Tooth that poisons if it bite;
  Mastiff, greyhound, mongrel grim,
  Hound ^note or spaniel, brach or lym ^note,
  Or bobtail tike ^note or trundle-tail ^note,
  Tom will make them ^note weep and wail:
  For, with throwing thus my head,
  Dogs leap ^note the hatch, and all are fled. ^note

Do de, de, de. Sessa! ^note Come ^note, march to wakes and fairs and market-towns. Poor Tom, thy horn is dry. ^{note note}

Lear.

Then let them anatomize ^note Regan; see what breeds about her heart. Is ^note there any cause in nature that makes ^note these hard hearts? ^note [To Edgar] ^note You, sir, I entertain for ^note one of my hundred; only I do not like the fashion of your garments. You will say ^note they are Persian attire ^note; but let them be changed. ^note

Kent. ^note

Now, good my lord, lie here and rest ^note awhile.

Lear.

Make no noise, make no noise; draw the curtains: so, so, so. ^note We'll go to supper i' the ^note morning. So, so, so. ^note

Fool.

And I'll go to bed at noon. ^note

Glou.
Come hither, friend: where is the king my master? ^note

Kent.
Here, sir; but trouble him not: his wits are gone.

Glou.
Good friend, I prithee, take him in thy arms;
I have o'erheard a plot of death upon him:
There is a litter ready; lay him in 't ^note,
And drive toward ^note Dover, friend, where thou shalt meet
Both welcome and protection. Take up thy master:
If thou shouldst ^note dally half an hour, his life,
With thine and all that offer to defend him,
Stand in assured loss. Take up, take up ^note,
And follow me, that will to some provision ^note
Give thee quick conduct.

Kent.
Oppressed ^note nature sleeps.
This rest might yet have balm'd ^note thy broken sinews ^note,
Which, if convenience ^note will not allow,

Stand in hard cure. [To the Fool] ^note Come, help to bear thy master;
Thou must not stay behind. ^note

Glou. ^note
Come, come, ^note away. [Exeunt all but Edgar. ^note

Edg.
When we our betters see bearing our woes,
We scarcely think our miseries our foes ^note.
Who alone suffers suffers most ^note i' the mind,
Leaving free things and happy shows behind:
But then the mind much sufferance doth ^note o'erskip,
When grief hath mates, and bearing fellowship.
How light and portable my pain seems now,
When that which makes me bend makes the king bow,
He childed as I father'd! ^note Tom, away! ^note
Mark the high noises, and thyself bewray
When false opinion, whose wrong thought defiles ^note thee,
In thy just proof repeals and reconciles thee.
What will hap ^note more to-night, ^note safe 'scape the king!
Lurk, lurk. ^note [Exit. ^note

^note Scene VII. [Footnote: Gloucester's castle. ^note Enter Cornwall, Regan ^note, Goneril, Edmund, and Servants. ^note

Corn.

Post speedily to my lord your husband; show him this letter: the army of France is landed. Seek out the traitor ^note Gloucester. ^note

Reg.

Hang him instantly.

Gon.

Pluck out his eyes.

Corn.

Leave him to my displeasure ^note. Edmund, keep you our sister company: the revenges ^note we are bound to take upon your traitorous father are not fit for your beholding. Advise ^note the duke, where ^note you are going, to a most festinate ^note preparation: we are bound to the like. ^note Our posts ^note shall be swift and intelligent ^note betwixt us. Farewell, dear sister: farewell, my lord of Gloucester. ^note

How now! where's the king?

Osw.
My lord of Gloucester hath convey'd him hence:

Some five or six and thirty of his knights,
Hot questrists ^note after him ^note, met him at gate;
Who, with some other of the lords ^note dependants,
Are gone with him toward ^note Dover; where they boast
To have well-armed friends. ^note

Corn.
Get horses for your mistress.

Gon.
Farewell, sweet lord, and sister.

Corn.
Edmund, farewell. [Exeunt Goneril, Edmund, and Oswald. ^note
Go seek the traitor Gloucester.
Pinion him like a thief, bring him before us. [Exeunt other Servants. ^note
Though well ^note we may not pass upon his life
Without the form of justice, yet our power
Shall do a courtesy ^note to our wrath, which men ^note
May blame ^note but not control. Who's ^note there? the traitor? Enter Gloucester, brought in by two or three. ^note

Reg.
Ingrateful fox! 'tis he.

Corn.
Bind fast his corky arms.

Glou.
What mean ^note your graces? Good my friends ^note, consider
You are my guests: do me no foul play, friends. ^note

Corn.
Bind him, I say. [Servants bind him. ^note

Reg.
Hard, hard. O filthy traitor!

Glou.
Unmerciful lady as you are, I'm none ^note.

Corn.
To this chair bind him. Villain, thou shalt find— ^{note note} [Regan ^note plucks his beard.

Glou.
By the kind gods, 'tis most ignobly done
To pluck me by the beard. ^note

Reg.
So white, and such a traitor!

Glou.
Naughty lady,
These hairs which thou dost ravish from my chin ^note
Will quicken and accuse thee: I am ^note your host:
With robbers' ^note hands my hospitable favours ^note
You should not ruffle thus. What will you do? ^note

Corn.
Come, sir, ^note what letters had you late from France?

Reg.
Be simple answerer ^note, for we know the truth.

Corn.
And what confederacy have you with the traitors
Late ^note footed in the kingdom? ^note

Reg.
To whose hands have you sent ^note the lunatic king?
Speak. ^note

Glou.
I have ^note a letter guessingly set down,
Which came from one that's of a neutral heart
And not from one opposed.

Corn.
Cunning.

Reg.
And false.

Corn.
Where hast thou sent the king?

Glou.
To Dover ^note.

Reg.
Wherefore to Dover? Wast thou not charged at peril— ^{note note}

Corn.
Wherefore to Dover? Let him first ^note answer that.

Glou.
I am tied to the stake, and I must stand the course. ^note

Reg.
Wherefore to Dover, sir ^note?

Glou.
Because I would not see thy cruel nails
Pluck out his poor old eyes, nor thy fierce sister
In his anointed ^note flesh stick ^note boarish fangs.
The sea, with such a storm as his bare ^note head
In hell-black night ^note endured, would have buoy'd ^note up,
And quench'd the stelled ^note fires:
Yet, poor old heart, ^note he holp ^note the heavens to rain ^note.
If wolves had at thy gate howl'd that stern ^note time,
Thou shouldst have said, ‘Good ^note porter, turn the key,’
All cruels ^note else subscribed ^note: but I shall see
The winged vengeance overtake such children.

Corn.
See't shalt thou never. Fellows, hold the chair. ^note
Upon these ^note eyes of thine I'll set my foot.

Glou.
He that will think to live till he be old, ^note
Give me some help! O cruel! O you ^note gods!

Reg.
One side will mock another; the other too ^note.

Corn.
If you see vengeance— ^note

First Serv. ^note
Hold your hand, my lord:
I have ^note served you ^note ever since I was a child;
But better service have I never done you
Than now to bid you hold. ^note

Reg.
How now, you dog!

First Serv.
If you did wear a beard upon your chin,
I'ld shake it on this ^note quarrel. What do you mean? ^note

Corn.
My villain! [They draw ^note and fight.

First Serv.
Nay ^note, then, come on, and take the chance of anger.

Reg. ^note
Give me thy sword. A peasant stand up thus! ^note [Takes ^note a sword and runs at him behind.

First Serv.
O, I am slain! My lord, you have ^note one eye left
To see some mischief on him ^note. O! ^note [Dies. ^note

Corn.
Lest it see more, prevent it. Out, vile ^note jelly! ^note
Where is thy lustre now?

Glou.
All dark and comfortless. ^note Where's my son Edmund? ^note
Edmund, enkindle ^note all the sparks of nature,
To quit this horrid act. ^note

Reg.
Out, treacherous ^note villain!
Thou call'st on him that hates thee: it was he
That made the overture ^note of thy treasons to us;
Who is too good to pity thee. ^note

Glou.
O my follies! Then Edgar was abused. ^note
Kind gods, forgive me that, and prosper him!

Reg.
Go thrust him out at gates ^note, and let him smell
His way to Dover. [Exit ^note one with Gloucester.] How is't, my lord? how look ^note you? ^{note note}

Corn.
I have received a hurt: follow me, lady.
Turn out that eyeless villain: throw this slave
Upon the dunghill ^note. Regan, I bleed apace:
Untimely comes this hurt: give me your arm. ^note [Exit ^note Cornwall, led by Regan.

Sec. Serv. ^note
I'll never care what wickedness I do,
If this man come to good.

Third Serv. ^note
If she live long,

And in the end meet the old course of death,
Women will all turn monsters. ^note

Sec. Serv. ^note
Let's follow the old earl, and get the Bedlam ^note
To lead him where he would: his roguish ^note madness
Allows itself to any thing.

Third Serv. ^note
Go thou: I'll fetch some flax and whites of eggs
To apply to his ^note bleeding face. Now, heaven help him! ^{note note} [Exeunt severally. ^note

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