Glou.
When shall we ^note come to the top of that same hill?

Edg.
You do climb up it ^note now: look, how we labour.

Glou.
Methinks the ground is even.

Edg.
Horrible ^note steep.
Hark, do you ^note hear the sea? ^note

Glou.
No, truly. ^note

Edg.
Why then your other senses grow imperfect
By your eyes' anguish.

Glou.
So may it be indeed:
Methinks thy voice is alter'd ^note, and thou speak'st ^note

In ^note better phrase and matter than thou didst.

Edg.
You're ^note much deceived: in nothing am I changed
But in my garments.

Glou.
Methinks ^note you're ^note better spoken.

Edg.
Come on, sir; here's the place: stand still. How fearful ^note
And dizzy ^note 'tis to cast one's eyes so low!
The crows and choughs that wing the midway air
Show scarce so gross as beetles: half way down
Hangs one that ^note gathers samphire ^note, dreadful trade!
Methinks he seems no bigger than his head:
The fishermen that walk ^note upon the beach ^note
Appear like mice; and yond ^note tall anchoring bark
Diminish'd to her cock; her cock, a buoy ^note
Almost too small for sight: the murmuring surge
That on the unnumber'd idle pebbles chafes ^note
Cannot be heard so high. I'll ^note look no more,
Lest my brain turn and the deficient sight
Topple down headlong.

Glou.
Set me where you stand.

Edg.
Give me your hand: you are ^note now within a foot
Of the extreme verge: for all beneath ^note the moon
Would I not leap upright ^note. ^note

Glou.
Let go my hand.

Here, friend, 's another purse; in it a jewel
Well worth a poor man's taking: fairies ^note and gods
Prosper it with thee! Go thou farther ^note off;
Bid me farewell, and let me hear thee going.

Edg. ^note
Now fare you ^note well, good sir.

Glou.
With all my heart.

Edg.
Why I do trifle thus with his despair
Is ^note done to cure it. ^note

Glou. [Kneeling] ^note
O you might 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
To quarrel with your great opposeless wills,
My snuff ^note and loathed part of nature should
Burn itself out. If Edgar live, O bless him ^note!
Now, fellow, fare thee well. [He ^note falls forward.

Edg.
Gone, sir: ^note farewell.
And yet I know not how conceit may ^note rob
The treasury ^note of life, when life itself
Yields to the theft: had he been where he thought,
By this had thought ^note been past. ^note Alive or dead?
Ho, you sir! friend ^note! Hear ^note you, sir! speak ^note! ^note

Thus might he pass indeed: yet he revives. ^note
What are you, sir? ^note

Glou.
Away, and let me die.

Edg.
Hadst thou been aught but gossamer ^note, feathers, ^note air, ^note
So many fathom down precipitating,
Thou'dst ^note shiver'd like an egg: but thou dost breathe;
Hast heavy substance; bleed'st not; ^note speak'st ^note; art sound. ^note
Ten masts at each ^note make not the altitude
Which thou hast perpendicularly fell ^note:
Thy life's a miracle. Speak yet again.

Glou.
But have I fall'n, or no? ^note

Edg.
From the dread summit ^note of this chalky bourn. ^note
Look up a-height ^note; the shrill-gorged ^note lark so far
Cannot be seen or heard: do but look up. ^note

Glou.
Alack, I have no eyes.
Is wretchedness deprived that benefit,
To end itself by death? 'Twas ^note yet some comfort,
When misery could beguile the tyrant's rage
And frustrate his proud will.

Edg.
Give me your arm: ^note
Up: so. How is't? Feel ^note you your legs? You stand.

Glou.
Too well, too well.

Edg.
This is above all strangeness.

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

Glou.
A poor unfortunate ^note beggar ^note.

Edg.
As I stood here below, methought ^note his eyes
Were two full moons; he had ^note a thousand noses,
Horns whelk'd ^note and waved like the enridged ^note sea:
It was some fiend; therefore, thou happy father,
Think that the clearest ^note gods, who make them ^note honours
Of men's impossibilities, have preserved thee.

Glou.
I do remember now: henceforth I'll bear
Affliction till it do cry out itself
‘Enough, enough,’ and die ^note. That ^note thing you speak of,
I took it for a man; often 'twould ^note say
‘The fiend, the fiend:’ he ^note led me to that place.

Edg.
Bear free ^note and patient thoughts. But who comes here? ^note Enter Lear ^note, fantastically dressed with wild flowers. ^note
The safer ^note sense will ^note ne'er accommodate
His master thus. ^note

Lear.

No, they cannot touch me for coining ^note; I am the king himself.

Edg.

O thou side-piercing ^note sight!

Lear.

Nature's ^note above art in that respect. There's your press-money. That fellow handles his bow like a crow-keeper ^note: draw me a clothier's yard. Look, look, a mouse! Peace, peace; this piece of ^note toasted cheese will do 't ^note. There 's my gauntlet; I'll prove it on a giant. Bring up the brown bills. O, well flown, bird ^note! i' the clout, i' the clout: ^note hewgh ^note! Give the word.

Edg.

Sweet marjoram.

Lear.

Pass.

Glou.

I know that voice.

Lear.

Ha! Goneril, with a white beard! They ^note flattered me like a dog, and told me I had white ^note hairs in my beard ere the black ones were there. To say ‘ay’ and ‘no’ to every thing that ^note I said! ‘Ay’ and ‘no’ too was ^note no good divinity. When the rain came to wet me once and the wind ^note to make me chatter; when the thunder would not peace at my bidding; there I found 'em, there I smelt 'em ^note out. Go to, they are not men ^note o' their ^note words: they told me I was every thing; 'tis a lie, I am not ague-proof ^note.

Glou.

The trick of that voice I do well remember: is't not the king? ^note

Lear.
Ay, every ^note inch a king:
When I do stare, see how the subject quakes ^note.
I pardon that man's life. What was thy ^note cause? ^note
Adultery? ^{note note}
Thou shalt not die: die for ^note adultery! No:
The wren goes to't, and the small gilded fly
Does ^note lecher in my sight.
Let copulation thrive; for Gloucester's bastard son
Was kinder to his father than ^note my daughters
Got 'tween the lawful sheets. ^note
To't, luxury, pell-mell! for I lack soldiers. ^note
Behold yond ^note simpering dame,
Whose face between her forks presages ^note snow,
That minces ^note virtue and does ^note shake the head
To hear ^note of pleasure's name;
The ^note fitchew, nor the soiled ^note horse, goes to't
With a more riotous appetite.
Down from the waist ^note they are ^note Centaurs,
Though women all above:
But to the girdle do the gods inherit, ^note

Beneath is all ^note the fiends' ^note;
There's hell, there's darkness, there's the sulphurous ^note pit, ^note

Burning ^note, scalding, stench, consumption ^note; fie, fie, fie! pah, pah! Give me an ounce of civet, good apothecary, to sweeten ^note my imagination: there's money for thee. ^note

Glou.

O, let me kiss that hand!

Lear.

Let me wipe it first; it smells of mortality. ^note

Glou.
O ruin'd piece of nature! This great world
Shall ^note so wear out to nought ^note. Dost thou ^note know me? ^note

Lear.

I remember thine ^note eyes well enough. Dost thou squiny ^note at me ^note? No, do thy worst, blind Cupid; I'll not love. Read thou this ^note challenge; mark but ^note the penning on't ^note.

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

Edg.
I would not take this from report: it is,
And my heart breaks at it. ^note

Lear.
Read.

Glou.
What, with the case ^note of eyes?

Lear.

O, ho, are you there with me? No eyes in your

head, nor no ^note money in your purse? Your eyes are in a heavy ^note case, your purse in a light ^note: yet you see how this world goes. ^note

Glou.

I see it feelingly.

Lear.

What, art mad? A man may see how this ^note world goes with no eyes. Look with thine ^note ears: see how yond justice rails upon yond ^note simple thief. Hark, in thine ^note ear: change places, and ^note, handy-dandy, which is the justice, which is the thief ^note? Thou hast seen a farmer's dog bark at a beggar?

Glou.

Ay, ^note sir.

Lear.

And the creature run from the cur? There thou mightst behold the great image of authority: a dog's obeyed ^note in office.

Arm it in rags ^note, a ^note pigmy's straw does ^note pierce it.
None does offend, none, ^note I say, none; I'll able ^note 'em ^note:
Take that of me, my friend, who have the power
To seal the accuser's lips. ^note Get thee glass eyes,
And, like a scurvy politician, seem
To see the things thou dost not. ^note

Now, now, now, now ^note: pull off my boots: harder, harder ^note: so. ^note

Edg.
O, matter and impertinency mix'd! ^note
Reason in madness! ^note

Lear.
If thou wilt weep my fortunes ^note, take my eyes.
I know thee well enough; thy name is Gloucester:
Thou must be patient; we came crying hither:
Thou know'st ^note, the first time that we smell the air,
We wawl ^note and cry. I will preach to thee: mark. ^note

Glou.
Alack, alack the day!

Lear.
When we are born, we cry that we are come
To this great stage of fools. This 's a good block. ^note
It were a delicate stratagem, to shoe ^note
A troop of horse with felt ^note: I'll put 't ^note in proof; ^note
And when I have ^note stol'n ^note upon these sons-in-law ^note,

Then, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill! Enter a Gentleman, with Attendants. ^note

Gent. ^note
O, here he is: lay hand ^note upon him. Sir, ^note
Your most dear daughter— ^note

Lear.
No rescue? What, a prisoner? I am even ^note
The natural fool of fortune. Use me well;
You shall have ransom ^note. Let me have a surgeon ^note;
I am cut to the ^note brains.

Gent.
You shall have any thing.

Lear.
No seconds? all myself?
Why, this would make a man a man ^note of salt,
To use his eyes for garden ^note water-pots,
Ay, and laying autumn's dust.

Gent.
Good sir,—

Lear.
I will die ^note bravely, like a smug bridegroom. What!
I will be jovial: come, come; I am a king,
My masters, know you that. ^note

Gent.
You are a royal one, and we obey you.

Lear.

Then there's life in 't. Nay, if ^note you get it, you shall get it by ^note running. Sa, sa, sa, sa. ^{note note}

Gent.
A sight most pitiful in the meanest wretch,
Past speaking of in a king! Thou hast one ^note daughter,
Who redeems nature from the general curse
Which twain have ^note brought her to. ^note

Edg.
Hail, gentle sir.

Gent.
Sir, speed you: what's your will?

Edg.
Do you hear aught, sir, ^note of a battle toward?

Gent.
Most sure and vulgar: every one ^note hears that ^note,
Which can distinguish sound ^note. ^note

Edg.
But, by your favour,
How near's ^note the other army? ^note

Gent.
Near and on speedy foot ^note; the main descry ^note
Stands ^note on the hourly thought ^note.

Edg.
I thank you, sir: that's all ^note.

Gent.
Though that the queen on special cause is here,
Her ^note army is moved on.

Edg.
I thank you, sir. ^note [Exit Gent. ^note

Glou.
You ever-gentle ^note gods, take my breath from me;
Let not my worser spirit tempt me again
To die before you please!

Edg.
Well pray ^note you, father.

Glou.
Now, good sir, what are you?

Edg.
A most poor man, made tame to ^note fortune's blows;

Who, by the art of known ^note and feeling sorrows,
Am pregnant to good pity. Give me your hand,
I'll lead you to some biding.

Glou.
Hearty thanks:
The bounty ^note and the benison ^note of heaven
To boot ^note, and boot! ^note Enter Oswald. ^note

Osw. ^note
A proclaim'd prize! Most ^note happy! ^note
That eyeless head of thine was first ^note framed flesh
To raise my fortunes. Thou ^note old ^note unhappy traitor,
Briefly thyself remember: the sword is out
That must destroy thee.

Glou.
Now ^note let thy friendly hand
Put strength enough to't ^note. [Edgar interposes. ^note

Osw.
Wherefore, bold peasant,
Darest ^note thou support a publish'd traitor? Hence!
Lest that ^note the infection of his fortune take
Like hold on thee. Let go his arm. ^note

Edg.
Chill not let go, zir ^note, without vurther ^note 'casion ^note. ^note

Osw.
Let go, slave, or thou diest!

Edg.

Good gentleman, go your gait, and ^note let poor volk ^note pass. An ^note chud ha' ^note been zwaggered ^note out of my life, 'twould ^note not ha' been zo ^note long as 'tis ^note by a vortnight ^note. Nay, come not near th' ^note old man; keep out, che vor ye ^note, or I 'se ^note try whether ^note your costard ^note or my ballow ^note be the harder: chill ^note be plain with you.

Osw.

Out, dunghill!

Edg.

Chill pick your teeth, zir ^note: come; no matter vor ^note your foins.

Osw.
Slave, thou hast slain me. Villain, take my purse:
If ever thou wilt thrive, bury my body;
And give the letters ^note which thou find'st about me
To Edmund earl of Gloucester; seek him out
Upon ^note the British ^note party. O, untimely death! ^note
Death! ^note [Dies. ^note

Edg.
I know thee well: a serviceable villain,
As duteous to the vices of thy mistress

As badness would desire. ^note

Glou.
What, is he dead?

Edg. ^note
Sit you down, father; rest you.
Let's ^note see these ^note pockets: the letters ^note that he speaks of
May ^note be my friends. He's dead; I am ^note only sorry ^note
He had no other deathsman. Let us see:
Leave ^note, gentle wax; and, manners, blame ^note us not: ^note
To ^note know our enemies' minds, we'ld ^note rip their hearts;
Their papers, is ^note more lawful. [Reads] ^note

‘Let our ^note reciprocal vows be remembered. 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 ^note he return the conqueror: then ^note am I the prisoner, and his bed my gaol ^note; from the loathed warmth whereof deliver me, and supply the place for your ^note labour. ^note ‘Your—wife, so I would say— ^noteaffectionate servant, ^note

‘Goneril.’

O ^note undistinguish'd ^note space ^note of woman's will ^{note note}!
A plot upon her virtuous husband's life;
And the exchange my brother! Here, in the ^note sands,
Thee I'll rake up, the post ^note unsanctified
Of murderous lechers; and in the mature ^note time
With this ungracious paper strike the sight
Of the death-practised ^note duke: for him 'tis well
That of thy ^note death and business I can tell.

Glou.
The king is mad: how stiff is my vile ^note sense, ^note
That I stand up, and have ingenious feeling
Of my huge sorrows! Better I were distract:
So should my thoughts be sever'd ^note from my griefs,
And woes by wrong imaginations ^note lose
The knowledge of themselves. [Drum afar off. ^note

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

^note

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