Glo.
When shall we come to the top of that same hill?

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

Glo.
Methinks the ground is even.

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

Glo.
No, truly.

Edg.
Why, then your other senses grow imperfect
By your eye's 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
And dizzy 'tis to cast one's eyes so low!^{22 note}
The crows and choughs,^{23 note} that wing the midway air,
Show scarce so gross^{24 note} as beetles: Half way down
Hangs one that gathers samphire—dreadful trade!(B)8Q0112
Methinks, he seems no bigger than his head:
The fishermen, that walk upon the beach,
Appear like mice; and yon tall anchoring bark,
Diminish'd to her cock; her cock,^{25 note} a buoy,
Almost too small for sight: The murmuring surge,
That on the unnumber'd idle pebbles chafes,
Cannot be heard so high: I'll look no more:
Lest my brain turn, and the deficient sight
Topple^{26 note} down headlong.

Glo.
Set me where you stand.

Edg.
Give me your hand: You are now within a foot
Of the extreme verge: for all beneath the moon
Would I not leap upright.^{27 note}

Glo.
Let go my hand.
Here, friend, is another purse; in it a jewel
Well worth a poor man's taking:
Go thou further off;
Bid me farewell, and let me hear thee going.

Edg.
Now fare you well, good Sir. [Seems to go.
Why I do trifle thus with his despair,
Is done to cure it.

Glo.
O you mighty gods!
This world I do renounce; and, in your sights,
Shake patiently my great affliction off:
If Edgar live, O, bless him!—
Now, fellow, fare thee well. [He is about to leap forward.

Edg.
Hold!—Who comes here? Enter Lear, fantastically dressed up with flowers.

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.(C)8Q0113 That fellow handles his bow like a crow-keeper: (D)8Q0114 draw me a clothier's yard.^{28 note}—Look, look, a mouse! Peace, peace.—There's my gauntlet; I'll prove it on a giant.—Bring up the brown bills.^{29 note}—O, well-flown, bird!^{30 note} —i'the clout, i'the clout,^{31 note} hewgh!—Give the word.^{32 note}

Edg.

Sweet marjoram.

Lear.

Pass.

Glo.

I know that voice.

Lear.

Ha! Goneril! with a white beard!—They flatter'd me like a dog;^{33 note} and told me, I had white hairs in my beard, ere the black ones were there.^{34 note} To say ay, and no, to everything I said!—Ay and no too was no good divinity. When the rain came to wet me^{35 note} 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 words: they told me I was everything; 'tis a lie; I am not ague-proof.

Glo.
The trick^{36 note} of that voice I do well remember:
Is't not the king?

Lear.
Ay, every inch a king!
When I do stare, see, how the subject quakes.
I pardon that man's life: What was the cause?—
Adultery.—
Thou shalt not die: Die for adultery? No:
For Gloster's bastard son
Was kinder to his father, than my daughters
Got in the lawful bed.
To't, luxury,^{37 note} pell-mell, for I lack soldiers.—
There's money for thee.

Glo.
O, let me kiss that hand!

Lear.
Let me wipe it first; it smells of mortality.

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

Lear.

I remember thine eyes well enough.—Read thou this challenge; mark but the penning of it.

Glo.

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

Lear.

Read.—Read.

Glo.

What, with this case of eyes?

Lear.

O, ho, are you there with me? No eyes in your head, nor no money in your purse? Yet you see how this world goes.

Glo.

I see it feelingly.

Lear.

What, art mad? A man may see how this world goes, with no eyes. Look with thine ears: see how yon' justice rails upon yon' simple thief?—Hark, in thine ear: Change places; and, handy-dandy,^{38 note} which is the justice, which is the thief?—Thou hast seen a farmer's dog bark at a beggar?

Glo.

Ay, Sir.

Lear.

And the creature run from the cur? There thou might'st behold the great image of authority: a dog's obeyed in office.—

And the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks:
Arm it in rags, a pigmy's straw doth pierce it.
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
To see the things thou dost not.—Now, now, now, now:
Pull off my boots:—harder, harder; so.

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

Lear.
If thou wilt weep my fortunes, take my eyes.
I know thee well enough; thy name is Gloster:
Thou must be patient; we came crying hither.
Thou know'st, the first time that we smell the air,
We wawl,^{39 note} and cry:—I will preach to thee; mark me.

Glo.
Alack, alack the day!

Lear.
When we are born, we cry, that we are come
To this great stage of fools. 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?

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.
It were a delicate stratagem^{40 note} to shoe
A troop of horse with felt:(E)8Q0115 I'll put it in proof;
And when I have stolen upon these sons'-in-law,
Then kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill.^{41 note} [Exit the King, Attendants following.

Edg.
A sight most pitiful in the meanest wretch;
Past speaking of in a king.

Glo.
You ever-gentle gods, take my breath from me;
Let not my worser spirit^{42 note} tempt me again
To die before you please! Enter Steward.

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,
Briefly thyself remember:^{43 note} The sword is out
That must destroy thee. [Edgar opposes.
Wherefore, bold peasant,
Dar'st thou support a publish'd traitor? Hence;
Let go his arm.

Edg.

Chi'll not let go, zir, without vurther 'casion.

Stew.
Let go, slave, or thou diest.

Edg.

Good gentleman, go your gait,^{44 note} and let poor volk pass. And ch'ud ha' 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; ise try whether your costard^{45 note} or my bat^{46 note} be harder.

Stew.

Out, dunghill!

Edg.

Ch'ill pick your teeth, zir: Come; no matter vor your foins.^{47 note}