Edg.
Yet better thus, and known to be contemn'd,
Than still contemn'd and flatter'd. To be ^note worst,
The lowest, most ^note dejected thing ^note of fortune,
Stands still in esperance, ^note lives not in fear:
The lamentable change is from the best;
The worst returns to laughter. Welcome then, ^note
Thou unsubstantial air, that I embrace!
The wretch, that thou hast blown unto the worst,
Owes nothing to thy blasts.—But who comes here? ^note Enter Gloster, and an old Man.
My father, poorly led?—World, world, o world!14Q1360
But that thy strange mutations make us wait thee ^note,
Life would not yield to age.

o. m.

O my good lord, I have been your tenant, and your father's tenant, these fourscore years. ^note

Glo.
Away, get thee away; good friend, be gone:
Thy comforts can do me no good at all,
Thee they may hurt.

o. m.
You ^note cannot see your way.

Glo.
I have no way, and therefore want no eyes;
I stumbl'd when I saw: Full oft 'tis seen,
Our mean secures ^note us; and our meer defects
Prove our commodities. Ah, dear ^note son Edgar,
The food of thy abused father's wrath!

Might I but live to see thee in my touch,
I'd say, I had eyes again.

o. m.
How now? Who's there?

&clquo;Edg.
&clquo;O gods! Who is't can say, I am at the worst? ^note&crquo;
&clquo;I am worse than e'er I was:&crquo;

o. m.
'Tis poor mad Tom.

&clquo;Edg.
&clquo;And worse I may be yet: The worst is not,&crquo;
&clquo;So long ^note as we can say, This is the worst.

o. m.
Fellow, where goest? ^note

Glo.
Is it a beggar-man?

o. m.
Madman and beggar too.

Glo.
He has ^note some reason, else he could not beg.
I'the last night's storm I such a fellow saw;
Which made me think a man a worm: My son
Came then into my mind; and yet my mind
Was then scarce friends with him: I have heard more since:
As flies to wanton ^note boys, are we to the gods;
They kill us ^note for their sport.

&clquo;Edg.
&clquo;How should this be? ^note—&crquo;
&clquo;Bad is the trade that must play fool ^note to sorrow,&crquo;
&clquo;Ang'ring itself and others.&crquo;—Bless thee, master!

Glo.
Is that the naked fellow?

o. m.
Ay, my lord.

Glo.
Then, pr'ythee, get thee gone: If ^note, for my sake,
Thou wilt o'er-take us, hence a ^note mile or twain,
I'the way towards Dover, ^note do it for ancient love;
And bring some covering for this naked soul,
Whom I'll ^note entreat to lead me.

o. m.
Alack, sir, he is mad.

Glo.
'Tis the times' plague, when madmen lead the blind:
Do as I bid thee, or rather do thy pleasure;
Above the rest, be gone.

o. m.
I'll bring him the best 'parrel that I have,
Come on't what will. [Exit old Man.

Glo.
Sirrah, naked fellow,—

Edg.
Poor Tom's a-cold.—&clquo;I cannot daub it further. ^note&crquo;

Glo.
Come hither, fellow.

&clquo;Edg.
&clquo;And yet I must. ^note&crquo;—Bless thy sweet eyes! they bleed.

Glo.
Know'st thou the way to Dover?

Edg.

Both stile and gate, horse-way and foot-path. Poor Tom hath been scar'd out of his good wits: Bless thee, good man's son, from ^note the foul fiend! ^note Five fiends14Q1361 have been in poor Tom in once: ^note of lust, as Obidicut; Hobbididdance, prince of darkness; ^note Mahu, of stealing; Modo, of murder; Fliberdegibbet, of mopping and mowing; who since possesses chamber-maids and waiting-women. So, bless thee, master!

Glo.
Here, take this &dagger2; purse, thou whom the heaven's plagues
Have humbl'd to all strokes: that I am wretched,
Makes thee the happier:—Heavens, deal so still!
Let the superfluous,14Q1362 and lust-dieting ^note man,
That slaves your ^note ordinance, that will not see
Because he doth not ^note feel, feel your power quickly;
So distribution should undo excess, ^note
And each man have enough.—Dost thou know Dover?

Edg.
Ay, master.

Glo.
There is a cliff, whose high and bending head
Looks fearfully on the ^{note note} confined deep:
Bring me but to the very brim of it,
And I'll repair the misery thou dost bear
With something rich about me: from that place
I shall ^note no leading need.

Edg.
Give me thy arm;
Poor Tom shall lead thee. [Exeunt.

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