Glofter. Seek out where thy father is, that he may be ready for our apprehenfion.

Edm. [Afide.] If I find him comforting the king, it will ftuff his fufpicion more fully.-I will perfeyere in my courfe of loyalty, though the conflict be fore between that and my blood.

Corn. I will lay trust upon thee; and thou fhalt find a dearer father in my love!

[Exeunt.

SCENE VI. A Chamber in a Farm-house.

Enter GLOSTER, LEAR, KENT, Fool, and EDGAR.

Glo. 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. [Exit. Kent. All the power of his wits has given way to his impatience:-The gods reward your kindnefs! Edg. Frateretto calls me; and tells me, Nero is an angler in the lake of darknefs. Pray, innocent, and beware the foul fiend.

Fool. Pr'ythee, nuncle, tell me, whether a madman be a gentleman. or a yeoman? Lear. A king, a king!

Fool. No; he's a yeoman, that has a gentleman to his fon for he's a mad yeoman, that fees his fon a gentleman before him.

Lear. To have a thousand with red burning spits Come hizzing in upon them :

Edg. The foul fiend bites my back.

Fool. He's mad, that trufts in the tameness of a wolf, a horfe's health, a boy's love, or a whore's oath,

Lear. It fhall be done, I will arraign them straight:

Come,

Come, fit thou here, most learned justices ;—

[To EDGAR. Thou, fapient fir, fit here. [To the Fool.]-Now, you, fhe foxes !—

Edg. Look, where he stands and glares;--Wantest thou eyes at trial, madam?

Come o'er the bourn, Bessy, to me :
Her boat hath a leak,

Fool.

And he must not speak

Why he dares not come over to thee.

Edg. The foul fiend haunts poor Tom in the voice of a nightingale. Hopdance cries in Tom's belly for. two white herring. Croak not, black angel! I have

no food for thee.

Kent. How do you, fir? Stand you not fo amaz❜d: Will you lie down and reft upon the cushions? Lear. I'll fee their trial first :-Bring in the evi

dence.

Thou robed man of juftice, take thy place ;-
[To EDGAR.
And thou his yoke fellow of equity, [To the Fool.
Bench by his fide :-You are of the commiffion,
Sit you too.

Edg. Let us deal justly.

[To KENT.

Sleepeft, or wakeft thou, jolly shepherd ?

Thy fheep be in the corn;

And for one blaft of thy minikin mouth,
Thy Sheep fhall take no harm.

Purre! the cat is grey.

Lear. Arraign her firft; 'tis Goneril. I here take my oath before this honourable affembly, fhe kick'd the poor king her father.

Fol. Come hither, mistress; Is your name Goneril?

Lear.

Lear. She cannot deny it.

Fool. Cry you mercy, I took you for a joint-tool. Lear. And here's another, whofe warpt-looks

proclaim

What ftore her heart is made on.--Stop her there!
Arms, arms, fword, fire!-Corruption in the place!
Falfe jufticer, why haft thou let her 'fcape?
Edg. Blefs thy five wits!

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

Edg. My tears begin to take his part so much, They'll mar my counterfeiting.

Lear. The little dogs and all,

[Afide.

Tray, Blanch, and Sweet-heart, fee, they bark at me. Edg. Tom will throw his head at them:--Avaunt, you curs!

Be thy mouth or black or white,
Tooth that poifons if it bite:
Maftiff, grey-hound, mungrel grim,
Hound, or spaniel, brache, or lym;
Or bobtail tike, or trundle-tale;
Tom will make him weep and wail:
For, with throwing thus my head,

Dogs leap the hatch, and all are fled.
Dode, dede. Seffy, come, march to wakes and fairs,
And market-towns:-Poor Tom, thy horn is dry.

Lear. Then let them anatomize Regan, fee what breeds about her heart: Is there any caufe in nature, that makes these hard hearts-You, fir, I entertain you for one of my hundred; only, I do not like the fashion of your garments: you will fay, they are Perfian attire; but let them be chang'd. [To EDGAR.

Kent. Now, good my lord, lie here, and rest awhile.

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Lear.

Lear. Make no noise, make no noife; draw the

curtains:

So, fo, fo: We'll go to fupper i' the morning: So Fool. And I'll to-bed at noon.

go

Re-enter GLOSTER.

[fo, fo.

Glo. Come hither, friend: Where is the king my mafter?

Kent. Here, fir; but trouble him not, his wits

are gone.

Glo. Good friend, I pr'ythee take him in thy arms; I have o'er-heard a plot of death upon him: There is a litter ready; lay him in't,

And drive toward Dover, friend, where thou fhalt

meet

Bothwelcome and protection. Take up thy master':
If thou fhould'ft dally half an hour, his life,
With thine, and all that offer to defend him,
Stand in affured lofs: Take up, take up;
And follow me, that will to fome provision
Give thee quick conduct.

[Kent. Oppreffed nature fleeps:

This reft might yet have balm'd thy broken fenfes, Which, if convenience will not allow,

Stand in hard cure.-Come, help to bear thy mafter; Thou must not stay behind.

Glo. Come, come, away.

[To the Fool.

[Exeunt, bearing off the King.

Manet EDGAR.

Edg. When we our betters fee bearing our woes, We fcarcely think our miseries our foes. Who alone fuffers, suffers most i' the mind; Leaving free things, and happy fhows, behind:

But

But then the mind much fufferance doth o'erskip,
When grief hath mates, and bearing fellowship.
How light and portable my pain feems now,
When that, which makes me bend, makes the king
He childed, as I father'd!-Tom, away: [bow;
Mark the high noifes; and thyfelf bewray,
When falfe opinion, whofe wrong thought defiles
thee,

In thy juft proof, repeals, and reconciles thee.
What will hap more to-night, fafe fcape the king!
Lurk, Lurk.]-

SCENE VII. GLOSTER'S Cafile.

[Exit.

Enter CORNWALL, REGAN, GONERIL, EDMUND, and Servants.

Corn. Poft fpeedily to my lord your husband; fhew him this letter:-the army of France is land, ed:-Seek out the traitor Glofter. [Exeunt Servants. Reg. Hang him inftantly,

Gon. Pluck out his eyes.

Corn. Leave him to my displeasure.-Edmund keep you our fifter company; the revenges we are bound to take upon your traiterous father, are not fit for your beholding. Advife the duke, when you are going, to a moft feftinate preparation; we. are bound to the like. Our poft fhall be fwift, and intelligent betwixt us. Farewell, dear fifter; -farewell, my lord of Glofter.

Enter Sterward.

How now? Where's the king?

Stew My lord of Glofter hath convey'd him hence; Some five or fix and thirty of his knights,

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