Glo. O ruin'd piece of nature: This great world Shall fo wear out to nought.-Doft thou know me?

Lear. I remember thine eyes well enough. Doft thou fquiny at me? No, do thy worst, blind Cupid; I'll not love.--Read thou this challenge; mark but the penning of it.

Glo. Were all the letters funs, I could not fee one. Edg. I would not take this from report ;—it is, And my heart breaks at it.

Lear. Read.

Glo. What, with the cafe of eyes?

Lear. O, ho, are you there with me? No eyes in your head, nor no money in your purse? Your eyes are in a heavy cafe, your purse in a light: Yet you fee how this world goes.

Glo. I fee it feelingly.

Lear. What, art mad? A man may fee how this world goes with no eyes. Look with thine ears: fee how yon' juftice rails upon yon' fimple thief. Hark, in thine ear: Change places: and handy dandy, which is the justice, which is the thief?-Thou haft seen a farmer's dog bark at a beggar?

Glo. Ay, fir.

Lear. And the creature run from the cur? There thou might'ft behold the great image of authority: a dog's obey'd in office.

Thou rafcal beadle, hold thy bloody hand;

Why doft thou lafh that whore? Strip thine own back; Thou hotly luft'ft to use her in that kind

For which thou whipp'ft her. The ufurer hangs

the cozener.

Through tatter'd clothes fmall vices do appear; Robes,

Robes, and furred gowns hide all. Plate fin with

gold,

And the strong lance of justice hurtlefs breaks: Arm it in rags, a pigmy's ftraw doth pierce it. None does offend, none, I fay, none; I'll able 'em: Take that of me, my friend, who have the power To feal the accufer's lips. Get thee glafs eyes; And, like a fcurvy politician, feem

To see the things thou doft not.

now, now:

Now, now,

Pull off my boots;-harder, harder; fo.
Edg. O, matter and impertinency mixt!
Reafon in madness!

Lear. If thou wilt weep my fortunes, take my eyes.
I know thee well enough; thy name is Glofter:
Thou must be patient; we came crying hither.
Thou know'ft, the first time that we fmell the air,
We wawle, and cry:-I will preach to thee; mark
Glo. Alack, alack the day!
[me.
Lear. When we are born, we cry, that we are come
To this great stage of fools;--This a good block:-
It were a delicate ftratagem, to fhoe

A troop of horse with felt; I'll put it in proof; And when I have ftolen upon thefe fons-in-law, Then kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill!

Enter a Gentleman, with Attendants.

Gent. O, here he is; lay hand upon him.-Sir, Your most dear daughter

Lear. No refcue? What, a prifoner? I am even 'The natural fool of fortune.You fhall have ranfom.

-Ufe me well; Let me have a furgeon,

I am cut to the brains.
Gent. You fhall have any thing.
I

Lear.

Lear. No feconds? All myfelf?

Why, this would make a man, a man of falt,
To ufe his eyes for garden water-pots,
Ay, and laying autumn's duft.-

Gent. Good fir

Lear. I will die bravely, like a bridegroom; what? I will be jovial; come, come, I am a king, My mafters, know you that?

Gent. You are a royal one, and we obey you. Lear. Then there's life in it. Nay, come an you get it,

You fhall get it by running. Sa, fa, fa, fa! [Exit, Gent. A fight moft pitiful in the meaneft wretch, Paft fpeaking of in a king!-Thou haft one daughter, Who redeems nature from the general curfe Which twain have brought her to.

Edg. Hail, gentle fir.

Gent. Sir, fpeed you: What's your will?

Edg. Do you hear aught, fir, of a battle toward? Gent. Moft fure, and vulgar; every one hears that, Which can diftinguith found.

Edg. But, by your favour,

How near's the other army?

Gent. Near, and on fpeedy foot: the main def

Stands on the hourly thought.

Edg. I thank you fir: that's all.

[cry

Gent. Though that the queen on fpecial cafe is

Her army is mov'd on.

Edg. I thank you, fir.

[here,

[Exit Gent,

Glo. You ever gentle gods, take my breath from me, Let not my worfer fpirit tempt me again To die before you please!

Edg. Well pray you, father.

Ch. Now, good fir, what are you?

Elg

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

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

Glo. Hearty thanks:

The bounty and the benizon of Heaven
To boot, and boot!

Enter Steward.

Stew. A proclaim'd prize! Moft happy! That eyelefs head of thine was first fram'd flesh To raife my fortunes.-Thou old unhappy traitor, Briefly thyfelf remember :-The fword is out That must destroy thee.

Glo. Now let thy friendly hand

Put strength enough to it.

Stew. Wherefore, bold peafant,

[EDGAR oppofess

Dar'ft thou fupport a publish'd traitor? Hence;
Left that the infection of his fortune take
Like hold on thee. Let go his arm.

Edg. Ch'ill not let go, zir, without vurther'cafiona
Stew. Let go, flave, or thou dy'st.

Edg. Good gentleman, go your gait, and let poor volk pafs. 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; keep out, che vor'ye, or ife try whether your coftard or my bat be the harder: Ch'ill be plain with you.

Stew. Out, dunghill!

Edg. Ch'ill pick your teeth, zir: Come; no mat ter vor your foyns. [EDGAR knocks him down,

Stew. Slave, thou haft flain me :-Villain, take my purfe;

If ever thou wilt thrive, bury my body;

And give the letters, which thou find'st about me,
To Edmund, earl of Glofter; feek him out
Upon the English party:O, untimely death,
death!

[Dies:

Edg. I know thee well: a ferviceable villain; As duteous to the vices of thy mistress, As badnefs would defire.

Glo. What, is he dead?

Edg. Sit you down, father; reft you.-Let's fee his pockets: thefe letters, that he fpeaks of, May be my friends.-He's dead; I am only forry He had no other death's-man.-Let us fee :Leave, gentle wax, and, manners, blame us not; To know our enemies' minds, we'd rip their hearts, Their papers are more lawful.

Reads the Letter.

You have

Let our reciprocal vows be remember'd. many opportunities to cut him off: if your will want not, time and place will be fruitfully offered. There is nothing done, if he return the conqueror: Then am I the prifoner, and his bed my gaol; from the loath'd warmth whereof deliver me, and fupply the place for your labour.

Your (wife, fo I would fay) affectionate fervant,

GONERIL

O undistinguish'd space of woman's will!-
A plot upon her virtuous husband's life;
And the exchange, my brother!--Here, in the fands,
Thee I'll rake up, the poft unfanctified

Of murderous lechers: and, in the mature time,
With this ungracious paper ftrike the fight

Of