Is it a beggar-man?

OLD MAN. Fellow, where goest?
GLO.
OLD MAN. Madman and beggar too.
GLO. He has 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 boys, are we to the gods,-
They kill us for their sport.

EDG. [Aside.] How should this be?-
Bad is the trade that must play Fool to sorrow,
Ang'ring itself and others.-Bless thee, master!
GLO. Is that the naked fellow ?

This was an old stumbling-block to the critics Some have altered it to,-"Our mean secures us," &c., that is, our middle-state keeps us in safely: others would read,-"Our meanness secures us: Johnson proposed,--“ Our means seduce us;" or Our maims secure us: and Mr. Collier's annotator reads,-" Our wants secure us." All this controversy arose apparently from misapprehension of the sense in which the word "secure" is to be understood. To secure now means only to protect, to keep safely; but in old language it very commonly signified also, to render us

EDG. [Aside.] And yet I must.-Bless thy sweet eyes, they bleed.

GLO. Know'st thou the way to Dover?

EDG. Both stile and gate, horse-way and footpath. Poor Tom hath been scared out of his good wits bless thee, good man's son, from the foul fiend!-five fiends have been in poor Tom at once; of lust, as Obidicut; Hobbididance, prince of dumbness; Mahu, of stealing; Modo, of murder; and Flibbertigibbet, of mopping and mowing, who since possesses chamber-maids and waiting-women. So, bless thee, master!

GLO. Here, take this purse, thou whom the heavens' plagues

Have humbled to all strokes: that I am wretched,
Makes thee the happier :-heavens, deal so still!
Let the superfluous, and lust-dieted man,
That slaves your ordinance, that will not see
Because he doth not feel, feel your power quickly;
So distribution should undo excess, [Dover?

And each man have enough.-Dost thou know
EDG. Ay, master.

[head

GLO. There is a cliff, whose high and bending Looks fearfully in the 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 no leading need.
EDG.
Give me thy arm ;
Poor Tom shall lead thee.

[Exeunt.

careless, over-confident, unguarded, and this appears to be its meaning here. Thus, in Sir T. More's "Life of Edward V.":"Oh the uncertain confidence and shortsighted knowledge of man! When this lord was most afraid, he was most secure; and when he was secure, danger was over his head." Again, in Judges viii. 11:-" And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host, for the host was secure."

b Then, pr'ythee, get thee gone:] So the quartos; the folio reads, "Get thee away," &c.

cfive fiends, &c.] The remainder of the speech is not given in the folio.

When I inform'd him, then he call'd me sot,
And told me I had turn'd the wrong side out :--
What most he should dislike, seems pleasant to
him ;

What like, offensive.

GON. [To EDMUND.] Then shall you go no further.

It is the cowish terror of his spirit,

That dares not undertake: he'll not feel wrongs, Which tie him to an answer. Our wishes on the way

May prove effects. Back, Edmund, to my brother;
Hasten his musters and conduct his powers:
I must change arms at home, and give the distaff
Into my husband's hands. This trusty servant
Shall pass between us: ere long you are like to
hear,

If you dare venture in your own behalf,
A mistress's command. Wear this; spare speech;
[Giving a favour.
Decline your head: this kiss, if it durst speak,
Would stretch thy spirits up into the air;-
Conceive, and fare thee well.

EDM. Yours in the ranks of death.
GON.

My most dear Gloster!

[Exit EDMUND.

O, the difference of man and man! To three a woman's services are due; My fool usurps my body."

Osw. Madam, here comes my lord.

Enter ALBANY.

GON. I have been worth the whistle. ALB.

Most barbarous, most degenerate !—have you madded.

Could my good brother suffer you to do it?
A man, a prince, by him so benefited!

If that the heavens do not their visible spirits
Send quickly down to tame these* vile offences,
"Twill come, humanity must perforce prey on
'tself,

Like monsters of the deep.

GON. Milk-liver'd man! That bear'st a cheek for blows, a head for wrongs; Who hast not in thy brows an eye discerning Thine honour from thy suffering; that not know'st,

c

Fools do those villains pity who are punish'd Ere they have done their mischief. Where's thy drum?

b

O, Goneril!

You are not worth the dust which the rude wind
Blows in your face! I fear your disposition:
That nature, which contemns its origin,
Cannot be border'd certain in itself;

GON. Marry, your manhood now!

(*) Old copies, this, the.

"The honey-suckle, the harlocke, The lilly, and the lady-smocke," &c. H 2

REG. Faith, he is posted hence on serious matter. It was great ignorance, Gloster's eyes being out, To let him live; where he arrives he moves All hearts against us. Edmund, I think, is gone, In pity of his misery, to despatch

His nighted life; moreover, to descry

The strength o'the enemy.

Osw. I must needs after him, madam, with my letter.

REG. Our troops set forth to-morrow: stay with us;

The ways are dangerous.

Osw.
I may not, madam
My lady charg'd my duty in this business.

:

b

I'm sure of that: and at her late being here
She gave strange œiliads and most speaking looks
To noble Edmund. I know you are of her bosom.-
Osw. I, madam ?

REG. I speak in understanding; you are, I know 't;

Therefore I do advise you, take this note:
My lord is dead; Edmund and I have talk'd;
And more convenient is he for my hand

Than for your lady's :—you may gather more.
If you do find him, pray you, give him this;
And when your mistress hears thus much from you,
pray, desire her call her wisdom to her.
So, fare you well.

I

If you do chance to hear of that blind traitor,
Preferment falls on him that cuts him off.
Osw. Would I could meet him,† madam! I
would show

(*) First folio, desires.

a-important tears-] Important for importunate; the folio has importun'd.