Edg. As I stood here below, methought his eyes Were two full moons; he had a thousand noses, Horns whelk'd and waved like the enridged sea : Of men's impossibilities, have preserved thee. Glou. I do remember now: henceforth I'll bear Affliction till it do cry out itself 'Enough, enough,' and die. speak of, That thing you I took it for a man; often 'twould say 'The fiend, the fiend :' he led me to that place. Edg. Bear free and patient thoughts. comes here? 70 But who 80 Enter LEAR, fantastically dressed with wild flowers. The safer sense will ne'er accommodate His master thus. 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. That fellow handles his bow like a crow-keeper: draw me a clothier's yard. Look, look, a mouse! 71. whelk'd, protruding like whelks, or pustules. 73. clearest, most pure. 80. free, innocent. 81. The safer sense, i. e. sanity. 86 f. In what follows Lear imagines himself first collecting recruits, then testing them at archery; then from the crowkeeper' fancy wanders to Peace, peace; this mouse-catching, back to battle (Bring up the brown bills'), falconry, and archery again. 88. like a crow-keeper, like one who scares crows from a field. Ascham describes among ' awkward shooters' one who 'cowreth down and layeth out his buttockes as though he would shoot at crows.' piece of toasted cheese will do 't. gauntlet; I'll prove it on a giant. There's my 90 Bring up the brown bills. O, well flown, bird! i' the clout, i' the clout: hewgh! Give the word. Edg. Sweet marjoram. Lear. Pass. Glou. I know that voice. Lear. Ha! Goneril, with a white beard! They flattered me like a dog; and told me I had white hairs in my beard ere the black ones were there. To say 'ay' and 'no' to every thing that 100 I said!'Ay' and 'no' too was no good divinity. When the rain came to wet me once, and the wind to make me chatter; when the thunder would not peace at my bidding; there I found 'em, there I smelt 'em out. Go to, they are not men o' their words: they told me I was every thing; 'tis a lie, I am not ague-proof. Glou. The trick of that voice I do well remember: Is 't not the king? Lear. When I do stare, see how the subject quakes. Ay, every inch a king: What was thy cause? No: I pardon that man's life. Adultery? Thou shalt not die: die for adultery! The wren goes to 't, and the small gilded fly Let copulation thrive; for Gloucester's bastard son Got 'tween the lawful sheets. To 't, luxury, pell-mell! for I lack soldiers. Behold yond simpering dame, Whose face between her forks presages snow; 92. brown bills, halberds. 92. clout, the white centre of the target. 120 That minces virtue, and does shake the head The fitchew, nor the soiled horse, goes to 't Down from the waist they are Centaurs, Though women all above: But to the girdle do the gods inherit, There's hell, there's darkness, there's the sulphur ous pit, Burning, scalding, stench, consumption; fie, fie, fie! pah, pah! Give me an ounce of civet, good apothecary, to sweeten my imagination: there's money for thee. Glou. O, let me kiss that hand! Lear. Let me wipe it first; it smells of mortality. Glou. O ruin'd piece of nature! world This great 130 Dost thou know me? Shall so wear out to nought. Glou. Were all the letters suns, I could not see one. Edg. I would not take this from report; it is, And my heart breaks at it. Lear. Read. Glou. What, with the case of eyes? Lear. O, ho, are you there with me? No eyes in your head, nor no 124. fitchew, pole-cat. ib. soiled horse; a horse that has been fed with hay and corn during the winter, and is turned out in the spring to take money in your purse? the first flush of grass.' 148. are you there with me, 'is that what you mean?' Your eyes are in a heavy case, your purse in a 150 light yet you see how this world goes. Glou. 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 yond justice rails upon yond simple thief. Hark, in thine ear: change places; and, handy-dandy, which is the justice, which is the thief? Thou hast seen a farmer's dog bark at a beggar ? Glou. Ay, sir. Lear. And the creature run from the cur? There thou mightst behold the great image of authority: a dog's obeyed in office. Thou rascal beadle, hold thy bloody hand! Thou hotly lust'st to use her in that kind For which thou whipp'st her. The usurer hangs the cozener. Through tatter'd clothes small vices do appear; gold, And the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks; 'em : Take that of me, my friend, who have the power To see the things thou dost not. Now, now, now, now: Pull off my boots: harder, harder: so. 157. handy-dandy, a sleight of hand, by which a thing is imperceptibly changed from one hand to the other. for. 160 170 172. able, warrant, answer 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 Gloucester: Lear. When we are born, we cry that we are come To this great stage of fools: this' a good block; A troop of horse with felt: I'll put 't in proof; 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. You shall have ransom. I am cut to the brains. Gent. Use me well; Let me have a surgeon; You shall have any thing. Lear. No seconds? all myself? Why, this would make a man a man of salt, To use his eyes for garden water-pots, Ay, and laying autumn's dust. Good sir, Lear. I will die bravely, like a smug bridegroom. What! 178. impertinency, irrelevance, unreason. 187. this', this is. 180 190 200 187. block, probably shape of felt hat; this suggests the next fancy. |