Edg. This is the foul Flibbertigibbèt; he begins at curfew, and walks till the first cock ; he gives the web and the pin, squints the eye, and makes the hairlip: mildews the white wheat, and hurts the poor creature of the earth.

Saint Withold footed thrice the wold,
He met the night-mare, and her name told,
Bid her alight, and her troth plight,

And aroynt thee, witch, aroynt thee right.
Kent. How fares your Grace ?

Went Whos there? what is't you seek?

S CE N E VII.

Enter Glo'ster, with a Torch.
Lear. HAT's he?
Kent. Who's there? what is't

you

seek? Glo. What are you there ? your names ?

Edg. Poor Tom, that eats the swimming frog, the toad, the tod pole; the wall-newt, and the waternewt; that in the fury of his heart, when the foul fiend rages, eats cow-dung for fallets ; swallows the old rat, and the ditch-dog; drinks the green mantle of the standing-pool; who is whipt from tything to rything, and stock-punish'd, and imprison'd: who hath had three suits to his back, fix shirts to his body; horse to ride, and weapon to wear:

But mice, and rats, and such small geer

Have been Tom's food for seven long year. Beware my follower. Peace, Smolkin, peace, thou fiend! Glo. What, hath your

Grace no better

company ? Edg. The Prince of Darkness is a gentleman; Modo he's call'd, and Mahu.

Glo. Our flesh and blood, iny lord, is grown so vile, That it doth hate what gets it.

Edg. Tom's a-cold.
Glo. Go in with me; my duty cannot suffer

T'obey

Tobey in all your Daughters' hard commands:
Though their injunction be to bar my doors,
And let this tyrannous night take hold upon you;
Yet have I ventur’d to come seek you out,
And bring you where both fire and food is ready.

Lear. First, let me talk with this Philosopher; — What is the cause of thunder ?

Kent. My good lord, take his offer, Go into th' house.

Lear. I'll talk a word with this same learned Theban : What is your study ?

Edg. How to prevent the fiend, and to kill vermin. Lear. Let us ask you one word in private,

Kent. Importune him once more to go, my lord ; His Wits begin t' unsettle. Glo. Canit thou blame him?

(Storm fill. His Daughters seek his death: ah, that good Kent! He said, it would be thus; poor

banish'd man! Thou say'st, the King grows mad; I'll tell thee, friend, I'm almost mad myself; I had a son, Now out-law'd from my blood; he fought my life, But lately, very late; I lov'd him, friend, No father his son dearer: true to tell thee, The grief hath craz'd my wits. What a night's this? I do beseech your Grace. . Lear. O cry you mercy,

Sir :
Noble Philosopher, your company.

Edg. Tom's a cold.
Glo. In, fellow, into th' hovel ; keep thee warm.
Lear. Come, let's in all.
Kent. This way, my lord.

Lear. With him;
I will keep still with my Philofopher.

Kent. Good my lord, footh him; let him take the fellow.

Glo. Take him you on.
Kent. Sirrah, come on; along with us.
Lear. Come, good Athenian.

Gla.

Glo. No words, no words, hush.
Edg. Child Rowland to the dark tower came;

His word was still, fie, foh, and fum,
I smell the blood of a British man. [Exeunt.

I

Changes to Glo'fter's Cafile.

Enter Cornwall, and Edmund. Corn. Will have revenge, ere I depart his house.

Edm. How, my lord, I may be censur'd, that Nature thus gives way to loyalty, something fears me to think of.

Corn. I now perceive, it was not altogether your brother's evil disposition made him feek his death: but a provoking merit, fet a-work by a reprovable badness in himself.

Edm. How malicious is my fortune, that I must repent to be just ? this is the letter, which he spoke of; which approves him an intelligent party to the advantages of France. Oh heavens! that this treason were not; or not I the detector!

Corn. Go with me to the Dutchess.

Edm. If the matter of this paper be certain, you have mighty business in hand.

Corn. True or false, it hath made thee Earl of Glofter: seek out where thy father is, that he may be ready for our Apprehension.

Edm. If I find him comforting the King, it will stuff his suspicion more fully.-{aside.] I will persevere in my course of loyalty, though the conflict be sore between that and my blood.

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

love.

[Exeunt.

SCENE

1

S CE N E IX.
A Chamber, in a Farm-house.

Enter Kent and Glo'ster.
Gle. 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 kindness!

Enter Lear, Edgar, and Fool. Edg. Fraterreto calls me, and tells me, Nero is an angler in the lake of darkness : 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 son: for he's a mad yeoman, that sees his son a gentleman before him.

Lear. To have a thousand with red burning spits Come hizzing in upon 'emEdg. The foul fiend bites

my

back. Fool. He's mad that trusts in the tameness of a wolf, the heels of a horse, the love of a boy, or the oath of a whore.

Lear. It shall be done, I will arraign 'em ftrait. Come, fit thou here, moft learned justicer; Thou fapient Sir, fit bere—now, ye she-foxes !

Edg. Look, where the stands and glares. Wanteft

thou eyes

At trial, Madam ?

Come o'er the Broom, Bessy, to me.
Fool. Her Boat hath a Leak, and she must not speak,
Why she dares not come over to thee.

Edg.

Edg. The foul fiend haunts poor Tom in the voice of a nightingale. Hopdance cries in Tom's belly for two white Herrings. Croak not, black angel, I have no food for thee.

Kent. How do you, Sir? stand you not so amaz’d; Will you lie down, and rest upon the Cushions ? Lear. I'll see their trial first, bring me in the evi

dence. Thou robed man of justice, take thy place; And thou his yoke-fellow of equity,

(too.
Bench by his fíde. You are o'th' commission, fit you
Edg. Let us deal justly.--
Sleepest, or wakest thou, jolly Shepherd ?

Thy Sheep be in the Corn;
And for one Blast of thy minikin Mouth,

Thy Sheep fhall take no Harm.
Purre, the Cat, is grey.

Lear. Arraign her first, ’ris Gonerill. I here take my Oath before this honourable Assembly, she ķick'd the

poor King her Father. Fool. Come hither, Mistress, is

your name Gonerill ? Lear. She cannot deny it. Fool. Cry you mercy, I took you for a Joint-ftool. Lear. And here's another, whose warpt Looks pro

claim What store her Heart is made of. Stop her there; Arms, arms, sword, fire,—Corruption in the place! False justicer, why haft thou let her 'scape?

Edg. Bless thy five wits.

Kent. () pity! Sir, where is the patience now, That you so oft have boasted to retain ?

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

[Afde. Lear. The little dogs and all, Tray, Blanch, and Sweet-heart, see, they bark at me

Edg. Tom Will throw his head at them; avaunt,

you curs !

Be