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in my fight. Let copulation thrive: for Glo'fter's baftard-fon was kinder to his father, than my daughters got 'tween the lawful fheets. To't, luxury, pellmell; for I lack foldiers. Behold yond fimpering Dame, whose face 'tween her forks prefages fnow; that minces virtue, and does fhake the head to hear of pleasure's name. The fitchew, nor the ftalled horfe, goes to't with a more riotous appetite: down from the waste they are centaurs, though women all above: but to the girdle do the Gods inherit, beneath it is all the fiends. There's hell, there's darknefs, there is the fulphurous pit, burning, fcalding, ftench, confumption: fie, fie, fie; pah, pah; give me an ounce of civet, good apothecary, to sweeten my imagination! there's money for thee.

Gles O, let me kiss that hand.

Lear. Let me wipe it firft, it smells of mortality. 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 squiny 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 this cafe of eyes?

Lear. Oh, ho, are you there with me? no eyes in your head, nor no money in your purfe? 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 yond juftice rails upon yond fimple thief. Hark in thine ear: change Places, and handy-dandy, which is the juftice, which is the thief? Thou haft feen a farmer's dog bark at a beggar.

Glo.

Glo. Ay, Sir.

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? ftrip thy own back; Thou hotly luft'ft to use her in that kind,

For which thou whip'ft her. Th' usurer hangs the

cozener.

Through tatter'd clothes fmall vices do appear;
Robes and furr'd gowns hide all. Plate fin with gold,
And the ftrong lance of juftice 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 pow'r
To feal th' accufer's lips, Get thee glass eyes,
And, like a fcurvy politician, feem

1

To fee 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 firft time that we smell the air, We wawle and cry. I will preach to thee: markGlo. Alack, alack, the day!

Lear. When we are born, we cry, that we are

come

To this great ftage of fools.-This a good block!--
It were a delicate ftratagem to shoe

A troop of horse with Felt; I'll put't in proof;
And when I've ftoll'n upon these fons-in-law,
Then kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill.

SCENE

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Enter a Gentleman, with Attendants.

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

Lear. No rescue? what, a prifoner? I am even The natural fool of fortune.

You fhall have ransom.

I am cut to th' brains.

Use me well,

Let me have furgeons,

Gent. You fhall have any thing.

Lear. No feconds? all myself?

Why, this would make a man, a man of falt;
To ufe his eyes for garden-water-pots,

And laying autumn's duft. I will die bravely,
Like a smug bridegroom. What? I will be jovial:
Come, come, I am a King. My Masters, know you
that?

Gent. You are a royal one, and we obey you. Lear. Then there's life in't. Come, an you get it, You fhall get it by running: fa, fa, fa, fa.

[Exit. Gent. A fight moft pitiful in the meaneft wretch,. Paft speaking of in a King. Thou haft one daughter, Who redeems nature from the general curfe Which twain have brought her to.

Edg. Hail, gentle Sir.

Gent. Sir, fpeed you: what's your Will?

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

Edg. But by your favour,

How near's the other army?

Gent. Near, and on speedy foot: the main defcry Stands on the hourly thought.

Edg. I thank you, Sir: That's all.

Gent. Though that the Queen on special cause is

here,

Her army is mov'd on.

[Exit.

Edg.

Edg. I thank you, Sir.

Glo. You ever gentle Gods, take my breath from

me;

Let not my worfer spirit tempt me again
To die before you please!

Edg. Well pray you, father.

Glo. Now, good Sir, what are you?

Edg. A moft 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 heav'n
To boot, and boot!

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SCENE IX.

Enter Steward.

Proclaim'd prize! most happy!

That eyelel's head of thine was firft fram'd

flesh,

To raise my fortunes.

Old unhappy traitor,

Briefly thyfelf remember: the fword is out,

That muft deftroy thee.

Glo. Let thy friendly hand

Put ftrength enough to't.

Stew. Wherefore, bold peafant,

Dar'st thou fupport a publish'd traitor? hence,
Left that th' infection of his fortune take

Like hold on thee. Let go his arm.

Edg. Chill not let go, Zir, without vurther 'cafion. Stew. Let go, flave, or thou dy'ft.

Edg. Good gentleman, go your gait, and let poor volk pafs and 'chud ha' been zwagger'd out of my life, 'twould not ha' been zo long as 'tis by a vortnight. Nay, come not near th' old man: keep out, che vor'ye, or ice try whether your coftard or my bat be the harder; chill be plain with you.

Stew.

Stew. Out, dung-hill!

Edg. Chill pick your teeth, Zir; come, no matter vor your foyns. [Edgar knocks him down. Stew. Slave, thou haft flain me: villain, take my purse;

-If ever thou wilt thrive, bury my body,
And give the letters, which thou find'st about me,
To Edmund Earl of Glo'fter: feek him out
Upon the English party: Oh, untimely death!

[Dies.
Edg. I know thee well, a ferviceable villain ;
As duteous to the vices of thy Mistress,
As badness would defire.

Glo. What, is he dead?

Edg. Sit you down, father: reft you.

Let's fee thefe pockets; the letters, that he speaks of,
May be my friends: he's dead; I'm only forry,
He had no other death's-man. Let us fee-

By your

leave, gentle wax

us not:

and manners blame

To know our enemies' minds, we rip their hearts; 'Their papers are more lawful.

L

Reads the Letter.

ET our reciprocal Vows be remembred. You have many opportunities to cut him off: if your Will want not, time and place will be fruitfully offer'd. There is nothing done, if he return the conqueror. Then am I the prisoner, and his bed my goal; from the loathed warmth whereof deliver me, and fupply the place for your labour.

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

Gonerill.

Oh, undiftinguifh'd space of woman's Will!
A plot upon her virtuous husband's life,
And the exchange my brother. Here, i'th' fands
Thee I'll rake up, the poft unfanctified

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