ACT IV ACT IV SCENE I. The Heath. Enter EDGAR. EDG. Yet better thus, and known to be contemn'd, The wretch that thou hast blown unto the worst Enter GLOUCESTER, led by an Old Man. OLD MAN. O, my good Lord, I have been your tenant, and your father's tenant, GLOU. Away, get thee away; good Friend, be gone: Thy comforts can do me no good at all; Thee they may hurt. OLD MAN. You cannot see your way. GLOU. I have no way, and therefore want no eyes: Full oft 'tis seen, I stumbled when I saw. I'ld say I had eyes again! OLD MAN. ΤΟ 20 How now! Who's there? EDG. [aside.] O Gods! Who is 't can say I am at the worst? I am worse than e'er I was. 1 i.e. make us careless. OLD MAN. "Tis poor mad Tom. EDG. [aside.] And worse I may be yet: the worst is not GLOU. Is it a beggar-man? OLD MAN. Madman and beggar too. 30 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, Angering itself and others.-Bless thee, Master! GLOU. Is that the naked fellow? OLD MAN. Ay, my Lord. Which I'll entreat to lead me. OLD MAN. Alack, Sir, he is mad. 40 GLOU. 'Tis the times' plague, when madmen lead the blind. Do as I bid thee, or rather do thy pleasure; Above the rest, be gone. OLD MAN. I'll bring him the best 'parel that I have, Come on 't what will. GLOU. Sirrah, naked Fellow [exit. 51 EDG. Poor Tom's a-cold. [aside.] I cannot daub it further. GLOU. Come hither, Fellow. EDG. [aside.] And yet I must.-Bless thy sweet eyes, they bleed. GLOU. Know'st thou the way to Dover? EDG. Both stile and gate, horse-way and foot-path. Poor VIII UU 329 ACT IV Sc. I ACT IV 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; Flibbertigibbet, of mopping and mowing, who since possesses chambermaids and waiting-women. So, bless thee, Master! 63 GLOU. 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 So distribution should undo excess, 70 And each man have enough. Dost thou know Dover? EDG. Ay, Master. GLOU. There is a cliff, whose high and bending head 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. Poor Tom shall lead thee. Give me thy arm: [exeunt. SCENE II. Before the DUKE OF ALBANY'S Palace. Enter GONERIL and EDMUND. GON. Welcome, my Lord: I marvel our mild husband Enter OSWALD. Now, where's your master? Osw. Madam, within; but never man so chang'd. I told him of the army that was landed; When I inform'd him, then he call'd me sot, 1 i.e. casts contempt on your law. And told me I had turn'd the wrong side out. What most he should dislike seems pleasant to him; 10 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 I must change arms at home, and give the distaff A mistress's command. Wear this; spare speech; 20 [giving a favour. Decline your head this kiss, if it durst speak, Would stretch thy spirits up into the air. EDM. Your's in the ranks of death. ACT IV Sc. II You are not worth the dust which the rude wind Blows in your face. I fear your disposition: Cannot be border'd certain in itself; 30 She that herself will sliver and disbranch From her material sap, perforce must wither, And come to deadly use. GON. No more; the text is foolish. ALB. Wisdom and goodness to the vile seem vile: Filths savour but themselves. What have you done? 40 A father, and a gracious aged man, Whose reverence even the head-lugg'd bear would lick, A man, a Prince, by him so benefited! If that the Heavens do not their visible Spirits Humanity must perforce prey on itself, Like monsters of the Deep. GON. Milk-liver'd Man! That bear'st a cheek for blows, a head for wrongs; 50 Ere they have done their mischief. Where's thy drum? Were't my fitness ALB. Thou changed and self-cover'd2 Thing, for shame, To let these hands obey my blood, They are apt enough to dislocate and tear Thy flesh and bones: howe'er thou art a Fiend, GON. Marry, your manhood now 60 Enter a Messenger. ALB. What news? MESS. O, my good Lord, the Duke of Cornwall's dead; Slain by his servant, going to put out The other eye of Gloucester. ALB. Gloucester's eyes! MESS. A servant that he bred, thrill'd with remorse, Oppos'd against the act, bending his sword 71 |