And bring him to our Eye. What can Man's wisdom
In the reftoring his bereaved Senfe? He that helps him,
Take all my outward worth.

Gent. There are means, Madam:

Our fofter Nurse of Nature, is repose,
The which he lacks; that to provoke in him,
Are many Simples operative, whofe power
Will clofe the Eye of Anguish.

Cord. All bleft Secrets,

All you unpublish'd Virtues of the Earth
Spring with my tears; be aidant, and remediate
In the good Man's defire: feek, feek for him,
Left his ungovern'd rage, diffolve the life
That wants the means to lead it.

The British Powers are marching hitherward.
Cord. 'Tis known before. Our preparation ftands
In expectation of them. O dear Father,

It is thy bufinefs that I go about: therefore
great France
My mourning, and importun'd tears hath pitied.
No blown Ambition doth our Arms incite,
But love, dear love, and our Ag'd Father's Right:
Soon may I hear, and fee him.

SCENE IV.

[Exeunt.

Regan's Palace.

Enter Regan, and Steward.

Reg. But are my Brother's Powers fet forth?

Stew. Ay Madam.

Reg. Himself in Person there?

Stew. Madam, with much adoe

Your Sifter is the better Soldier.

Reg. Lord Edmund spake not with your Lord at home? Stew. No, Madam.

Reg. What might import my Sifter's Letter to him?

Stew. I know not, Lady.

Reg. Faith he is pofted hence on ferious Matter.
It was great ignorance, Glofter'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 mifery, to dispatch
His nighted life: Moreover to defcry
The ftrength o'th' Enemy.

Stew. I muft needs after him, Madam, with my Letter. Reg. Our Troops fet forth to morrow, ftay with us: The ways are dangerous.

Stew. I may not, Madam;

My Lady charg'd my duty in his business.

Reg. Why fhould fhe write to Edmund?

Might not you transport her purposes by word? Belike,

Some things, I know not what

Let me unfeal the Letter.

Stew. Madam, I had rather

I'll love thee much

Reg. I know your Lady do's not love her Husband,
I am fure of that: and at her late being here,
She gave ftrange ciliads, and most speaking looks
To Noble Edmund. I know you are of her bofom.
Stew. I, Madam?

Reg. Ifpeak in understanding: You're; 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,
defire her call her wisdom to her.

I pray

So fare you well.

If

you do chance to hear of that blind Traitor, Preferment falls on him, that cuts him off.

Stew. Would I could meet him, Madam, I should shew

What party I do follow.

Reg. Fare thee well.

[Exeunt.

SCENE V. The Country.

Enter Glofter and Edgar.

Glo. When fhall I come to th' top of that fame Hill?

Edg. You do climb up it now.

Glo. Methinks the ground is even.

Edg. Horrible fteep.

Hark, do

you hear the Sea?

Look how we labour.

Glo.

Glo. No truly.

Edg. Why then your other Senfes grow imperfect By your Eyes anguish.

Glo. So may it be indeed.

Methinks thy Voice is alter'd, and thou speak'st
In better phrafe, and matter than thou didft.

Edg. You're much deceiv'd: in nothing am I chang'd But in my Garments,

Glo. Methinks you're better fpoken.

Edg. Come on, Sir,

Here's the place; ftand ftill. How fearful
And dizzy 'tis, to caft ones Eyes fo low!

The Crows and Choughs, that wing the midway air
Shew fcarce fo grofs as Beetles. Half way down
Hangs one that gathers Samphire; dreadful trade!
Methinks he seems no bigger than his head.
The Fisher-men that walk upon the beach,
Appear like Mice; and yond tall Anchoring Bark,
Diminish'd to her Cock; her Cock, a Buoy
Almoft too fmall for fight. The murmuring Surge,
That on th' unnumbred idle Pebble chafes
Cannot be heard fo high. I'll look no more,
Left my brain turn, and the deficient fight
Topple down headlong.

Glo. Set me where you ftand.

Edg. Give me your hand:

You are now within a foot of th' extream Verge:
For all beneath the Moon would not I leap upright.
Glo. Let go my hand:

Here Friend's, another purse, in it, a Jewel

Well worth a poor Man's taking. Fairies, and gods
Profper it with thee. Go thou further off,
Bid me farewel, and let me hear thee going.
Edg. Now fare ye well, good Sir.

Glo. With all my heart.

Edg. Why do I trifle thus with his despair? "Tis done to cure it.

Glo. O you mighty gods!

This world I do renounce, and in your fights,
Shake patiently my great affliction off;

If I could bear it longer, and not fall

[Seems to go.

Το

To quarrel with your great oppofelefs wills,
My fnuff, and loathed part of Nature fhould
Burn it felf out. If Edgar live, O blefs him.
Now Fellow, fare thee well.

Edg. Good Sir, farewel.

[He leaps and falls along.

And yet I know not how conceit may rob
The treasure of Life, when Life it self

Yields to the Theft. Had he been where he thought,
By this had thought been paft.

Alive, or dead?

Hoa, you Sir! Friend! here, you Sir! speak!

Thus might he pass indeed

What are you Sir?

Glo. Away, and let me die.

yet he revives. 7

Edg. Had it thou been ought butGozemore, Feathers and Air, So many fathom down precipitating,

Thoud'ft fhiver'd like an Egg: but thou doft breath;
Haft heavy fubftance, bleed'st not; speak, art found?
Ten Mafts at least, make not the altitude
Which thou haft perpendicularly fallen;
Thy Life's a miracle. Speak yet again.
Glo. But have I fall'n, or no?

Edg. From the dread Summet of this Chalky Bourn
Look up, a height, the fhrill gor'd Lark so far
Cannot be seen or heard: Do but look up.
Glo. Alack, I have no Eyes;

Is wretchedness depriv'd that benefit

To end it felf by death? 'Twas yet fome comfort,
When mifery could beguile the Tyrant's rage,
And fruftrate his proud will.

Edg. Give me your art.

Up, foHow is't? Feel you your Legs? You ftand.
Glo. Too well, too well.

Edg. This is above all ftrangeness.

Upon the Crown o'th' Cliff, what thing was that
Which parted from you?

Glo. A poor unfortunate Beggar.

Edg. As I ftood here below, methought his Eyes
Were two full Moons: he had a thoufand Nofes,
Horns walk'd, and wav'd like the enraged Sea;
It was fome Fiend: therefore thou happy Father,
Think that the clearest gods, who make them honours

Of

Of Mens impoffibilities, have preferv'd thee.
Glo. I do remember now: henceforth I'll bear
Affliction, 'till it do cry out it felf

Enough, enough, and die.

That thing you speak of,

I took it for a Man: often 'twould fay

The Fiend, the Fiend

he led me to that place,

Enter Lear.

Edg. Bear free and patient thoughts.

But who comes here?

The fafer Senfe will ne'er accommodate

His Mafter thus.

Lear. No, they cannot touch me for Coyning, I am the King himself.

Edg. O thou fide-piercing fight!

Lear. Nature's above Art, in that refpe&t. There's your Prefs-mony. That Fellow handles his Bow like a Crowkeeper: draw me a Clothier's Yard. Look, look, a Mouse. Peace, Peace, this piece of toafted Cheese will do't

There's my Gauntlet, I'll prove it on a Gyant. Bring up the brown Bills. O well flown Bird: i'th' clout, i'th' clout; Hewgh. Give the word.

Edg. Sweet Marjoram,

Lear. Pafs.

Glo. I know that Voice.

Lear.Ha! Gonerill with a white Beard? They flatter'd me like a Dog, and told me I had white Hairs in my Beard, e'er the black ones were there. To fay Ay, and No, to every thing that I faidAy and No too, was no good Di vinity. When the Rain came to wet me once, and Wind to make me chatter: when the Thunder would not peace at my bidding, there I found 'em, there I fmelt '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.

Glo. The trick of that Voice, I do well remember: Is't not the King?

Lear. Ay, every inch a King.

When I do ftare, fee how the Subject quakes.
I pardon that Man's Life. What was thy caufe?
Adultery? thou shalt not die: die for Adultery?
No, the Wren goes to't, and the small gilded Flie
Do's letcher in my fight. Let Copulation thrive:

For