The Tragedie of King Lear.Glou.'Tis the times plague,When Madmen leade the blinde:Do as I bid thee, or rather do thy pleasure:Aboue the rest, be gone.Oldm.
[2150]
Ile bring him the best Parrell that I haueCome on't what will.ExitGlou.
Sirrah, naked fellow.
Edg.
Poore Tom's a cold. I cannot daub it further.
Glou.
Come hither fellow.
Edg.
[2155]
And yet I must:Blesse thy sweete eyes, they bleede.Glou.
Know'st thou the way to Douer?
Edg.
Both style, and gate; Horseway, and foot‐path:
poore Tom hath bin scar'd out of his good wits.
Blesse
[2160]
thee good mans sonne, from the foule Fiend.
Glou.Here take this purse, y whom the heau'ns plaguesHaue humbled to all strokes: that I am wretchedMakes thee the happier: Heauens deale so still:Let the superfluous, and Lust‐dieted man,
[2165]
That slaues your ordinance, that will not seeBecause he do's not feele, feele your powre quickly:So distribution should vndoo excesse,And each man haue enough. Dost thou know Douer?Edg.
I Master.
Glou.
[2170]
There is a Cliffe, whose high and bending headLookes fearfully in the confined Deepe:Bring me but to the very brimme of it,And Ile repayre the misery thou do'st beareWith something rich about me: from that place,
[2175]
I shall no leading neede.Edg.Giue me thy arme;Poore Tom shall leade thee.Exeunt.
Scena Secunda.
[Act 4, Scene 2]
Enter Gonerill,
Bastard, and Steward.
Gon.Welcome my Lord. I meruell our mild husbandNot met vs on the way. Now, where's your Master?Stew.
[2180]
Madam within, but neuer man so chang'd:I told him of the Army that was Landed:He smil'd at it. I told him you were comming,His answer was, the worse. Of Glosters Treachery,And of the loyall Seruice of his Sonne
[2185]
When I inform'd him, then he call'd me Sot,And told me I had turn'd the wrong side out:What most he should dislike, seemes pleasant to him;What like, offensiue.Gon.Then shall you go no further.
[2190]
It is the Cowish terror of his spiritThat dares not vndertake: Hee'l not feele wrongsWhich tye him to an answer: our wishes on the wayMay proue effects. Backe Edmond to my Brother,Hasten his Musters, and conduct his
powres.
[2195]
I must change names at home, and giue the
Distaffe
Into my Husbands hands. This trustie SeruantShall passe betweene vs: ere long you are like to heare(If you dare venture in your owne behalfe)A Mistresses command. Weare this; spare speech,
[2200]
Decline your head. This kisse, if it durst speakeWould stretch thy Spirits vp into the ayre:Conceiue, and fare thee well.Bast.
Oh, the difference of man, and man,To thee a Womans seruices are due,My Foole vsurpes my body.Stew.
Madam, here come's my Lord.
Enter Albany.Gon.
I haue beene worth the whistle.
Alb.
[2210]
Oh Gonerill,You are not worth the dust which the rude windeBlowes in your face.Gon.Milke‐Liuer'd man,That bear'st a cheeke for blowes, a head for
wrongs,
[2215]
Who hast not in thy browes an eye‐discerningThine Honor, from thy sufferring.Alb.See thy selfe diuell:Proper deformitie seemes not in the FiendSo horrid as in woman.Gon.
[2220]
Oh vaine Foole.
Enter a Messenger.Mes.Oh my good Lord, the Duke of
Cornwals
dead,
Slaine by his Seruant, going to put outThe other eye of Glouster.Alb.
Glousters eyes.
Mes.
[2225]
A Seruant that he bred, thrill'd with remorse,Oppos'd against the act: bending his
Sword
To his great Master, who, threat‐enrage'dFlew on him, and among'st them fell'd him
dead,
But not without that harmefull stroke, which since
[2230]
Hath pluckt him after.Alb.This shewes you are aboueYou Iustices, that these our neather crimesSo speedily can venge. But (O poore Glouster)Lost he his other eye?Mes.
[2235]
Both, both, my Lord.This Leter Madam, craues a speedy answer:'Tis from your Sister.Gon.One way I like this well.But being widdow, and my Glouster with her,
[2240]
May all the building in my fancie pluckeVpon my hatefull life. Another wayThe Newes is not so tart. Ile read, and answer.Alb.Where was his Sonne,When they did take his eyes?Mes.
[2245]
Come with my Lady hither.
Alb.
He is not heere.
Mes.
No my good Lord, I met him backe againe.
Alb.
Knowes he the wickednesse?
Mes.I my good Lord: 'twas he inform'd against
him
[2250]
And quit the house on purpose, that their punishmentMight haue the freer course.Alb.Glouster, I liueTo thanke thee for the loue thou shew'dst the
King,
And to reuenge thine eyes. Come hither Friend,
[2255]
Tell me what more thou know'st.Exeunt.
Scena Tertia.
[Act 4, Scene 3]
Act 4 Scene 3 in the quarto editions, often described as set in "The French camp near
Dover", and including a conversation between Kent and a Gentleman, does not appear
in the First Folio.
Enter with Drum and Colours, Cordelia, Gentlemen,
and Souldiours.
Cor.Alacke, 'tis he: why he was met euen nowAs mad as the vext Sea, singing alowd.Crown'd with ranke Fenitar, and furrow weeds,With Hardokes, Hemlocke, Nettles, Cuckoo flowres,Darnell
Scena Secunda.
[Act 4, Scene 2]
Enter Gonerill,
Bastard, and Steward.
Gon.Welcome my Lord. I meruell our mild husbandNot met vs on the way. Now, where's your Master?Stew.
[2180]
Madam within, but neuer man so chang'd:I told him of the Army that was Landed:He smil'd at it. I told him you were comming,His answer was, the worse. Of Glosters Treachery,And of the loyall Seruice of his Sonne
[2185]
When I inform'd him, then he call'd me Sot,And told me I had turn'd the wrong side out:What most he should dislike, seemes pleasant to him;What like, offensiue.Gon.Then shall you go no further.
[2190]
It is the Cowish terror of his spiritThat dares not vndertake: Hee'l not feele wrongsWhich tye him to an answer: our wishes on the wayMay proue effects. Backe Edmond to my Brother,Hasten his Musters, and conduct his
powres.
[2195]
I must change names at home, and giue the
Distaffe
Into my Husbands hands. This trustie SeruantShall passe betweene vs: ere long you are like to heare(If you dare venture in your owne behalfe)A Mistresses command. Weare this; spare speech,
[2200]
Decline your head. This kisse, if it durst speakeWould stretch thy Spirits vp into the ayre:Conceiue, and fare thee well.Bast.
Yours in the rankes of death.
Exit.Gon.My most deere Gloster.
[2205]
Oh, the difference of man, and man,To thee a Womans seruices are due,My Foole vsurpes my body.Stew.
Madam, here come's my Lord.
Enter Albany.Gon.
I haue beene worth the whistle.
Alb.
[2210]
Oh Gonerill,You are not worth the dust which the rude windeBlowes in your face.Gon.Milke‐Liuer'd man,That bear'st a cheeke for blowes, a head for
wrongs,
[2215]
Who hast not in thy browes an eye‐discerningThine Honor, from thy sufferring.Alb.See thy selfe diuell:Proper deformitie seemes not in the FiendSo horrid as in woman.Gon.
[2220]
Oh vaine Foole.
Enter a Messenger.Mes.Oh my good Lord, the Duke of
Cornwals
dead,
Slaine by his Seruant, going to put outThe other eye of Glouster.Alb.
Glousters eyes.
Mes.
[2225]
A Seruant that he bred, thrill'd with remorse,Oppos'd against the act: bending his
Sword
To his great Master, who, threat‐enrage'dFlew on him, and among'st them fell'd him
dead,
But not without that harmefull stroke, which since
[2230]
Hath pluckt him after.Alb.This shewes you are aboueYou Iustices, that these our neather crimesSo speedily can venge. But (O poore Glouster)Lost he his other eye?Mes.
[2235]
Both, both, my Lord.This Leter Madam, craues a speedy answer:'Tis from your Sister.Gon.One way I like this well.But being widdow, and my Glouster with her,
[2240]
May all the building in my fancie pluckeVpon my hatefull life. Another wayThe Newes is not so tart. Ile read, and answer.Alb.Where was his Sonne,When they did take his eyes?Mes.
[2245]
Come with my Lady hither.
Alb.
He is not heere.
Mes.
No my good Lord, I met him backe againe.
Alb.
Knowes he the wickednesse?
Mes.I my good Lord: 'twas he inform'd against
him
[2250]
And quit the house on purpose, that their punishmentMight haue the freer course.Alb.Glouster, I liueTo thanke thee for the loue thou shew'dst the
King,
And to reuenge thine eyes. Come hither Friend,
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<div type="scene" n="2">
<head rend="italic center">Scena Secunda.</head>
<head type="supplied">[Act 4, Scene 2]</head>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Gonerill, Bastard, and Steward.</stage>
<sp who="#F-lr-gon">
<speaker rend="italic">Gon.</speaker>
<l n="2178">Welcome my Lord. I meruell our mild husband</l>
<l n="2179">Not met vs on the way. Now, where's your Master?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-ste">
<speaker rend="italic">Stew.</speaker>
<l n="2180">Madam within, but neuer man so chang'd:</l>
<l n="2181">I told him of the Army that was Landed:</l>
<l n="2182">He smil'd at it. I told him you were comming,</l>
<l n="2183">His answer was, the worse. Of Glosters Treachery,</l>
<l n="2184">And of the loyall Seruice of his Sonne</l>
<l n="2185">When I inform'd him, then he call'd me Sot,</l>
<l n="2186">And told me I had turn'd the wrong side out:</l>
<l n="2187">What most he should dislike, seemes pleasant to him;</l>
<l n="2188">What like, offensiue.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-gon">
<speaker rend="italic">Gon.</speaker>
<l n="2189">Then shall you go no further.</l>
<l n="2190">It is the Cowish terror of his spirit</l>
<l n="2191">That dares not vndertake: Hee'l not feele wrongs</l>
<l n="2192">Which tye him to an answer: our wishes on the way</l>
<l n="2193">May proue effects. Backe Edmond to my Brother,</l>
<l n="2194">Hasten his Musters, and conduct his powres.</l>
<l n="2195">I must change names at home, and giue the Distaffe</l>
<l n="2196">Into my Husbands hands. This trustie Seruant</l>
<l n="2197">Shall passe betweene vs: ere long you are like to heare</l>
<l n="2198">(If you dare venture in your owne behalfe)</l>
<l n="2199">A Mistresses command. Weare this; spare speech,</l>
<l n="2200">Decline your head. This kisse, if it durst speake</l>
<l n="2201">Would stretch thy Spirits vp into the ayre:</l>
<l n="2202">Conceiue, and fare thee well.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-bas">
<speaker rend="italic">Bast.</speaker>
<p n="2203">Yours in the rankes of death.</p>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exit.</stage>
<sp who="#F-lr-gon">
<speaker rend="italic">Gon.</speaker>
<l n="2204">My most deere Gloster.</l>
<cb n="2"/>
<l n="2205">Oh, the difference of man, and man,</l>
<l n="2206">To thee a Womans seruices are due,</l>
<l n="2207">My Foole vsurpes my body.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-ste">
<speaker rend="italic">Stew.</speaker>
<p n="2208">Madam, here come's my Lord.</p>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Albany.</stage>
<sp who="#F-lr-gon">
<speaker rend="italic">Gon.</speaker>
<p n="2209">I haue beene worth the whistle.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-alb">
<speaker rend="italic">Alb.</speaker>
<l n="2210">Oh Gonerill,</l>
<l n="2211">You are not worth the dust which the rude winde</l>
<l n="2212">Blowes in your face.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-gon">
<speaker rend="italic">Gon.</speaker>
<l n="2213">Milke‐Liuer'd man,</l>
<l n="2214">That bear'st a cheeke for blowes, a head for wrongs,</l>
<l n="2215">Who hast not in thy browes an eye‐discerning</l>
<l n="2216">Thine Honor, from thy sufferring.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-alb">
<speaker rend="italic">Alb.</speaker>
<l n="2217">See thy selfe diuell:</l>
<l n="2218">Proper deformitie seemes not in the Fiend</l>
<l n="2219">So horrid as in woman.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-gon">
<speaker rend="italic">Gon.</speaker>
<p n="2220">Oh vaine Foole.</p>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter a Messenger.</stage>
<sp who="#F-lr-mes">
<speaker rend="italic">Mes.</speaker>
<l n="2221">Oh my good Lord, the Duke of<hi rend="italic">Cornwals</hi>dead,</l>
<l n="2222">Slaine by his Seruant, going to put out</l>
<l n="2223">The other eye of Glouster.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-alb">
<speaker rend="italic">Alb.</speaker>
<p n="2224">Glousters eyes.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-mes">
<speaker rend="italic">Mes.</speaker>
<l n="2225">A Seruant that he bred, thrill'd with remorse,</l>
<l n="2226">Oppos'd against the act: bending his Sword</l>
<l n="2227">To his great Master, who, threat‐enrage'd</l>
<l n="2228">Flew on him, and among'st them fell'd him dead,</l>
<l n="2229">But not without that harmefull stroke, which since</l>
<l n="2230">Hath pluckt him after.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-alb">
<speaker rend="italic">Alb.</speaker>
<l n="2231">This shewes you are aboue</l>
<l n="2232">You Iustices, that these our neather crimes</l>
<l n="2233">So speedily can venge. But (O poore Glouster)</l>
<l n="2234">Lost he his other eye?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-mes">
<speaker rend="italic">Mes.</speaker>
<l n="2235">Both, both, my Lord.</l>
<l n="2236">This Leter Madam, craues a speedy answer:</l>
<l n="2237">'Tis from your Sister.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-gon">
<speaker rend="italic">Gon.</speaker>
<l n="2238">One way I like this well.</l>
<l n="2239">But being widdow, and my Glouster with her,</l>
<l n="2240">May all the building in my fancie plucke</l>
<l n="2241">Vpon my hatefull life. Another way</l>
<l n="2242">The Newes is not so tart. Ile read, and answer.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-alb">
<speaker rend="italic">Alb.</speaker>
<l n="2243">Where was his Sonne,</l>
<l n="2244">When they did take his eyes?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-mes">
<speaker rend="italic">Mes.</speaker>
<p n="2245">Come with my Lady hither.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-alb">
<speaker rend="italic">Alb.</speaker>
<p n="2246">He is not heere.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-mes">
<speaker rend="italic">Mes.</speaker>
<p n="2247">No my good Lord, I met him backe againe.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-alb">
<speaker rend="italic">Alb.</speaker>
<p n="2248">Knowes he the wickednesse?</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-mes">
<speaker rend="italic">Mes.</speaker>
<l n="2249">I my good Lord: 'twas he inform'd against him</l>
<l n="2250">And quit the house on purpose, that their punishment</l>
<l n="2251">Might haue the freer course.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-alb">
<speaker rend="italic">Alb.</speaker>
<l n="2252">Glouster, I liue</l>
<l n="2253">To thanke thee for the loue thou shew'dst the King,</l>
<l n="2254">And to reuenge thine eyes. Come hither Friend,</l>
<l n="2255">Tell me what more thou know'st.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exeunt.</stage>
</div>
