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 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,
[2260]
Darnell, and all the idle weedes that growIn our sustaining Corne. A Centery send forth;Search euery Acre in the high‐growne field,And bring him to our eye. What can mans wisedomeIn the restoring his bereaued Sense; he that helpes
him,
[2265]
Take all my outward worth.Gent.There is meanes Madam:Our foster Nurse of Nature, is repose,The which he lackes: that to prouoke in himAre many Simples operatiue, whose power
[2270]
Will close the eye of Anguish.Cord.All blest Secrets,All you vnpublish'd Vertues of the earthSpring with my teares; be aydant, and remediateIn the Goodmans desires: seeke, seeke for him,
[2275]
Least his vngouern'd rage, dissolue the lifeThat wants the meanes to leade it.Enter Messenger.Mes.Newes Madam,The Brittish Powres are marching hitherward.Cor.'Tis knowne before. Our preparation stands
[2280]
In expectation of them. O deere Father,It is thy businesse that I go about: Therfore great FranceMy mourning, and importune'd teares hath pittied:No blowne Ambition doth our Armes incite,But loue, deere loue, and our ag'd Fathers Rite:
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<div type="scene" n="3">
<head rend="italic center">Scena Tertia.</head>
<head type="supplied">[Act 4, Scene 3]</head>
<note resp="#PW" type="textual">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.</note>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter with Drum and Colours, Cordelia, Gentlemen,
<lb/>and Souldiours.</stage>
<sp who="#F-lr-cor">
<speaker rend="italic">Cor.</speaker>
<l n="2256">Alacke, 'tis he: why he was met euen now</l>
<l n="2257">As mad as the vext Sea, singing alowd.</l>
<l n="2258">Crown'd with ranke Fenitar, and furrow weeds,</l>
<l n="2259">With Hardokes, Hemlocke, Nettles, Cuckoo flowres,</l>
<pb facs="FFimg:axc0812-0.jpg" n="302"/>
<cb n="1"/>
<l n="2260">Darnell, and all the idle weedes that grow</l>
<l n="2261">In our sustaining Corne. A Centery send forth;</l>
<l n="2262">Search euery Acre in the high‐growne field,</l>
<l n="2263">And bring him to our eye. What can mans wisedome</l>
<l n="2264">In the restoring his bereaued Sense; he that helpes him,</l>
<l n="2265">Take all my outward worth.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-gen">
<speaker rend="italic">Gent.</speaker>
<l n="2266">There is meanes Madam:</l>
<l n="2267">Our foster Nurse of Nature, is repose,</l>
<l n="2268">The which he lackes: that to prouoke in him</l>
<l n="2269">Are many Simples operatiue, whose power</l>
<l n="2270">Will close the eye of Anguish.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-cor">
<speaker rend="italic">Cord.</speaker>
<l n="2271">All blest Secrets,</l>
<l n="2272">All you vnpublish'd Vertues of the earth</l>
<l n="2273">Spring with my teares; be aydant, and remediate</l>
<l n="2274">In the Goodmans desires: seeke, seeke for him,</l>
<l n="2275">Least his vngouern'd rage, dissolue the life</l>
<l n="2276">That wants the meanes to leade it.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Messenger.</stage>
<sp who="#F-lr-mes">
<speaker rend="italic">Mes.</speaker>
<l n="2277">Newes Madam,</l>
<l n="2278">The Brittish Powres are marching hitherward.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-lr-cor">
<speaker rend="italic">Cor.</speaker>
<l n="2279">'Tis knowne before. Our preparation stands</l>
<l n="2280">In expectation of them. O deere Father,</l>
<l n="2281">It is thy businesse that I go about: Therfore great France</l>
<l n="2282">My mourning, and importune'd teares hath pittied:</l>
<l n="2283">No blowne Ambition doth our Armes incite,</l>
<l n="2284">But loue, deere loue, and our ag'd Fathers Rite:</l>
<l n="2285">Soone may I heare, and see him.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exeunt.</stage>
</div>
