Glo. He, that will think to live till he be old, Reg. One side will mock another; the other too. I have serv'd you ever since I was a child, Hold your hand, my lord. How now, you dog! Reg. I'd shake it on this quarrel. What do you mean? [Draws and runs at him. Serv. Nay then, come on, and take the chance of anger. [Draws. CORNWALL is wounded. Reg. Give me thy sword. - My lord, you have one eye left [Dies. Where's my son Edmund? Glo. All dark and comfortless. Reg. Out, treacherous villain! Thou call'st on him that hates thee: it was he Glo. O my follies! Then Edgar was abus'd. Reg. Go, thrust him out at gates, and let him smell Untimely comes this hurt. Give me your arm. [Exit CORNWALL, led by REGAN; — Servants unbind GLOSTER, and lead him out. 1 Serv. I'll never care what wickedness I do, If this man comes to good. And in the end meet the old course of death, Women will all turn monsters. 1 Serv. Let's follow the old earl, and get the Bedlam To lead him where he would: his roguish madness Allows itself to any thing. 2 Serv. Go thou: I'll fetch some flax, and whites of eggs, To apply to his bleeding face. Now, heaven help him! [Exeunt severally. ACT IV. SCENE I. The Heath. Enter EDGAR. Edg. Yet better thus, and known to be contemn'd Than still contemn'd and flatter'd. To be worst, The wretch, that thou hast blown unto the worst, Enter GLOSTER, led by an old Man. My father, poorly led? — World, world, O world! Life would not yield to age. Old Man. O my good lord! I have been your tenant, and your father's tenant, these fourscore years.. Glo. Away, get thee away; good friend, be gone: Thy comforts can do me no good at all; Thee they may hurt. Old Man. Alack, Sir! you cannot see your way. Glo. I have no way, I stumbled when I saw. Our mean secures us; and therefore want no eyes: and our mere defects Prove our commodities. - - Ah! dear son Edgar, The food of thy abused father's wrath, Might I but live to see thee in my touch, I'd say I had eyes again! Old Man. 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. Old Man. 'T is poor mad Tom. Edg. [Aside.] And worse I may be yet: the worst is not So long as we can say, "This is the worst.' Old Man. Fellow, where goest? Glo. Is it a beggar-man? Old Man. Madman, and beggar too. Glo. He has some reason, else he could not beg. I' the last night's storm I such a fellow saw, Which made me think a man a worm: my son Came then into my mind; and yet my mind 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? Old Man. master! Ay, my lord. Glo. Then, pr'ythee, get thee gone. If, for my sake, Thou wilt o'ertake us, hence a mile or twain, I' the way toward Dover, do it for ancient love; Old Man. Alack, Sir! he is mad. Glo. '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. Glo. Sirrah; naked fellow. [Exit. Edg. Poor Tom's a-cold. — [Aside.] I cannot daub it far ther. Glo. Come hither, fellow. Edg. [Aside.] And yet I must. [To him.] Bless thy sweet eyes, they bleed. Glo. Know'st thou the way to Dover? Edg. Both stile and gate, horse-way and foot-path. Poor Tom hath been scared out of his good wits: bless thee, 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; and Flibbertigibbet, of mopping and mowing, who since possesses chamber-maids and waiting-women. So, bless thee, master! Glo. Here, take this purse, thou whom the heaven's plagues That slaves your ordinance, that will not see And each man have enough. — Dost thou know Dover? Glo. There is a cliff, whose high and bending head 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; OSWALD meeting them. I told him of the army that was landed; He smil'd at it: I told him, you were coming; And of the loyal service of his son, of Gloster's treachery, When I inform'd him, then he call'd me sot, What most he should dislike, seems pleasant to him; Gon. Then, shall you go no farther. [To EDMUND. It is the cowish terror of his spirit, I must change arms at home, and give the distaff Decline your head: this kiss, if it durst speak, Conceive, and fare thee well. [Giving a Favour. My most dear Gloster! |