Corn. Bind fast his corky arms. Glos. What mean your graces?-Good my friends, consider You are my guests: do me no foul play, friends. Re. [Servants bind him. Hard, hard.—O filthy traitor! Glos. Unmerciful lady as you are, I am none. Corn. To this chair bind him.-Villain, thou shalt [Regan plucks his beard. find Glos. By the kind gods, 'tis most ignobly done To pluck me by the beard. Re. So white, and such a traitor! Naughty lady, Glos. These hairs, which thou dost ravish from my chin, Will quicken and accuse thee: I am your host: With robbers' hands my hospitable favors 1 You should not ruffle thus. What will you do? Corn. Come, sir, what letters had you late from France? Re. Be simple-answer'd, for we know the truth. Corn. And what confederacy have you with the traitors Late footed in the kingdom? Re. To whose hands have you sent the lunatic king? Speak. Glos. I have a letter guessingly set down, Which came from one that's of a neutral heart, 1 Features. To Dover? Wast thou not charged at peril― that. Glos. I am tied to the stake, and I must stand the course. Re. Wherefore to Dover? Glos. Because I would not see thy cruel nails Pluck out his poor old eyes, nor thy fierce sister In his anointed flesh stick boarish fangs. The sea, with such a storm as his bare head In hell-black night endured, would have buoy'd up, And quench'd the stelled fires; yet, poor old heart, He holp the heavens to rain. If wolves had at thy gate howl'd that stern time, Thou shouldst have said, Good porter, turn the key ;' All cruels else subscribed: 2-but I shall see The winged vengeance overtake such children. Corn. See it shalt thou never.- -Fellows, hold the chair: Starry. 2 Yielded, submitted to the necessity of the occasion. Upon these eyes of thine I'll set my foot. [Gloster is held down in his chair, while Cornwall plucks out one of his eyes, and sets his foot on it. Glos. He, that will think to live till he be old, Give me some help.-O cruel! O ye gods! Re. One side will mock another: the other too. Corn. If you see vengeance, Ser. Hold your hand, my lord: I have served you ever since I was a child; Re. How now, you dog? Ser. If you did wear a beard upon your chin, I'd shake it on this quarrel. Corn. My villain! What do you mean? [draws, and runs at him. Ser. Nay, then come on, and take the chance of anger. [draws. They fight. Cornwall is wounded. Re. Give me thy sword.-[to another Ser.] A peasant stand up thus ! [snatches a sword, comes behind, and stabs him. Ser. O, I am slain !-My lord, you have one eye left To see some mischief on him :-O! [dies. Corn. Lest it see more, prevent it.-Out, vile jelly! Where is thy lustre now? [tears out Gloster's other eye, and throws it on the ground. Glos. All dark and comfortless.-Where's my son Edmund ? Edmund, enkindle all the sparks of nature. To quit this horrid act. Re. Out, treacherous villain! Thou call'st on him that hates thee: it was he Glos. Then Edgar was abused. O my follies! Kind gods, forgive me that, and prosper him! Re. Go, thrust him out at gates, and let him smell His way to Dover.-How is 't, my lord? How look you? Corn. I have received a hurt:-follow me, Turn out that eyeless villain: throw this slave [Exit Cornwall, led by Regan; Servants unbind 1 Ser. I'll never care what wickedness I do, If this man comes to good. 2 Ser. If she live long, And, in the end, meet the old course of death, 1 Ser. Let's follow the old earl, and get the bedlam 1 To lead him where he would; his roguish madness Allows itself to any thing. 2 Ser. Go thou; I'll fetch some flax, and whites of eggs, To apply to his bleeding face. Now, Heaven help [Exeunt severally. him! ACT IV. SCENE I. The heath. Enter EDGAR. Edg. Yet better thus, and known to be con temn'd, Than still contemn'd and flatter'd. To be worst, The wretch, that thou hast blown unto the worst, 1 Bedlamite, madman. 2 It is better to be thus contemned and know it, than to be flattered by those who secretly contemn us. 3 Hope. |