CORN. CORN. Edmund, farewell. [Exeunt GONERIL, EDMUND, and OSWALD. Go, seek the traitor, Gloucester, [Exeunt other Servants. Though well we may not pass upon his life May blame, but not control. Who's there? the traitor? Re-enter Servants with GLOUCESTER. REG. Ingrateful fox! 'tis he. 20 25 CORN. Bind fast his corky arms. GLO. What mean your graces? Good my friends, consider 30 You are my guests: do me no foul play, friends. CORN. Bind him, I say. [Servants bind him. Hard, hard. O filthy traitor! REG. CORN. To this chair bind him. Villain, thou shalt find— [REGAN plucks his beard. 35 GLO. By the kind gods, 'tis most ignobly done To pluck me by the beard. REG. So white, and such a traitor! Naughty lady, These hairs which thou dost ravish from my chin 40 You should not ruffle thus. What will you do? CORN. Come, sir, what letters had you late from France? 45 REG. To whose hands have you sent the lunatic king? Speak. GLO. I've a letter guessingly set down, Which came from one that's of a neutral heart, And not from one opposed. REG. Wherefore to Dover? Wast thou not charged at peril CORN. Wherefore to Dover? Let him first answer that. GLO. I am tied to the stake, and I must stand the course. 55 GLO. Because I would not see thy cruel nails Pluck out his poor old eyes, nor thy fierce sister The sea, with such a storm as his bare head In hell-black night endured, would have buoy'd up, 60 Yet, poor old heart, he holp the heavens to rain. If wolves had at thy gate howled that stern time, Thou shouldst have said, "Good porter, turn the key"; 65 The winged vengeance overtake such children. CORN. See't shalt thou never. Fellows, hold the chair. Upon these eyes of thine I'll set my foot. GLO. He that will think to live till he be old, Give me some help! O cruel! O you gods! 70 REG. One side will mock another; the other too. CORN. If you see vengeance— FIRST SERV. Hold your hand, my lord; I have served you ever since I was a child; REG. 75 How now, you dog! FIRST SERV. If you did wear a beard upon your chin, I'd shake it on this quarrel: what do you mean? CORN. My villain ! [Draws and runs at him. FIRST SERV. Nay, then come on, and take the chance of [Draws. They fight. CORNWALL is wounded. 80 REG. Give me thy sword.-[To another Servant.] A peasant stand up thus! anger. [Snatches a sword, comes behind, and stabs him. FIRST SERV. O, I am slain! O! CORN. Lest it see more, prevent it. Out, vile jelly! Where is thy lustre now? GLO. All dark and comfortless. Where's my son Edmund, enkindle all the sparks of nature, To quit this horrid act. REG. [Dies. 85 Edmund ? Out, treacherous villain! Thou call'st on him that hates thee: it was he 90 Who is too good to pity thee. GLO. O my follies! Then Edgar was abused. Kind gods, forgive me that, and prosper him! REG. Go thrust him out at gates, and let him smell 95 His way to Dover. [Exit one with GLOUCESTER.] How is't, my lord? How look you? CORN. I have received a hurt: follow me, lady. Turn out that eyeless villain; throw this slave [Exit CORNWALL, led by REGAN. SECOND SERV. I'll never care what wickedness I do, If this man come to good. THIRD SERV. If she live long, And in the end meet the old course of death, 100 105 SECOND SERV. Let's follow the old earl, and get the Bedlam To lead him where he would; his roguish madness Allows itself to anything. THIRD SERV. Go thou; I'll fetch some flax and whites of eggs To apply to his bleeding face. Now, heaven help him! [Exeunt severally. 110 ACT IV. SCENE I. The heath. Enter EDGAR. EDG. Yet better thus, and known to be contemn'd, 5 Welcome then, The lamentable change is from the best; Thou unsubstantial air that I embrace ! The wretch that thou hast blown unto the worst Enter GLOUCESTER, led by an Old Man. My father, poorly led? World, world, O world! 10 But that thy strange mutations make us hate thee, 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; 15 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 and therefore want no eyes; 20 I stumbled when I saw full oft 'tis seen Our means secure us, and our mere defects Prove our commodities. Ah, dear son Edgar, |