LEAR. I remember thine eyes well enough. Dost thou
squiny at me? No, do thy worst, blind Cupid; I'll not love.
Read thou this challenge; mark but the penning of it.
GLO. Were all the letters suns, I could not see one.

EDG. I would not take this from report; it is,
And my heart breaks at it.

LEAR. Read.

GLO. What, with the case of eyes?

No eyes in your

LEAR. O, ho, are you there with me? head, nor no money in your purse? Your eyes are in a heavy case, your purse in a light: yet you see how this world

goes.

GLO. I see it feelingly.

LEAR. What, art mad? A man may see how this world goes with no eyes. Look with thine ears: see how yon justice rails upon yon simple thief. Hark, in thine ear: change places, and, handy-dandy, which is the justice, which is the thief? · Thou hast seen a farmer's dog bark at a beggar? GLO. Ay, sir.

LEAR. And the creature run from the cur? There thou mightst behold the great image of authority: a dog's obeyed in office.

The usurer hangs the cozener.

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125

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140

Through tattered clothes small vices do appear;

Robes and furr'd gowns hide all. Plate sin with gold,
And the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks;
Arm it in rags, a pigmy's straw doth pierce it.

None does offend, none, I say, none; I'll able 'em :
Take that of me, my friend, who have the power
To seal the accuser's lips. Get thee glass eyes;
And, like a scurvy politician, seem

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To see the things thou dost not.

Now, now, now, now: pull off my boots: harder, harder; so. 150

EDG. O, matter and impertinency mixed!

Reason in madness!

LEAR. If thou wilt weep my fortunes, take my eyes.
I know thee well enough; thy name is Gloucester:
Thou must be patient; we came crying hither:
Thou know'st, the first time that we smell the air,

We wawl and cry. I will preach to thee; mark.

GLO. Alack, alack the day!

LEAR. When we are born, we cry that we are come
To this great stage of fools. This 's a good block.
It were a delicate stratagem, to shoe

A troop of horse with felt: I'll put it in proof;
And when I have stolen upon these sons-in-law,
Then, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill!

Enter a Gentleman, with Attendants.

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160

GENT. O, here he is; lay hand upon him. Sir, Your most dear daughter

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LEAR. No rescue? What, a prisoner? I am even

Why, this would make a man a man of salt,

To use his eyes for garden water-pots,

Ay, and for laying autumn's dust.

GENT. Good sir

LEAR. I will die bravely, like a smug bridegroom. What!

I will be jovial; come, come; I am a king,

My masters, know you that?

GENT. You are a royal one, and we obey you.

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LEAR. Then there's life in't. Nay, an you get it, you 180

shall get it by running. Sa, sa, sa, sa!

[Exit running; Attendants follow.

GENT. A sight most pitiful in the meanest wretch,

Past speaking of in a king! Thou hast one daughter,

Who redeems nature from the general curse
Which twain have brought her to.

EDG. Hail, gentle sir.

GENT.
Sir, speed you: what's your
EDG. Do you hear aught, sir, of a battle toward ?
GENT. Most sure and vulgar: every one hears that,
Which can distinguish sound.

EDG.

How near's the other army?

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will?

But, by your favour,

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GENT. Near, and on speedy foot; the main descry
Stands on the hourly thought.

EDG.
I thank you, sir; that's all.
GENT. Though that the queen on special cause is here,

Her army is moved on.

EDG.
I thank you, sir. [Exit Gentleman.
GLO. You ever-gentle gods take my breath from me;
Let not my worser spirit tempt me again

To die before you please!

EDG.

Well pray you, father.

GLO. Now, good sir, what are you?

EDG. A most poor man, made tame to fortune's blows; Who, by the art of known and feeling sorrows,

Am pregnant to good pity.

I'll lead you to some biding.

GLO.

Give me your hand,

Hearty thanks:

The bounty and the benison of heaven
To boot, and boot!

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200

Enter OSWALD.

Osw.

A proclaimed prize! Most happy!

That eyeless head of thine was first framed flesh
To raise my fortunes. Thou old unhappy traitor,
Briefly thyself remember: the sword is out

That must destroy thee.

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210

Darest thou support a publish'd traitor? Hence!

Lest that the infection of his fortune take

Like hold on thee. Let go his arm.

EDG. Chill not let go, zir, without vurther 'casion.
Osw. Let go, slave, or thou diest.

EDG. Good gentleman, go your gait, and let poor volk pass. 215 An chud ha' been zwaggered out of my life, 'twould not ha’ been zo long as 'tis by a vortnight. Nay, come not near th’ old man ; keep out, che vor ye, or I'se try whether your costard or my ballow be the harder: chill be plain with you.

Osw. Out, dunghill!

EDG. Chill pick your teeth, zir: come; no matter vor your foins.

[They fight; and EDGAR knocks him down. Osw. Slave, thou hast slain me. Villain, take my purse; If ever thou wilt thrive, bury my body;

And give the letters which thou find'st about me
To Edmund Earl of Gloucester; seek him out
Upon the British party. O, untimely death!
Death!

EDG. I know thee well: a serviceable villain,
As duteous to the vices of thy mistress

As badness would desire.

GLO.

What, is he dead?

EDG. Sit you down, father; rest you.

Let's see these pockets; the letters that he speaks of
May be my friends. He is dead; I am only sorry
He had no other deathsman. Let us see:

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[Dies.

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235

Leave, gentle wax; and, manners, blame us not:

To know our enemies' minds, we'ld rip their hearts;
Their papers-is more lawful.