heard not?

Gent. 'Tis so, they are afoot.

Kent. Well, sir, I'll bring you to our master Lear,

And leave you to attend him.

Some dear cause Will in concealment wrap me up awhile; When I am known aright, you shall not grieve Lending me this acquaintance. I pray you, go Along with me.

SCENE IV. The Same. A Tent.

[Exeunt.

Enter, with drum and colours, CORDELIA, Doctor, and Soldiers.

Cor. Alack! 't is he: why, he was met even now As mad as the vex'd sea; singing aloud; Crown'd with rank fumiter and furrow-weeds, With burdocks, hemlock, nettles, cuckoo-flowers, Darnel, and all the idle weeds that grow In our sustaining corn. A century send forth; Search every acre in the high-grown field, And bring him to our eye. [Exit an Officer.

What can man's wisdom

In the restoring his bereaved sense?

He that helps him take all my outward worth.
Doct. There is means, madam;

Our foster-nurse of nature is repose,

The which he lacks; that to provoke in him,
Are many simples operative, whose power
Will close the eye of anguish.

Cor.

All bless'd secrets,

All you unpublish'd virtues of the earth,

Spring with my tears! be aidant and remediate In the good man's distress! Seek, seek for him, Lest his ungovern'd rage dissolve the life

That wants the means to lead it.

Mess.

Enter a Messenger.

News, madam;

The British powers are marching hitherward.
Cor. "T is known before; our preparation stands
In expectation of them. O dear father!
It is thy business that I go about;
Therefore great France

My mourning and important tears hath pitied.
No blown ambition doth our arms incite,

But love, dear love, and our aged father's right.
Soon may I hear and see him I

[Exeunt.

SCENE V. A Room in GLOUCESTER'S Castle.

Enter REGAN and Oswald.

Reg. But are my brother's powers set forth?
Osw.

Reg. Himself in person there?
Osw.

Ay, madam.

Madam, with much ado:

Your sister is the better soldier.

Reg. Lord Edmund spake not with your lord

at home?

Osw. No, madam.

Reg. What might import my sister's letter to him?

Osw. I know not, lady.

Reg. Faith he is posted hence on serious matter.

It was great ignorance, Gloucester's eyes being out,
To let him live; where he arrives he moves
All hearts against us. Edmund, I think, is gone,
In pity of his misery, to dispatch

His nighted life; moreover, to descry

The strength o' the enemy.

Osw. I must needs after him, madam, with my letter.

Reg. Our troops set forth to-morrow; stay with

us,

The ways are dangerous.

Osw.

I may not, madam; My lady charged my duty in this business. Reg. Why should she write to Edmund? Might

not you

Transport her purposes by word? Belike,
Something-I know not what.

Osw.

I'll love thee

Madam, I had rather-Reg. I know your lady does not love her husband;

I am sure of that: and at her late being here
She gave strange ceilliades and most speaking looks
To noble Edmund. I know you are of her bosom.
Osw. I, madam !

Reg. I speak in understanding; you are, I know 't:

Therefore I do advise you, take this note:
My lord is dead; Edmund and I have talk'd,
And more convenient is he for my hand
Than for your lady's. You may gather more
If you do find him, pray you give him this,

And when your mistress hears thus much from

I

you,

pray

desire her call her wisdom to her : So, fare you well.

If you do chance to hear of that blind traitor,
Preferment falls on him that cuts him off.
Osw. Would I could meet him, madam :
would show

What party I do follow.

1

Reg.

Fare thee well.

[Exeunt.

SCENE VI. The Country near Dover.

I

Enter GLOUCESTER, and EDGAR dressed like a

peasant.

Glou. When shall we come to the top of that same hill?

Edg. You do climb up it now; look how we labour.

Glou. Methinks the ground is even.

Edg.

Horrible steep:

Hark! do

you hear the sea?

Methinks thy voice is alter'd, and thou speak'st
In better phrase and matter than thou didst.
Edg. You're much deceived; in nothing am I
changed

But in my garments.

Glou. Methinks you're better spoken.

Edg. Come on, sir; here's the place: stand still. How fearful

And dizzy 't is to cast one's eyes so low!

The crows and choughs that wing the midway air
Show scarce so gross as beetles ; half way down
Hangs one that gathers samphire, dreadful trade !
Methinks he seems no bigger than his head.
The fishermen that walk upon the beach
Appear like mice, and yond tall anchoring bark
Diminish'd to her cock, her cock a buoy

Almost too small for sight. The murmuring surge,

That on the unnumber'd idle pebbles chafes,
Cannot be heard so high. I'll look no more,
Lest my brain turn, and the deficient sight
Topple down headlong.

Glou.

Set me where you stand. Edg. Give me your hand; you are now within a foot

Of the extreme verge: for all beneath the moon Would I not leap upright.

Glou.

Let go my hand.
Here, friend, 's another purse; in it a jewel
Well worth a poor man's taking: fairies and gods
Prosper it with thee ! Go thou further off;

Bid me farewell, and let me hear thee going.
Edg. Now fare you well, good sir.

Glou.
With all my heart.
Edg. Why I do trifle thus with his despair
Is done to cure it.

Glou.

O you mighty gods!

This world I do renounce, and in your sights