Pull off my boots; harder, harder; so.

Edg. [Aside.] O matter and impertinency mix'd ;

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 waul and cry. I will preach to thee: mark. Glou. Alack, alack the day!

Lear. When we are born, we cry that we are

come

To this great stage of fools. This a good block! It were a delicate stratagem to shoe

A troop of horse with felt; I'll put 't in proof, And when I have stol'n upon these sons-in-law, Then, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill!

Enter a Gentleman, with Attendants

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

Lear. No rescue? What! a prisoner? I am even The natural fool of fortune. Use me well;

You shall have ransom.

I am cut to the brains.

Gent.

Let me have surgeons;

You shall have any thing.

Lear. No seconds? all myself?

Why this would make a man a man of salt,

To use his eyes for garden water-pots,

Ay, and 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.
Lear. Then there's life in 't.

it, you shall get it by running.

[Exit;

Nay, an you get Sa, sa, sa, sa. 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 will?

Edg. Do you hear aught, sir, of a battle toward ? Gent. Most sure and vulgar; every one hears

that,

Which can distinguish sound.

Edg.

But, by your favour,

How near's the other army?

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.

Glou. 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. Glou. 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. Give me your hand, I'll lead you to some biding.

Glou.

Hearty thanks:

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

Osu.

Enter OSWALD.

A proclaim'd 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.

Glou.

Now let thy friendly hand Put strength enough to 't. [EDGAR interposes. Osw. Wherefore, bold peasant, Darest thou support a publish'd traitor? Hence; Lest that the infection of his fortune take Like hold on thee. Let go his arın.

Edg. Chill not let go, zur, without vurther 'casion.

Osw. Let go, slave, or thou diest.

Edg. Good gentleman, go your gait, and let poor volk pass. An chud ha' bin zwaggered out of my life, 't would not ha' bin zo long as 't is by a vortnight. Nay, come not near th' old man ; keep out, che vor ye, or ise try whither your costard or my ballow be the harder. Chill be plain with you.

Osw. Out, dunghill!

Edg. Chill pick your teeth, zur.

matter vor your foins.

Come; no

[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 English party: O untimely death.

Death!

[Dies. Edg. I know thee well: a serviceable villain; As duteous to the vices of thy mistress As badness would desire.

Glou.

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's dead; I am only sorry
He had no other death's-man. Let us see:
Leave, gentle wax; and, manners, blame us not:
To know our enemies' minds, we'd rip their hearts;
Their papers is more lawful.

[Reads.] Let our reciprocal vows be remembered. You have many opportunities to cut him off; if your will want not, time and place will be fruitfully offered. There is nothing done if he return the conqueror; then am I the prisoner, and his bed my gaol; from the loathed warmth whereof deliver me, and supply the place for your labour.

[Your-wife, so I would say—
[Affectionate servant,
[GONERIL.]

O andistinguish'd space of woman's will!
A plot upon her virtous husband's life,

And the exchange my brother! Here in the sands,

Thee I'll rake up, the post unsanctified

Of murderous lechers; and in the mature time
With this ungracious paper strike the sight
Of the death-practised duke. For him 't is well
That of thy death and business I can tell.

Glou. The king is mad; how stiff is my vile

sense,

That I stand up, and have ingenious feeling
Of my huge sorrows! Better I were distract:
So should my thoughts be sever'd from my griefs,
And woes by wrong imaginations lose
The knowledge of themselves. [Drum afar off.
Edg.
Give me your hand :
Far off, methinks, I hear the beaten drum.
Come, father, I'll bestow you with a friend.

[Exeunt.

SCENE VII. A Tent in the French Camp. Enter CORDELIA, KENT, Doctor, and Gentleman. Cor. O thou good Kent! how shall I live and work

To match thy goodness? My life will be too short,

And every measure fail me.

Kent. To be acknowledged, madam, is o'er-paid. All my reports go with the modest truth, Nor more nor clipp'd, but so.