Pluck out his poor old eyes; nor thy fierce sister The sea, with such a storm as his bare head 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, 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. Glo. He, that will think to live till he be old, Give me some help :-0.cruel! O ye gods! Reg. One side will mock another; the other too. Corn. If you see vengeance,— Serv. Hold your hand, my lord: I have serv'd you ever since I was a child; But better service have I never done you, Than now to bid you hold. Reg. How now, you dog? 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. Serv. Nay, then come on, and take the chance of anger. [Draws. They fight. CORN. is wounded. Reg. Give me thy sword.-[To another Serv.] A peasant stand up thus! [Snatches a Sword, comes behind him, and stabs him. Serv. 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. Glo. All dark and comfortless.-Where's my son Edmund? Edmund, enkindle all the sparks of nature, Reg. Out, treacherous villain! Thou call'st on him that hates thee: it was he That made the overture of thy treasons to us; Who is too good to pity thee. Glo. Then Edgar was abus'd. O my follies! Kind gods, forgive me that, and prosper him! Reg. Go, thrust him out at gates, and let him smell His way to Dover.-How is't, my lord? How look you? [lady.— Corn. I have receiv'd a hurt:-Follow me, Turn out that eyeless villain;-throw this slave Upon the dunghill.-Regan, I bleed apace : Untimely comes this hurt: Give me your arm. [Exit CORNWALL, led by REGAN ;-Servants unbind GLOSTER, and lead him out. 1 Serv. I'll never care what wickedness I do, If this man come to good. If she live long, 2 Serv. And, in the end, meet the old course of death, Women will all turn monsters. 1 Serv. Let's follow the old earl, and get the Bedlam [ness To lead him where he would; his roguish madAllows itself to any thing. 2 Serv. Go thou; I'll fetch some flax, and whites of eggs, To apply to his bleeding face. Now, heaven help him! ACT IV. [Exeunt severally. SCENE I. The Heath. Enter EDGAR. Edg. Yet better thus, and known to be contemn'd, Than still contemu'd and flatter'd. To be worst, The worst returns to laughter. Welcome then, Thou unsubstantial air, that I embrace! The wretch,that thou hast blown unto the worst, Owes nothing to thy blasts.-But who comes here? Enter GLOSTER, led by an old Man. My father, poorly led ?-World, world, O world! 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: Thy comforts can do me no good at all, Old Man. Alack, sir, you cannot see your way. Glo. I have no way, and therefore want no eyes; I stumbled when I saw : Full oft 'tis seen, Might I but live to see thee in my touch, Old Man. How now? Who's there? Edg. [Aside.] O gods! Who is't can say, I am at the worst? I am worse than e'er I was. Old Man. 'Tis poor mad Tom. Edg. [Aside.] And worse I may be yet; The worst is not, So long as we can say, This is the worst. Old Man. Fellow, where goest? Glo. Glo. He has some reason, else he could not beg, I'the last night's storm I such a fellow saw; Which made me think a man a worm: My son Came then into my mind; and yet my mind Was then scarce friends with him: I have heard more since: As flies to wanton boys, are we to the gods; Edg. How should this be?Bad is the trade must play the fool to sorrow, Ang'ring itself and others. [Aside.]-Bless thee, master! Glo. Is that the naked fellow? Old Man. Ay, my lord. Glo. Then, 'pr'ythee, get thee gone: if, for my sake Thou wilt o'ertake us, hence a mile or twain, I'the way to Dover, do it for ancient love; And bring some covering for this naked soul, Whom I'll entreat to lead me. Old Man. Alack, sir, he's mad. Glo. 'Tis the time's plague, when madmen lead the blind. Do as I bid thee, or rather do thy pleasure; Old Man. I'll bring him the best 'parel that I Come on't what will. Glo. Sirrah, naked fellow. [have, [Exit. Edg. Poor Tom's a-cold.-I cannot daub it further. {Aside. Glo. Come hither, fellow. Edg. [Aside.] And yet I must.-Bless thy sweet eyes, they bleed. Glo. Know'st thou the way to Dover? Edg. Both stile and gate, horse-way, and footpath. Poor Tom hath been scared out of his good wits: Bless the good man from the foul fiend! Five fiends have been in poor Tom at once; of lust, as Obidicut; Hobbididance, prince of dumbness; Mahu, of stealing; Modo, of murder; and Flibbertigibbet, of mopping and mowing; who since possesses chambermaids and waitingwomen. So, bless thee, master! Glo. Here take this purse, thou whom the heaven's plagues Have humbled to all strokes: that I am wretched, Makes thee the happier:-Heavens, deal so still! Let the superfluous, and lust-dieted man, That slaves your ordinance, that will not see Because he doth not feel, feel your power quickly; So distribution should undo excess, And each man have enough.-Dost thou know Dover? Edg. Ay, master. Glo. There is a cliff, whose high and bending bead Looks fearfully in the confined deep: Bring me but to the very brim of it, And I'll repair the misery thou dost bear, Edg. Poor Tom shall lead thee. Give me thy arm; [Exeunt. SCENE II. Before the Duke of Albany's Palace. Enter GONERIL and EDMUND; Steward meeting them. Gon. Welcome, my lord: I marvel, our mild husband Not met us on the way :-Now, where's your master? [chang'd: Stew. Madam, within; but never man so I told him of the army that was landed; He smil'd at it: I told him, you were coming; His answer was, The worse: of Gloster's treachery, And of the loyal service of his son, When I inform'd him, then he call'd me sot; And told me, I had turn'd the wrong side out:What most he should dislike, seems pleasant to him; What like, offensive. Gon. Then shall you go no further. It is the cowish terror of his spirit, May prove effects. Back, Edmund, to my bro ther; Hasten his musters, and conduct his powers: If you dare venture in your own behalf, |