Is it a beggar-man? OLD MAN. Fellow, where goest? As flies to wanton boys, are we to the gods,- EDG. [Aside.] How should this be?- This was an old stumbling-block to the critics Some have altered it to,-"Our mean secures us," &c., that is, our middle-state keeps us in safely: others would read,-"Our meanness secures us: Johnson proposed,--“ Our means seduce us;" or Our maims secure us: and Mr. Collier's annotator reads,-" Our wants secure us." All this controversy arose apparently from misapprehension of the sense in which the word "secure" is to be understood. To secure now means only to protect, to keep safely; but in old language it very commonly signified also, to render us 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 thee, good man's son, 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 chamber-maids and waiting-women. So, bless thee, master! GLO. Here, take this purse, thou whom the heavens' plagues Have humbled to all strokes: that I am wretched, And each man have enough.-Dost thou know [head GLO. There is a cliff, whose high and bending Looks fearfully in the confined deep: Bring me but to the very brim of it, And I'll repair the misery thou dost bear, With something rich about me: from that place [Exeunt. careless, over-confident, unguarded, and this appears to be its meaning here. Thus, in Sir T. More's "Life of Edward V.":"Oh the uncertain confidence and shortsighted knowledge of man! When this lord was most afraid, he was most secure; and when he was secure, danger was over his head." Again, in Judges viii. 11:-" And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host, for the host was secure." b Then, pr'ythee, get thee gone:] So the quartos; the folio reads, "Get thee away," &c. cfive fiends, &c.] The remainder of the speech is not given in the folio. When I inform'd him, then he call'd me sot, What like, offensive. GON. [To EDMUND.] Then shall you go no further. It is the cowish terror of his spirit, That dares not undertake: he'll not feel wrongs, Which tie him to an answer. Our wishes on the way May prove effects. Back, Edmund, to my brother; If you dare venture in your own behalf, EDM. Yours in the ranks of death. My most dear Gloster! [Exit EDMUND. O, the difference of man and man! To three a woman's services are due; My fool usurps my body." Osw. Madam, here comes my lord. Enter ALBANY. GON. I have been worth the whistle. ALB. Most barbarous, most degenerate !—have you madded. Could my good brother suffer you to do it? If that the heavens do not their visible spirits Like monsters of the deep. GON. Milk-liver'd man! That bear'st a cheek for blows, a head for wrongs; Who hast not in thy brows an eye discerning Thine honour from thy suffering; that not know'st, c Fools do those villains pity who are punish'd Ere they have done their mischief. Where's thy drum? Be-monster not thy feature! Were't my fitness They are apt enough to dislocate and tear [Exit. Thy flesh and bones:-howe'er thou art a fiend, A woman's shape doth shield thee. b O, Goneril! You are not worth the dust which the rude wind GON. Marry, your manhood now! (*) Old copies, this, the. REG. Faith, he is posted hence on serious matter. It was great ignorance, Gloster'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 despatch 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. : b I'm sure of that: and at her late being here REG. I speak in understanding; you are, I know 't; Therefore I do advise you, take this note: Than for your lady's :—you may gather more. I If you do chance to hear of that blind traitor, (*) First folio, desires. a-important tears-] Important for importunate; the folio has importun'd. |