The crows and choughs, that wing the midway air, Glos. 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 Glos. Let go my hand. Here, friend, is another purse; in it, a jewel Well worth a poor man's taking: fairies, and gods, Glos. [seems to go. With all my heart. Edg. Why I do trifle thus with his despair, Is done to cure it. Glos. O, you mighty gods! 1 A plant gathered for pickling. 3 Tumble. 2 Her cock-boat. This world I do renounce; and, in your sights, To quarrel with your great opposeless wills, Edg. [he leaps, and falls along. Gone, sir? farewell. And yet I know not how conceit may rob Yields to the theft. thought, Had he been where he By this had thought been past.—Alive, or dead? Glos. Away, and let me die. Edg. Hadst thou been aught but gossamer, feathers, air, So many fathom down precipitating, Thou hadst shiver'd like an egg: but thou dost breathe; Hast heavy substance; bleed'st not; speak'st; art sound. Ten masts at each make not the altitude, Which thou hast perpendicularly fell. 1 i. e. when life is willing to be destroyed. Thy life's a miracle: speak yet again. Edg. From the dread summit of this chalky bourn : Look up a-height; the shrill-gorged lark so far Glos. Alack, I have no eyes. Is wretchedness deprived that benefit, To end itself by death? 'Twas yet some comfort, Edg. Give me your arm: Up-so-how is 't? Feel you your legs? You stand. Glos. Too well, too well. Edg. This is above all strangeness. Upon the crown o' the cliff, what thing was that Which parted from you? Glos. A poor unfortunate beggar. Edg. As I stood here below, methought, his eyes Were two full moons: he had a thousand noses, Horns whelk'd,1 and waved like the enridged sea. It was some fiend: therefore, thou happy father, Think that the clearest gods, who make them honors Of men's impossibilities, have preserved thee. Glos. I do remember now: henceforth I'll bear Affliction, till it do cry out itself, Enough, enough,' and, 'die.' That thing you speak of, I took it for a man; often 'twould say, The fiend, the fiend :' he led me to that place. Edg. Bear free and patient thoughts.-But who comes here? Enter LEAR, fantastically dressed up with flowers. The safer sense will ne'er accommodate His master thus. Lear. No, they cannot touch me for coining; I am the king himself. Edg. O thou side-piercing sight! Lear. Nature's above art in that respect.There's your press-money. That fellow handles his bow like a crow-keeper: 1 draw me a clothier's yard. Look, look, a mouse! Peace, peace; this piece of toasted cheese will do 't.-There's my gauntlet; I'll prove it on a giant.—Bring up the brown bills.3-O, well flown, bird!-i' the clout, i' the clout: hewgh! Give the word. Edg. Sweet marjoram. Lear. Pass. Glos. I know that voice. Lear. Ha! Goneril!-with a white beard!They flattered me like a dog; and told me, I had A scarecrow. 3 Battle-axes. An arrow of a yard in length. The clout is the white mark at which archers aim. white hairs in my beard ere the black ones were there. To say Ay, and No, to every thing I said! Ay and No too was no good divinity. When the rain came to wet me once, and the wind to make me chatter; when the thunder would not peace at my bidding; there I found them, there I smelt them out. Go to; they are not men o' their words: they told me I was every thing; 'tis a lie; I am not ague-proof. Glos. The trick of that voice I do well remember: Is 't not the king? Lear. Ay, every inch a king: When I do stare, see, how the subject quakes. Thou shalt not die: die for adultery! No: Let copulation thrive, for Gloster's bastard son To 't, luxury, pell-mell, for I lack soldiers.- Whose face between her forks presageth snow; The fitchew, nor the soiled horse, goes to 't |