Edg. [Afide.] And worse I may be yet: The worst is not, So long as we can say, This is the worst. Old Man. Fellow, where goeft? Glo. Is it a beggar-man ? Old Man. Madman and beggar too. Glo. He has fome reason, else he could not beg. I' the last night's storm I fuch a fellow faw; Which made me think a man a worm: My fon Came then into my mind; and yet my mind Was then scarce friends with him: I have heard more fince: As flies to wanton boys, are we to the gods; They kill us for their sport. Edg. How fhould this be? Bad is the trade must play the fool to forrow, Ang'ring itself and others. [Afide.]-Blefs thee, inafter! Glo. Is that the naked fellow? Old Man. Ay, my lord. Glo. Then, pr'ythee, get thee gone: If, for my fake, Thou wilt o'ertake us, hence a mile or twain, I' the way to Dover, do it for ancient love; And bring fome covering for this naked foul, Whom I'll entreat to lead me. Old Man. Alack, fir, he's mad. Glo. 'Tis the times' plague, when inadmen lead the blind: Do as I bid thee, or rather do thy pleasure ; Above the rest, be gone. · Old Man. I'll bring him the best 'parrel that I have, Come on't what will. [Exit. Glo. Glo. Sirrah, naked fellow. Edg. Poor Tom's a-cold.—I cannot daub it further. Glo. Come hither, fellow. [Afide. Edg. [Afide.] And yet I must.-Bless thy fweet eyes, they bleed. Glo. Know'ft thou the way to Dover? Edg. Both ftile and gate, horfe-way, and foot-path. Poor Tom hath been fcared out of his good wits: Bless the good man from the foul fiend! Five fiends have been in poor Tom at once; of luft, as Obidicut; Hobbididance, prince of dumbness: Mabu, of stealing; Modo, of murder; and Flibbertigibbet, of mopping and mowing; who fince poffeffes chamber-maids and waiting-women. Só, Blefs thee, master! Glo. Here, take this purse, thou whom the heaven's plagues Have humbled to all strokes: that I am wretched, That flave's your ordinance, that will not see So diftribution fhould undo excess, And each man have enough.-Doft thou know Dover? Edg. Ay, mafter. Glo. There is a cliff, whofe high and bending head Looks fearfully in the confined deep: Bring me but to the very brim of it, And I'll repair the mifery thou dost bear, With fomething rich about me: from that place 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 He fmil'd at it: I told him, you were coming; When I inform'd him, then he call'd me fot; Gon. Then fhall you go no further. It is the cowish terror of his spirit, [To EDMUND. That dares not undertake: he'll not feel wrongs, Which tie him to an answer: Our wishes, on the way, I must change arms at home, and give the distaff Shall pafs between us: ere long you are like to hear, you If [giving a favour. Decline your head: this kifs, if it durft fpeak, Edm. Yours in the ranks of death. Con Gon. [Exit EDMUND. My most dear Glofter! O, the difference of man, and man! To thee Ufurps my bed. O Goneril! You are not worth the dust which the rude wind Blows in your face.-I fear your disposition: She that herself will fliver and disbranch Gon. No more; the text is foolish. Ab. Wisdom and goodness to the vile seem vile : Whose reverence the head-lugg'd bear would lick, Humanity must perforce prey on itself, Like monsters of the deep. Gon. Milk-liver'd man! That bear'st a cheek for blows, a head for wrongs; Who Who haft not in thy brows an eye difcerning Ere they have done their mischief. Where's thy drum' Alb. See thyfelf, devil! Proper deformity seems not in the fiend So horrid, as in woman. Alb. Thou changed and self-cover'd thing, for fhame, Be-monster not thy feature. Were it my fitness To let these hands obey my blood, They are apt enough to dislocate and tear Thy flesh and bones :-How'er thou art a fiend, Gon. Marry, your manhood now! Enter a Meffenger. Alb. What news? Mef. O, my good lord, the duke of Cornwall's dead; Slain by his fervant, going to put out The other eye of Glofter. Alb. Glofter's eyes! Mef. A fervant that he bred, thrill'd with remorse, To his great mafter; who, thereat enrag'd, Alb. This fhows you are above, You jufticers, that these our nether crimes |