Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB
[graphic][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small]

To be worst,

Than still contemn'd and flatter'd.
The lowest and most dejected thing of fortune,
Stands still in esperance, lives not in fear:
The lamentable change is from the best;
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; Thee they may hurt.

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, Our means secure us; and our mere defects Prove our commodities.-Ah! dear son Edgar, The food of thy abused father's wrath, Might I but live to see thee in my touch, I'd say I had eyes again!

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.

[blocks in formation]

Glo.

Is it a beggar-man? Old Man. Madman, and beggar too. 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

[blocks in formation]

Edg. Poor Tom's a-cold. - [Aside.] I cannot

daub it further.

Glo. Come hither, fellow.

Edg. [Aside.] And yet I must.-[To him.]
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 dumb

ness; 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 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?

[blocks in formation]

May prove effects. Back, Edmund, to my brother;
Hasten his musters, and conduct his powers:
I must change arms at home, and give the distaff
Into my husband's hands. This trusty servant
Shall pass between us: ere long you are like to hear,
If you dare venture in your own behalf,
A mistress's command. Wear this; spare speech;
[Giving a favour.
Decline your head: this kiss, if it durst speak,
Would stretch thy spirits up into the air.-
Conceive, and fare thee well.

Edm. Yours in the ranks of death.
Gon.

My most dear Gloster! [Exit EDMUND.

O, the difference of man, and man!
To thee a woman's services are due:
My fool usurps my body.
Osw.

Madam, here comes my lord.
[Exit OSWALD.

[blocks in formation]

You are not worth the dust which the rude wind
Blows in your face.-I fear your disposition:
That nature, which contemns its origin,
Cannot be border'd certain in itself;

She that herself will sliver and disbranch
From her material sap, perforce must wither,
And come to deadly use.

Gon. No more: the text is foolish.

Alb. Wisdom and goodness to the vile seem vile; Filths savour but themselves. What have you done?

Tigers, not daughters, what have you perform'd?
A father, and a gracious aged man,

Whose reverence the head-lugg'd bear would lick,
Most barbarous, most degenerate! have you madded.
Could my good brother suffer you to do it?
A man, a prince, by him so benefited?

If that the heavens do not their visible spirits
Send quickly down to tame these vile offences,
It will come,

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 hast not in thy brows an eye discerning Thine honour from thy suffering; that not know'st, Fools do those villains pity, who are punish'd Ere they have done their mischief. Where's thy drum?

France spreads his banners in our noiseless land;
With plumed helm thy slayer begins threats;
Whilst thou, a moral fool, sitt'st still, and criest,
"Alack! why does he so?"

Alb.
See thyself, devil!
Proper deformity seems not in the fiend
So horrid, as in woman.

Gon.

O vain fool!

[blocks in formation]

Oppos'd against the act, bending his sword
To his great master; who, thereat enrag'd,
Flew on him, and amongst them fell'd him dead,
But not without that harmful stroke, which since
Hath pluck'd him after.

Alb.
This shows you are above,
You justicers, that these our nether crimes
So speedily can venge!-But, O poor Gloster!
Lost he his other eye?

Mess.

Both, both, my lord.This letter, madam, craves a speedy answer; 'Tis from your sister.

Gon. [Aside.] One way I like this well; But being widow, and my Gloster with her, May all the building in my fancy pluck Upon my hateful life. Another way,

[blocks in formation]

SCENE III.-The French Camp, near Dover.

Enter KENT, and a Gentleman. Kent. Why the king of France is so suddenly gone back, know you the reason?

Gent. Something he left imperfect in the state, which since his coming forth is thought of; which imports to the kingdom so much fear and danger, that his personal return was most required, and necessary.

Kent. Whom hath he left behind him general? Gent. The Mareschal of France, Monsieur le Fer.

Kent. Did your letters pierce the queen to any demonstration of grief?

Gent. Ay, sir; she took them, read them in my presence;

And now and then an ample tear trill'd down
Her delicate cheek; it seem'd, she was a queen
Over her passion, who, most rebel-like,
Sought to be king o'er her.
Kent.
O! then it mov'd her.
Gent. Not to a rage: patience and sorrow strove
Who should express her goodliest. You have seen
Sunshine and rain at once; her smiles and tears
Were like a better way: those happy smilets,
That play'd on her ripe lip, seem'd not to know
What guests were in her eyes; which parted thence,
As pearls from diamonds dropp'd.-In brief, sorrow
Would be a rarity most belov'd, if all
Could so become it.

Kent.

Made she no verbal question?

Gent. 'Faith, once, or twice, she heav'd the name of "father"

Pantingly forth, as if it press'd her heart;
Cried, "Sisters! sisters!-Shame of ladies! sisters!
Kent! father! sisters! What? i' the storm? i' the
night?

Let pity not be believed!"-There she shook
The holy water from her heavenly eyes,

And clamour moisten'd: then, away she started
To deal with grief alone.

Kent.

It is the stars, The stars above us, govern our conditions; Else one self mate and mate could not beget Such different issues.

since?

Gent. No.

You spoke not with her

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

And leave you to attend him. Some dear cause
Will in concealment wrap me up awhile:
When I am known aright, you shall not grieve
Lending me this acquaintance. I pray you, go
Along with me.

[merged small][ocr errors]

[Exeunt.

Enter CORDELIA, Physician, and Soldiers. Cor. Alack! 'tis he: why, he was met even now As mad as the vex'd sea: singing aloud; Crown'd with rank fumiter, and furrow weeds, With hoar-docks, hemlock, nettles, cuckoo-flowers, Darnel, and all the idle weeds that grow In our sustaining corn.-A century send forth; Search every acre in the high-grown field, And bring him to our eye. [Exit an Officer.]— What can man's wisdom,

In the restoring his bereaved sense?

He, that helps him, take all my outward worth.
Phy. There is means, madam:

Our foster-nurse of nature is repose,
The which he lacks; that to provoke in him,
Are many simples operative, whose power
Will close the eye of anguish.

Cor.

All bless'd secrets,

All you unpublish'd virtues of the earth,
Spring with my tears! be aidant, and remediate,
In the good man's distress!-Seek, seek for him;
Lest his ungovern'd rage dissolve the life
That wants the means to lead it.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Your sister is the better soldier.

Reg. Lord Edmund spake not with your lord at

home?

Osw. No, madam.

[blocks in formation]

Osw. Madam, I had ratherReg. I know your lady does not love her husband, I am sure of that; and, at her late being here, She gave strange ciliads, and most speaking looks To noble Edmund. I know, you are of her bosom. Osw. I, madam?

Reg. I speak in understanding: y' are, I know it; Therefore, I do advise you, take this note: My lord is dead; Edmund and I have talk'd, And more convenient is he for my hand, Than for your lady's.-You may gather more. If you do find him, pray you, give him this; And when your mistress hears thus much from you,

I

pray, desire her call her wisdom to her: So, fare you well.

If you do chance to hear of that blind traitor,
Preferment falls on him that cuts him off.

Osw. Would I could meet him, madam: I would

show What party I do follow. Reg.

Fare thee well. [Exeunt

[graphic][merged small]
[blocks in formation]

Glo. Methinks, thy voice is alter'd; and thou speak'st In better phrase, and matter, than thou didst. Edg. Y' are much deceiv'd: in nothing am I chang'd, But in my garments.

Glo.
Methinks, y' are better spoken.
Edg. Come on, sir; here's the place: stand
still.-How fearful,

And dizzy 'tis to cast one's eyes so low!
The crows, and choughs, that wing the midway air,
Show scarce so gross as beetles: half way down
Hangs one that gathers samphire; dreadful trade!
Methinks, he seems no bigger than his head.
The fishermen, that walk upon the beach,
Appear like mice; and yond' tall anchoring bark,
Diminish'd to her cock; her cock, a buoy
Almost too small for sight. The murmuring surge,
That on the unnumber'd idle pebbles chafes,
Cannot be heard so high.-I'll look no more;
Lest my brain turn, and the deficient sight
Topple down headlong.

Glo.
Set me where you stand.
Edg. Give me your hand; you are now within

a foot

Of th' extreme verge: for all beneath the moon
Would I not leap upright.

Glo.
Let go my hand.
Here, friend, is another purse; in it, a jewel
Well worth a poor man's taking fairies, and gods,
Prosper it with thee! Go thou further off;
Bid me farewell, and let me hear thee going.
Edg. Now fare you well, good sir.

Glo. With all my heart. Edg. Why I do trifle thus with his despair, Is done to cure it.

O, you mighty gods!

Glo.
This world I do renounce, and in your sights
Shake patiently my great affliction off:
If I could bear it longer, and not fall

To quarrel with your great opposeless wills,
My snuff, and loathed part of nature, should
Burn itself out. If Edgar live, O, bless him!-
Now, fellow, fare thee well.

[He leaps, and falls along.
Edg.
Gone, sir: farewell.-
And yet I know not how conceit may rob
The treasury of life, when life itself
Yields to the theft: had he been where he thought,
By this had thought been past.-Alive, or dead?
Ho, you sir! friend!-Hear you, sir?-speak!
Thus might he pass, indeed;-yet he revives.
What are you, sir?
Away, and let me die.

Glo.

Edg. Hadst thou been aught but gossamer,

feathers, air,

So many fathom down precipitating,
Thou'dst 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:
Thy life's a miracle. Speak yet again.
Glo. But have I fallen, or no?

Edg. From the dread summit of this chalky bourn.

Look up a height; the shrill-gorg'd lark so far
Cannot be seen or heard: do but look up.

Glo. Alack! I have no eyes.

Is wretchedness depriv'd that benefit,

To end itself by death? 'Twas yet some comfort,
When misery could beguile the tyrant's rage,
And frustrate his proud will.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Enter LEAR, fantastically dressed with wild flowers.
The safer sense will ne'er accommodate
His master thus.

Lear. No, they cannot touch me for coining; 1 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: 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.-O, well flown, bird!-i' the clout, i' the clout: hewgh!-Give the word.

Edg. Sweet marjoram.

Lear. Pass.

Glo. I know that voice.

Lear. Ha! Goneril!- with a white beard! They flatter'd me like a dog; and told me, I had 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 'em, there I smelt 'em 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.

Glo. The trick of that voice I do well remember: Is't not the king?

Ay, every inch a king:

Lear. When I do stare, see, how the subject quakes.

I pardon that man's life: what was thy cause?— Adultery.

[blocks in formation]

The wren goes to't, and the small gilded fly
Does lecher in my sight.

Let copulation thrive; for Gloster's bastard son
Was kinder to his father, than my daughters
Got 'tween the lawful sheets.

To't, luxury, pell-mell, for I lack soldiers.—
Behold yond' simpering dame,

Whose face between her forks presageth snow;
That minces virtue, and does shake the head
To hear of pleasure's name;

The fitchew, nor the soiled horse, goes to't
With a more riotous appetite.

Down from the waist they are centaurs,
Though women all above:

But to the girdle do the gods inherit,
Beneath is all the fiends: there's hell, there's dark-
ness, there is the sulphurous pit, burning, scalding,
stench, consumption; fie, fie, fie! pah; pah!
Give me an ounce of civet, good apothecary, to
sweeten my imagination: there's money for thee.
Glo. O, let me kiss that hand!

Lear. Let me wipe it first; it smells of mortality. Glo. O ruin'd piece of nature! This great world Shall so wear out to nought.-Dost thou know me?

Lear. I remember thine eyes well enough. Dost thou squiny at me? No, do thy worst, blind Cupid; I'll not love.-Read thou this challenge : mark but the penning of it.

Glo. Were all the letters suns, I could not see one. Edg. I would not take this from report; it is, And my heart breaks at it.

Lear. Read.

Glo. What! with the case of eyes?

« AnteriorContinuar »