To hear of pleasure's name;
The fitchew', nor the soyled 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, [ness,
Beneath is all the fiends'; there's hell, there's dark-
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
Glo. O, let me kiss that hand!
[thee.

5

Through tatter'd clothes small vices do appear; Robes, and furr'd gowns, hide all. Plate sin with gold,

And the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks: Arm it in rags, a pigmy's straw doth pierce it. None does offend, none, I say, none; 1'llable'em*: Take that of me, my friend, who have the power To seal the accuser's lips. Get thec glass eyes; And, like a scurvy politician, seem [now, now: 10To see the things thou dost not.Now, now, Pull off my boots;-harder, harder; so.

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? 15 Lear. I remember thine eyes well enough. Dost thon 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. 20 Edg. I would not take this from report ;—it is, my heart breaks at it.

And

Lear. Read.

3

Glo. What, with the case of eyes?

Lear. O, ho, are you there with me? No eyes 25 in your head, nor no money in your purse? Your eyes are in a heavy case, your purse in a light: Yet you see how this world goes.

Glo. I see it feelingly.

Lear. What, art mad? A man may see how 30 this world goes, with no eyes. Look with thine ears: see how yon' justice rails upon yon' simple thief. Hark, in thine ear: Change places; and handy-dandy, which is the justice, which is the thief? Thou hast scen a fariner's dog bark at a 35 beggar?

A polecat.

4

Edg. O, matter and impertinency mixt; Reason in madness!

Lear. If thou wilt weep my fortunes, take my eyes. know thee well enough; thy name is Gloster: Thou must be patient; we came crying hither. Thou know'st, the first time that we smell the air, Wewawle, and cry:-I will preach to thee; mark Glo. Alack, alack the day!

come

[me.
Lear. When we are born, we cry, that we are
[block'?—
To this great stage of fools;This a good
It were a delicate stratagem, to shoe
A troop of horse with felt: I'll put it in proof;
And when I have stolen upon these sons-in-law,
Then kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill.

Enter a Gentleman, with Attendants.
Gent. O, here he is; lay hand upon him.—Sir,
Your most dear daughter-

Lear. No rescue? What, a prisoner? I am even
The natural fool of fortune.- -Use me well;
You shall have ransom. Let me have a surgeon,
I am cut to the brains.

Gent. You shall have any thing.

Lear. No seconds? All myself?
Why, this would make a man, a man of salt,
To use his eyes for garden water-pots,
Ay, and laying autumn's dust.---

Gent. Good sir,

Lear. I will die bravely, like a bridegroom; what?
I will be jovial; come, come, I am a king,
My masters, know you that?

Gent. You are a royal one, and we obey you.
Lear. Then there's life in it. Nay, conie, an

you get it,

You shall get it by running. Sa, sa, sa, sa. [Exit.

Soyled horse is a term used for a horse that has been fed with hay and corn in the stable during the winter, and is turned out in the spring to take the first flush of grass, or has it cut and carried in to him. This at once cleanses the animal, and fills him with blood. 3 The case of eyes is the socket of either eye. This is an old phrase, signifying to qualify, or uphold them, Dr. Johnson proposes to read, a good flock.-" Flocks (he adds) are wool moulded together. It is very common for madmen to catch an accidental hint, and strain it to the purpose predominant in their minds. Lear picks up a flock, and immediately thinks to surprize his enemies by a troop of horse shod with flocks or felt. Yet block may stand, if we suppose that the sight of a block put him in mind of mounting his horse."- -Mr. Steevens thinks Dr. Johnson's explanation is very ingenious; but believes there is no occasion to adopt it, as the speech itself, or at least the action that should accompany it, will furnish all the connection which he has sought for from an extraneous circumstance. Upon the king's saying, I will preach to thee, the poet seems to have meant him to pull off his hat, and keep turning it and feeling it, in the attitude of one of the preachers of those times (whom Mr. Steevens has seen so represented in ancient prints), till the idea of felt, which the good hat or block was made of, raises the stratagem in his brain of shoeing a troop of horse with a substance soft as that which he held and moulded between his hands. This makes him start from his preachment.-Block anciently signified the head-part of the hat, or the thing on which a hat is formed, and sometimes the hat itself. • Mr. Malone believes a man of salt is a man made up of tears.

Gent

"Your (wife, so I would say) affectionate "servant, "GONERIL." 300 undistinguish'd space of woman's will!A plot upon her virtuous husband's life; And the exchange, my brother!--Here, in thesands, Thee I'll rake up, the most unsanctified Of murderous lechers: and, in the mature time, With this ungracious paper strike the sight Of the death-practis'do duke: For him 'tis well That of thy death and business I can tell.

Stew. A proclaim'd prize! Most happy!
That eyeless head of thine was first fram'd flesh
To raise my fortunes.-Thou old unhappy traitor, 55
Briefly thyselt remember3:-The sword is out
That must destroy thee.

Gio. Now let thy friendly hand
Put strength enough to it.

[Edgar opposes.
Stew. Wherefore, bold peasant,
Dar'st thou support a publish'd traitor? Hence;
Lest that the infection of his fortune take
Like hold on thee. Let go his arm.
Edg.Chill not let g
et go, zir,without vurther'casion.
Stew. Let go, slave, or thou dy'st.

40

[Exit Edgar, removing the body. Glo. The king is mad: How stiff is my vile

sense,

That I stand up, and have ingenious feeling"
Of my huge sorrows! Better I were distract:
So should my thoughts be sever'd from my griefs;
And woes, by wrong imaginations, lose
45 The knowledge of themselves.

Edg. Good gentleman, go your gait, and let poor volk pass. And ch'ud ha' been zwagger'd out of my life, 'twould not ha' been zo long as 'tis by a vortnight. Nay, come not near the old man; keep out, che vor' ye', or ise try whether 50 your costard or my bat be the harder: Ch'ill be plain with you.

Stew. Out, dunghill!

Edg. Ch'ill pick your teeth, zir: Come; no matter for your foyns. [Edgar knocks him down.|55|

8

Re-enter Edgar.

Edg. Give me your hand:
Far off, methinks, I hear the beaten drum.
Come, father, I'll bestow you with a friend.
[Exeunt.

SCENE VII.

A Tent in the French Camp.
Enter Cordelia, Kent, and Physician.
Cor. O thou good Kent, how shall I live and
work,

i. e. sorrows past and present.

'i.e.

The main body is expected to be descry'd every hour. quickly recollect the past offences of thy life, and recommend thyself to heaven. * Gang your gate is a common expression in the North. i. e. I warn you. Edgar counterfeits the western dialect. 'i. e. head. i. e. club. To foyn is to make what we call a thrust in fencing. ' i. e. I'll cover.-In Staffordshire, to rake the fire, is to cover it with fuel for the night. 10 The duke of Albany, whose death is machinated by practice or treason. "Ingenious feeling signifies a feeling from an understanding not disturbed or disordered, but which, representing things as they are, makes the sense of pain the more exquisite.

Το

To match thy goodness? My life will be too short,
And every measure fail me'.

Kent. To be acknowledg'd,madam,is o'erpay'd.
All my reports go with the modest truth;
Nor more, nor clipt, but so.

These weeds are memories' of those worser hours;
I pr'ythee, put them off.

Kent. Pardon me, dear madam;

Yet to be known, shortens my made intent": My boon I make it, that you know me not, "Till time and I think meet.

Cor. Then be it so, my good lord.

How does the king?

Phys. Madam, sleeps still.

Cor. O you kind gods,

[sic there ! 30

Kent. Kind and dear princess!
Cor. Had you not been their father, these white
Had challeng'd pity of them. Was this a face
To be expos'd against the warring winds?
To stand against the deep dread-bolted thunder: 40
In the most terrible and nimble stroke
Of quick, cross lightning? to watch (poor perdu!)
With this thin helm ? Mine enemy's dog,
Though he had bit me, should have stood that

Had not concluded all.-He wakes; speak to him. 50
Phys. Madam, do you; 'tis fittest.

Cor. How does my royal lord? How fares your
majesty?
[grave:-

Lear. You do me wrong, to take me out o' the
Thou art a soul in bliss; but I am bound
Upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears

i. e. All good which I shall a'lot thee, or measure out to thee, will be scanty, drest, put on a better suit of clothes. 1i. e. memorials, remembrancers.

an intent formed. So we say in common language, to make a design, and to make a resolution. i. e. changed to a child by his years and wrongs. Restoration is recovery personified. allusion, Dr. Warburton says, is to the forlorn-hope in an army, which are put upon desperate adventures, and called, in French, enfans perdus; she therefore calls her father, poor perdu.

am strangely imposed on by appearances; I am in a strange mist of uncertainty, ? i. e. to reconcile it to his apprehension.

You know the goodness I intend upon you:
Tell me, but truly,-but then speak the truth,
Do you not love my sister?

Edm. In honour'd love.

[way

Reg. But have you never found my brother's

To the fore-fended' place?

[junct

Edm. That thought abuses you.
Reg. I am doubtful that you have been con-
And bosom'd with her, as far as we call hers.
Edm. No, by mine honour, madam.

20

25

Alb. Let us then determine
With the ancient of war on our proceedings.
Edm. I shall attend you presently at your tent.
Reg. Sister, you'll go with us?
Gon. No.

[us.

Reg. 'Tis most convenient; pray you, go with
Gon. [Aside.] O, ho, I know the riddle: I will
go.

As they are going out, enter Edgar disguised.
Edg. If e'er your grace had speech with man
so poor,
Hear me one word.

Alb. I'll overtake you.

-Speak.

[Exeunt Edm. Reg. Gon. and Attendants.
Edg. Before you fight the battle, ope this letter.
If you have victory, let the trumpet sound
For him that brought it: wretched though I seem,
I can produce a champion, that will prove
30 What is avouched there: If you miscarry,
Your business of the world hath so an end,
And machination ceases. Fortune love you!
Alb. Stay 'till I have read the letter.
Edg. I was forbid it.

Reg. I never shall endure her: Dear my lord, 35 When time shall serve, let but the herald cry,

Be not familiar with her.

Edm. Fear me not:

She, and the duke her husband,

Enter Albany, Goneril, and Soldiers.
Gon. I had rather lose the battle, than that sister 40
Should loosen him and me.

[Aside.

[ter,[

Alb. Our very loving sister, well be met.-
Sir, this I hear, The king is come to his daugh-
With others, whom the rigour of our state
Forc'd to cry out. Where I could not be honest, 45|
I never yet was valiant: for this business,
It toucheth us as France invades our land,
Not bolds the king *; with others, whom, I fear,
Most just and heavy causes make oppose.
Edm. Sir, you speak nobly.
Reg. Why is this reason'd?

Gon. Combine together 'gainst the enemy:
For these domestic and particular broils
Are not to question here.

His settled resolution.

2

Each jealous of the other, as the stung

Are of the adder. Which of them shall I take?
50 Both? one? or neither? Neither can be enjoy'd,
If both remain alive: To take the widow,
Exasperates, makes mad her sister Goneril;
And hardly shall I carry out my side,
Her husband being alive. Now then, we 'll use

fore-fended means prohibited, forbidden.

The meaning of this

speech is, The king and others whom we have opposed, are come to Cordelia. I could never be valiant but in a just quarrel. We must distinguish; it is just in one sense and unjust in another. As France invades our land, I am concerned to repel him; but as he holds, entertains, and supports the king, and others whom I fear many just and heavy causes make, or compel, as it were, to oppose us, I esteem it unjust to engage against them. This business (says Albany) touches us, as France invades our land, not as it bolds the king, &c. i. e. emboldens him to assert his former title. i. e. bring my purpose to a successful issue, to completion.-Side seems here to have the sense of the French word partie, in prendre partie, to take his resolution.

Edm. Take them away.

Lear. Upon such sacrifices, my Cordelia, The gods themselves throw incense.

caught thee?

Have I

5 He, that parts us, shall bring a brand from heaven,
And fire us hence, like foxes. Wipe thine eyes;
The goujeers' shall devour them, flesh, and fell,
Ere they shall make us weep: we'll see them
starve first.

10 Come. [Exeunt Lear, and Cordelia, guarded.
Edm. Come hither, captain; hark.
Take thou this note; go, follow them to prison:
One step I have advanc'd thee; if thou dost
As this instructs thee, thou dost make thy way
15 To noble fortunes: Know thou this, that men
Are as the time is to be tender-minded [ment
Does not become a sword:-Thy great employ-
Will not bear question '; either say, thou 'lt do't,
Or thrive by other means.

[Alarum, and retreat within. 20 Re-enter Edgar.

Edg. Away, old man, give me thy hand, away;
King Lear hath lost, he and his daughter ta'en:
Give me thy hand, come on.

Glo. No further, sir; a man may rot even here. 25
Edg. What, in ill thoughts again? Men must

endure

Their going hence, even as their coming hither;
Ripeness is all: Come on.

Glo. And that's true too.

SCENE III.

[Exeunt. 30

Enter, in conquest, with drum and colours, Ed-
mund; Lear, and Cordelia, as prisoners; Sol-
diers, Captain.
[guard;
Edm. Some officers take them away: good 35
Until their greater pleasures first be known,
That are to censure them.

Cor. We are not the first,
Who, with best meaning, have incurr'd the worst.
For thee, oppressed king, am I cast down;
Myself could else out-frown false fortune'sfrown.--|
Shall we not see these daughters, and these sisters ?
Lear. No, no, no, no! Come, let's away to

prison:

40

45

We two alone will sing like birds i' the cage:
When thou dost ask me blessing, I'll kneel down,
And ask of thee forgiveness: So we'll live,
And pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and laugh
At gilded butterflies, and hear poor rogues
Talk of court news; and we'll talk with them too,-50
Who loses, and who wins; who's in, who's out;-
And take upon us the mystery of things,

As if we were God's spies: And we'll wear out,
In a wall'd prison, packs and sects' of great ones,
That ebb and flow by the moon.

155

Capt. I'll do 't, my lord.

Edm. About it; and write happy, when thou
hast done.

Mark,I say, instantly; and carry it so,
As I have set it down.

Capt. I cannot draw a cart, nor eat dry'd oats;
If it be man's work, I will do it. [Exit Capt.
Flourish. Enter Albany, Goneril, Regan and Soldiers,
Alb. Sir, you have shewn to-day your valiant
strain,

And fortune led you well: You have the captives
Who were the opposites of this day's strife:
We do require them of you; so to use them,
As we shall find their merits and our safety
May equally determine.

Edm. Sir, I thought it fit

To send the old and miserable king
To some retention, and appointed guard;
Whose age has charms in it, whose title more,
To pluck the common bosom on his side,
And turn our imprest lances in our eyes
Which do command them. With him I sent the
queen;

My reason all the same; and they are ready
To-morrow, or at a further space, to appear
Where you shall hold your session. At this time,
We sweat, and bleed: the friend hath lost his
friend;

And the best quarrels, in the heat, are curs'd
By those that feel their sharpness:-
The question of Cordelia, and her father,
Requires a fitter place.

Alb. Sir, by your patience,

I hold you but a subject of this war,
Not as a brother.

Reg. That's as we list to grace him.

Dr. Johnson thinks that for does not stand in this place as a word of inference or causality. The meaning is rather: Such is my determination concerning Lear; as for my state, it requires now, not deli beration, but defence and support. i. e. To be ready, prepared, is all. Packs is used for combinations or collection, as is a pack of cards. For sects, sets might be more commodiously read. Thus we say, affairs are now managed by a new set. It is usual to smoke foxes out of their holes. i. e. Morbus Gallicus.-Gouge, Fr. signifies one of the common women attending a camp: and as that disease was first dispersed over Europe by the French army, and the women who followed it, the first name it obtained among us was the gougeries, i. e. the disease of the gouges. Flesh and skin. The mean ing is, that the important business he now had in hand, did not admit of debate; he must instantly resolve to do it, or not. i. e. turn the launce-men which are press'd into our service, against us.

Methinks,