Home > King Lear Text > Act III, Scene IV - Page 2

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KENT:

How fares your grace?

KING LEAR:

What's he?(125)

KENT:

Who's there? What is't you seek?

GLOUCESTER:

What are you there? Your names?

EDGAR:

Poor Tom; that eats the swimming frog, the toad, the
tadpole, the wall-newt and the water; that in the fury of his heart, when the foul fiend rages, eats cow-dung for sallets;
swallows the old rat and the ditch-dog; drinks the green(130)
mantle of the standing pool; who is whipped from tithing to
tithing, and stock-punished, and imprisoned; who hath had
three suits to his back, six shirts to his body, Horse to ride,
and weapon to wear;
But mice and rats, and such small deer,(135)
Have been Tom's food for seven long year.
Beware my follower. Peace, Smulkin; peace, thou fiend!

GLOUCESTER:

What, hath your grace no better company?

EDGAR:

The prince of darkness is a Gentleman:
Modo he's called, and Mahu.(140)

GLOUCESTER:

Our flesh and blood is grown so vile, my lord,
That it doth hate what gets it.

EDGAR:

Poor Tom's a-cold.

GLOUCESTER:

Go in with me: my duty cannot suffer
To obey in all your daughters' hard commands:(145)
Though their injunction be to bar my doors,
And let this tyrannous night take hold upon you,
Yet have I ventured to come seek you out,
And bring you where both fire and food is ready.

KING LEAR:

First let me talk with this philosopher.(150)
What is the cause of thunder?

KENT:

Good my lord, take his offer; go into the house.

KING LEAR:

I'll talk a word with this same learned Theban.
What is your study?

EDGAR:

How to prevent the fiend, and to kill vermin.(155)

KING LEAR:

Let me ask you one word in private.

KENT:

Importune him once more to go, my lord;
His wits begin to unsettle.

GLOUCESTER:

Canst thou blame him?

[Storm still]

His daughters seek his death: ah, that good Kent!(160)
He said it would be thus, poor banished man!
Thou say'st the king grows mad; I'll tell thee, friend,
I am almost mad myself: I had a son,
Now outlawed from my blood; he sought my life,
But lately, very late: I loved him, friend;(165)
No father his son dearer: truth to tell thee,
The grief hath crazed my wits. What a night's this!
I do beseech your grace,—

KING LEAR:

O, cry your mercy, sir.
Noble philosopher, your company.(170)

EDGAR:

Tom's a-cold.

GLOUCESTER:

In, fellow, there, into the hovel: keep thee
warm.

KING LEAR:

Come let's in all.

KENT:

This way, my lord.(175)

KING LEAR:

With him;
I will keep still with my philosopher.

KENT:

Good my lord, save – except soothe him; let him take the fellow.

GLOUCESTER:

Take him you on.

KENT:

Sirrah, come on; go along with us.(180)

KING LEAR:

Come, good Athenian.

GLOUCESTER:

No words, no words: hush.

EDGAR:

Child Rowland to the dark tower came,
His word was still,—Fie, foh, and fum,(185)
I smell the blood of a British man.

[Exeunt]

• salad
• parish
• animals
• a devil
• other devils
• begets
• command
• Greek sage
• urge
• disowned
• except
• humor
• Greek philosopher
• hero of the Charlemagne legens; these words are in the style of an old ballad

1. Strategies for Understanding Shakespeare's Language
2. Reading Pointers for Sharper Insight
3. Act I
   1. Scene I
   2. Scene II
   3. Scene III
   4. Scene IV
   5. Scene V
4. Act II
   1. Scene I
   2. Scene II
   3. Scene III
   4. Scene IV
5. Act III
   1. Scene I
   2. Scene II
   3. Scene III
   4. Scene IV
   5. Scene V
   6. Scene VI
   7. Scene VII
6. Act IV
   1. Scene I
   2. Scene II
   3. Scene III
   4. Scene IV
   5. Scene V
   6. Scene VI
   7. Scene VII
7. Act V
   1. Scene I
   2. Scene II
   3. Scene III
8. Copyright