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

1. Printable Version
2. Download PDF
3. Ask a Question
4. Tweet This

GLOUCESTER:

O, let me kiss that hand!

KING LEAR:

Let me wipe it first; it smells of mortality.

GLOUCESTER:

O ruined piece of nature! This great world
Shall so wear out to nought. Dost thou know me?(150)

KING 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.

GLOUCESTER:

Were all the letters suns, I could not see one.(155)

EDGAR:

I would not take this from report; it is,
And my heart breaks at it.

KING LEAR:

Read.

GLOUCESTER:

What, with the case of eyes?

KING LEAR:

O, ho, are you there with me? No eyes in your(160)
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.

GLOUCESTER:

I see it feelingly.

KING LEAR:

What, art mad? A man may see how this world(165)
goes with no eyes. Look with thine ears: see how yond
justice rails upon yond simple thief. Hark, in thine ear:
change places; and, handy-dandy, which is the justice,
which is the thief? Thou hast seen a farmer's dog bark at
a beggar?(170)

GLOUCESTER:

Ay, sir.

KING LEAR:

And the creature run from the cur? There thou
mightst behold the great image of authority: a dog's
obeyed in office.
Thou rascal beadle, hold thy bloody hand!(175)
Why dost thou lash that whore? Strip thine own back;
Thou hotly lust'st to use her in that kind
For which thou whipp'st her. The usurer hangs the
cozener.
Through tattered clothes small vices do appear;(180)
Robes and furred gowns hide all. Plate sin with gold,
And the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks:
Arm it in rags, a pigmy's straw does pierce it.
None does offend, none, I say, none; I'll able 'em:
Take that of me, my friend, who have the power(185)
To seal the accuser's lips. Get thee glass eyes;
And like a scurvy politician, seem
To see the things thou dost not. Now, now, now, now:
Pull off my boots: harder, harder: so.

EDGAR:

O, matter and impertinency mixed! Reason in madness!(190)

KING LEAR:

If thou wilt weep my fortunes, take my eyes.
I know thee well enough; thy name is Gloucester:
Thou must be patient; we came crying hither:
Thou know'st, the first time that we smell the air,
We wawl and cry. I will preach to thee: mark.(195)

GLOUCESTER:

Alack, alack the day!

KING LEAR:

When we are born, we cry that we are come
To this great stage of fools: this a good block;
It were a delicate stratagem, to shoe
A troop of horse with felt: I'll put 't in proof;(200)
And when I have stol'n upon these sons-in-law,
Then, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill!

[Enter a Gentleman, with Attendants]

GENTLEMAN:

O, here he is: lay hand upon him. Sir,
Your most dear daughter—

KING LEAR:

No rescue? What, a prisoner? I am even(205)
The natural fool of fortune. Use me well;
You shall have ransom. Let me have surgeons;
I am cut to the brains.

GENTLEMAN:

You shall have any thing.

KING LEAR:

No seconds? all myself?(210)
Why, this would make a man a man of salt,
To use his eyes for garden water-pots,
Ay, and laying autumn's dust.

GENTLEMAN:

Good sir,—

KING LEAR:

I will die bravely, like a bridegroom. What!(215)
I will be jovial: come, come; I am a king,
My masters, know you that.

GENTLEMAN:

You are a royal one, and we obey you.

KING LEAR:

Then there's life in't. Nay, if you get it, you shall
get it with running. Sa, sa, sa, sa.(220)

[Exit running; Attendants follow]

GENTLEMAN:

A sight most pitiful in the meanest wretch,
Past speaking of in a king! Thou hast one daughter,
Who redeems nature from the general curse
Which twain have brought her to.

EDGAR:

Hail, gentle sir.(225)

GENTLEMAN:

Sir, speed you: what's your will?

EDGAR:

Do you hear aught, sir, of a battle toward?

GENTLEMAN:

Most sure and vulgar: every one hears that,
Which can distinguish sound.

EDGAR:

But, by your favor,(230)
How near's the other army?

GENTLEMAN:

Near and on speedy foot; the main descry
Stands on the hourly thought.

EDGAR:

I thank you, sir: that's all.

GENTLEMAN:

Though that the queen on special cause is here,(235)
Her army is moved on.

EDGAR:

I thank you, sir.

[Exit Gentleman]

GLOUCESTER:

You ever-gentle gods, take my breath from me:
Let not my worser spirit tempt me again
To die before you please!(240)

EDGAR:

Well pray you, father.

GLOUCESTER:

Now, good sir, what are you?

EDGAR:

A most poor man, made tame to fortune's blows;
Who, by the art of known and feeling sorrows,
Am pregnant to good pity. Give me your hand,(245)
I'll lead you to some biding.

GLOUCESTER:

Hearty thanks:
The bounty and the benison of heaven
To boot, and boot!

[Enter Oswald]

OSWALD:

A proclaimed prize! Most happy!(250)
That eyeless head of thine was first framed flesh
To raise my fortunes. Thou old unhappy traitor,
Briefly thyself remember: the sword is out
That must destroy thee.

GLOUCESTER:

Now let thy friendly hand(255)
Put strength enough to 't.

[Edgar interposes]

OSWALD:

Wherefore, bold peasant,
Darest thou support a published traitor? Hence;
Lest that the infection of his fortune take
Like hold on thee. Let go his arm.(260)

EDGAR:

Chill not let go, zir, without vurther 'casion.

OSWALD:

Let go, slave, or thou diest!

EDGAR:

Good gentleman, go your gait, and let poor volk pass. An
chud ha' bin zwaggered out of my life, 'twould not ha' bin zo
long as 'tis by a vortnight. Nay, come not near th' old man;(265)
keep out, che vor ye, or ise try whether your costard or my
ballow be the harder: chill be plain with you.

OSWALD:

Out, dunghill!

EDGAR:

Chill pick your teeth, zir: come; no matter vor your
foins.(270)

[They fight, and Edgar knocks him down]

OSWALD:

Slave, thou hast slain me: villain, take my purse:
If ever thou wilt thrive, bury my body;
And give the letters which thou find'st about me
To Edmund earl of Gloucester; seek him out
Upon the British party: O, untimely death!(275)

[Dies]

• during the Renaissance, humans were regarded as masterpieces of the cosmos, the highest development of nature. Compare Hamlet's speech beginning “What a piece of work is man…”
• squint
• Roman god of love; usually portrayed as blind
• Officer in charge of whippings
• cheater
• a dwarf
• vile
• irrelevance
• fashion
• a trick, scheme, or plan
• i.e., to shoe the horses with material to muffle the cavalry's approach
• supporters
• from his tears
• two
• generally known
• sight (of the army)
• is expected
• term of endearment
• inclined
• place where you can pass the time
• blessing
• Edgar begins to speak in an exaggerated rustic dialect
• course; manner of walking
• head
• stick
• sword-thrusts

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