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Lost he his other eye!

Mes. Both, both, my lord.

This letter, madam, craves a speedy answer; 'Tis from your sister.

Gon. [Aside.] One way I like this well;7 But being widow, and my Gloster with her, May all the building in my fancy pluck

Upon my hateful life :-Another way,

The news is not so tart.-I'll read, and answer. [Exit. Alb. Where was his son, when they did take his eyes? Mes. Come with my lady hither.

Alb. He is not here.

Mes. No, my good lord; I met him back again.

Alb. Knows he the wickedness?

Mes. Ay, my good lord ; 'twas he inform'd against him; And quit the house on purpose, that their punishment Might have the freer course.

Alb. Gloster, I live

To thank thee for the love thou show'dst the king,
And to revenge thine eyes.-Come hither, friend;
Tell me what more thou knowest.

SCENE III.

[Exeunt.

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 requir'd,

And necessary.

Kent. Who 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 pres

ence;

And now and then an ample tear trill'd down
Her delicate cheek: it seem'd, she was a queen

[7] Goneril's plan was to poison her sister-to marry Edmund-to murder Albany-and to get possession of the whole kingdom. As the death of Cornwall facilitated the last part of her scheme, she was pleased at it; but disliked it, as it put it in the power of her sister to marry Edmund. MASON.

[8] The gentleman whom he sent in the foregoing act with letters to Cordelia. JOHNSON.

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 day: Those happy smiles, 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 !9-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. You spoke not with her since? Gent. No.

Kent. Was this before the king return'd?

Gent. No, since.

Kent.Well, sir; The poor distress'd Lear is i'the town: Who sometime, in his better tune, remembers

What we are come about, and by no means

Will yield to see his daughter.

Gent. What, good sir?

Kent. A sovereign shame so elbows him: his own unkindness,

That stripp'd her from his benediction, turn'd her
To foreign casualties, gave her dear rights.

To his dog-hearted daughters,―these things sting
His mind so venomously, that burning shame2
Detains him from Cordelia.

[9] Let not such a thing as pity be supposed to exist!

[1] The same husband and the same wife. JOHNSON.

STEEVENS.

[2] The metaphor is here preservd with great knowledge of nature. The venom of poisonous animals being a high caustic salt, that has all the effect fire upon the part. WARBURTON

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Gent. Alack, poor gentleman!

Kent.Of Albany's and Cornwall's powers you heard not? Gent. 'Tis so; they are afoot.

Kent. Well, sir, I'll bring you to our master Lear, And leave you to attend him: some dear cause Will in concealment wrap me up a while; When I am known aright, you shall not grieve Lending me this acquaintance. I pray you, go Along with me.

The same.

SCENE IV.

[Exeunt.

A Tent. 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, 3 and furrow-weeds,
With harlocks, 4 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 do,

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.6

Enter a Messenger.

Mes. Madam, news ;

The British powers are marching hitherward.
Cor. 'Tis known before; our preparation stands

In expectation of them.-O dear father,

HARRIS.

[3] Fumitory. By the old herbalists, written fumittery. [4] Harlocks must be a typographical error for charlock, the common name of sinapis arvensis, wild mustard.

HARRIS.

[5] Darnel, according to Gerard, is the most hurtful of weeds among corn.

STEEVENS.

[6] The reason which should guide it,

JOHNSON.

It is thy business that I go
Therefore great France

about;

My mourning, and important tears, hath pitied.7
No blown ambition doth our arms incite, &

But love, dear love, and our ag'd father's right:
Soon may I hear, and see him!

SCENE V.

[Exeunt.

A Room in GLOSTER's Castle. Enter REGAN and Steward.

Reg. But are my brother's powers set forth ?

Stew. Ay, madam.

Reg. Himself

In person there?

Stew. Madam, with much ado:

Your sister is the better soldier.

Reg. Lord Edmund spake not with your lord at home? Stew. No, madam.

Reg. What might import my sister's letter to him?
Stew. I know not, lady.

Reg. 'Faith, he is posted hence on serious matter.
It was great ignorance, Gloster's eyes being out,
To let him live; where he arrives, he moves

All hearts against us: Edmund, I think, is gone,
In pity of his misery, to despatch

His nighted life; moreover, to descry

The strength o'the enemy.

Stew. I must needs after him, madam, with my letter. Reg. Our troops set forth to-morrow; stay with us; The ways are dangerous.

Stew. I may not, madam;

My lady charg'd my duty in this business.

Reg.Why should she write to Edmund? Might not you Transport her purposes by word? Belike,

Something-I know not what :-I'll love thee much,
Let me unseal the letter.

Stew. Madam, I had rather—

Reg. I know, your lady does not love her husband; I am sure of that: and, at her late being here, She gave strange œiliads, and most speaking looks To noble Edmund : I know, you are of her bosom.

[7] Important, as in other places in this author, for importunate. JOHNS. [8] No inflated, no swelling pride. JOHNSON.

[91 His life made dark as night by the extinction of his eyes. STEEVENS, [13 Oeillade, Fr. A cast, or significant glance of the eye. STEEVENS.

Stew. I, madam ?

Reg. I speak in understanding; you are, I know it : Therefore, I do advise you, take this note :2

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. 3
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.

Stew. 'Would I could meet him, madam! I would show

What party I do follow.

Reg. Fare thee well.

SCENE VI.

[Exeunt.

The Country near Dover. Enter GLOSTER, and EDGAR, dressed

like a Peasant.

Glo. When shall we come to the top of that same hill? Edg. You do climb up it now look, how we labour. Glo. Methinks, the ground is even.

Edg. Horrible steep:

Hark, do you hear the sea?

Glo. No, truly.

Edg. Why, then your other senses grow imperfect By your eyes' anguish.

Glo. So it may be, indeed :

Methinks, thy voice is alter'd ;4 and thou speak'st
In better phrase, and matter, than thou didst.

Edg. You are much deceiv'd; in nothing am I chang'd, But in my garments.

Glo. Methinks, you 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,

[2] Note means in this place not a letter, but a remark. [3] You may infer more than I have directly told you.

JOHNSON.

JOHNSON.

[4] Edgar alters his voice in order to pass afterwards for a malignant

spirit.

JOHNSON,

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