Edg. Yet better thus, and known to be contemn'd, Than still contemn'd and flatter'd. To be worst, 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! Old M. 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 M. Alack, sir, you cannot see your way. Our mean secures us; and our mere defects Might I but live to see thee in my touch, Old M. 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. Old M. "Tis poor mad Tom. Edg. [Aside] And worse I may be yet: The worst is not, So long as we can say, This is the worst. Old M. Fellow, where goest? Is it a beggar-man? Old M. Madman and beggar too. Glo. He has some reason, else he could not beg. Which made me think a man a worm: My son Was then scarce friends with him: I have heard more since: As flies to wanton boys, are we to the gods; They kill us for their sport. Edg. How should this be? Bad is the trade must play the fool to sorrow, Old M. Ay, my lord. sake, Old M. Alack, sir, he's mad. Glo. "Tis the times' plague, when madmen lead the blind: Do as I bid thee, or rather do thy pleasure; Above the rest, be gone. Old M. I'll bring him the best 'parel that I have, Come on't what will. Glo. Sirrah, naked fellow. [Exit. Edg. Poor Tom's a-cold.-I cannot daub it further. [Aside. Glo. Come hither, fellow. Edg. [Aside] And yet I must.-Bless thy sweet eyes, they bleed. Glo. Know'st thou the way to Dover? Edg. Both stile and gate, horse-way and foot-path. Poor Tom hath been scared out of his good wits: Bless the good man from the foul fiend! Five fiends have been in poor Tom at once; of lust, as Obidicut; Hobbididance, prince of dumbness; Mahu, of stealing; Modo, of murder; and Flibbertigibbet, of mopping and mowing; who since possesses chamber-maids and waitingwomen. So, bless thee, master! Glo. Here, take this purse, thou whom the heaven's plagues Have humbled to all strokes: that I am wretched, That slaves your ordinance, that will not see And each man have enough.-Dost thou know Dover? Glo. There is a cliff, whose high and bending head Looks fearfully in the confined deep: Bring me but to the very brim of it, And I'll repair the misery thou dost bear, With something rich about me: from that place I shall no leading need. Edg. Poor Tom shall lead thee. Give me thy arm; [Exeunt. SCENE 11. Before the DUKE of ALBANY's Palace. Enter GONERIL and EDMUND; STEWARD meeting them. Gon. Welcome, my lord: I marvel, our mild husband Not met us on the way:-Now, where's your master? He smil'd at it: I told him you were coming; When I inform'd him, then he call'd me sot; And told me, I had turn'd the wrong side out:What most he should dislike, seems pleasant to him; What like, offensive. Gon. Then shall you go no further. [To Edmund. I must change arms at home, and give the distaff A mistresses command. Wear this; spare speech; 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 Usurps my bed. Stew. Madam, here comes my lord. [Exit Steward. Enter ALBANY. Gon. I have been worth the whistle. O Goneril! Alb. Blows in your face.-I fear your disposition: Gon. No more; the text is foolish. Alb. Wisdom and goodness to the vile seem vile : Whose reverence the head-lugg'd bear would lick, If that the heavens do not their visible spirits Humanity must perforce prey on itself, Gon. Milk-liver'd man! That bear'st a cheek for blows, a head for wrongs; Ere they have done their mischief. Where's thy drum? Alb, Gon. O vain fool! Alb. Thou changed and self-cover'd thing, for shame, Be-monster not thy feature. Were it my fitness |