Methinks he seems no bigger than his head: GLOSTER'S FAREWELL TO THE WORLD. O you mighty gods! This world I do renounce; and, in your sights, To quarrel with your great opposeless wills, LEAR ON HIS FLATTERERS. They flatter'd me like a dog; and told me, I had white hairs in my beard, ere the black ones were there. To say ay, and no, to every thing I said! -Ay and no too was no good divinity. When the rain came to wet me once, and the wind to make me chatter; when the thunder would not peace at my bidding; there I found them, there I smelt them out. Go to, they are not men o' their words: they told me I was every thing; 'tis a lie; I am not agueproof. ON THE ABUSE OF POWER. Thou rascal beadle, hold thy bloody hand: Why dost thou lash that whore? Strip thine own Thou hotly lust'st to use her in that kind [back; *Her cock-boat. + Tumble. For which thou whipp'st her. the cozener. The usurer hangs Through tatter'd clothes small vices do appear; 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; I'll able 'em: Take that of me, my friend, who have the power To seal the accuser's lips. Get thee glass eyes; And, like a scurvy politician, seem To see the things thou dost not. CORDELIA ON THE INGRATITUDE OF HER SISTERS. O my dear father! Restoration, hang Had you not been their father, these white flakes * And wast thou fain, poor father, To hovel thee with swine, and rogues forlorn, SCENE BETWEEN LEAR AND CORDELIA. Cor. How does my royal lord? How fares your majesty? Lear. You do me wrong, to take me out o'the grave: Thou art a soul in bliss; but I am bound Cor. Sir, do you know me? Lear. You are a spirit, I know: When did you Cor. Still, still, far wide! [die? Phys. He's scarce awake; let him alone awhile. Lear. Where have I been?-Where am I?Fair day-light? I am mightily abus'd. I should even die with pity, Cor. O, look upon me, sir, And hold your hands in benediction o'er me:— No, sir, you must not kneel. Lear. Pray, do not mock me: I am a very foolish fond old man, Fourscore and upward; and, to deal plainly, Methinks I should know you, and know this man: To be my child Cordelia. Cor. And so I am, Lear. Be your tears wet? Yes, 'faith. I am. I pray, If me, I will drink it. I know, you do not love me; for your sisters weep not: you have poison for Have, as I do remember, done me wrong: Cor. Lear. Am I in France? Kent. No cause, no cause. In your own kingdom, sir. Lear. Do not abuse me. Phys. Be comforted, good madam: the great rage, Cor. Will't please your highness walk? You must bear with me: Pray now, forget and forgive: I am old, and foolish. ACT V. LEAR TO CORDELIA WHEN TAKEN PRISONERS. No, no, no, no! Come, let's away to prison: 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,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. Edm. Take them away. Lear. Upon such sacrifices, my Cordelia, The gods themselves throw incense. * To reconcile it to his apprehension. THE JUSTICE OF THE GODS. The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices Make instruments to scourge us. EDGAR'S ACCOUNT OF HIS DISCOVERING HIMSELF TO HIS FATHER. List* a brief tale; And, when 'tis told, O, that my heart would burst!— That follow'd me so near, (O our lives' sweetness! Edm. This speech of yours hath mov'd me, And shall, perchance, do good; but speak you on; You look as you had something more to say. Alb. If there be more, more woful, hold it in; For I am almost ready to dissolve, Hearing of this. Edg. This would have seem'd a period To such as love not sorrow; but another, * Hear. |