King Lear Page #10

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I'll speak a prophecy ere I go.

When priests are more in word than matter,

when brewers mar their malt with water,

when nobles are their tailors' tutors,

no heretics burned, but wenches' suitors,

then shall the realm of Albion

come to great confusion.

When every case in law is right,

no squire in debt nor no poor knight,

when usurers share their gold i' the field,

and bawds and whores do churches build,

then comes the time, who lives to see't,

that going shall be used with feet...

Agh!

The army of France has landed.

How now, where's the King?

My lord of Gloucester

hath convey'd him hence.

Some five or six and thirty of his knights

are gone with him towards Dover,

where they boast to have well-armed friends.

Where is that traitor Gloucester?

Pinion him like a thief!

Hang him instantly!

Post speedily to my lord your husband.

Show him this letter.

Edmund, keep you our sister company.

The revenges we are bound to take

upon your traitorous father

are not fit for your beholding.

Farewell, dear sister.

Farewell, my lord of Gloucester.

- Farewell, sweet lord, and sister.

- Get horses for your mistress.

Edmund, farewell.

Who's there? The traitor!

Ingrateful fox!

- 'Tis he!

- Bind fast his corky arms.

What means your graces?

Good my friends, consider...

- Bind him, I say.

- Hard.

Hard!

O filthy traitor!

Unmerciful lady as you are, I am none.

To this chair bind him.

Villain, thou shalt find.

By the kind gods, 'tis most ignobly done

to pluck me by the beard.

So white... and such a traitor!

Naughty lady, these hairs

which thou dost ravish from my chin

will quicken, and accuse thee.

- What will you do?

- Come, sir,

what letters had you late from France?

Be simple answered,

for we know the truth.

And what confederacy have you

with the traitors late footed in the kingdom?

To whose hands have you sent

the lunatic King? Speak!

I have a letter guessingly set down,

that came from one that's of a neutral heart,

not from one opposed.

Cunning.

And false.

- Where hast thou sent the King?

- To Dover.

Wherefore to Dover?

Wast thou not charged at peril?

- Wherefore to Dover? Let him answer that.

- I am tied to the stake. I must stand the...

Wherefore to Dover?

Because I would not see thy cruel nails

pluck out his dear old eyes,

nor thy fierce sister

in his anointed flesh stick boarish fangs.

But I shall see

the winged vengeance o'ertake such children.

See't shalt thou never.

Fellows, hold the chair.

Upon these eyes of thine

I'll set my foot.

- One side will mock another, the other too.

- If you see Vengeance...

No! Hold your hand, my lord!

I have served you ever since I was a child,

but better service have I never done you

than now to bid you hold.

How now, you dog!

If you did wear a beard upon your chin

I would shake it on this quarrel.

- What do you mean?

- My villain!

Nay, then, come on,

and take the chance of anger.

A peasant stand up thus!

My lord, you have one eye left

to see some mischief...

Lest it see more, prevent it.

Out, vile jelly!

- Where is thy lustre now?

- All dark and comfortless.

Where is my son Edmund?

Edmund, enkindle all the sparks of nature

to quit this horrid act.

Out, treacherous villain!

Thou call'st on him that hates thee.

It was he that made the overture of thy

treasons to us, who is too good to pity thee.

O my follies! Then Edgar was abused.

Go thrust him out at gates,

and let him smell his way to Dover.

- How is't, my lord? My lord, how look you?

- I have received a wound.

Turn out that eyeless villain!

Throw that slave on the dunghill!

I bleed apace.

Untimely comes this hurt.

Give me your arm.

Let's follow the old earl, and get the Bedlam

to lead him where he would.

Go thou. I'll fetch some flax and whites

of eggs to apply to his bleeding face.

Now, heaven, help him!

The lamentable change is from the best.

The worst returns to laughter.

- But who comes here?

- O, my good lord,

we have been your tenants and

your father's tenants these fourscore years.

Away! Get thee away! Good friend, be gone.

Thy comfort can do me no good at all.

Thee they may hurt.

You cannot see your way.

I have no way, and therefore want no eyes.

I stumbled when I saw.

O dear son Edgar,

might I but live to see thee in my touch,

I'd say I had eyes again.

World, world, oh, world!

That thy strange mutations make us

hate thee, life would not yield to age!

How now? Who's there?

'Tis poor mad Tom.

Fellow, where goest?

- Is it the beggar-man?

- Ay, madman and beggar too.

He has some reason, else he could not beg.

In the last night's storm I such a fellow saw

which made me think a man a worm.

My son came then into my mind.

As flies to wanton boys, are we to the gods.

They kill us for their sport.

- Bless thee, master!

- Is that the naked fellow?

- Ay, my lord.

- Then, prithee get thee away.

If for my sake thou shouldst

o'ertake us hence

a mile or twain on the road toward Dover,

do it for ancient love,

and bring some covering for this naked soul,

who I'll entreat to lead me.

Alack, sir, he is mad.

'Tis the time's plague

when madmen lead the blind.

I'll bring him the best 'parel that I have.

Come on't what will.

Sirrah!

- Naked fellow!

- Poor Tom's a-cold.

Bless thy sweet eyes...

they bleed.

Knowest thou the way to Dover?

Both stile and gate,

horse-way and foot-path.

- Here...

- So bless thee, master!

Here, take this purse. That I am wretched

makes thee the happier.

Heavens, deal so still!

Let the superfluous and lust-dieted man

that slaves your ordinance,

that will not see because he doth not feel,

feel your power quickly!

So distribution should undo excess

and each man have enough.

- Dost thou know Dover?

- Ay, master.

There is a cliff whose high and bending head

looks fearfully in the confined deep.

Bring me but to the very brim of it.

From that place

I shall no leading need.

Give me thy arm.

Poor Tom shall lead thee.

Five fiends have been in poor Tom at once:

as Obidicut, Hobbididence, Mahu, Modo...

Welcome, my lord.

I marvel our mild husband

not met us on the way.

- Now, where's your master?

- Madam, within, but never man so changed.

I told him of the army that was landed.

He smiled at it. I told him you were coming.

His answer was, "'The worse."

Of Gloucester's treachery,

and of the loyal service of his son,

when I informed him, then he called me sot

and told me I had turn'd the wrong side out.

Then shall you go no further.

It is the cowish terror of his spirit

that dares not undertake.

He'll not feel wrongs

which tie him to an answer.

Our wishes on the way

may prove effects.

Back, Edmund, to my brother.

Hasten his musters and conduct his powers.

This trusty servant shall pass between us.

Ere long you are like to hear,

if you dare venture in your own behalf,

a mistress' command.

Wear this. Spare speech.

Decline your head.

This kiss, if it durst speak,

would stretch thy spirits up into the air.

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