Act 4 — Scene I. The heath.[3996]
Reading edition
Scene I. The heath.[3996]
Enter Edgar.
Edg. Yet better thus, and known to be contemn'd,[3997] Than still contemn'd and flatter'd. To be worst,[3998] The lowest and most dejected thing of fortune,[3999] Stands still in esperance, lives not in fear:[4000] The lamentable change is from the best; 5 The worst returns to laughter. Welcome then,[4001][4002] Thou unsubstantial air that I embrace![4002] The wretch that them hast blown unto the worst[4002] Owes nothing to thy blasts. But who comes here?[4002][4003][4004]
Enter Gloucester, led by an Old Man.[4005]
My father, poorly led? World, world, O world![4005][4006] 10 But that thy strange mutations make us hate thee,[4007] Life would not yield to age.[4008] Old Man. O, my good lord, I have been your tenant,[4009] and your father's tenant, these fourscore years.[4009][4010] Glou. Away, get thee away; good friend, be gone: 15 Thy comforts can do me no good at all; Thee they may hurt. Old Man. Alack, sir, you cannot see your way.[4011] Glou. I have no way and therefore want no eyes; I stumbled when I saw: full oft 'tis seen, 20 Our means secure us, and our mere defects[4012] Prove our commodities. Ah, dear son Edgar,[4013] The food of thy abused father's wrath! Might I but live to see thee in my touch, I'ld say I had eyes again! Old Man. How now! Who 's there?[4014] 25 Edg. [Aside] O gods! Who is't can say 'I am at the worst'?[4015][4016] I am worse than e'er I was.[4017] Old Man. 'Tis poor mad Tom. Edg. [Aside] And worse I may be yet: the worst is not[4015] So long as we can say 'This is the worst.'[4018] Old Man. Fellow, where goest? Glou. Is it a beggar-man? 30 Old Man. Madman and beggar too. Glou. He has some reason, else he could not beg.[4019] I' the last night's storm I such a fellow saw,[4020] Which made me think a man a worm: my son Came then into my mind, and yet my mind 35 Was then scarce friends with him: I have heard more since.[4021] As flies to wanton boys, are we to the gods;[4022] They kill us for their sport.[4023] Edg. [Aside] How should this be?[4015][4024][4025] Bad is the trade that must play fool to sorrow,[4024][4026] Angering itself and others. Bless thee, master![4024][4027] 40 Glou. Is that the naked fellow? Old Man. Ay, my lord. Glou. Then, prithee, get thee gone: if for my sake[4028] Thou wilt o'ertake us hence a mile or twain[4029] I' the way toward Dover, do it for ancient love;[4030] And bring some covering for this naked soul,[4031] 45 Who I'll entreat to lead me.[4032] Old Man. Alack, sir, he is mad. Glou. 'Tis the times' plague, when madmen lead the blind.[4033] Do as I bid thee, or rather do thy pleasure;[4034] Above the rest, be gone. Old Man. I'll bring him the best 'parel that I have,[4035][4036] 50 Come on't what will. [Exit. Glou. Sirrah, naked fellow,—[4037] Edg. Poor Tom's a-cold. [Aside] I cannot daub it further.[4015][4038] Glou. Come hither, fellow. Edg. [Aside] And yet I must. Bless thy sweet eyes, they bleed.[4015][4039]55 Glou. Know'st thou the way to Dover? Edg. Both stile and gate, horse-way and foot-path. Poor[4040] Tom hath been scared out of his good wits. Bless thee, good[4040][4041][4042] man's son, from the foul fiend! Five fiends have been in poor[4040][4042][4043] Tom at once; of lust, as Obidicut; Hobbididence, prince of[4043][4044] 60 dumbness; Mahu, of stealing; Modo, of murder; Flibbertigibbet,[4043][4045] of mopping and mowing; who since possesses[4043][4046] chambermaids and waiting-women. So, bless thee, master![4043][4047] Glou. Here, take this purse, thou whom the heavens' plagues[4048] Have humbled to all strokes: that I am wretched[4049] 65 Makes thee the happier. Heavens, deal so still![4049] Let the superfluous and lust-dieted man,[4050] That slaves your ordinance, that will not see[4051] Because he doth not feel, feel your power quickly;[4052] So distribution should undo excess[4053] 70 And each man have enough. Dost thou know Dover? Edg. Ay, master. Glou. There is a cliff whose high and bending head Looks fearfully in the confined deep:[4054] Bring me but to the very brim of it, 75 And I'll repair the misery thou dost bear With something rich about me: from that place[4055] I shall no leading need.[4055][4056] Edg. Give me thy arm:[4057] Poor Tom shall lead thee. [Exeunt.[4057][4058]