Re. Our troops set forth to-morrow: stay with us: The ways are dangerous.

Stew.

I may not, madam ; My lady charged my duty in this business.

Re. 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 ratherRe. I know, your lady does not love her husband; I am sure of that: and, at her late being here, She gave strange œiliads,1 and most speaking looks To noble Edmund: I know, you are of her bosom. Stew. I, madam ?

Re. I speak in understanding; you are; I know it:

Therefore, I do advise you, take this note.?
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
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

If

you well.

If you do chance to hear of that blind traitor,
Preferment falls on him that cuts him off.

1 Significant glances.

2 Observe what I am saying.

i. e. you may infer more than I have told you.

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

Enter GLOSTER, and EDGAR, dressed like a peasant. Glos. When shall we come to the top of that same hill?

Edg. You do climb up it now: look, how we

Edg. Why, then your other senses grow imper

fect

By your eyes' anguish.

Glos.

So may it be, indeed:

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

Edg. You are much deceived; in nothing am I changed

But in my garments.

Glos.

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; 1 dreadful trade!
Methinks, he seems no bigger than his head :
The fishermen, that walk upon the beach,
Appear like mice; and yon tall anchoring bark,
Diminish'd to her cock; 2 her cock, a buoy
Almost too small for sight: the murmuring surge,
That on the unnumber'd idle pebbles chafes,
Cannot be heard so high.-I'll look no more;
Lest my brain turn, , and the deficient sight
Topple3 down headlong.

Glos.

Set me where you stand. Edg. Give me your hand: you are now within a

foot

Of the extreme verge: for all beneath the moon
Would I not leap upright.

Glos.

Let go my hand.

Here, friend, is another purse; in it, a jewel

Well worth a poor man's taking: fairies, and gods, Prosper it with thee! Go thou farther off;

[seems to go.

Bid me farewell, and let me hear thee going.
Edg. Now fare you well, good sir.
Glos.
Edg. Why I do trifle thus with his despair,

Is done to cure it.

With all my

heart.

Glos.

O, you mighty gods!

1 A plant gathered for pickling. Tumble.

2 Her cock-boat.

This world I do renounce; and, in your sights,
Shake patiently my great affliction off:
If I could bear it longer, and not fall
To quarrel with your great opposeless wills,
My snuff, and loathed part of nature, should
Burn itself out. If Edgar live, O, bless him!-
Now, fellow, fare thee well.

Edg.

[he leaps, and falls along.

Gone, sir? farewell.

And yet I know not how conceit may rob

The treasury of life, when life itself

Yields to the theft.1 Had he been where he thought,

By this had thought been past.-Alive, or dead?
Ho, you, sir! friend!—Hear you, sir?—speak!
Thus might he pass indeed: 2 yet he revives.
What are you, sir?

Glos.

Away, and let me die.

Edg. Hadst thou been aught but gossamer, feathers, air,

So many fathom down precipitating,

Thou hadst shiver'd like an egg: but thou dost

breathe;

Hast heavy substance; bleed'st not; speak'st; art sound.

Ten masts at each make not the altitude,

Which thou hast perpendicularly fell.

1 i. e. when life is willing to be destroyed.
* Thus might he die in reality.

Thy life's a miracle: speak yet again.

Glos. But have I fallen, or no?

Edg. From the dread summit of this chalky

bourn :

Look up a-height; the shrill-gorged lark so far
Cannot be seen or heard: do but look up.

Glos. Alack, I have no eyes.

Is wretchedness deprived that benefit,

To end itself by death? 'Twas yet some comfort,
When misery could beguile the tyrant's rage,
And frustrate his proud will.

Edg.

Give me your arm:

Up-so-how is 't? Feel you your legs? You

stand.

Glos. Too well, too well.

Edg.

This is above all strangeness.

Upon the crown o' the cliff, what thing was that

Which parted from you?

A poor

unfortunate beggar.

Glos. Edg. As I stood here below, methought, his eyes Were two full moons: he had a thousand noses, Horns whelk'd,1 and waved like the enridged sea. It was some fiend: therefore, thou happy father, Think that the clearest gods, who make them honors

Of men's impossibilities, have preserved thee.

Glos. I do remember now: henceforth I 'll bear Affliction, till it do cry out itself,