King Lear, Act IV, Scene 6

Act IV, Scene 6     The country near Dover.

Enter Gloucester [whose eyes have been plucked from his head by Lear's enemies], and Edgar [his son, disguised as a Peasant]. Earl of Gloucester. When shall I come to th' top of that same hill? Edgar. You do climb up it now. Look how we labour. Earl of Gloucester. Methinks the ground is even. Edgar. Horrible steep. 2600 Hark, do you hear the sea? Earl of Gloucester. No, truly. Edgar. Why, then, your other senses grow imperfect By your eyes' anguish. Earl of Gloucester. So may it be indeed. 2605 Methinks thy voice is alter'd, and thou speak'st In better phrase and matter than thou didst. Edgar. Y'are much deceiv'd. In nothing am I chang'd But in my garments. Earl of Gloucester. Methinks y'are better spoken. 2610 Edgar. 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. Halfway down Hangs one that gathers sampire- dreadful trade! 2615 Methinks he seems no bigger than his head. The fishermen that walk upon the beach Appear like mice; and yond tall anchoring bark, Diminish'd to her cock; her cock, a buoy Almost too small for sight. The murmuring surge 2620 That on th' unnumb'red idle pebble chafes Cannot be heard so high. I'll look no more, Lest my brain turn, and the deficient sight Topple down headlong. Earl of Gloucester. Set me where you stand. 2625 Edgar. Give me your hand. You are now within a foot Of th' extreme verge. For all beneath the moon Would I not leap upright. Earl of Gloucester. Let go my hand. Here, friend, is another purse; in it a jewel 2630 Well worth a poor man's taking. Fairies and gods Prosper it with thee! Go thou further off; Bid me farewell, and let me hear thee going. Edgar. Now fare ye well, good sir. Earl of Gloucester. With all my heart. 2635 Edgar. [aside]. Why I do trifle thus with his despair Is done to cure it. Earl of Gloucester. O you mighty gods! He kneels. This world I do renounce, and, in your sights, Shake patiently my great affliction off. 2640 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. 2645 He falls [forward and swoons]. Edgar. Gone, sir, farewell.- And yet I know not how conceit may rob The treasury of life when life itself Yields to the theft. Had he been where he thought, 2650 By this had thought been past.- Alive or dead? Ho you, sir! friend! Hear you, sir? Speak!- Thus might he pass indeed. Yet he revives. What are you, sir? Earl of Gloucester. Away, and let me die. 2655 Edgar. Hadst thou been aught but gossamer, feathers, air, So many fadom down precipitating, Thou'dst 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 2660 Which thou hast perpendicularly fell. Thy life is a miracle. Speak yet again. Earl of Gloucester. But have I fall'n, or no? Edgar. From the dread summit of this chalky bourn. Look up a-height. The shrill-gorg'd lark so far 2665 Cannot be seen or heard. Do but look up. Earl of Gloucester. Alack, I have no eyes! Is wretchedness depriv'd that benefit To end itself by death? 'Twas yet some comfort When misery could beguile the tyrant's rage 2670 And frustrate his proud will. Edgar. Give me your arm. Up- so. How is't? Feel you your legs? You stand. Earl of Gloucester. Too well, too well. Edgar. This is above all strangeness. 2675 Upon the crown o' th' cliff what thing was that Which parted from you? Earl of Gloucester. A poor unfortunate beggar. Edgar. As I stood here below, methought his eyes Were two full moons; he had a thousand noses,Horns whelk'd and wav'd like the enridged sea. 2680 It was some fiend. Therefore, thou happy father, Think that the clearest gods, who make them honours Of men's impossibility, have preserv'd thee. Earl of Gloucester. I do remember now. Henceforth I'll bear Affliction till it do cry out itself 2685 'Enough, enough,' and die. That thing you speak of, I took it for a man. Often 'twould say 'The fiend, the fiend'- he led me to that place. Edgar. Bear free and patient thoughts.