King Lear : Act 4, Scene 6
Enter GLOUCESTER and
dressed like a peasant —Edgar is now wearing the "best 'parel" provided by Gloucester's old tenant.
EDGAR [dressed like a peasant].
GLOUCESTER
1 When shall we come to th' top of that same hill?that same hill i.e., that hill you promised to take me to —See Act 4, Scene 6, line 73 ff.
EDGAR
labour sweat and pant
2 You do climb up it now: look, how we labour.
GLOUCESTER
3 Methinks the ground is even.
EDGAR
3 Horrible steep.
4 Hark, do you hear the sea?
GLOUCESTER
4 No, truly.
EDGAR
5 Why, then, your other senses grow imperfect
6 By your eyes' anguish.
GLOUCESTER
6 So may it be, indeed:
7 Methinks thy voice is alter'd; and thou speak'st
better phrase and matter —Apparently Edgar is forgetting to talk like "Poor Tom."
8 In better phrase and matter than thou didst.
EDGAR
9 Y' are much deceived: in nothing am I changed
10 But in my garments.
GLOUCESTER
10 Methinks y' are better spoken.
EDGAR
11 Come on, sir; here's the place: stand still. How fearful
12 And dizzy 'tis, to cast one's eyes so low!
chough jackdaw
13 The crows and choughs that wing the midway air
14 Show scarce so gross as beetles: half way down
15 Hangs one that gathers samphire, dreadful trade!
16 Methinks he seems no bigger than his head:
17 The fishermen, that walk upon the beach,
tall anchoring bark, / Diminish'd to her cock; her cock, a buoy tall anchored ship, diminished to (the size of) her dinghy; her dinghy diminished to (the size of) a buoy
18 Appear like mice; and yond tall anchoring bark,
19 Diminish'd to her cock; her cock, a buoy
20 Almost too small for sight: the murmuring surge,
21 That on the unnumber'd idle pebbles chafes,
22 Cannot be heard so high. I'll look no more;
the deficient sight my deficient sight
Topple down headlong. Topple me down headlong.
Topple down headlong. Topple me down headlong.
23 Lest my brain turn, and the deficient sight
24 Topple down headlong.
GLOUCESTER
24 Set me where you stand.
EDGAR
25 Give me your hand: you are now within a foot
26 Of the extreme verge: for all beneath the moon
Would I not leap upright. I would not leap up and down, much less forward (for fear of losing my balance).
27 Would I not leap upright.
GLOUCESTER
27 Let go my hand.
28 Here, friend, 's another purse; in it a jewel
Prosper it make it increase —Fairies were thought to guard and multiply hidden treasures.
29 Well worth a poor man's taking: fairies and gods
30 Prosper it with thee! Go thou farther off;
31 Bid me farewell, and let me hear thee going.
EDGAR
32 Now fare you well, good sir.
GLOUCESTER
32 With all my heart.
EDGAR [Aside.]
33 Why I do trifle thus with his despair
34 Is done to cure it.
GLOUCESTER [Kneeling.]
34 O you mighty gods!
35 This world I do renounce, and, in your sights,
36 Shake patiently my great affliction off:
If I could ... Burn itself out i.e., If I could bear my life any longer without rebelling against your irresistible wills, the useless residue of my life—like the smoking wick of a snuffed candle—would burn itself out.
37 If I could bear it longer, and not fall
38 To quarrel with your great opposeless wills,
39 My snuff and loathed part of nature should
40 Burn itself out. If Edgar live, O, bless him!
41 Now, fellow, fare thee well.
[He falls forward.]
EDGAR
41 Gone, sir; farewell!
I know not how conceit I don't know whether or not imagination
42 And yet I know not how conceit may rob
43 The treasury of life, when life itself
Yields Consents | where he thought i.e., where he thought he would be: at the bottom of a high cliff
44 Yields to the theft: had he been where he thought,
45 By this, had thought been past. Alive or dead?
a new accent —Edgar changes accents, so that he no longer sounds like "Poor Tom" the mad beggar.
[In a new accent.]
46 Ho, you sir! friend! Hear you, sir! speak!
pass die
47 Thus might he pass indeed: yet he revives.
48 What are you, sir?
GLOUCESTER
48 Away, and let me die.
EDGAR
aught anything | gossamer spider thread
fathom about six feet | precipitating plunging shiver'd shattered
heavy substance heavy substance (of flesh) art sound are unbroken
at each end to end
fathom about six feet | precipitating plunging shiver'd shattered
heavy substance heavy substance (of flesh) art sound are unbroken
at each end to end
49 Hadst thou been aught but gossamer, feathers, air,
50 (So many fathom down precipitating),
51 Thou'dst shiver'd like an egg: but thou dost breathe;
52 Hast heavy substance; bleed'st not; speak'st; art sound.
53 Ten masts at each make not the altitude
54 Which thou hast perpendicularly fell:
55 Thy life's a miracle. Speak yet again.
GLOUCESTER
56 But have I fall'n, or no?
EDGAR
chalky bourn i.e., chalky cliffs bounding a sea
a-height on high | shrill-gorged lark shrill-throated lark
a-height on high | shrill-gorged lark shrill-throated lark
57 From the dread summit of this chalky bourn.
58 Look up a-height; the shrill-gorged lark so far
59 Cannot be seen or heard: do but look up.
GLOUCESTER
60 Alack, I have no eyes.
61 Is wretchedness deprived that benefit,
62 To end itself by death? 'Twas yet some comfort,
beguile cheat; outwit
63 When misery could beguile the tyrant's rage,
64 And frustrate his proud will.
EDGAR
64 Give me your arm:
65 Up: so. How is 't? Feel you your legs? You stand.
GLOUCESTER
66 Too well, too well.
EDGAR
This is above all strangeness. This is stranger than strange
66 This is above all strangeness.
67 Upon the crown o' the cliff, what thing was that
68 Which parted from you?
GLOUCESTER
68 A poor unfortunate beggar.
EDGAR
69 As I stood here below, methought his eyes
70 Were two full moons; he had a thousand noses,
whelk'd twisted | enridged furrowed
happy father fortunate old man
happy father fortunate old man
71 Horns whelk'd and waved like the enridged sea:
72 It was some fiend; therefore, thou happy father,
clearest purest | who make them honours / Of men's impossibilities who win our reverence by doing deeds impossible to men
73 Think that the clearest gods, who make them honours
74 Of men's impossibilities, have preserved thee.
GLOUCESTER
75 I do remember now: henceforth I'll bear
76 Affliction till it do cry out itself
77 "Enough, enough," and die. That thing you speak of,
78 I took it for a man; often 'twould say
79 "The fiend, the fiend": he led me to that place.
EDGAR
free serene
80 Bear free and patient thoughts. But who comes here?
Enter LEAR [fantastically dressed with
weeds and wild flowers].
The safer sense will ne'er accommodate / His master thus. i.e., A sane mind would never allow its possessor to dress up this way.
81 The safer sense will ne'er accommodate
82 His master thus.
KING LEAR
they cannot touch me for coining they cannot prosecute me for minting coins
83 No, they cannot touch me for coining; I am the
84 king himself.
EDGAR
85 O thou side-piercing sight!
KING LEAR
86 Nature's above art in that respect. There's your
press-money money paid to a man impressed (drafted) into the army crow-keeper: draw me a clothier's yard
do 't lure the mouse | I'll prove it on a giant i.e., I'll prove my case in trial by combat with a giant brown bills i.e., soldiers carrying brown pikes | bird arrow | clout bull's eye word password
marjoram used medicinally against madness
do 't lure the mouse | I'll prove it on a giant i.e., I'll prove my case in trial by combat with a giant brown bills i.e., soldiers carrying brown pikes | bird arrow | clout bull's eye word password
marjoram used medicinally against madness
87 press-money. That fellow handles his bow like a
88 crow-keeper: draw me a clothier's yard. Look,
89 look, a mouse! Peace, peace; this piece of toasted
90 cheese will do 't. There's my gauntlet; I'll prove it
91 on a giant. Bring up the brown bills. O, well flown,
92 bird! i' the clout, i' the clout—hewgh! Give the word.
EDGAR
93 Sweet marjoram.
KING LEAR
94 Pass.
GLOUCESTER
95 I know that voice.
KING LEAR
96 Ha! Goneril, with a white beard! They flattered
like a dog i.e., like a dog would, fawningly | told me I had white hairs in my beard ere the black ones were there. i.e., told me I had wisdom before age no good divinity poor theology, (because insincere); from James 5:12 "Let your yea be your yea; your nay nay."
found 'em i.e, found out that they were flattering me
found 'em i.e, found out that they were flattering me
97 me like a dog; and told me I had white hairs in my
98 beard ere the black ones were there. To say 'ay'
99 and 'no' to every thing that I said!—'Ay' and 'no'
100 too was no good divinity. When the rain came to
101 wet me once, and the wind to make me chatter; when
102 the thunder would not peace at my bidding; there I
103 found 'em, there I smelt 'em out. Go to, they are
104 not men o' their words: they told me I was every
ague-proof immune to illness
105 thing; 'tis a lie, I am not ague-proof.
GLOUCESTER
trick peculiarity
106 The trick of that voice I do well remember:
107 Is 't not the king?
KING LEAR
107 Ay, every inch a king:
the subject i.e., any one of my subjects
thy cause? your crime?
thy cause? your crime?
108 When I do stare, see how the subject quakes.
109 I pardon that man's life. What was thy cause?
110 Adultery?
111 Thou shalt not die: die for adultery! No:
goes to 't i.e., copulates
112 The wren goes to 't, and the small gilded fly
113 Does lecher in my sight.
114 Let copulation thrive; for Gloucester's bastard son
115 Was kinder to his father than my daughters
Got begot |sheets bed sheets
To 't, luxury, pell-mell! i.e., go ahead lechery, rage on!
To 't, luxury, pell-mell! i.e., go ahead lechery, rage on!
116 Got 'tween the lawful sheets.
117 To 't, luxury, pell-mell! for I lack soldiers.
118 Behold yond simpering dame,
face between her forks: | presages snow i.e., implies icy cold chastity minces coyly affects pleasure's name the very name of sexual pleasure The fitchew, nor the soiled horse (Neither) the polecat nor a high-spirited horse full of fresh grass Centaurs lecherous mythological creatures which have a human body to the waist and the legs and torso of a horse below But to the girdle Only to the belt
hell traditional slang for the female genitals
civet exotic perfume (derived from the sex glands of a civet cat)
hell traditional slang for the female genitals
civet exotic perfume (derived from the sex glands of a civet cat)
119 Whose face between her forks presages snow;
120 That minces virtue, and does shake the head
121 To hear of pleasure's name;
122 The fitchew, nor the soiled horse, goes to 't
123 With a more riotous appetite.
124 Down from the waist they are Centaurs,
125 Though women all above:
126 But to the girdle do the gods inherit,
127 Beneath is all the fiends': there's hell, there's darkness,
128 There is the sulphurous pit, burning, scalding,
129 Stench, consumption. Fie, fie, fie! pah, pah!
130 Give me an ounce of civet, good apothecary,
131 Sweeten my imagination. There's money for thee.
GLOUCESTER
132 O, let me kiss that hand!
KING LEAR
133 Let me wipe it first; it smells of mortality.
GLOUCESTER
piece masterpiece
 |
134 O ruin'd piece of nature! This great world
135 Shall so wear out to nought. Dost thou know me?
KING LEAR
136 I remember thine eyes well enough. Dost thou
137 squint at me? No, do thy worst, blind Cupid!
138 I'll not love. Read thou this challenge; mark but
139 the penning of it.
GLOUCESTER
140 Were all the letters suns, I could not see one.
EDGAR
I would not take this from report i.e., I wouldn't believe this if I didn't see it myself
141 I would not take this from report; it is,
142 And my heart breaks at it.
KING LEAR
143 Read.
GLOUCESTER
case sockets
144 What, with the case of eyes?
KING LEAR
are you there with me? is that the way things are?
145 O, ho, are you there with me? No eyes in your
146 head, nor no money in your purse? Your eyes are in
heavy case sad condition
147 a heavy case, your purse in a light; yet you see how
148 this world goes.
GLOUCESTER
feelingly by touch; with emotion
149 I see it feelingly.
KING LEAR
150 What, art mad? A man may see how this world goes
151 with no eyes. Look with thine ears: see how yond
152 justice rails upon yond simple thief. Hark, in
handy-dandy pick a hand (as in a child's game)
153 thine ear: change places; and, handy-dandy, which
154 is the justice, which is the thief? Thou hast seen
155 a farmer's dog bark at a beggar?
GLOUCESTER
156 Ay, sir.
KING LEAR
creature human being
157 And the creature run from the cur? There thou
158 mightst behold the great image of authority: a
159 dog's obeyed in office.
beadle the parish officer responsible for whippings Strip Lash
that kind that way
that kind that way
160 Thou rascal beadle, hold thy bloody hand!
161 Why dost thou lash that whore? Strip thine own back;
162 Thou hotly lust'st to use her in that kind
The usurer hangs the cozener. i.e., The corrupt judge sentences the petty cheat to be hanged Plate sin ... breaks i.e., the lance of justice will harmlessly break against golden armor
163 For which thou whipp'st her. The usurer hangs the cozener.
164 Through tatter'd clothes small vices do appear;
165 Robes and furr'd gowns hide all. Plate sin with gold,
166 And the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks:
167 Arm it in rags, a pigmy's straw does pierce it.
able 'em authorize them, i.e., exempt everyone from legal guilt
168 None does offend, none, I say, none; I'll able 'em:
169 Take that of me, my friend, who have the power
170 To seal the accuser's lips. Get thee glass eyes;
scurvy politician vile schemer
171 And like a scurvy politician, seem
172 To see the things thou dost not. Now, now, now, now:
173 Pull off my boots: harder, harder: so.
EDGAR [Aside.]
matter and impertinency sense and nonsense
174 O, matter and impertinency mix'd!
175 Reason in madness!
KING LEAR
176 If thou wilt weep my fortunes, take my eyes.
177 I know thee well enough; thy name is Gloucester:
178 Thou must be patient; we came crying hither:
179 Thou know'st, the first time that we smell the air,
180 We wawl and cry. I will preach to thee. Mark.
[Lear takes off his crown of weeds and flowers.]
GLOUCESTER
This' a good block This is a good block —A block is a wooden hat mold. Perhaps Lear is pointing to his own head.delicate stratagem subtle strategy
put 't in proof i.e., test my stratagem
stol'n upon sneaked up on
181 Alack, alack the day!
KING LEAR
182 When we are born, we cry that we are come
183 To this great stage of fools. —This' a good block;
184 It were a delicate stratagem, to shoe
185 A troop of horse with felt: I'll put 't in proof;
186 And when I have stol'n upon these sons-in-law,
187 Then, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill!
Enter a Gentleman [with Attendants].
Gentleman
188 O, here he is: lay hand upon him. —Sir,
189 Your most dear daughter—
KING LEAR
190 No rescue? What, a prisoner? I am even
191 The natural fool of fortune. Use me well;
192 You shall have ransom. Let me have surgeons;
cut wounded
193 I am cut to the brains.
Gentleman
193 You shall have any thing.
KING LEAR
No seconds? No supporters (or associates)?
this would make a man a man of salt being alone would reduce a man to nothing but salty tears garden water-pots watering cans
Ay, and laying autumn's dust Yes, and (good for) keeping down the dust of autumn
this would make a man a man of salt being alone would reduce a man to nothing but salty tears garden water-pots watering cans
Ay, and laying autumn's dust Yes, and (good for) keeping down the dust of autumn
194 No seconds? all myself?
195 Why, this would make a man a man of salt,
196 To use his eyes for garden water-pots,
197 Ay, and laying autumn's dust.
Gentleman
197 Good sir,—
KING LEAR
I will die bravely, like a smug bridegroom. —King Lear is punning. "Die" can also mean "have an orgasm," and "bravely" can mean "finely attired."
198 I will die bravely, like a smug bridegroom. What!
199 I will be jovial: come, come; I am a king,
200 My masters, know you that.
Gentleman
201 You are a royal one, and we obey you.
KING LEAR
there's life in't i.e., there's hope left
202 Then there's life in't. Nay, if you get it, you
Sa, sa, sa, sa. a cry to encourage dogs in the hunt
203 shall get it with running. Sa, sa, sa, sa.
Exit [running; Attendants follow].
Gentleman
204 A sight most pitiful in the meanest wretch,
Thou i.e., King Lear | one daughter i.e., Cordelia
205 Past speaking of in a king! Thou hast one daughter,
206 Who redeems nature from the general curse
twain i.e., two daughters, Goneril and Regan
207 Which twain have brought her to.
EDGAR
gentle noble
208 Hail, gentle sir.
Gentleman
speed you God speed you
208 Sir, speed you: what's your will?
EDGAR
toward coming
209 Do you hear aught, sir, of a battle toward?
Gentleman
vulgar commonly known
Which Who
Which Who
210 Most sure and vulgar: every one hears that,
211 Which can distinguish sound.
EDGAR
211 But, by your favour,
212 How near's the other army?
Gentleman
the main descry / Stands on the hourly thought the appearance of the main force is expected immediately
213 Near and on speedy foot; the main descry
214 Stands on the hourly thought.
EDGAR
214 I thank you, sir: that's all.
Gentleman
on special cause for a special reason
215 Though that the queen on special cause is here,
216 Her army is moved on.
EDGAR
216 I thank you, sir.
Exit [Gentleman].
GLOUCESTER
217 You ever-gentle gods, take my breath from me:
my worser spirit wicked inclination; bad angel
218 Let not my worser spirit tempt me again
219 To die before you please!
EDGAR
Well pray you, father You are praying well, father —Edgar is not revealing his identity as Gloucester's son. "Father" is a term of respect for an elderly man.
219 Well pray you, father.
GLOUCESTER
220 Now, good sir, what are you?
EDGAR
221 A most poor man, made tame to fortune's blows;
feeling profound
pregnant to disposed to feel
biding resting place
pregnant to disposed to feel
biding resting place
222 Who, by the art of known and feeling sorrows,
223 Am pregnant to good pity. Give me your hand,
224 I'll lead you to some biding.
GLOUCESTER
224 Hearty thanks:
The bounty ... and boot! i.e., in addition to my thanks, may heaven give you both a great blessing and a bountiful worldly reward
225 The bounty and the benison of heaven
226 To boot, and boot!
Enter Steward [OSWALD].
OSWALD
A proclaim'd prize! A wanted man with a bounty on his life! | happy lucky | framed made of | unhappy unlucky
Briefly thyself remember i.e., say your prayers and prepare to die
Briefly thyself remember i.e., say your prayers and prepare to die
226 A proclaim'd prize! Most happy!
227 That eyeless head of thine was first framed flesh
228 To raise my fortunes. Thou old unhappy traitor,
229 Briefly thyself remember: the sword is out
230 That must destroy thee.
GLOUCESTER
friendly friendly (because I desire death)
230 Now let thy friendly hand
231 Put strength enough to't.
[EDGAR interposes.]
OSWALD
231 Wherefore, bold peasant,
Hence ... on thee Go away, lest his bad luck infect you, too.
232 Darest thou support a publish'd traitor? Hence;
233 Lest that the infection of his fortune take
234 Like hold on thee. Let go his arm.
EDGAR
Chill I will —Edgar plays the part of a peasant, using Somerset dialect. | vurther cagion further occasion (i.e., more reason than just your say-so)
235 Chill not let go, zir, without vurther cagion.
OSWALD
236 Let go, slave, or thou diest!
EDGAR
go your gait walk away | voke folk
237 Good gentleman, go your gait, and let poor voke
An chud ha' If I could have | zwagger'd swaggered, bullied 'twould ... vortnight it (my life) wouldn't have lasted a fortnight che vor' ... the harder
Chill I'll
Chill I'll
238 pass. An chud ha' bin zwagger'd out of my life,
239 'twould not ha' bin zo long as 'tis by a vortnight.
240 Nay, come not near th' old man; keep out, che vor'
241 ye, or Ice try whether your costard or my ballow be
242 the harder. Chill be plain with you.
OSWALD
Out, dunghill! i.e., Out of my way, you low-class pile of shit!
243 Out, dunghill!
EDGAR
Chill I'll | pick your teeth i.e., knock your teeth out (?) foins sword thrusts
244 Chill pick your teeth, zir. Come; no matter vor
245 your foins.
[They fight.]
OSWALD
246 Slave, thou hast slain me: villain, take my purse:
247 If ever thou wilt thrive, bury my body;
248 And give the letters which thou find'st about me
249 To Edmund Earl of Gloucester; seek him out
Upon Within
250 Upon the English party: O, untimely death!
251 Death!
[Dies.]
EDGAR
252 I know thee well: a serviceable villain;
253 As duteous to the vices of thy mistress
254 As badness would desire.
GLOUCESTER
254 What, is he dead?
EDGAR
255 Sit you down, father; rest you
pockets i.e., messenger bags
256 Let's see these pockets: the letters that he speaks of
257 May be my friends. He's dead; I am only sorry
deathsman executioner
Leave By your leave | wax the wax seal on the letter
Leave By your leave | wax the wax seal on the letter
258 He had no other deathsman. Let us see:
259 Leave, gentle wax; and, manners, blame us not:
260 To know our enemies' minds, we'ld rip their hearts;
Their papers i.e., To rip their papers
261 Their papers, is more lawful.
Reads.
262 'Let our reciprocal vows be rememb'red. You have
263 many opportunities to cut him off: if your will
want lack | fruitfully plentifully
264 want not, time and place will be fruitfully offer'd.
done accomplished
265 There is nothing done, if he return the conqueror:
266 then am I the prisoner, and his bed my jail; from
and supply ... labour and take his place in my bed as the reward for your work (in killing him)
267 the loath'd warmth whereof deliver me, and supply
268 the place for your labour.
269 Your (wife, so I would say) affectionate servant,
270 Goneril.'
indistinguish'd space of woman's will limitless extent of woman's appetite
exchange substitute
Thee I'll rake up i.e., I'll bury you in a shallow grave post unsanctified unholy messenger in the mature time when the time is ripe ungracious wicked | strike the sight i.e., astound death-practic'd Duke Duke whose death is plotted
exchange substitute
Thee I'll rake up i.e., I'll bury you in a shallow grave post unsanctified unholy messenger in the mature time when the time is ripe ungracious wicked | strike the sight i.e., astound death-practic'd Duke Duke whose death is plotted
271 O indistinguish'd space of woman's will!
272 A plot upon her virtuous husband's life;
273 And the exchange my brother! Here, in the sands,
274 Thee I'll rake up, the post unsanctified
275 Of murderous lechers: and in the mature time
276 With this ungracious paper strike the sight
277 Of the death-practic'd Duke: for him 'tis well
278 That of thy death and business I can tell.
GLOUCESTER
how stiff ... sorrows how obstinate is my unwanted rationality, so that I remain sane and have a keen sense of my overwhelming sorrows! | distract mad
279 The king is mad: how stiff is my vile sense,
280 That I stand up, and have ingenious feeling
281 Of my huge sorrows! Better I were distract:
282 So should my thoughts be sever'd from my griefs,
wrong imaginations delusions
283 And woes by wrong imaginations lose
284 The knowledge of themselves.
EDGAR
284 Give me your hand:
Drum afar off.
285 Far off, methinks, I hear the beaten drum:
bestow lodge
286 Come, father, I'll bestow you with a friend.
Exeunt.