Page 1897 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

GLOUCESTER

Ay, Sir.

LEAR
And the creature run from the cur? There thou might’st behold
The great image of Authority:
A dog’s obey’d in office. [155]

Thou rascal beadle, hold thy bloody hand!
Why dost thou lash that whore? Strip thine own back;
Thou hotly lusts to use her in that kind
For which thou whipp’st her. The usurer hangs the cozener.

Thorough tatter’d clothes small vices do appear; [160]
Robes and furr’d gowns hide all. Plate sin with gold,
And the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks;
Arm it in rags, a pigmy’s straw does pierce it.

None does offend, none, I say, none; I’ll able ’em:
Take that of me, my friend, who have the power [165]
To seal th’accuser’s lips. Get thee glass eyes;
And, like a scurvy politician, seem

To see the things thou dost not. Now, now, now, now;
Pull off my boots; harder, harder; so.

EDGAR
(aside) O! matter and impertinency mix’d; [170]
Reason in madness.

LEAR
If thou wilt weep my fortunes, take my eyes;

I know thee well enough; thy name is Gloucester;
Thou must be patient; we came crying hither:
Thou know’st the first time that we smell the air [175]
We wawl and cry. I will preach to thee; mark.

GLOUCESTER
Alack, alack the day!

LEAR

When we are born, we cry that we are come