Cor. "Tis knowne before. Our preparation stands In expectation of them. O deere Father, It is thy businesse that I go about: Therfore great France My mourning, and importun"d teares hath pittied: No blowne Ambition doth our Armes incite, But loue, deere loue, and our ag"d Fathers Rite: Soone may I heare, and see him.
Exeunt.
Scena Quarta.
Enter Regan, and Steward.
Reg. But are my Brothers Powres set forth?
Stew. I Madam
Reg. Himselfe in person there?
Stew. Madam with much ado: Your Sister is the better Souldier
Reg. Lord Edmund spake not with your Lord at home?
Stew. No Madam
Reg. What might import my Sisters Letter to him?
Stew. I know not, Lady
Reg. Faith he is poasted hence on serious matter: It was great ignorance, Glousters eyes being out To let him liue. Where he arriues, he moues All hearts against vs: Edmund, I thinke is gone In pitty of his misery, to dispatch His nighted life: Moreouer to descry The strength o"th" Enemy
Stew. I must needs after him, Madam, with my Letter
Reg. Our troopes set forth to morrow, stay with vs: The wayes are dangerous
Stew. I may not Madam: My Lady charg"d my dutie in this busines
Reg. Why should she write to Edmund?
Might not you transport her purposes by word? Belike, Some things, I know not what. Ile loue thee much Let me vnseale the Letter
Stew. Madam, I had rather- Reg. I know your Lady do"s not loue her Husband, I am sure of that: and at her late being heere, She gaue strange Eliads, and most speaking lookes To n.o.ble Edmund. I know you are of her bosome
Stew. I, Madam?
Reg. I speake in vnderstanding: Y"are: I know"t, Therefore I do aduise you take this note: My Lord is dead: Edmond, and I haue talk"d, And more conuenient is he for my hand Then for your Ladies: You may gather more: If you do finde him, pray you giue him this; And when your Mistris heares thus much from you, I pray desire her call her wisedome to her.
So fare you well: If you do chance to heare of that blinde Traitor, Preferment fals on him, that cuts him off
Stew. Would I could meet Madam, I should shew What party I do follow
Reg. Fare thee well.
Exeunt.
Scena Quinta.
Enter Gloucester, and Edgar.
Glou. When shall I come to th" top of that same hill?
Edg. You do climbe vp it now. Look how we labor
Glou. Me thinkes the ground is eeuen
Edg. Horrible steepe.
Hearke, do you heare the Sea?
Glou. No truly
Edg. Why then your other Senses grow imperfect By your eyes anguish
Glou. So may it be indeed.
Me thinkes thy voyce is alter"d, and thou speak"st In better phrase, and matter then thou did"st
Edg. Y"are much deceiu"d: In nothing am I chang"d But in my Garments
Glou. Me thinkes y"are better spoken
Edg. Come on Sir, Heere"s the place: stand still: how fearefull And dizie "tis, to cast ones eyes so low, The Crowes and Choughes, that wing the midway ayre Shew sca.r.s.e so grosse as Beetles. Halfe way downe Hangs one that gathers Sampire: dreadfull Trade: Me thinkes he seemes no bigger then his head.
The Fishermen, that walk"d vpon the beach Appeare like Mice: and yond tall Anchoring Barke, Diminish"d to her c.o.c.ke: her c.o.c.ke, a Buoy Almost too small for sight. The murmuring Surge, That on th" vnnumbred idle Pebble chafes Cannot be heard so high. Ile looke no more, Least my braine turne, and the deficient sight Topple downe headlong
Glou. Set me where you stand
Edg. Giue me your hand: You are now within a foote of th" extreme Verge: For all beneath the Moone would I not leape vpright
Glou. Let go my hand: Heere Friend"s another purse: in it, a Iewell Well worth a poore mans taking. Fayries, and G.o.ds Prosper it with thee. Go thou further off, Bid me farewell, and let me heare thee going
Edg. Now fare ye well, good Sir
Glou. With all my heart
Edg. Why I do trifle thus with his dispaire, Is done to cure it
Glou. O you mighty G.o.ds!
This world I do renounce, and in your sights Shake patiently my great affliction off: If I could beare it longer, and not fall To quarrell with your great opposelesse willes, My snuffe, and loathed part of Nature should Burne it selfe out. If Edgar liue, O blesse him: Now Fellow, fare thee well
Edg. Gone Sir, farewell: And yet I know not how conceit may rob The Treasury of life, when life it selfe Yeelds to the Theft. Had he bin where he thought, By this had thought bin past. Aliue, or dead?
Hoa, you Sir: Friend, heare you Sir, speake: Thus might he pa.s.se indeed: yet he reuiues.
What are you Sir?
Glou. Away, and let me dye
Edg. Had"st thou beene ought But Gozemore, Feathers, Ayre, (So many fathome downe precipitating) Thou"dst shiuer"d like an Egge: but thou do"st breath: Hast heauy substance, bleed"st not, speak"st, art sound, Ten Masts at each, make not the alt.i.tude Which thou hast perpendicularly fell, Thy life"s a Myracle. Speake yet againe
Glou. But haue I falne, or no?
Edg. From the dread Somnet of this Chalkie Bourne Looke vp a height, the shrill-gorg"d Larke so farre Cannot be seene, or heard: Do but looke vp
Glou. Alacke, I haue no eyes: Is wretchednesse depriu"d that benefit To end it selfe by death? "Twas yet some comfort, When misery could beguile the Tyrants rage, And frustrate his proud will
Edg. Giue me your arme.
Vp, so: How is"t? Feele you your Legges? You stand
Glou. Too well, too well