Puslapio vaizdai
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That play'd on her ripe lip, feem'd not to know.
What guests were in her eyes; which parted thence,
As pearls from diamonds dropt.-In brief,
Sorrow would be a rarity most belov'd,

If all could fo become it.

SCENE IV. Defcription of Lear distracted.

(22) Alack, 'tis he; why, he was met even now As mad as the vext fea; finging aloud;

Crown'd with rank fumiterr, and furrow weeds,
With hardocks, hemlock, nettles, cuckow-flowers,
Darnel, and all the idle weeds that grow

In our sustaining corn.

SCENE VI. Defcription of Dover-Cliff.

Come on, fir, here's the place-stand still. How fearful

And dizzy 'tis, to caft one's eyes fo low!

The crows and choughs, that wing the midway air,
Shew fcarce fo grofs as beetles. Half way down
Hangs one that gathers famphire; dreadful trade!
Methinks, he feems no bigger than his head.
The fisher-men, that walk upon the beach,
Appear like mice; and yond tall anchoring bark,
Diminish'd to her cock; her cock, a buoy
Almoft too fmall for fight. The murmuring furge,
That on th' unnumbered idle pebbles chafes,
Cannot be heard fo high. I'll look no more,
Left my brain turn, and the deficient fight
Topple down headlong.

Glofter's

which is the most probable word that occurs at present, tho' I advance it not with any degree of certainty. He speaks of a shequer'd fbadow, in Titus Andronicus, A&t. I. Sc. 4.

(22) Alack, &c.] See Hamlet, A. 4. S. 1o. and the note,

Glofter's Farewel to the World.

(23) O, you mighty gods!

This world I do renounce: and in your fights
Shake patiently my great affliction off:
If I could bear it longer, and not fall
To quarrel with your great oppofelefs wills,
My fnuff and loathed part of nature should
Burn itfelf out. If Edgar live, O, bless him!

SCENE VII. Lear, in his Madness, on the grofs
Flatterers of Princes.

Ha! Goneril! ha! Regan! they flattered me like a dog, and told me I had white hairs in my beard, ere the black ones were there. To fay, ay, and no, to every thing that I faid- Ay, and no too, was no good divinity. When the rain came to wet me once, and the wind to make me chatter; when the thunder would not peace at my bidding; there I found 'em, there I fmelt 'em out. Go to, they are not (24) men o' their words;

(23) Glofier is afterwards convinced of his mistake, and confirmed in the duty of sufferance: he fays;

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

Enough, enough, and die.

At the end of the Ocdipus, Coloneus of Sophocles, there is a fine reflection like this;

Το Φερον εκ Θε8, &c.

That which the gods bring on us,”we should bear
With refignation, nor confume with forrow.

(24) See Act 2. Sc. 6. foregoing. Mr. Upton, mifled by the beginning of this fpeech; and apprehending the king, in his madnefs ufed exact connection, tells us we fhould not read, men o'their words, but women of their words: whereas it is plain,

he

words; they told me, I was every thing: 'tis a lie, I am

not ague-proof.

On the Abuse of Power.

Thou rafcal beadle, hold thy bloody hand: Why dost thou lafh that whore? ftrip thine own back; Thou hotly luft'st to use her in that kind,

For which thou whipp'ft her. The ufurer hangs the

cozener.

Through tatter'd cloaths fmall vices do appear;
Robes and furr'd gowns hide all. Plate fins with gold,
And the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks :
Arm it in rags, a pigmy's straw doth pierce it.
None does offend, none, I fay, none; I'll able 'em ;)
Take that of me, my friend, who hath the pow'r
To feal th' accufer's lips. Get thee glass eyes,
And, like a fcurvy politician, feem

To fee the things thou dost not,

SCENE X. Cordelia on the Ingratitude of her
Sifters.

O, my dear feather, restoration hang
Thy medicine on my lip; and let this kifs
Repair thofe violent harms that my two fifters
Have in thy reverence made!

Had you not been their father, thofe white flakes
Did challenge pity of them.

Was this a face,

To be expos'd against the warring winds?

To ftand against the deep, dread bolted thunder?
In the most terrible and nimble stroke

Of quick, crofs lightning?

* *

*

And

ofe who

he runs off from the thoughts of his daughters to flattered him, and all through the fpeech speaks of them only: the criticism is fcarce worth remarking, except it be to fhew, how fubject all of us are to mistakes, and how little reafon the very wifeft have to triumph over the errors of others.

*

* And waft thou fain, poor father, To hovel thee with fwine and rogues forlorn, In fhort and mufty ftraw? alack, alack! 'Tis wonder that thy life and wits, at once, Had not concluded all.

Scene between Lear and Cordelia.

Cord. How does my royal Lord? how fares your Majefty?

Lear. You do me wrong to take me out o' th' grave. Ha! is this too a world of cruelty?

I know my privilege: think not that I will
Be us'd like a wretched mortal? No,
No more of that.

Cord. Speak to me, fir; who am I?

Lear. You are a foul in bliss: but I am bound Upon a wheel of fire, which my own tears

Do fcald like molten lead.

Cord. Sir, do you know me?

Lear. You are a spirit, I know: where did you die? Cord. Still, ftill, far wide.

Phyf. Madam, he's fcarce awake; he'll foon grow more compos'd.

Lear. Where have I been? where am I? Fair daylight!

I am mightily abus'd, I fhould even die with pity
To fee another thus. I will not fwear

These are my hands.

Cord. O look upon me, Sir,

And hold your hands in bleffing over me ;; nay

You must kneel.

Lear. Pray do not mock me.

I am a very

foolifh fond old man,

Fourfcore and upward: and to deal plainly with you, I fear I am not in my perfect mind.

Cor. Nay, then farewel to patience: witness for me, Ye mighty pow'rs, I ne'er complain'd till now!

Lear.

Lear. Methinks I fhould know you, and know this

man,

Yet I am doubtful, for I am mainly ignorant

What place this is: and all the skill I have
Remember not these garments; nor do I know
Where I did fleep last night-Pray do not mock me,
For, as I am a man, I think that lady

To be my

child Cordelia.

Cor. O my dear, dear father!

Lear. Be your tears wet?

weep,

yes faith? pray do not

I know I have giv'n thee caufe, and am fo humbled
With croffes fince, that I cou'd afk

Forgiveness of thee, were it poffible

That thou cou'dft grant it; but I'm well affur'd
Thou can'st not; therefore I do ftand thy justice:
If thou haft poison for me I will drink it,

Blefs thee and die.

Cor. O pity, fir, a bleeding heart, and cease

This killing language.

Lear. Tell me, friends, Where am I?

Gent. In your own kingdom, fir.

Lear. Do not abuse me.

Gent. Be comforted, good madam, for the violence

Of his diftemper's paft: we'll lead him in, ́

Nor trouble him, till he is better fettled.

Wilt please you, fir, walk into freer air?

Lear. You must bear with me, I am old and foolish.

ACT V. SCENE V.

Lear to Cordelia, when taken Prifoners

No, no, no, no; come, let's away to prison, We two alone will fing like birds i'th' cage: When thou doft afk me bleffing, I'll kneel down, And ask of thee forgiveness: fo we'll live,

And

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