Thursday, November 19, 2020

King Lear, IV.vi.180-1.


 Lear. The usurer hangs the cozener.

Through tatter’d clothes great vices do appear;

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

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] Oh, matter and impertinency mix’d!

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,

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

To this great stage of fools.


The Tragedy of King Lear, IV.vi.



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