King Lear ACT IV SCENE VI [Enter GLOUCESTER, and EDGAR dressed like a peasant] GLOUCESTER When shall we come to the top of that same hill? EDGAR You do climb up it now: look, how we labour. GLOUCESTER Methinks the ground is even. EDGAR Horrible steep. Hark, do you hear the sea? 5 GLOUCESTER No, truly. EDGAR Why, then, your other senses grow imperfect By your eyes' anguish. GLOUCESTER So may it be, indeed: Methinks thy voice is alter'd; and thou speak'st 10 In better phrase and matter than thou didst. EDGAR You're much deceived: in nothing am I changed But in my garments. GLOUCESTER Methinks you're better spoken. EDGAR Come on, sir; here's the place: stand still. How fearful 15 And dizzy 'tis, to cast one's eyes so low! The crows and choughs that wing the midway air Show scarce so gross as beetles: half way down Hangs one that gathers samphire, dreadful trade! Methinks he seems no bigger than his head: 20 The fishermen, that walk upon the beach, Appear like mice; and yond tall anchoring bark, Diminish'd to her cock; her cock, a buoy Almost too small for sight: the murmuring surge, That on the unnumber'd idle pebbles chafes, 25 Cannot be heard so high. I'll look no more; Lest my brain turn, and the deficient sight Topple down headlong. GLOUCESTER Set me where you stand. EDGAR Give me your hand: you are now within a foot 30 Of the extreme verge: for all beneath the moon Would I not leap upright. GLOUCESTER Let go my hand. Here, friend, 's another purse; in it a jewel Well worth a poor man's taking: fairies and gods 35 Prosper it with thee! Go thou farther off; Bid me farewell, and let me hear thee going. EDGAR Now fare you well, good sir. GLOUCESTER With all my heart. EDGAR Why I do trifle thus with his despair 40 Is done to cure it. GLOUCESTER [Kneeling] O you mighty gods! This world I do renounce, and, in your sights, Shake patiently my great affliction off: If I could bear it longer, and not fall 45 To quarrel with your great opposeless wills, My snuff and loathed part of nature should Burn itself out. If Edgar live, O, bless him! Now, fellow, fare thee well. [He falls forward] EDGAR Gone, sir: farewell. 50 And yet I know not how conceit may rob The treasury of life, when life itself Yields to the theft: had he been where he thought, By this, had thought been past. Alive or dead? Ho, you sir! friend! Hear you, sir! speak! 55 Thus might he pass indeed: yet he revives. What are you, sir? GLOUCESTER Away, and let me die. EDGAR Hadst thou been aught but gossamer, feathers, air, So many fathom down precipitating, 60 Thou'dst shiver'd like an egg: but thou dost breathe; Hast heavy substance; bleed'st not; speak'st; art sound. Ten masts at each make not the altitude Which thou hast perpendicularly fell: Thy life's a miracle. Speak yet again. 65 GLOUCESTER But have I fall'n, or no? EDGAR From the dread summit of this chalky bourn. Look up a-height; the shrill-gorged lark so far Cannot be seen or heard: do but look up. GLOUCESTER Alack, I have no eyes. 70 Is wretchedness deprived that benefit, To end itself by death? 'Twas yet some comfort, When misery could beguile the tyrant's rage, And frustrate his proud will. EDGAR Give me your arm: 75 Up: so. How is 't? Feel you your legs? You stand. GLOUCESTER Too well, too well. EDGAR This is above all strangeness. Upon the crown o' the cliff, what thing was that Which parted from you? 80 GLOUCESTER A poor unfortunate beggar. EDGAR As I stood here below, methought his eyes Were two full moons; he had a thousand noses, Horns whelk'd and waved like the enridged sea: It was some fiend; therefore, thou happy father, 85 Think that the clearest gods, who make them honours Of men's impossibilities, have preserved thee. GLOUCESTER I do remember now: henceforth I'll bear Affliction till it do cry out itself 'Enough, enough,' and die.