King Lear by William Shakespeare Act IV, Scene VI [Excerpt] EDGAR: Come on, sir; heres the place: stand still. How fearful And dizzy tis, to cast ones 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: The fishermen, that walk upon the beach, Appear like mice; and yond tall anchoring bark, Diminishd to her cock; her cock, a buoy Almost too small for sight: the murmuring surge, That on the unnumberd idle pebbles chafes, Cannot be heard so high. Ill 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 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 mans taking: fairies and gods 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 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 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. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Painting: Viktor Vasnetsov - A Knight At The Crossroads (1878); oil on canvas, The Museum of Russian Art.
Posted on: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 07:51:37 +0000
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