Kent. Good king, that must approve the common saw, 155
Thou out of heaven's benediction comest[3286]
To the warm sun!
Approach, thou beacon to this under globe,[3287][3288]
That by thy comfortable beams I may[3287]
Peruse this letter! Nothing almost sees miracles[3287][3289] 160
But misery: I know 'tis from Cordelia,[3287][3290]
Who hath most fortunately been inform'd[3287][3291]
Of my obscured course; and shall find time[3287][3292][3293]
From this enormous state, seeking to give[3287][3293][3294]
Losses their remedies. All weary and o'er-watch'd,[3287][3295] 165
Take vantage, heavy eyes, not to behold[3296]
This shameful lodging.[3297]
Fortune, good night: smile once more; turn thy wheel![3297]
[Sleeps.[3298]
Scene III. A wood.
Enter Edgar.[3299]
Edg. I heard myself proclaim'd;[3300]
And by the happy hollow of a tree
Escaped the hunt. No port is free; no place,
That guard and most unusual vigilance[3301]
Does not attend my taking. Whiles I may 'scape[3302] 5
I will preserve myself: and am bethought
To take the basest and most poorest shape[3303]
That ever penury in contempt of man
Brought near to beast: my face I'll grime with filth,
Blanket my loins, elf all my hair in knots,[3304] 10
And with presented nakedness out-face
The winds and persecutions of the sky.[3305]
The country gives me proof and precedent[3306]
Of Bedlam beggars, who with roaring voices
Strike in their numb'd and mortified bare arms[3307] 15
Pins, wooden pricks, nails, sprigs of rosemary;[3308]
And with this horrible object, from low farms,[3309]
Poor pelting villages, sheep-cotes and mills,[3310]
Sometime with lunatic bans, sometime with prayers,[3311]
Enforce their charity. Poor Turlygod! poor Tom![3312] 20
That's something yet: Edgar I nothing am. [Exit.
Scene IV. Before Gloucester's castle. Kent in the stocks.
Enter Lear, Fool, and Gentleman.[3313]
Lear. 'Tis strange that they should so depart from home,[3314]
And not send back my messenger.[3315]
Gent. As I learn'd,[3316]
The night before there was no purpose in them[3316][3317]
Of this remove.[3316][3318]