Page:King Lear (1917) Yale.djvu/120

104  Lear. And the creature run from the cur?

There thou mightst behold the great image of

authority: a dog's obey'd in office.

Thou rascal beadle, hold thy bloody hand!

Why dost thou lash that whore? Strip thine own back;

Thou hotly lust'st to use her in that kind

For which thou whipp'st her. The usurer hangs the cozener.

Through tatter'd clothes small 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 doth 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 the 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.

Edg. [Aside.] O! 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 waul and cry. I will preach to thee: mark.

Glo. Alack! alack the day!

Lear. When we are born, we cry that we are come

To this great stage of fools. This' a good block!

It were a delicate stratagem to shoe

A troop of horse with felt; I'll put it in proof,

 173 able: be responsible for

179 impertinency: irrelevant talk

185 waul: caterwaul

188 This': this is

block: hat

