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O ho, are you there with me?

King Lear
O ho, are you there with me? No eyes in your
head, nor no money in your purse? Your eyes are in
a heavy case, your purse in a light, yet you see how
this world goes.
Gloucester
I see it feelingly.
King Lear
What, art mad? A man may see how this world
goes with no eyes. Look with thine ears. See how
yond justice rails upon yond simple thief. Hark in
thine ear. Change places and, handy-dandy, which
is the justice, which is the thief? Thou hast seen a
farmer's dog bark at a beggar?
Gloucester
Ay, sir.
King Lear
And the creature run from the cur? There thou
might'st behold the great image of authority: a
dog's obeyed in office.
Thou rascal beadle, hold thy bloody hand!
Why dost thou lash that whore? Strip thy own back.
Thou hotly lusts to use her in that kind
For which thou whipp'st her. The usurer hangs the cozener.
Through tattered clothes small vices do appear.
Robes and furred gowns hide all. Plate sin with gold,
And the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks.
Arm it in rags, a pygmy'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
O, matter and impertinency mixed,
Reason in madness!
King 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!
King 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 ‘t in proof,
And when I have stol'n upon these son-in-laws,
Then kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill!

Source:
Act 4
Scene 6
Line 160

Source Type:

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