Lear. And the creature run from the cur?
There thou mightst behold the great image of
authority: a dog's obey'd in office. 164
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. 168
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: 173
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 176
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! 180
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 184
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 189
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
