the foul fiend rages, eats cow-dung for sallets;
swallows the old rat and the ditch-dog; drinks
the green mantle of the standing pool; who is
whipped from tithing to tithing, and stock-
punished, and imprisoned; who hath had three
suits to his back, six shirts to his body, horse to
ride, and weapon to wear. 141
But mice and rats and such small deer
Have been Tom's food for seven long year.
Beware my follower. Peace, Smulkin! peace,
thou fiend. 145
Glo. What! hath your Grace no better company?
Edg. The prince of darkness is a gentleman;
Modo he's call'd, and Mahu.
Glo. Our flesh and blood, my lord, is grown so vile,
That it doth hate what gets it. 150
Edg. Poor Tom's a-cold.
Glo. Go in with me. My duty cannot suffer
To obey in all your daughters' hard commands:
Though their injunction be to bar my doors, 154
And let this tyrannous night take hold upon you,
Yet have I ventur'd to come seek you out 156
And bring you where both fire and food is ready.
Lear. First let me talk with this philosopher.
What is the cause of thunder?
Kent. Good my lord, take his offer; go into the house. 160
Lear. I'll talk a word with this same learned Theban.
What is your study?
Edg. How to prevent the fiend, and to kill vermin.
Lear. Let me ask you one word in private.
135 sallets: salads
136 ditch-dog: dead dogs thrown away in ditches
138 tithing: district
142 deer: beast, German 'tier'
144 Smulkin; cf. n.
