William Shakespeare: The Tragedy of King Lear

ACT IV. 6. Scene VI. The country near Dover.

[Enter Gloster, and Edgar dressed like a peasant.]

Glou.
When shall I come to the top of that same hill?

Edg.
You do climb up it now: look, how we labour.

Glou.
Methinks the ground is even.

Edg.
Horrible steep.
Hark, do you hear the sea?

Glou.
No, truly.

Edg.
Why, then, your other senses grow imperfect
By your eyes' anguish.

Glou.
So may it be indeed:
Methinks thy voice is alter'd; and thou speak'st
In better phrase and matter than thou didst.

Edg.
You are much deceiv'd: in nothing am I chang'd
But in my garments.

Glou.
Methinks you're better spoken.

Edg.
Come on, sir; here's the place:--stand still.--How fearful
And dizzy 'tis to cast one's eyes so low!
The crows and choughs that wing the midway air
Show scarce so gross as beetles: half way down
Hangs one that gathers samphire--dreadful trade!
Methinks he seems no bigger than his head:
The fishermen that walk upon the beach
Appear like mice; and yond tall anchoring bark,
Diminish'd to her cock; her cock a buoy
Almost too small for sight: the murmuring surge
That on the unnumber'd idle pebble chafes
Cannot be heard so high.--I'll look no more;
Lest my brain turn, and the deficient sight
Topple down headlong.

Glou.
Set me where you stand.

Edg.
Give me your hand:--you are now within a foot
Of th' extreme verge: for all beneath the moon
Would I not leap upright.

Glou.
Let go my hand.
Here, friend, 's another purse; in it a jewel
Well worth a poor man's taking: fairies and gods
Prosper it with thee! Go thou further off;
Bid me farewell, and let me hear thee going.