[Stage] Enter Edgar diguised
Edgar(爱德加)
Yet better thus, and known to be contemned,
Than still contemned and flattered.
To be worst,
The lowest and most dejected thing of fortune
Stands still in esperance, lives not in fear.
The lamentable change is from the best;
The worst returns to laughter. Welcome, then,
Thou unsubstantial air that I embrace!
The wretch that thou hast blown unto the worst
Owes nothing to thy blasts.
[Stage] Enter Gloucester led by an Old Man
But who comes here?
My father, poorly led? World, world, O world!
But that thy strange mutations make us hate thee,
Life would not yield to age.
Old Man(老人)
[to Gloucester] O my good lord,
I have been your tenant and your father’s tenant these
fourscore years.
Gloucester(格洛斯特)
Away, get thee away. Good friend, be gone.
Thy comforts can do me no good at all.
Thee they may hurt.
Old Man(老人)
Alack, sir, you cannot see your way.
Gloucester(格洛斯特)
I have no way, and therefore want no eyes.
I stumbled when I saw.
Full oft ’tis seen,
Our means secure us and our mere defects
Prove our commodities.
O dear son Edgar,
The food of thy abusèd father’s wrath,
Might I but live to see thee in my touch,
I’d say I had eyes again!
Old Man(老人)
How now? Who’s there?
Edgar(爱德加)
[aside] O gods! Who is ’t can say “I am at the worst?”
I am worse than e’er I was.
Old Man(老人)
[to Gloucester]
‘Tis poor mad Tom.
Edgar(爱德加)
[aside] And worse I may be yet. The worst is not
So long as we can say “This is the worst.”
Old Man(老人)
[to Edgar] Fellow, where goest?
Gloucester(格洛斯特)
Is it a beggarman?
Old Man(老人)
Madman and beggar too.
Gloucester(格洛斯特)
He has some reason, else he could not beg.
I’ th’ last night’s storm I such a fellow saw,
Which made me think a man a worm.
My son
Came then into my mind, and yet my mind
Was then scarce friends with him. I have heard more
since.
As flies to wanton boys are we to th’ gods.
They kill us for their sport.
Edgar(爱德加)
[aside]
How should this be?
Bad is the trade that must play fool to sorrow,
Angering itself and others.—Bless thee, master!
Gloucester(格洛斯特)
Is that the naked fellow?
Old Man(老人)
Ay, my lord.
Gloucester(格洛斯特)
Then prithee, get thee gone. If for my sake
Thou wilt o’ertake us hence a mile or twain
I’ th’ way toward Dover, do it for ancient love.
And bring some covering for this naked soul,
Which I’ll entreat to lead me.
Old Man(老人)
Alack, sir, he is mad.
Gloucester(格洛斯特)
‘Tis the time’s plague when madmen lead the blind.
Do as I bid thee. Or rather, do thy pleasure.
Above the rest, be gone.
Old Man(老人)
I’ll bring him the best ‘parel that I have,
Come on ’t what will.
[Stage] Exit Old Man
Gloucester(格洛斯特)
Sirrah, naked fellow—
Edgar(爱德加)
Poor Tom’s a-cold.
[aside] I cannot daub it further.
Gloucester(格洛斯特)
Come hither, fellow.
Edgar(爱德加)
[aside] And yet I must.—Bless thy sweet eyes, they
bleed.
Gloucester(格洛斯特)
Know’st thou the way to Dover?
Edgar(爱德加)
Both stile and gate, horseway and footpath. Poor Tom
hath been scared out of his good wits. Bless thee,
goodman’s son, from the foul fiend! Five fiends have
been in poor Tom at once: of lust, as Obidicut;
Hobbididence, prince of dumbness;
Mahu, of stealing;
Modo, of murder; Flibbertigibbet, of mopping and mowing,
who since possesses chambermaids and waiting-women. So
bless thee, master.
Gloucester(格洛斯特)
[Giving Edgar a purse]
Here, take this purse, thou whom the heavens’ plagues
Have humbled to all strokes. That I am wretched
Makes thee the happier. Heavens, deal so still.
Let the superfluous and lust-dieted man,
That slaves your ordinance, that will not see
Because he doth not feel, feel your power quickly.
So distribution should undo excess,
And each man have enough. Dost thou know Dover?
Edgar(爱德加)
Ay, master.
Gloucester(格洛斯特)
There is a cliff, whose high and bending head
Looks fearfully in the confinèd deep.
Bring me but to the very brim of it,
And I’ll repair the misery thou dost bear
With something rich about me. From that place
I shall no leading need.
Edgar(爱德加)
Give me thy arm.
Poor Tom shall lead thee.
[Stage] Exeunt