Kent. To be acknowledged, madam, is o'erpaid. All my reports go with the modest truth;1

Nor more, nor clipped, but so.

Yet to be made known shortens my made intent : 2

My boon I make it, that you know me not 3

Till time and I think meet.

Cor. Then be it so, my good lord.-How does the king?

Phys. Madam, sleeps still.

Cor. O you kind gods,

[To the Physician.

Cure this great breach in his abused nature!
The untuned and jarring senses, O wind up

Of this child-changed father!

Phys.

So please your majesty,

That we may wake the king? he hath slept long.
Cor. Be governed by your knowledge, and proceed
I' the sway of your own will. Is he arrayed?

Gent. Ay, madam; in the heaviness of sleep
We put fresh garments on him.

Phys. Be by, good madam, when we do awake him; I doubt not of his temperance.4

Very well.

Cor.
Phys. Please you, draw near.-Louder the music there!

1 All my reports, &c.] All that I have told you is according to exact and simple truth.

2 Shortens my made intent.] Lessens, or would make me come short of, my complete design.

My boon I make it, &c.] I make it a boon to me that you will seem not to know me.

Temperance.] Calmness.

Cor. O my dear father! Restoration hang Thy medicine on my lips; and let this kiss Repair those violent harms that my two sisters Have in thy reverence made!

Kent.

Kind and dear princess!

Cor. Had you not been their father, these white flakes
Had challenged pity of them. Was this a face
To be opposed against the warring winds?
To stand against the deep dread-bolted thunder,
In the most terrible and nimble stroke

Of quick cross-lightning? to watch (poor perdu !)1
With this thin helm ? 2 Mine enemy's dog,

Though he had bit me, should have stood that night
Against my fire. And wast thou fain, poor father,
To hovel thee with swine, and rogues forlorn,
In short and musty straw? Alack, alack!
'Tis wonder, that thy life and wits at once

Had not concluded all. He wakes; speak to him.
Phys. Madam, do you; 't is fittest.

Cor. How does my royal lord? How fares your majesty? Lear. You do me wrong to take me out o' the grave :—

Thou art a soul in bliss; but I am bound

Upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears
Do scald like molten lead.

Cor.

Sir, do

you

know me?

Lear. You are a spirit, I know: when did you die?

Cor. Still, still, far wide! 3

Phys. He 's scarce awake; let him alone awhile.

1 Poor perdu.] A perdu was a soldier sent on a forlorn hope.

2 Thin helm.] Thin helmet, i.e., thin hair.

3 Fur wide.] Far from sound in intellect; literally, far wide of the mark. 6 'They will have no good exercise, but gape and think -God will send meat. into their mouths; and these are far wide.' Latimer's 6th Serm. before K. Edward.

G

Lear. Where have I been? Where am I?-Fair day- .

I am mightily abused.—I should e'en die with pity,
To see another thus.-I know not what to say.-
I will not swear these are my hands: let's see,

I feel this pin prick. Would I were assured
my condition!

Of

And hold your hand in benediction o'er me:

No, sir, you must not kneel.

Lear.

Pray, do not mock me:

I am a very foolish fond old man,

Fourscore and upward, not an hour more or less:
And, to deal plainly,

I fear I am not in my perfect mind.

1

Methinks I should know you, and know this man ;
Yet I am doubtful: for I am mainly ignorant
What place this is; and all the skill I have
Remembers not these garments: nor I know not
Where I did lodge last night. Do not laugh at me;
For, as I am a man, I think this lady

To be my child Cordelia.

If

Cor.

And so I am, I am.

Lear. Be your tears wet? Yes, faith. I pray, weep not: you have poison for me I will drink it.

I know you do not love me : for your sisters
Have, as I do remember, done me wrong :
You have some cause, they have not.

Cor.

Lear. Am I in France?
Kent.

No cause, no cause.

In your own kingdom, sir.

1 Fourscore and upward, &c.] The confusion of definite and indefinite here was no doubt designed as an indication of the state of Lear's intellect.

Lear. Do not abuse me.

Phys. Be comforted, good madam: the great rage, You see, is killed in him: and yet it is danger

To make him even o'er the time he has lost.

Desire him to go in; trouble him no more
Till further settling.2

Cor. Will't please your highness walk?

Lear. You must bear with me: Pray you now, forget and forgive: I am old and foolish. [Exeunt LEAR, CORDELIA, Physician, and Attendants. Gent. Holds it true, sir, that the Duke of Cornwall was so slain?

Kent. Most certain, sir.

Gent, Who is conductor of his people?

Kent. As 'tis said, the bastard son of Gloster.

Gent. They say, Edgar, his banished son, is with the Earl of Kent in Germany.

Kent. Report is changeable. 'Tis time to look about; the powers o' the kingdom approach apace.

Gent. The arbitrement is like to be bloody. Fare you well, sir.

[Exit. Kent. My point and period 3 will be throughly wrought, Or well, or ill, as this day's battle's fought.

[Exit.

1 Even o'er.] Trace or reckon over; try the correspondence of

with his recollection.

2 Settling.] Scil. of his mind.

3 My point and period.] My end and consummation.

ACT V.

SCENE I.-The Camp of the British Forces, near Dover.

Enter, with drum and colours, EDMUND, REGAN, Officers, Soldiers, and others.

Edm. Know of the duke if his last purpose hold.
Or whether, since, he is advised by aught

To change the course: he's full of alteration,
And self-reproving :-bring his constant pleasure.

[To an Officer, who goes out.

Reg. Our sister's man is certainly miscarried.
Edm. 'Tis to be doubted, madam.

Reg.

Now, sweet lord,
You know the goodness I intend upon you:
Tell me but truly-but then speak the truth,
Do you not love my sister?

Edm.

In honoured love.

Reg. I am doubtful that you have been conjunct
And bosomed with her, as far as we call hers.1
Edm. No, by mine honour, madam.

Reg. I never shall endure her: dear my lord,
Be not familiar with her.

Edm.

Fear me not :

She, and the duke her husband!

1 As far as we call hers.] Hers in the full sense of the word.