Gent. So pleafe your Majesty,

That we may wake the King, he hath flept long?
Cor. Be govern'd by your knowledge, and proceed
I'th' fway of your own will: is he array'd?

Enter Lear in a Chair, carried by Servants.
Gent. Ay Madam; in the heaviness of fleep,
We put fresh Garments on him,

Be by, good Madam, when we do awake him,
I doubt not of his Temperance.

Cor. O my dear Father, Reftauration hang
Thy Medicine on my lips, and let this kiss
Repair those violent harms, that my two Sifters
Have in thy Reverence made.

Kent. Kind and dear Princefs!

Cor. Had you not been their Father, thefe white flakes
Did challenge pity of them. Was this Face
To be oppos'd against the jarring winds?
Mine Enemies Dog, though he had bit me,
Should have ftood that Night against my
fire:
And waft thou fain, poor Father,

To hovel thee with Swine and Rogues forlorn,
In fhort, and mufty Straw? alack, alack,
'Tis wonder that thy life and wits, at once

Had not concluded all. He wakes, speak to him.
Gent. Madam, do you, 'tis fitteft.

Cor. How does my Royal Lord?

How fares your Majefty?

Lear. You do me wrong to take me out o'th' Grave;

Thou art a Soul in blifs, but I am bound

Upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears

Do fcald like molten Lead.

Cor. Sir, do you know me?

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

Cor. Still, ftill, far wide

Gent. He's fcarce awake,

Let him alone a while.

Lear. Where have I been?
Where am I? fair day light?

I am mightily abus'd; I should even die with pity.
To fee another thus. I know not what to say;
I will not fwear thefe are my hands; let's fee,

I feel this Pin prick, would I were affur'd
Of my condition,

Cor. O look upon me, Sir,

And hold your hand in benediction c'er me,
You must not kneel.

Lear. Pray do not mock me;

I am a very foolish fond old Man,
Fourfcore and upward,

Not an hour more, nor lefs: And to deal plainly,
I fear I am not in my perfect mind.

Methinks I fhould 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 thefe Garments; nor I know not
Where I did lodge laft Night. Do not laugh at me,
For, as I am a Man, I think this Lady

To be my Child Cordelia,

Cor. And fo I am; I am

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

I know you do not love me, for

your Sifters Have, as I do remember, done me wrong. You have fome caufe, they have not.

Cor. No caufe, no cause.

Lear. Am I in France?

Kent. In your own Kingdom, Sir.

Lear. Do not abufe me.

Gent. Be comforted, good Madam, the great rage
You fee is kill'd in him: defire him to go in,
Trouble him no more 'till further fettling.
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

Baft.

A CT V. SCENE I.

SCENE A Camp.

Enter Baftard, Regan, Gentlemen, and Soldiers.

Now of the Duke if his last purpose hold,
Or whether fince he is advis'd by ought
To change the course; he's full of alteration,
And felf reproving; bring his conftant pleasure.
Reg. Our Sifter's Man is certainly miscarried.
Baft. 'Tis to be doubted, Madam

Reg. Now fweet Lord,

You know the goodness I intend upon you:
Tell me but truly, but then fpeak the truth,
Do you not love my Sifter?

Baft. In honour'd Love.

Reg. But have you never found my Brother's way, To the fore-fended place?

Baft. No by mine Honour, Madam.

Reg. I never fhall endure her; dear my Lord,

Be not familiar with her.

Baft. Fear not, she and the Duke her Husband-
Enter Albany, Gonerill, and Soldiers,

Alb. Our very loving Sifter, well be met:

Sir, this I heard, the King is come to his Daughter
With others, whom the rigour of our State

Forc'd to cry out.

Reg. Why is this reason'd?

Gon. Combine together 'gainft the Enemy:

For these Domestick, and particular Broils,

Are not the question here.

Alb. Let's then determine with th' ancient of War

On our proceeding.

Reg. Sifter, you'll go with us?

Gon. No.

Reg. 'Tis moft convenient, pray go with us.
Gon. Oh, ho, I know the Riddle, I will go.

Manet Albany.

Enter Edgar.

Edg. If e'er your Grace had Speech with Man fo poor, Hear me one word.

Alb. I'll overtake you, speak.

Edg. Before you fight the Battel, ope this Letter:
If you have Victory, let the Trumpet found
For him that brought it: wretched though I feem,
I can produce a Champion, that will prove
What is avouched there. If you mifcarry,
Your business of the World hath fo an end,
And machination ceafes. Fortune loves you.
Alb. Stay 'till I have read the Letter.
Edg. I was forbid it.

When time fhall ferve, let but the Herald cry,
And I'll appear again.

Alb. Why fare thee well, I will o'erlook thy Paper.
Enter Bastard.

Baft. The Enemy's in view, draw up your powers,
Here is the guess of their true ftrength and forces,
By diligent difcovery, but your hafte

Is now urg'd on you.

Alb. We will greet the time.

Baft. To both thefe Sifters have I fworn my love:

Each jealous of the other, as the stung

Are of the Adder. Which of them fhall I take?
Both? One? Or neither? Neither can be enjoy'd,
If both remain alive: To take the Widow,
Exafperates, makes mad her Sifter Gonerill,
And hardly fhall I carry out my fide,

Her Husband being alive. Now then, we'll use
His countenance for the Battel, which being done,
Let her who would be rid of him, devise
His fpeedy taking off. As for the mercy
Which he intends to Lear, and to Cordelia,
The Battel done, and they within our power;
Shall never fee his pardon: for my ftate,
Stands on me to defend, not to debate.

[Exit.

[Exit.

[Exit.

Alarum within. Enter with Drum and Colours, Lear,
Cordelia, and Soldiers, over the Stage, and Exeunt..

Enter Edgar and Glofter.

Edg. Here Father, take the fhadow of this Tree For your good Hoft; pray that the right may thrive; If ever I return to you again,

I'll bring you comfort.

Glo. Grace be with you, Sir.

[Exit

[Alarum and Retreat within.

Enter Edgar.

Edg. Away old Man, give me thy hand, away; King Lear hath loft, he and his Daughter ta'en, Give me thy hand. Come on.

Glo. No further Sir, a Man may rot even here. Edg. What, in ill thoughts again? Men muft endure Their going hence, even as their coming hither, Ripenefs is all, come on,

Glo. And that's true too.

SCENE

Exeunt

Enter Bastard, Lear and Cordelia as Prifoners, Soldiers,

Captain.

Baft. Some Officers take them away; good Guard, Until their greater pleasures first be known

That are to censure them.

Cor. We are not the first,

Who with beft meaning have incurr'd the worst:
For thee, oppreffed King, I am caft down,
My felf could elfe out-frown falfe Fortune's frown.
Shall we not fee thefe Daughters, and thefe Sifters?
Lear. No, no, no, no; come let's away to Prifon;
We two alone will fing like Birds i'th' Cage:
When thou do'ft ask me bleffing, I'll kneel down
'And ask of thee forgivenefs: So we'll live,
And Pray, and Sing, and tell old tales, and laugh
At gilded Butterflies: and hear poor Rogues

Talk