Alb. Kent. Well, sir, I'll bring you to our master And to revenge thine eyes.-Come hither, Enter KENT, and a Gentleman. Kent. Why the King of France is so suddenly gone back know you the reason? Gent. Something he left imperfect in the state, Kent. Who hath he left behind him, general? Fer. Kent. Did your letters pierce the queen to any demonstration of grief? Gent. Ay, sir, she took them, read them in my presence; And now and then an ample tear trill'd down O, then it mov'd her. strove SCENE IV. The same. A Tent. Enter CORDELIA, Physician, and Soldiers. In the restoring of his bereaved sense? All bless'd secrets, All you unpublish'd virtues of the earth, Spring with my tears! be aidant, and remediate, [seen In the good man's distress!-Seek,seek for him; Who should express her goodliest. You have Lest his ungovern'd rage dissolve the life Sunshine and rain at once; her smiles and tears That wants the means to lead it. Were like a better way. Those happy smiles, That play'd on her ripe lip, seem'd not to know What guests were in her eyes; which parted thence, [sorrow As pearls from diamonds dropp'd.-In brief, Would be a rarity most belov'd, if all Kent. Made she no verbal question? Gent, 'Faith, once, or twice, she heav'd the name of father Pantingly forth, as if it press'd her heart; Let pity not be believed!-There she shook Kent. Who sometime, in his better tune, remembers That stripp'd her from his benediction, turn'd His mind so venomously, that burning shame Mess. Enter a Messenger. Madam, news; It is thy business that I go about; My mourning, and important tears, hath pitied. SCENE V. A Room in Gloster's Castle. Enter REGAN and Steward. Reg. But are my brother's powers set forth? Madam, with much ado: [matter. Reg. 'Faith, he is posted hence on serious not you Transport her purposes by word? Belike, Stew. Reg. I know, your lady does not love her I am sure of that: and, at her late being here, Reg. I speak in understanding; you are, I Madam, I had rather- This would I do renounce; and, in your sights Therefore, I do advise you, take this note: If you do chance to hear of that blind traitor, [labour. Hark, do you hear the sea? Glo. Horrible steep: And dizzy 'tis, to cast one's eyes so low! [air, Methinks, he seems no bigger than his head: surge, That on the unnumber'd idle pebbles chafes, Glo. Of the extreme verge: for all beneath the moon Glo. Prosper it with thee! Go thou further off; [Seems to go. So many fathom down precipitating, Glo. Alack, I have no eyes. [bourn: Is wretchedness depriv'd that benefit, Glo. A poor unfortunate beggar. Edg. As I stood here below, methought, his eyes Were two full moons; he had a thousand noses, Of men's impossibilities, have preserv'd thee. Edg. Bear free and patieut thoughts.-But Enter LEAR fantastically dressed up with Flowers. Lear. No, they cannot touch me for coining; Edg. O thou side-piercing sight! Lear. Nature's above art in that respect.-. There's your press-money. That fellow handles his bow like a crow-keeper: draw me a clothier's yard.-Look, look, a mouse! Peace, peace ;--this piece of toasted cheese will do't.-There's my gauntlet; I'll prove it on a giant.-Bring up the brown bills.--O, well flown, bird!-i' the clout, i' the clout; hewgh!-Give the word. Edg. Sweet marjoram. Lear. Pass. Glo. I know that voice. Lear. Ha! Goneril!-with a white beard: They flatter'd me like a dog; and told me, I had Robes, and furr'd gowns, hide all. Plate sin white hairs in my beard, ere the black ones were with gold. there. To say, ay, and no, to every thing I said! And the strong lace of justice hurtless breaks: -Ay and no too was no good divinity. When Arm it in rags, a pigmy's straw doth pierce it. the rain came to wet me once, and the wind to None does offend, none, I say, none; I'll able make me chatter; when the thunder would not peace at my bidding; there I found them, there I smelt them out. Go to, they are not men o' their words: they told me I was every thing: 'tis a lie; I am not ague-proof. Glo. The trick of that voice I do well rememIs 't not the king? [ber: Lear. Ay, every inch a king: When I do stare, see, how the subject quakes. I pardon that man's life: what was thy cause?— Adultery! Thou shalt not die; die for adultery! No: The wren goes to 't, and the small gilded fly Does lecher in my sight, Let copulation thrive, for Gloster's bastard son To't luxury, pell-mell, for I lack soldiers.— Whose face between her forks presageth snow; The fitchew, nor the soiled horse, goes to't But to the girdle do the gods inherit, There is the sulphurous pit, burning, scalding, steuch, consumption;-Fye, fye, fye; pah; pah! Give me an ounce of civet, good apothecary, to sweeten my imagination; there's money for thee. Glo. O, let me kiss that hand! [tality. Lear. Let me wipe it first; it smells of morGio. O ruin'd piece of nature! This great world Shali so wear out to nought-Dost thou know me? Lear. I remember thine eyes well enough. Dost thou squiny at me? No, do thy worst, blind Cupid; I'll not love.-Read thou this challenge; mark but the penning of it. [one. Glo. Were all the letters suns, I could not see Elg. I would not take this from report;—it is, And my heart breaks at it. 'em: Take that of me, my friend, who have the power Pull off my boots:-harder, harder; so. air, We wawl, and cry:-I will preach to thee; mark Glo. Alack, alack the day! come Lear. When we are born, we cry, that we are [block? To this great stage of fools;- -This a good It were a delicate stratagem, to shoe A troop of horse with felt: I'll put it in proof; And when I have stolen upon these sons-in-law, Then, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill. Enter a Gentleman, with Attendants. Gent. O, here he is, lay hand upon him.-Sir, Your most dear daughter Gent. Lear. No rescue? What, a prisoner? I am even I will be jovial; come, come; I am a king, Gent. You are a royal one, and we obey you. Lear. Then there's life in it. Nay, an you get it, you shall get it by running. Sa, sa, sa, sa. [Exit running; Attendants follow, Gent, A sight most pitiful in the meanest wretch; [daughter, Past speaking of in a king!-Thou hast one Who redeems nature from the general curse Which twain have brought her to. Edg. Hail, gentle sir. Gent. Sir, speed you: What's your will? Let not my worser spirit tempt me again Edg. Who, by the art of known and feeling sorrows, And woes, by wrong imaginations, lose Hearty thanks: Now let thy friendly hand Put strength enough to it. [EDGAR opposes. Wherefore, bold peasant, Dar'st thou support a publish'd traitor? Hence; Stew. Lest that the infection of his fortune take Like hold on thee. Let go his arm. Edg. Ch'ill not let go, zir, without vurther Stew. Let go, slave, or thou diest. ['casion. Edg. Good gentleman, go your gait, and let poor volk pass. And ch'ud ha' been zwagger'd out of my life, 'twould not ha' been zo long as 'tis by a vortnight. Nay, come not near the old man; keep out, che vor'ye, or ise try whether your costard or my bat be the harder: Ch'ill be plain with you. Stew. Out, dunghill! Edg. Ch'ill pick your teeth, zir; Come; no matter vor your foins. [They fight and EDGAR knocks him down. Stew. Slave, thou hast slain me:-Villain, take my purse; If ever thou wilt thrive, bury my body; [Dies. What, is he dead? Edg. Sit you down, father; rest you.- [of, Let's see his pockets; these letters, that he speaks May be my friends.-He's dead: I am only sorry He had no other deathsman.-Let us see: Leave, gentle wax; and, manners, blame us not: To know our enemies' minds, we'd rip their Their papers, is more lawful. [hearts; [Reads.] Let our reciprocal vows be remembered. You have many opportunities to cut him off: if your will want not, time and place will be fruitfully offered. There is nothing done, if he return the conqueror: Then am I the prisoner, and his bed my gaol; from the loathed warmth whereof deliver me, and supply the place for your labour. Your wife (so I would say), and your affectionate servant, GONERIL. O undistinguish'd space of woman's will!A plot upon her virtuous husband's life; And the exchange, my brother!-Here, in the Thee I'll rake up, the post unsanctified [sands, Of murderous lechers: and, in the mature time, With this ungracious paper strike the sight Of the death-practis'd duke: for him 'tis well, That of thy death and business I can tell. [Exit EDGAR, dragging out the Body. Glo. The king is mad: How stiff is my vile Edg. Re-enter EDGAR. Give me your hand: Far off, methinks, I hear the beaten drum, Come, father, I'll bestow you with a friend. SCENE VII. [Exeunt. A Tent in the French Camp. LEAR on a Bed, asleep: Physician, Gentleman; and Others attending: Enter CORDELIA and KENT. Cor. O thou good Kent, how shall I live, and work, To match thy goodness? My life will be too short, Cor. Kent. Be better suited: These weeds are memories of these worser I pr'ythee put them off. [hours; Pardon me, dear madam; Yet to be known, shortens my made intent: My boon I make it, that you know me not, Till time and I think meet. Cor. Then be it so, my good lord.-How does the king? [To the Physician. Phys. Madam, sleeps still. Cor. O you kind gods, Cure this great breach in his abused nature! The untun'd 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 govern'd by your knowledge, and proceed I' the sway of your own will. Is he array'd Gent. Ay, madam; in the heaviness of his sleep, We put fresh garments on him. Phys. Be by, good madam, when we do awake I doubt not of his temperance. [him; Cor. Very well. Phys. Please you, draw near.-Louder the musick there. Thy medicine upon my lips; and let this kiss Cor. O my dear father! Restoration, hang 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 challeng'd pity of them. Was this a fase To be expos'd 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!) With this thin helm? 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 Phys. Madam, do you; 'tis fittest. [him. Cor. How does my royal lord? How fares your majesty ? [grave: Lear. You do me wrong, to take me out o'the 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 Cor. Still, still, far wide! [you die? [pity, Phys. He's scarce awake; let him alone awhile. Reg. Our sister's man is certainly miscarried. Lear. Where have I been?-Where am I?— Edm. 'Tis to be doubted, madam. Fair daylight?Reg. Now, sweet lord, I am mightily abus'd.-I should even die with You know the goodness I intend upon you: To see another thus.-I know not what to say-Tell me,-but truly,-but then speak the truth, I will not swear, these are my hands:-let's see; Do you not love my sister? I feel this pin prick. 'Would, I were assur'd Edm. In honour'd love. Of my condition. Reg. But have you never found my brother's To the forefended place? [way Edm. That thought abuses you. Reg. I am doubtful that you have been conjunct Cor. O, look upon me, sir, And hold your hands in benediction o'er me;- Lear. (man: Pray do not mock me: Cor. And so I am, I am. Lear. Be your tears wet? Yes, 'faith. I pray, weep not: If you have poison for me, I will drink it. Lear. Am I in France? No cause, no cause. In your own kingdom, sir. Cor. Will 't please your highness walk? [Exeunt LEAR, COR. Phy, and Attendants. Gent. Holds it true, sir, That the Duke of Cornwall was so slain? The bastard son of Gloster. Kent. Report is changeable. 'Tis time to look about; the powers o' the king- Kent. My point and period will be thoroughly Or well, or ill, as this day's battle's fought. Art Fifth. [Exit. With others, whom the rigour of our state Reg. Alb. Reg. 'Tis most convenient; 'pray you, go Alb. Why, fare thee well; I will o'erlook thy Re-enter EDMUND. Edm. The enemy's in view, draw up your Here is the guess of their true strength and forces We will greet the time. (Exit. Edm. To both these sisters have I sworn my love: Each jealous of the other, as the stung |