low them to prison: Are of the adder. Which of them shall I take? Take thon this note: [Giving a Paper.] go, fol- Her husband being alive. Now then, we'll use His countenance for the battle: which being done, Let her, who would be rid of him, devise [Exit. SCENE II. A Field between the two Camps. Alarum within. Enter, with Drum and Colours, LEAR, CORDELIA, and their Forces; and exeunt. Enter EDGAR and GLOSTER. Edg. Here, father, take the shadow of this tree For your good host: pray that the right may If ever I return to you again, [thrive: I'll bring you comfort. Glo. Grace go with you, sir! [Exit EDGAR. Alarums; afterwards a Retreat. Re-enter EDGAR. Edg. Away, old man, give me thy hand, away: King Lear hath lost, 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 must endure Their going hence, even as their coming hither: And that's true too. [Exeunt. SCENE III. The British Camp near Dover. Enter, in Conquest, with Drum and Colours, ED MUND; LEAR and CORDELIA, as Prisoners: Offì-| cers, Soldiers, &c. Edm. Some officers take them away; good guard; Until their greater pleasures first be known Cor. worst. For thee, oppressed king, am I cast down; Come. [Exeunt LEAB and CORDELIA, guarded. One step I have advanc'd thee; if thon dost ment Will not bear question: either say, thou'lt do't, Or thrive by other means. off. Mark,-I say instantly; and carry it so, Off I cannot draw a cart, nor eat dried oats: If it be man's work, I will do it! [Exit Officer. Flourish. Enter ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, Officers, and Attendants. Edm. Alb. Sir, you have shown to-day your valiant strain, And fortune led you well: You have the captives Who were the opposites of this day's strife: We do require them of you; so to use them, As we shall find their merits and our safety May equally determine. Sir, I thought it fit To send the old and miserable king To some retention, and appointed guard; Whose age has charms in it, whose title more, To pluck the common bosom on his side, And turn our impress'd lances in our eyes Which do command them. With him I sent the queen; My reason all the same; and they are ready And the best quarrels, in the heat, are curs'd Alb. Reg. That's as we list to grace him. Methinks our pleasure might have been demanded, Ere you had spoke so far. He led our powers; Bore the commission of my place and person: The which immediacy may well stand up, And call itself your brother. Gon. Not so hot: In his own grace he doth exalt himself, More than in your advancement. Reg. In my rights, By me invested, he compeers the best. Alb. Stay yet; hear reason:-Edmund, I ar- A most toad-spotted traitor. Say thou, No, Alb. Thon art arm'd, Gloster:-Let the trum- If none appear to prove upon thy person, Ere I taste bread, thou art in nothing less Sick, O, sick! That names me traitor, villain-like he lies: Alb. A herald, ho! Reg. This sickness grows upon me. Alb. She is not well: convey her to my tent. Off. Sound, trumpet. [A Trumpet sounds. Herald reads. If any man of quality, or degree, within the lists of the army, will maintain upon Edmund, supposed earl of Gloster, that he is a manifold traitor, let him appear at the third sound of the trumpet: he is bold in his defence. Elm. Sound. Her. Again. Her. Again. This sword, this arm, and my best spirits, are To prove upon thy heart, whereto I speak, Edm. In wisdom, I should ask thy name: What safe and nicely I might well delay This sword of mine shall give them instant way, No tearing, lady; I perceive you know it. Know'st thou this paper? Gon. Ask me not what I know. [Exit. Alb. Goafter her; she's desperate; govern her. [To an Officer, who goes out, Edm. What you have charg'd me with, that have I done; [out: And more, much more; the time will bring it 'Tis past, and so am I: But what art thou, That hast this fortune on me? If thou art noble, I do forgive thee. Let's exchange charity. Edg. Edm, Thou hast spoken right, 'tis true; The wheel is come full circle; I am here. I am no less in blood than thou art, Edmund; [1 Trumpet. If more, the more thou hast wrong'd me. [2 Trumpet. My name is Edgar, and thy father's son. [3 Trumpet. The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices [Trumpet answers within. Make instruments to scourge us: Enter EDGAR, armed, preceded by a Trumpet. The dark and vicious place where thee he got, Alb, Ask him his purposes, why he appears Cost him his eyes. Upon this call o' the trumpet. Her. What are you? Your name, your quality? and why you answer This present summons? Edy. Know, my name is lost; By treason's tooth bare-gnawn, and canker-bit: Yet am I noble as the adversary I come to cope withal. Alb. Which is that adversary? Edg. What's he, that speaks for Edmund earl of Gloster? Edm. Himself;-What say'st thou to him? Alb. Methought, thy very gait did prophesy Edg. [tale: Edg. By nursing them, my lord.-List a brief And, when 'tis told, O, that my heart would The bloody proclamation to escape, [burst! That follow'd me so near (O our lives' sweetness! That with the pain of death we'd hourly die, Rather than die at once!) taught me to shift Into a madman's rags: to assume a semblance That very dogs disdain'd: and in this habit Met I my father with his bleeding rings, Their precious stones new lost; became his guide, Led him, begg'd for him, sav'd him from despair; Never (O fault!) reveal'd myself unto him, Until some half hour past, when I was arm'd, Not sure, though hoping, of this good success, I ask'd his blessing, and from first to last Told him my pilgrimage: But his flaw'd heart (Alack, too weak the conflict to support!) "Twixt two extremes of passion, joy and grief, Burst smilingly. Edm. This speech of yours hath moved me, And shall, perchance, do good: but speak you on; You look as you had something more to say. Whilst I was big in clamour, came there a man, Alh. But who was this? Edg. Kent, sir, the banish'd Kent; who in disguise Follow'd his enemy king, and did him service What kind of help? Edm. I was contracted to them both; all three Now marry in an instant. Alb. Produce their bodies, be they alive or dead! [tremble, This judgment of the heavens, that makes us Touches us not with pity. [Exit Gentleman. Enter KENT. To bid my king and master aye good night; Alb. Yet Edmund was belov'd: The one the other poison'd for my sake, And after slew herself. Alb. Even so.-Cover their faces. Elm. I pant for life :-Some good I mean to do, Despite of mine own nature. Quickly send,— Be brief in it,-to the castle, for my writ Is on the life of Lear, and on Cordelia :Nay, send in time. Alb. Haste thee, for thy life. [Exit EDGAR. Edm. He hath commission from thy wife and To hang Cordelia in the prison, and [me To lay the blame upon her own despair, That she forbid herself. Alb. The gods defend her! Bear him hence awhile. [EDMUND is borne off. Enter LEAR, with CORDELIA dead in his Arms; EDGAR, Officer, and Others. Lear. Howl, howl, howl, howl!-O, you are men of stones; Had I your tongues and eyes, I'd use them so That heaven's vault should crack:-0, she is gone for ever! I know when one is dead, and when one lives; She's dead as earth :-Lend me a looking glass; If that her breath will mist or stain the stone, Why, then she lives. Kent. Is this the promis'd end? Edg. Or image of that horror? Alb. Fall, and cease! Lear. This feather stirs; she lives! if it be so, It is a chance that does redeem all sorrows That ever I have felt. Kent. O my good master! [Kneeling. Lear. 'Pr'ythee, away. Edg. all! 'Tis noble Kent, your friend. Lear. A plague upon you, murderers, traitors [ever!-I might have sav'd her: now she's gone for Cordelia, Cordelia, stay a little. Ha! What is't thou say'st?-Her voice was ever soft, Gentle, and low; an excellent thing in woman: I kill'd the slave that was a hanging thee. Off. 'Tis true, my lords, he did. Lear Did I not, fellow? I have seen the day,with my good biting falchion I would have made them skip: I am old now. And these same crosses spoil me.-Who are you? Mine eyes are none o' the best:-I'll tell you straight. Kent. If fortune brag of two she lov'd and One of them we behold. [hated, Lear. This is a dull sight: Are you not Kent? Kent. The same: Your servant Kent: Where is your servant Cains? Lear. He's a good fellow, I can tell you that; He'll strike, and quickly too:-He's dead and rotten. Kent, No, my good lord, I am the very man;-Lear. I'll see that straight. Kent. That from your first of difference and Have follow'd your sad steps. [decay, Lear. Your eldest daughters have foredoom'd them- Lear. Ay, so I think. Alb. He knows not what he says; and vain That we present us to him, [it is Edg. Very bootless. Enter an Officer. Off. Edmund is dead, my lord. Alb. That's but a trifle here.You lords, and noble friends, know our intent. What comfort to this great decay may come, Shall be applied; for us, we will resign, During the life of this old majesty, To him our absolute power:-You, to your rights; [To EDGAR and KENT. With boot, and such addition as your honours Have more than merited:-All friends shall taste The wages of their virtue, and all foes That would upon the rack of this tough world Edg. Alb. Bear them from thence.-Our present Alb. The weight of this sad time we must obey: Romeo and Juliet. ESCALUS, Prince of Verona. Persons Represented. PARIS, a young Nobleman, Kinsman to the Prince. An old Man, Uncle to Capulet. MERCUTIO, Kinsman to the Prince, and Friend to BENVOLIO, Nephew to Montague, and Friend to Romeo. TYBALT, Nephew to Lady Capulet. FRIAR JOHN, of the same Order. BALTHAZAR, Servant to Romeo. SAMPSON, Servant to Capulet. GREGORY, Servant to Capulet. Three Musicians. Chorus. Boy. Page to Paris. LADY MONTAGUE, Wife to Montague. Citizens of Verona; several Men and Women, SCENE-during the greater Part of the Play, in Verona: once, in the Fifth Act, at Mantua. Prologur. Two households, both alike in dignity, A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life; Art First. SCENE I. A public Place. Enter SAMPSON and GREGORY, armed with Swords and Bucklers. Sam. GREGORY, o' my word, we'll not carry Gre. No, for then we should be colliers. Sam. I strike quickly, being moved. The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love, remove, Is now the two hours' traffick of our stage; The which if you with patient ears attend, What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend. stand: I will take the wall of any man or maid of Montague's. Gre. That shows thee a weak slave; for the weakest goes to the wall. Sam. True; and therefore women, being the weaker vessels, are ever thrust to the wall:therefore I will push Montague's men from the wall, and thrust his maids to the wall. Gre. The quarrel is between our masters, and us their men. Sam. 'Tis all one, I will show myself a tyrant: when I have fought with the men, I will be cruel with the maids: I will cut off their heads. Gre. The heads of the maids? Sam. Ay, the heads of the maids, or their maidenheads; take it in what sense thou wilt. Gre. They must take it in sense, that feel it Sam. Me they shall feel, while I am able to stand: and, 'tis known, I am a pretty piece of flesh. Gre. 'Tis well, thou art not fish; if thou hadst, thou hadst been poor John. Draw thy tool; here comes two of the house of the Montagues. Enter ABRAM and BALTHAZAR. Sam. My naked weapon is out; quarrel, I will back thee. Gre. How? turn thy back, and run? Gre. No, marry: I fear thee! Sam. Let us take the law of our sides; let them begin. Gre. I will frown, as I pass by; and let them take it as they list. Sam. Nay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at them; which is a disgrace to them, if they bear it. Abr. Do you bite your thumb at us, sir? Abr. Do you bite your thumb at us, sir? Sam. No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you, sir; but I bite my thumb, sir. Gre. Do you quarrel, sir? Abr. Quarrel, sir? no sir. 785 Three civil brawls, bred of an airy word, [Exeunt Prince and Attendants; CAPULET, LA. CAP. TYBALT, Citizens, and Servants. Mon. Who set this ancient quarrel new abroach? Speak, nephew, were you by, when it began? sary, And yours, close fighting ere I did approach: Sam. If you do, sir, I am for you: I serve as Which, as he breathed defiance to my ears, good a man as you. Abr. No better. Sam. Well, sir. Enter BENVOLIO at a distance. Gre. Say-better; here comes one of my master's kinsmen. Sam. Yes, better, sir. Abr. You lie. Sam. Draw, if you be men.-Gregory, remember thy swashing blow. [They fight. Ben. Part, fools; put up your swords; you know not what you do. [Beats down their swords. Enter TYBALT. Tyb. What, art thou drawn among these Turn thee, Benvolio, look upon thy death. Or manage it to part these men with me. As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee: Enter MONTAGUE and LADY MONTAGUE. That quench the fire of your pernicious rage He swung about his head, and cut the winds, Till the prince came, who parted either part. Right glad I am, he was not at this fray. sun Peer'd forth the golden window of the east, Pursu'd my humour, not pursuing his, Ben. My noble uncle, do you know the cause? |