1

Edg. I know thee well: a serviceable
villain;

As duteous to the vices of thy mistress
As badness would desire.
Glou.

What, is he dead? Edg. Sit you down, father; rest you 260 Let's see these pockets: the letters that he speaks of

May be my friends. He's dead; I am only sorry

He had no other death's-man. Let us see: Leave, gentle wax; and, manners, blame us not:

To know our enemies' minds, we'ld rip their hearts;

Their papers, is more lawful.

[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 the prisoner, and his bed my goal; from the loathed warmth whereof deliver me, and supply the place for your labor.

Your-wife, so I would say-
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
280

sands,

That I stand up, and have ingenious feeling Of my huge sorrows! Better I were distract: So should my thoughts be sever'd from my griefs, 290

And woes by wrong imaginations lose
The knowledge of themselves.
Edg.

Give me your hand :
[Drum afar off.

Far off, methinks, I hear the beaten drum: Come, father, I'll bestow you with a friend. [Exeunt.

SCENE VII. A tent in the French camp. LEAR on a bed asleep, soft music playing; Gentleman, and others attending

Enter CORDELIA, KENT, and Doctor. Cor. O thou good Kent, how shall I live and work,

To match thy goodness? My life will be too short,

And every measure fail me.

Kent. To be acknowledged, madam, is o'erpaid.

All my reports go with the modest truth ;
Nor more nor clipp'd, but so.

Cor

Be better suited

These weeds are memories of those worser hours:

I prithee, put them off.
Kent.
Pardon me, dear madam;
Yet to be known shortens my made intent :
My boon I make it, that you know me not 10
Till time and I think meet.

Cor. Then be't so, my good lord. [To the
Doctor] How does the king?

Doct. Madam, sleeps still.

Cor. O you kind gods,

Cure this great breach in his abused nature! The untuned and jarring senses, O, wind up Of this child-changed father!

Doct.

So please your majesty

That we may wake the king: he hath slept

long.

Doct. Be by, good madam, when we do awake him;

Very well.

I doubt not of his temperance.
Cor.
Doct. Please you, draw near. Louder the
music there!

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. Cor. Had you not been their father, these white flakes

Kind and dear princess!

30 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!

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! 40 "Tis wonder that thy life and wits at once Had not concluded all. He wakes; speak to him.

Doct. Madam, do you; 'tis 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..

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

Lear. Where have I been? Where am I?
Fair daylight?
[pity.

I am mightily abused. I should e'en die with
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
Of my condition!
O, look upon me, sir,

Cor.
And hold your hands in benediction o'er me :
No, sir, you must not kneel.

Lear.

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Pray, do not mock me : I am a very foolish fond old man, Fourscore and upward, not an hour more nor less;

And, to deal plainly,

great rage,

You see, is kill'd 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 81 Till further settling.

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 all but Kent and Gentleman. 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 Gloucester. 90 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 of the kingdom ap proach apace.

Sir, do you know me ?

Gent. The arbitrement is like to be bloody. Fare you well, sir. [Exit. Kent. My point and period will be through ly wrought,

50

Or well or ill, as this day's battle's fought. [Ex

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

Cor. Still, still, far wide!

ACT V.

SCENE I. The British camp, near Dover. Enter, with drum and colors, EDMUND, REGAN, Gentlemen, and Soldiers.

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 a Gentleman, 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. Reg.

In honor'd love.

But have you never found my brother's way

To the forfended place?

Edm.

10

That thought abuses you. Reg. I am doubtful that you have been conjunct

And bosom'd with her, as far as we call hers. Edm. No, by mine honor, 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!

Enter, with drum and colors, ALBANY,
GONERIL, and Soldiers.

Gon. [Aside] I had rather lose the battle than that sister

Should loosen him and me.

Alb. Our very loving sister, well be-met. Sir, this I hear; the king is come to his daughter,

21

With others whom the rigor of our state Forced to cry out. Where I could not be

honest,

done,

Let her who would be rid of him devise
His speedy taking off. As for the mercy
Which he intends to Lear and to Cordelia,
The battle done, and they within our power,
Shall never see his pardon; for my state
Stands on me to defend, not to debate. [Exit.

SCENE II. A field between the two camps. Alarum within. Enter, with drum and colors, LEAR, CORDELIA, and Soldiers, over the stage; and exeunt.

Enter EDGAR and GLOUCESTER.

Edg. Here, father, take the shadow of this tree

For your good host; pray that the right may thrive :

If ever I return to you again,
I'll bring you comfort.
Glou.

Grace go with you, sir!

[Exit Edgar. Re-enter EDGAR.

Alarum and retreat within.

Edg. Away, old man; give me thy hand,

away!

King Lear hath lost, ne and his daughter ta'en: Give me thy hand; come on.

That ebb and flow by the moon.

Take them away.

Edm. Lear. Upon such sacrifices, my Cordelia, 20 The gods themselves throw incense. Have I caught thee?

He that parts us shall bring a brand from heaven,

And fire us hence like foxes. Wipe thine eyes;
The good-years shall devour them, flesh and fell,
Ere they shall make us weep: we'll see 'em
starve first.

Come. [Exeunt Lear and Cordelia, guarded.
Edg. Come hither, captain; hark.
Take thou this note [giving a paper]; go follow

them to prison:

One step I have advanced thee; if thou dost
As this instructs thee, thou dost make thy way
To noble fortunes: know thou this, that men
Are as the time is: to be tender-minded
Does not become a sword: thy great employ-

ment

31

From a full-flowing stomach. General,
Take thou my soldiers, prisoners, patrimony;
Dispose of them, of me; the walls are thine:
Witness the world, that I create thee here
My lord and master.
Gon.
Mean you to enjoy him?
Alb. The let-alone lies not in your good

Reg. [To Edmund] Let the drum strike, and prove my title thine.

Alb. Stay yet; hear reason. Edmund, I arrest thee

On capital treason; and, in thine attaint,
This gilded serpent [pointing to Gon.]. For
your claim, fair sister,

I bar it in the interest of my wife :
'Tis she is sub-contracted to this lord,
And I, her husband, contradict your bans.
If you will marry, make your loves to me,
My lady is bespoke.

Gon.

An interlude !

Alb. Thou art arm'd, Gloucester: let the trumpet sound :

90

If none appear to prove upon thy head
Thy heinous, manifest, and many treasons,
There is my pledge [throwing down a glove];
I'll prove it on thy heart,

Ere I taste bread, thou art in nothing less
Than I have here proclaim'd thee.
Reg.
Sick, O, sick!
Gon. [Aside] If not, I'll ne'er trust medicine.
Edm. There's my exchange [throwing down
a glove] what in the world he is

That names me traitor, villain-like he lies :
Call by thy trumpet: he that dares approach,
On him, on you, who not? I will maintain 100
My truth and honor firmly.

Alb. A herald, ho!
Edm.
A herald, ho, a herald !
Alb. Trust to thy single virtue; for thy
soldiers,

All levied in my name, have in my name
Took their discharge.

Reg.
My sickness grows upon me.
Alb. She is not well; convey her to my tent.
[Exit Regan, led.

Enter a Herald.
Come hither, herald,-Let the trumpet sound,
And read out this.

Edg. What's he that speaks for Edmund Earl of Gloucester ?

Edm. Himself: what say'st thou to him? Edg. Draw thy sword, That, if my speech offend a noble heart, Thy arm may do thee justice here is mine. Behold, it is the privilege of mine honors, My oath, and my profession: I protest, 130 Maugre thy strength, youth, place, and eminence,

Despite thy victor sword and fire-new fortune. Thy valor and thy heart, thou art a traitor; False to thy gods, thy brother, and thy father; Conspirant gainst this high-illustrious prince; And, from the extremest upward of thy head To the descent and dust below thy foot,

A most toad-spotted traitor. Say thou' No,' This sword, this arm, and my best spirits, are bent

To prove upon thy heart, whereto I speak, 140

Thou liest.

Alb.

Which is that adversary?

Edg.

Let's exchange charity.