COR. Will 't please your highness walk? You must bear with me: LEAR. 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? His banish'd son, is with the earl of Kent In Germany. KENT. Report is changeable. "T is 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 will be throughly wrought, Or well, or ill, as this day's battle 's fought. [Exit. ACT V. SCENE I.-The Camp of the British Forces, near Dover. Enter, with drums and colours, EDMUND, REGAN, Officers, Soldiers, and others. EDM. Know of the duke if his last purpose hold ; To change the course: He's full of alteration, [To an Officer, who goes out. REG. Our sister's man is certainly miscarried. Now, sweet lord, [Aside You know the goodness I intend upon you: EDM. In honour'd love. REG. But have you never found my brother's way To the forefended place? EDM. 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 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. Enter ALBANY, GONERIL, and Soldiers. GON. 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 heard,—The king is come to his daughter, I never yet was valiant: for this business, EDM. Sir, you speak nobly. REG. Why is this reason'd? GON. Combine together 'gainst the enemy: For these domestic and particular broils Are not the question here. ALB. Let's then determine with the ancient of war On our proceeding. EDM. I shall attend you presently at your tent. GON. No. REG. 'T is most convenient; pray you go with us. GON. O, ho, I know the riddle: [Aside] I will go. 1 As they are going out, enter EDGAR, disguised. EDG. If e'er your grace had speech with man so poor, Hear me one word. ALB. I'll overtake you.-Speak. [Exeunt EDMUND, REGAN, GONERIL, Officers, Soldiers, and Attendants. EDG. Before you fight the battle, ope this letter. For him that brought it: wretched though I seem, I was forbid it. ALB. Why, fare thee well; I will o'erlook thy paper. Re-enter EDMUND. EDM. The enemy 's in view, draw up your powers. Here is the guess of their true strength and forces By diligent discovery:-but your haste Is now urg'd on you. ALB. We will greet the time. EDM. To both these sisters have I sworn my love; Are of the adder. Which of them shall I take? Her husband being alive. Now then, we 'll use His speedy taking off. As for the mercy [Exit. [Eart. Shall never see his pardon for my state SCENE II-A Field between the two Camps. Alarum within. [Exit. 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 thrive: If ever I return to you again, 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: Ripeness is all: Come on. GLO. And that's true too. SCENE III.-The British Camp near Dover. [Exeunt. Enter, in conquest, with drum and colours, EDMUND; LEAR and CORDELIA, as prisoners; Officers, Soldiers, &c. EDM. Some officers take them away: good guard; Until their greater pleasures first be known That are to censure them. We are not the first, COR. LEAR. No, no, no, no! Come, let 's away to prison; When thou dost ask me blessing, I'll kneel down, And pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and laugh Talk of court news; and we 'll talk with them too,— As if we were God's spies: and we'll wear out, EDM. Take them away. LEAR. Upon such sacrifices, my Cordelia, The gods themselves throw incense. Have I caught thee? Ere they shall make us weep: we 'll see them starve first. EDM. Come hither, captain; hark. Take thou this note [giving a paper]; go, follow them to prison; One step I have advanc'd thee: if thou dost As this instructs thee, thou dost make thy way Does not become a sword :-Thy great employment OFF. I'll do 't, my lord. EDM. About it; and write happy, when thou hast done. Mark, I say, instantly; and carry it so As I have set it down. OFF. I cannot draw a cart, nor eat dried oats; If it be man's work I will do it. Flourish. [Exit Officer. Enter ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, Officers, and ALB. Sir, you have shown to-day your valiant strain, |