Where's Glo'fter now, that us'd to head the fray?
No more of fhelter, thou blind worm, but forth
To th' open field? the war may come this way,
And crush thee into reft. Here lay thee down,
And tear the earth. When, Edgar, wilt thou come
To pardon, and dismiss me to the grave?

[A Retreat founded. Hark! a retreat; the king I fear has loft.

Re-enter Edgar.

Edg. Away, old man, give me your hand, away! King Lear has loft; he and his daughter ta'en: Give me your hand. Come on!

Glo. No farther, fir; a man may rot, even here.
Edg. What in ill thoughts again? men muft
endure

Their going hence, ev'n as their coming hither.
Glo. Heaven's will be done then! henceforth I'll

endure

Affliction, till it do cry out itself,
Enough, enough, and die.

[Exeunt.

Flourish. Enter in Conqueft, Albany, Gonerill, Regan,
Bastard.- Lear, Kent, Cordelia, Prifoners.

Alb. It is enough to have conquer'd; cruelty
Shou'd ne'er furvive the fight. Captain o'th' Guard,
Treat well your royal prisoners, 'till you have
Our farther orders, as you hold our pleasure.

Baft. Sir, I approve it safest to pronounce Sentence of death upon this wretched king, Whofe age has charms in it, his title more, To draw the commons once more to his fide; 'Twere beft prevent

Alb. Sir, by your favour,

I hold you but a fubject of this war,
Not as a brother.

Reg. That's as we lift to grace him.

Have you forgot that he did lead our pow'rs?
Bore the commiffion of our place and person?
And that authority may well ftand up,

And call itfelf your brother.

Gon.

Gon. Not fo hot!

In his own merit he exalts himself,
More than in your addition.

Enter Edgar difguis'd.

Alb. What art thou?

Edg. Pardon me, fir, that I prefume to stop
A prince and conqu'ror; yet, ere you triumph,
Give ear to what a stranger can deliver

Of what concerns you more than triumph can.
I do impeach your general there of treason,
Lord Eamund, that ufurps the name of Glo'fter,
Of fouleft practice 'gainst your life and honour;
This charge is true: and wretched though I feem,
I can produce a champion that will prove

In fingle combat what I do avouch,

If Edmund dares but truft his caufe and fword.
Edm. What will not Edmund dare? my lord, I beg
You'd inftantly appoint

The place where I may meet this challenger,
Whom I will facrifice to my wrong'd fame:
Remember, fir, that injur'd honour's nice,
And cannot brook delay!

Alb. Anon, before our tent, i'th' army's view, There let the herald cry!

Edg. I thank your highness in my champion's

[Exit Alb. and train.

Edm. Come hither, captain, hark! take thou

this note;

[Giving a paper. One ftep I have advanc'd thee! if thou doft

As this inftructs thee, thou doft make thy way
To noble fortunes: know thou this, that men
Are as the time is; to be tender-minded

Does not become a fword; my great employment
Will not bear question; either fay, thou'lt do't;
Or thrive by other means.

Capt. I'll do't, my lord.

Edm. About it, and write happy when thou'ft done.

[Exit.

Manent Lear, Kent, Cordelia, guarded.
Lear. O Kent! Cordelia!

You are the only pair that e'er I wrong'd,
And the juft gods have made you witneffes
Of my difgrace; the very fhame of fortune,
To fee me chain'd and fhackled at these years!
Yet were you but fpectators of my woes,
Not fellow-fufferers, all were well.

Cor. This language, fir, adds yet to our affliction. Lear. Thou Kent, didft head the troops that fought my battle.

Expos'd thy life and fortunes for a master
That had (as I remember) banish'd thee.

Kent. Pardon me, fir, that once I broke your orders.

Banish'd by you, I kept me here disguis'd
To watch your fortunes, and protect your perfon:
You know you entertain'd a rough blunt fellow,
One Caius, and you thought he did you fervice.
Lear. My trufty Caius, I have lost him too!
'Twas a rough honesty.

Kent. I was that Caius,

[Weeps.

Difguis'd in that coarse drefs, to follow you.
Lear. My Caius, too! wert thou my trusty
Caius ?

Enough, enough.

Cor. Ah me, he faints! his blood forfakes hist cheek.

Help, Kent!

Lear. No, no, they fhall not fee us weep. We'll see them rot first.-Guards, lead away to prison.

Come, Kent; Cordelia, come;

We two will fit alone, like birds i'th' cage:
When thou doft afk me bleffing, I'll kneel down
And ask of thee forgivenefs; thus we'll live and

pray,

And take upon us the mystery of things,

As if we were heav'n's fpies.

F

Cor

Cor. Upon fuch facrifices

The gods themselves throw incenfe.
Lear. Have I caught you?

He that parts us, must bring a brand from heav'n:
Together we'll out-toil the Ipite of hell,

And die the wonders of the world; away!

[Exeunt guarded.

Flourish. Enter before the Tents, Albany, Edmund, Guards and Attendants.

Alb. Now Glo'fter, truft to thy fingle virtue: for thy foldiers,

All levied in my name, have in my name

Took their discharge: now let our trumpets speak, And herald read out this. [Herald reads.

"If any man of quality within the lifts of the 6.6 army will maintain upon Edmund, fuppos'd earl "of Glo'fter, that he is a manifold traitor, let him "appear by the third found of the trumpet; he "is bold in his defence.Again, again."

[Trumpet anfwers from within.

Enter Edgar arm'd.

Alb. Lord Edgar!

Edm. Ha! my brother!

The only combatant that I cou'd fear,

For in my breaft guilt duels on his fide:

But, confcience, what have I to do with thee?
Awe thou the dull legitimate flaves: but I
Was born a libertine, and fo I keep me.

Edg. My noble prince, a word;-ere we engage,
Into your highness' hands I give this paper;
It will the truth of my impreachment prove,
Whatever be my fortune in the fight.
Alb. We fhall peruse it.

Edg. Now, Edmund, draw thy fword,
That if my fpeech has wrong'd a noble heart,
Thy arm may do thee juftice: here i'th' presence

Of

Of this high Prince, and this renowned list,
I brand thee with the spotted name of Traitor;
Falfe to thy gods, thy father, and thy brother,
And, what is more, thy friend; falfe to this Prince:
If then thou fhar'ft a fpark of Glo'fter's virtue,
Acquit thyself; or if thou shar'ft his courage,
Meet this defiance bravely.

Edm. I have a daring foul, and fo have at thy

heart.

Sound, trumpet.

[Fight, Baftard falls. What you have charg'd me with, that I have done: And more, much more; the time will bring it out. 'Tis past, and so am I.

Edg. The gods are juft, and of our pleasant vices Make inftruments to fcourge us:

The dark and vicious place, where thee he got,
Coft him his eyes.

Edm. Thou'ft fpoken right, 'tis true,

The wheel is come full circle; I am here.
Yet, ere I die, fome good I mean to do,
Defpight of mine own nature. Quickly fend
(Be brief,) into the caftle; for my order
Is on the life of Lear and Cordelia.

Nay, fend in time.

Edg. Run, run, O run

Alb. The gods defend them! bear him hence a

while.

[Edm. is borne off. Exeunt.

SCENE, A Prifon.

Lear afleep, with his Head on Cordelia's Lap. Cord. What toils, thou wretched King, haft thou endur'd,

1

To make thee draw, in chains, a fleep fo found?
O gods! A fudden gloom o'erwhelms me, and the
image
Of death o'erfpreads the place. Ha! who are these?
Captain and Officers with Cords.
Capt. Now, firs, difpatch; already you are paid
In part, the best of your reward's to come.

F 2

Lear.