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What can man's wisdom do,

Her delicate cheek: it seem'd, she was a queen | And bring him to our eye. [Exit an OFFICER.
Over her passion; who, most rebel-like,
Sought to be king o'er her.
Kent. O, then it mov'd her.

Gent. Not to a rage: patience and sorrow

strove

[seen Who should express her goodliest. You have Sunshine and rain at once: her smiles and

tears

Were like a better day: 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
Could so become it.

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;
Cried, Sisters! sisters? - Shame of ladies!
sisters!
[night?
Kent! father! sisters! What? i'the storm? i the
Let pity not be believed!t-There she shook
The holy water from her heavenly eyes,
And clamour moisten'd: then away she started
To deal with grief alone.

Kent. It is the stars,

The stars above us, govern our conditions ; Else one self mate and mate could not beget Such different issues. You spoke not with her since?

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Gent. Why, good Sir?

Kent. A sovereign shame so elbows him: his own unkindness,

[her That stripp'd her from his benediction, turn'd To foreign casualties, gave her dear rights To his dog-hearted daughters, these things sting

His mind so venomously, that burning shame Detains him from Cordelia.

Gent. Alack, poor gentleman!

In the restoring his bereaved sense?
He, that helps him, take all my outward worth.
Phy. There is means, madam :
Our foster-nurse of nature is repose,
The which he lacks; that to provoke in him,
Are many simples operative, whose power
Will close the eye of anguish.
Cor. All bless'd secrets,

ate,

All you unpublish'd virtues of the earth,
Spring with my tears! be aidant, and remedi-
[him;
In the good man's distress!-Seek, seek for
Lest his ungovern'd rage dissolve the life
That wants the means to lead it."

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Stew. I know not, lady.

Reg. 'Faith, he is posted hence on serious

matter.

[out, It was great ignorance, Gloster's eyes being To let him live; where he arrives, he moves All hearts against us: Edmund, I think, is [gone,

Kent. Of Albany's and Cornwall's powers In pity of his misery, to despatch

you heard not?

Gent. Tis so; they are afoot.

Kent. Well, Sir, I'll bring you to our master

Lear,

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His nighted life; moreover, to descry
The strength o'the enemy.

Stew. I must needs after him, madam, with my letter.

Reg. Our troops set forth to-morrow; stay with us; The ways are dangerous.

Stew. I may not, madam;

My lady charg'd my duty in this business.
Reg. Why should she write to Edmund?
Might not you

Transport her purposes by word? Belike,
Something-I know not what :-I'll love thee
Let me unseal the letter.
[much,

Stew. Madam, I had rather-
Reg. I know, your lady does not love her

husband;

I am sure of that: and, at her late being here, She gave strange ceiliads, and most speaking looks [som.

To noble Edmund: I know, you are of her bo

* 1. c. The reason which should guide it. +Importunate. Inflated, swelling. 1. c. His life made dark as night. A cast, or significant glance of the eye.

Stew. I, madam?

Reg. I speak in understanding; you are, I know it:

Therefore, I do advise you, take this note:*
My lord is dead; Edmund and I have talk'd;
And more convenient is he for my hand,-
Than for your lady's:-You may gather more.+
If you do find him, pray you, give him this;
And when your mistress hears thus much from
I pray, desire her call her wisdom to her. [you,
So, fare you well.

If you do chance to hear of that blind traitor,
Preferment falls on him that cuts him off.

Stew. 'Would I could meet him, madam! would show

What party I do follow.

Reg. Fare thee well.

I

[Exeunt.

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This world I do renounce; and, in your sigio
Shake patiently my great affliction off:
If I could bear it longer, and not fall
To quarrel with your great opposeless will
My snuff, and loathed part of nature, shout
Burn itself out. If Edgar live, O, bless his -
Now, fellow, fare thee well.

[He leaps, and falls on;

Edg. Gone, Sir? farewell.And yet I know not how conceit may rob The treasury of life, when life itself [though Yields to the theft: Had he been where he By this, had thought been past.-Alive, dead?

[speak Ho, you Sir! friend!-Hear you, SirThus might he pass indeed:*-Yet he revive What are you, Sir?

Glo. Away, and let me die.

Edg. Hadst thou been aught but gossoner. feathers, air,

So many fathom down precipitating, Thou hadst shiver'd like an egg: but tha dost breathe;

Hast heavy substance; bleed'st not; speak'st art sound.

Ten masts at each make not the altitude,
Which thou hast perpendicularly fell;
Thy life's a miracle: Speak yet again.
Glo. But have I fallen, or no?

Edg. From the dread summit of this chalky bourn t

[far Look up a-height;-the shrill-gorg'd; lark Cannot be seen or heard: do but look up. Glo. Alack, I have no eyes.—

Is wretchedness depriv'd that benefit, [fort,
To end itself by death? 'Twas yet some com
When misery could beguile the tyrant's rage,
And frustrate his proud will.

Up :-So-How is't? Feel you your legs?
Edg. Give me your arm:
You stand.

Glo. Too well, too well.

Edg. This is above all strangeness. (that Which parted from you? Upon the crown o'the cliff, what thing was

Glo. A poor unfortunate beggar.

Edg. As I stood here below, methought, his

eyes

[noses. Horns whelk'd,§ and wav'd like the enridged Were two full moons; he had a thousand [father,

sea;

It was some fiend: Therefore, thou happy Think that the clearest|| gods, who make them honours

Of men's impossibilities, have preserv'd thee.
Glo. I do remember now: henceforth I'll
Affliction, till it do cry out itself, [bear
Enough, enough, and, die. That thing you
speak of,

The fiend, the fiend: he led me to that place.
I took it for a man; often 'twould say,

Edg. Bear free and patient thoughts.-But who comes here?

Enter LEAR, fantastically dressed up with Flowers.
The safer sense will ne'er accommodate
His master thus.

Leur. No, they cannot touch me for coining; I am the king himself.

Edg. O thou side-piercing sight!

There's your press-money. That fellow har Lear. Nature's above art in that respect.dles his bow like a crow-keeper: draw me a

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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 down, 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 white hairs in my beard, ere the black ones were there. To say ay, and no, to every thing I said!-Ay and no too was no good divinity. When the rain came to wet me once, and the wind to 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 reIs't not the king? [member:

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
Was kinder to his father, than my daughters
Got 'tween the lawful sheets.

To't, luxury, pell-mell, for I lack soldiers.Behold yon' simpering dame,

Whose face between her forks presageth snow;
That minces virtue, and does shake the head'
To hear of pleasure's name;

The fitchew, nor the soiled horse, goes to't
With a more riotous appetite.

Down from the waist they are centaurs,
Though women all above:

But to the girdle do the gods inherit,** Beneath is all the fiends'; there's hell, there's darkness,

There is the sulphurous pit, burning, scalding, stench, consumption;-Fie, fie, fie! 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!

Lear. Let me wipe it first; it smells of mortality.

Glo. O ruin'd piece of nature! This great world [me? Shall so wear out to nought.-Dost thou know Lear. I remember thine eyes well enough. Dost thou squinytt at me? No, do thy worst, blind Cupid; I'll not love.-Read thou this challenge, mark but the penning of it. Glo. Were all the letters suns, I could not

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thine ears: see how yon' justice rails upon yon' simple thief. Hark, in thine ear: Change places; and, handy-dandy, which is the justice, which is the thief?-Thou hast seen a farmer's dog bark at a beggar? Glo. Ay, sir.

Lear. And the creature run from the cur? There thou might'st behold the great image of authority: a dog's obeyed in office.

Thou rascal beadle, hold thy bloody hand: Why dost thou lash that whore? Strip thine own back;

Thou hotly lust'st to use her in that kind For which thou whipp'st her. The usurer hangs the cozener.

Through tatter'd clothes small vices do appear; Robes, and furr'd gowns, hide all. Plate sin with gold,

'em:

And the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks:
Arm it in rags, a pigmy's straw doth pierce it
None does offend, none, I say, none; I'll able
[power
Take that of me, my friend, who have the
To seal the accuser's lips. Get thee glass eyes;
And, like a scurvy politician, seem
To see the things thou dost not.-Now, now,

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To this great stage of fools;--This a good block?

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-
Then, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill. [law,

Enter a GENTLEMAN, with Attendants.
Gent. O, here he is, lay hand upon him,-
Your most dear daughter-
[Sir,

Leur. No rescue? What, a prisoner? I am

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Past speaking of in a king!-Thou hast one | daughter,

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? Edg. Do you hear aught, Sir, of a battle toward?

Gent. Most sure, and vulgar: every one hears that,

Which can distinguish sound.
Edg. But, by your favour,
How near's the other army?

Gent. Near, and on speedy foot; the main Stands on the hourly thought.*

[descry

Edg. I thank you, Sir: that's all. Gent. Though that the queen on special cause is here,

Her army is mov'd on.

Edg. I thank you, Sir.

[Exit GENT

Glo. You ever-gentle gods, take my breath from me;

Let not my worser spirit+ tempt me again
To die before you please!

Edg. Well pray you, father.

Glo. Now, good Sir, what are you?

Edg. A most poor man, made tame by fortune's blows;

Who, by the art of known and feeling sorrows,
Am pregnant to good pity. Give me your
I'll lead you to some biding.
[hand,

Glo. Hearty thanks:

The bounty and the benison of heaven To boot, and boot!§

Enter STEWARD.

Stew. A proclaim'd prize! Most happy! That eyeless head of thine was first fram'd flesh

[traitor,

To raise my fortunes.-Thou old unhappy Briefly thyself remember:-The sword is out That must destroy thee.

Glo. Now let thy friendly hand Put strength enough to it.

[EDGAR opposes. Stew. Wherefore, bold peasant, Dar'st thou support a publish'd traitor? Hence;

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 'casion.

Stew. Let go, slave, or thou diest.

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 battt 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; [me, And give the letters, which thou find'st about To Edmund earl of Gloster; seek him out Upon the British party :- -O, untimely death! Edg. I know thee well: A serviceable vil[Dies. As duteous to the vices of thy mistress, [lain; As badness would desire.

Glo. What, is he dead?

The main body is expected to be descried every hour. + Evil genius. 1 Blessing. 6 Reward, recompense. Quickly recollect the offences of thy life. ** Head. tf Club. It Thrusts.

Go your way.

Edg. Sit you down, father; rest you.Let's see his pockets: these letters, that be speaks of,

May be my friends.-He's dead; I am only He had no other death's-man.-Let us see:— Leave, gentle wax; and, mauners, blame u {bearts To know our enemies' minds, we'd rip their Their papers, is more lawful.*

not:

[Reads.] Let our reciprocal rows be remenbered. You have many opportunities to cut in off: if your will want not, time and place w fruitfully offered. There is nothing done, Vie return the conqueror: Then am I the prisme. and his bed my jail; from the loathed werd whereof deliver me, and supply the place for your labour.

Your wife, (so I would say,) and yo 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
sands,

Thee I'll rake up,t the post unsanctified
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

sense,

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;

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

Re-enter EDGAR.

Edg. Give me your hand:

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: PHYSICIAN, GENTLE-
MAN, and others, attending.

Enter CORDELIA and KENT. Cor. O thou good Kent, how shall I live, To match thy goodness? My life will be too and work, [short, And every measure fail me.

Kent. To be acknowledg'd, madam, is o'erAll my reports go with the modest truth; paid. Nor more, nor clipp'd, but so.

[hours;

Cor. Be better-suited:‡
These weeds are memories of those worser
I pr'ythee, put them off.

Yet to be known, shortens my made intent:
Kent. Pardon me, dear madam ;
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,
The untun'd and jarring senses, O, wind up
Cure this great breach in his abused nature!
Of this child-changed father!

Phys. So please your majesty, [long. That we may wake the king? he hath slept

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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 We put fresh garments on him. [sleep, Phys. Be by, good madam, when we do awake him;

I doubt not of his temperance.

Cor. Very well.

Phys. 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. Kind and dear princess!

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

Had challeng'd pity of them. Was this a face
To be expos'd against the warring winds?
To stand against the deep dread-bolted thun-
In the most terrible and nimble stroke [der?
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

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awhile.

Lear. Where have I been?-Where am I? Fair day-light?

[pity, I am mightily abus'd.-I should even die with To see another thus.-I know not what to say.[see; I will not swear, these are my hands:-let's I feel this pin prick. 'Would I were assur'd Of my condition.

Cor. O look upon me, Sir,

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

Lear. Pray, do not mock me:

I am a very foolish fond old man,

Fourscore and upward; and, to deal plainly, I fear, I am not in my perfect mind. [man: Methinks, I should know you, and know this Yet I am doubtful: for I am mainly ignorant What place this is; and all the skill I have Remembers not these garments; nor I know [me;

not

Where I did lodge last night: Do not laugh at For, as I am a man, I think this lady

To be my child Cordelia.

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.

The allusion is to the forlorn-hope in an army, called in French enfans perdua. + Thin covering of hair.

I know, you do not love me; for your sisters
Have, as I do remember, done me wrong,
You have some cause, they have not.
Cor. No cause, no cause.
Lear. Am I in France?

Kent. In your own kingdom, Sir.
Lear. Do not abuse me.

Phys. Be comforted, good madam: the great

rage,

You see is cur'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, Till further settling.

Cor. Will't please your highness walk? Lear. You must bear with me: [foolish. Pray now, forget and forgive: I am old, and [Exeunt LEAR, CORDELIA, PHYSICIAN, and Attendants.

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 Gloster.

Gent. They say, Edgar,

His banish'd son, is with the earl of Kent
In Germany.

Kent. Report is changeable. [kingdom 'Tis time to look about; the powerst o'the Approach apace.

Gent. The arbitrement is like to be a bloody. Fare you well, Sir.

[Exit. Kent. My point and period will be thoroughly wrought,

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

ACT V.

SCENE I.-The Camp of the British Forces, neur Dover.

Enter, with Drums, and Colours, EDMUND,
REGAN, Officers, Soldiers, and Others.
Edm. Know of the duke, if his last purpose
hold;

or, whether since he is advis'd by aught
To change the course: He's full of alteration,
And self-reproving:-bring his constant plea-
sure. [To an Officer, who goes out.
Reg. Our sister's man is certainly miscarried.
Edm. 'Tis to be doubted, madam.
Reg. Now, sweet lord,

Tell me, but truly,-but then speak the truth, You know the goodness I intend upon you: Do you not love my sister?

Edm. In honour'd love.

Reg. But have you never found my brother's To the forefended|| place?

[way

Edm. That thought abuses¶ you.
Reg. am doubtful that you have been con-

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