Reg. Our sister's man is certainly miscarried. Reg. Now, sweet lord, You know the goodness I intend upon you: In honour'd love. Edm. To the forefended" place? Edm. brother's way 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 hear,-The king is come to his daughter, It toucheth us as France invades our land, Edm. Sir, you speak nobly." [Aside. Why is this reason'd? Reg. Are not to question here. Alb. Let us then determine With the ancient of war on our proceedings. - forefended-] i. e. Prohibited, forbidden. That thought abuses you.] That thought imposes on you.-MALONE. Not bolds the king;] i. e. Not as it emboldens the king to assert his former title. STEEVENS. make oppose.] Compel to oppose us. * Sir, you speak nobly.] This reply must be understood ironically. Edm. I shall attend you presently at your tent. Gon. No. Reg. "Tis most convenient; pray you, go with us. As they are going out, enter EDGAR, disguised. Alb. I'll overtake you.-Speak. [Exeunt EDMUND, REGAN, GONERIL, Officers, Edg. Before you fight the battle, ope this letter. I was forbid it. [Exit. 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. [Exit. Edm. To both these sisters have I sworn my love; Are of the adder. Which of them shall I take? Exasperates, makes mad her sister Goneril; And machination ceases.] i. e. All designs against your life will have an end. STEEVENS. greet the time.] i. e. Ready to meet the occasion.-JOHNSON. And hardly shall I carry out my side,d Her husband being alive. Now, then, we'll use His speedy taking off. As for the mercy SCENE II. A Field between the two Camps. [Exit. 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 thrive: If ever I return to you again, I'll bring you comfort. you, sir! Alarums; afterwards a Retreat. Re-enter EDGAR. Glo. No further, sir; a man may rot even here. Glo. And that's true too. [Exeunt. - hardly shall I carry out my side,] i. e. "I shall scarcely be able to make out my game." The allusion is to a party at cards, and he is afraid he shall not be able to make his side successful.-M. MASON. Ripeness is all:] i. e. To be ready, prepared, is all.-STEEVENS. SCENE III. The British Camp near Dover. 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: 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? f to censure them.] i. e. To pass sentence or judgment on them.-STEEVENS. As if we were God's spies:] Angels commissioned to survey and report the lives of men, and were consequently endowed with the power of prying into the original motives of action, and the mysteries of conduct.-JOHNSON. h And fire us hence like foxes.] It is usual to smoke foxes out of their holes.STEEVENS. k The goujeers-] i. e. Morbus Gallicus. - flesh and fell,] Flesh and skin. Edm. Come hither, captain; hark. Take thou this note; [giving a paper.] go, follow them to As this instructs thee, thou dost make thy way that men Are as the time is: to be tender-minded [prison: 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. [Exit Officer. Flourish. Enter ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, Officers, and Attendants. 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. Edm. Sir, I thought it fit To send the old and miserable king To some retention, and appointed guard; queen, this note-] The warrant signed by the bastard and Goneril, for the execution of Lear and Cordelia.-MALOne. Will not bear question ;] i. e. The important business intrusted to him, will not admit of any delay for question, i. e. debate, or consideration. "And turn our impress'd lances in our eyes-] i. e. Turn the launcemen, whom we have hired by giving them press-money, against us.-STEEVENS. |