will go.

Sir, this I hear,—The king is come to his SCENE 11.-A Field between the Treo Camps. daughter,

Alarum within.-Enter, with Drum and Colours, With others, whom the rigour of our state

Lear, CORDELIA, and their Forces; and Exeunt. Forc'd to cry out. Where I could not be honest, I never yet was valiant: for this business,

Enter EDGAR and GLOSTER. It touches us as France invades our land, Edg. Here, father, take the shadow of this Not bolds* the king; with others, whom, I

tree

(thrive: fear,

For your good host; pray that the right may Most just and heavy causes make oppose.f If ever I rearn to you again, Edm. Sir, you speak nobly:

l'll bring you comfort. Reg. Why is this reason’d?

Glo. Grace go with you, Sir! [Exit EDGAR. Gon. Combine together 'gainst the enemy:

Alarums; afterwards uRetreat.— Re-enterEDGAR. or these domestic and particular broils rt not to question here.

Edy. Away, old man, give me thy hand, Alb. Let us then determine

away ;

(ta'en: ith the ancient of war on our proceedings.

King Lear hath lost, he and his daughter Edm. I shall attend you presently at your Give me thy hand, come on. tent.

Glo. No further, Sir; a man may rot even Reg. Sister, you'll go with us?

here, Gon. No.

Edg. What, in ill thoughts again? Men must Reg. 'Tis most convenient; pray yoll, go Their going hence, even as their coming bither :

endure with us. Gon. O, ho, I know the riddle: (Aside.] I Ripeness is all :* Come on.

Glo. And that's true too.

[Exeunt

SCENE III.-The British Camp near Dorer. As they are going out, enter EDGAR, disguised.

Enter, in Conquest, with Drum and Colours, Edg. If e'er your grace had speech with man EDMUND; LEAR and CORDELIA, as Prisoners, so poor,

Officers, Soldiers, &c. Hear me one word.

Edm. Some officers take them away: good Alb. I'll overtake you.-Speak. (Exeunt EDMUND, REGAN, GONERIL, Offi- Until their greater pleasures first be known

guard; cers, Soldiers, and Attendants. Edg. Before you fight the battle, ope this That are to censure them.

Cor. We are not the first,

(worst. letter. If you have victory, let the trumpet sound

Who, with best meaning, have incurr'd the For him that brought it: wretched though I For thee, oppressed king, am I cast down;

Myself could else out-frown false fortune's seem,

frown.I can produce a champion, that will prove

(sisters? What is avouched there : If you miscarry,

Shall we not see these daughters, and these Your business of the world hath so an end,

Lear. No, no, no, no! Come, let's away 10 And machination ceases. Fortune love you! We two alone will sing like birds i'the cage:

prison : Alb. Stay till I have read the letter. Edg. I was forbid it.

When thou dost ask my blessing, I'll kneel

down, When time shall serve, let but the herald cry, And I'll appear again.

And ask of thee forgiveness: So we'll live, [Exit

: And pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and AU. Why, fare thee well; I will o'erlook

laugh thy paper.

At gilded butterflies, and hear poor rogues Re-enter EDMUND.

Talk of court news; and we'll talk with them too,

(out; Edm. The enemy's in view ; draw up your Who loses, and who wins; who's in, who's powers.

(forces and take upon us the mystery of things, Here is the guess of their true strength and As if we were God's spies : And we'll wear By diligent discovery ;-but your haste

out,

[ones, Is now urg'd on you.

In a wall’d' prison, packs and sects of great Alb. We will greet the time. (Exit. That ebb and flow by the moon.

Edm. To both these sisters have I sworn my Edm. Take them away. Each jealous of the other, as the stung (love; Lear. Upon such sacrifices, my Cordelia, Are of the adder. Which of them shall I take? The gods themselves throw incense. Have I Both? one? or neither? Neither can be enjoy'd, caught thee? If both remain alive: To take the widow, He, that parts us, shall bring a brand from Exasperates, makes mad her sister Goneril;

heaven,

[eyes; And hardly shall I carry out my side,ll And fire us hence, like foxes. Wipe thine Her husband being alive. Now then, we'll use The goujeerst shall devour them, flesh and fell, His countenance for the battle; which being Ere they shall make us weep: we'll see them done,

starve first. Let her, who would be rid of him, devise Come. (Exeunt LEAR and CORDELIA, Guarded. His speedy taking off. As for the mercy Edm. Come hither, captain; hark. Which he intends to Lear, and to Cordelia, - Take thou this note; (Giving á Paper.] go, folThe battle dove, and they within our power,

low them to prison : Shall never see his pardon : for my state One step I have advanc'd thee; if thou dost Stands on me to defend, not to debate. [Exit. As this instructs thee, thou dost make thy way

Does not become a sword:-Thy great employ- | Reg. Let the drum strike, and prove my ment

title thine.

[To EDMUND. Will not tear question ;* either say, thou'lt Alb. Stay yet; hea! reason :-Edmund, I Or thrive by other means.

[do't,

arrest thee Off. I'll do't, my lord.

On capital treason; and, in thy arrest, Edm. About it; and write happy, when thou This gilded serpent: [Pointing to Gon.}-for hast done.

your claim, fair sister, Mark,-1 say, instantly; and carry it so,

I bar it in the interest of my wife; As I have set it down.

'Tis she is sub-contracted to this lord, Off. I cannot draw a cart, nor eat dried oats; And I, her husband, contradict your bans. If it be man's work, I will do it.

If you will marry, make your love to me, [Exit OFFICER. My lady is bespoke.

Gon. An interlude! Flourish. Enter ALEANY, GONERIL, REGAN, Alb. Thou art arm'd, Gloster:-Let the OFFICERS, and Attendants.

trumpet sound: Alb. Sir, you have shown to-day your val. If none appear to prove upon thy person, iant strain,

[tives Thy heinous, manifest, and many treasons, And fortune led you well: You have the cap- There is my pledge; [Throwing down a Glore.) Who were the opposites of this day's strife :

Ill prove it on thy heart, We do require them of you; so to use them,

Ere I taste bread, thou art in nothing less As we shall find their merits and our safety

Than I have here proclaim'd thee. May equally determine.

Reg. Sick, 0, sick! Edm. Sir, I thought it fit

Gon. If not, I'll ne'er trust poison. [Aside. To send the old and miserable king

Edm. There's my exchange: [Throwing down To some retention, and appointed guard ;

a Glove.] what in the world he is Whose age has charms in it, whose title more, Call by thy trumpet: he that dares approach,

That names me traitor, villain-like he lies: To pluck the common bosom on his side, And turn our impress'd lances in our eyes

On him, on you, (who not?) I will maintain Which do command them. With him I sent My truth and honour firmly. the queen;

Alb. A herald, ho!
My reason all the same; and they are ready Edm. A herald, ho, a herald!
To-morrow, or at further space, to appear

Alb. Trust to thy single virtue ;* for thy Where you shall hold your session. At this

soldiers, time,

[friend;

All levied in my name, have in my name
We sweat, and bleed: the friend hath lost his Took their discharge.
And the best quarrels, in the heat, are curs'd

Reg. This sickness grows upon me.
By those that feel their sharpness :-

Enter a HERALD.
The question of Cordelia, and her father,
Requires a fitter place.t

Alb. She is not well; convey her to my tent. Alb. Sir, by your patience,

[Exit Regan, led. I hold you but a subject of this war,

Come hither, herald,–Let the trumpetsound, Not as a brother.

And read out this. Reg. That's as we list to grace him.

Off. Sound, trumpet. [A Trumpet sounds. Methinks, our pleasure might have been de

HERALD reads. manded, Ere you had spoke so far. He led our powers; If any mun of quality, or degree, within the Bore the commission of my place and person; lists of the army, will maintain upon EDMUND, The which immediacyt may well stand up, supposed earl of GLOSTER, that he is a manifold And call itself your brother.

traitor, let him appear at the third sound of the Gon. Not so hot:

trumpet : He is bold in his defence. In his own grace he doth exalt himself,

Edm. Sound. More than in your advancement.

[1 Trumpet. Her. Again.

12 Trumpet. Reg. In my rights, By me invested, he compeers the best.

Her. Again.

(3 Trumpet. Gon. That were the most, if he should hus

[Trumpet answers within.

Enter EDGAR, armed, preceded by a Trumpet. Reg. Jesters do oft prove prophets. Gon. Holloa, holloa!

Alb. Ask him his purposes, why he appears That eye, that told you so, look'd but a-squint.ş Upon this call o’the trumpet. Reg. Lady, I am not well; else I should Your name, your quality? and why you answer

Her. What are you? From a full-flowing stomach.-General,

This present summons?
Take thou my soldiers, prisoners, patrimony. By treason's tooth bare-gnawn, and canker.

Edg. Know, my name is lost;
Dispose of them, of me; the walls are thine:
Witness the world, that I create thee here

Yet am I noble, as the adversary (bit: Iy lord and master.

I come to cope withal.

Alb. Which Gon. Mean you to enjoy him?

that adversary? Alb. The let-alonell lies not in your good

Edg. What's be, that speaks for Edmund will.

earl of Gloster ? Edm. Nor in thine, lord.

Edm. Himself;- What say'st thou to him? Alb. Half-blooded fellow, yes.

Edg. Draw thy sword;

That, if my speech offend a noble heart, * Admit of debate.

Thy arm may do thee justice: here is mine, + To be discoursed of in greater privacy. Behold, it is the privilege of mine honours,

band you.

answer

sem

a

Maugre* thy strength, youth, place, and emi- j And, when 'tis told, O, that my heart would nence,

The bloody proclamation to escape, (burst! Despite thy victor sword, and fire-new fortune, That follow'd me so near, (O our lives' sweetThy valour, and thy heart,--thou art a traitor:

ness! False to thy gods, ihy brother, and thy father; That with the pain of death we'd hourly die, Conspirant gainst this high illustrious prince; Rather than die at once!) taught me to shift And, froin the extremest upward of thy head, Into a madman's rags; to assume a To the descent and dust beneath thy feet,

blance A most toad-spotted traitor. Say thou, No, That very dogs disdain'd: and in this habit This sword, this arm, anxi my best spirits, are Met I my father with his bleeding rings, bent

Their precious stones new lost; became his To prove upon thy heart, whereto I speak

guide,

[despair; Thou liest.

Led him, begg'd for him, sav'd him from Edm. In wisdom, I should ask thy name;t Never (O fault!) reveal’d myself unto him, But, since thy outside looks so fair and war- Until some half hour past, when I was arm’d, like,

[breathes, Not sure, though hoping, of this good success, And that thy tongue some 'say of breeding I ask'd his blessing, and from first to last What safe and nicely I might well delay Told him my pilgrimage: But his flaw'd By rule of knighthood, I disdain and spurn:

heart, Back do I toss these treasons to thy head; (Alack, too weak the conflict to support!) With the hell-hated lie o'erwhelm thy heart; 'Twixt two extremes of passion, joy and grief, Which, (tor they yet glance by, and scarcely Burst smilingly. bruise,)

[way, Edm. This speech of yours hath mov'd me, This sword of mine shall give them instant And shall, perchance, do good: but speak Where they shall rest for ever.—Trumpets,

you on; speak.

You look as you had something more to say: [Alarums.— They fight.-EDMUND falls. Alb. If there be more, more woeful, hold it Alb. ( save him, save him!

For I am almost ready to dissolve, (in; Gon. This is mere practice,Gloster: Hearing of this. By the law of arms, thou wast not bound to Edg. This would have seem'u a period answer

To such as love not sorrow; but another, An unkuown opposite; thou art not van- To amplify too much, would make much more, But cozen'd and beguild. [quish’d, And top, extremity.

(man, Alb. Shut your mouth, dame,

Whilst I was big in clamour, came there a Or with this paper shall í stop it:-Hold, Sir:- Who having scen me in my worst estate, Thou worse than any name, read thine own Shunn'd my abhorr’d society; but then, finding evil:

Who 'twas that so endur'd, with his strong No tearing, lady; I perceive, you know it.

(Gires the Letter to EDMUND. He fasten'd on my neck, and bellow'd out Gon. Say, if I'do; the laws are inine, not As he'd burst heaven; threw him on my faWho shall arraign me for't?

[thine: Alb. Most monstrous!

Told the most piteous tale of Lear and him, Know'st thou this paper?

That ever ear receiv'd: which in recounting Gon. Ask me not what I know.

His grief grew puissant, and the strings of life

[Exit Goneril. Began to crack: Twice then the trumpet Alb. Go after her: she's desperate; govern

sounded, her.

[To an Officer, who goes out. And there I left him tranc'd. Edm. What you have charg'd me with, that Alb. But who was this? have I done;

[out; Edg. Kent, Sir, the banish'd Kent; who in And more, much more: the time will bring it

disguise 'Tis past, and so am I: But what art thou, Follow'd his enemy king, and did him service That bast this fortune on me? If thou art nuble, Improper for a slave. I do forgive thee.

Enter a GENTLEMAN hastily, with a bloody Edg. Let's exchange charity.

Knife.
I am no less in blood than thou art, Edmund;
If more, the more thou hast wrong'd me. Gent. Help! help! O help!
My name is Edgar, and thy father's son. Edg. What kind of help?
The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices Alb. Speak, man.
Make instruments to scourge us:

Edg. What means that bloody knile?
The dark and vicious place where thee he got, Gent. 'Tis hot, it smokes;
Cost him his eyes.

It came even from the heart of
Edm. Thou hast spoken right, 'tis true; Alh. Who, man? speak.
The wheel is come full circle; I am here. Gent. Your lady, Sir, your lady: and her

Alb. Methought, thy very gait did prophesy By her is poison'd; she confesses it. (sister A royal nobleness:-I must embrace thee; Edm. I was contracted to them both; all Let sorrow split my heart, if ever I

Now marry in an instant.

(three Did hate thee, or thy father!

Alb. Produce their bodies, be they alive or Edg. Worthy prince,

dead! I know it well.

This judgement of the heavens, that makes us Alb, Where have you hid yourself? [ther?

tremble, How have you known the iniseries of your fa- Touches us not with pity. (Exit GENTLEMAN. Edg. By nursing them, my lord.List a brief

Enter KENT. tale;

Edg. Here comes Kent, Sir. * Notwithstanding: † Because if his adversary was not of equal rank, Ed. The time will not allow the compliment,

arms

ther;

that;

Kent. I am come

Kent. If fortune brag of two she lov'd and To bid my king and master aye* good night; One of them we behold.

(hated, Is he not here?

Leur. This is a dull sight: Are you not Alh. Great thing of us forgot!

Kent? Speak, Edmund, where's the king ? and where's Kent. The same;

[Caius? Cordelia?

Your servant Kent: Where is your servant See'st thou this object, Kent?

Lear. He's a good fellow, I can tell you [The Bodies of GONERIL and REGAN

[rotien. cre brought in.

He'll strike, and quickly too :-He's dead and Kent. Alack, why thos?

Kent. No, my good lead; I am the very Edm. Yet Edmund was beiov'd:

man The one the other poison'd for my sake,

Lear. I'll see that straight. And after slew herself.

kent. That, from your first of difference and Alb. Even so.-Cover their faces.

Have follow'd your sad steps. [decay, Edm. I pant for life:—Some good I mean to Lear. You are welcome hither. do,

Kent. Nor no man else; all's cheerless, dark, Despite of mine own nature. Quickly send,

and deadly.

[selves, Be brief in it, to the castle; for my writ Your eldest daughters have fore-doom'a themIs on the life of Lear, and on Cordelia:

And desperately are dead. Nay, send in time.

Lear. Ay, so I think. Alb. Run, run, 0, run

Alb. He knows not what he says; and vain Edg. To who, my lord?—Who has the of. That we present us to him.

[it is fice? send

Edg. Very bootless. *
Thy token of reprieve.
Édm. Well thought on; take my sword,

Enter an Officer.
Give it the captain.

Off. Edmund is dead, my lord. Alb. Haste thee, for thy life. [Exit Edgar. Alb. That's but a tritle here.Edm. He hath commission from thy wife You lords, and noble friends, know our intent. and me

What comfort to this great decayt may come, To hang Cordelia in the prison, and

Shall be applied: For us, we will resign,
To lay the blame upon her own despair, During the life of this old majesty,
That she fordid herself.

To him our absolute power:-You, to your Alb. The gods defend her! Bear him hence

rights; (To EDGAR and KENT. awhile.

(EDMUND is borne ojf. With boot, and such additions as your honours Enter LEAR, with Cordelia dead in his Arms; Have more than merited. All friends shall EDGAR, OFFICER, and others.

taste Lear. Howl, howl, howl, howl!–0), you are The cup of their deservings:-0, see, see!

The wages of their virtue, and all fues men of stones; Had I your tongues and eyes, I'd use them so

Lear. And my poor fool|| is hang'd! No, no, That heaven's vault should crack :-0, she is Why should a dog, a horse, a rat, have life,

no life: gone for ever!I know when one is dead, and when one lives; And thou no breath at all?' O, thou wilt come She's dead as earth :-Lend me a looking- Never, never, never, never, never!

no more, glass; If that her breath will mist or stain the stone, Do you see this? Look on her, -look,-her

Pray you, undo this button : Thank you, Sir.-
Why, then she lives.
Kent. Is this the promis'd end?:

lips,-
Look there, look there!

{He dies. Edg. Or image of that horror? Alb. Fall, and cease !

Edg. He faints !-My lord, my lord, Lear. This feather stirs; she lives! if it be

Kent. Break, heart; I pr’ythee, break !

Edg. Look up, my lord. so, It is a chance that does redeem all sorrows

Kent. Vex not his ghost: 0, let him pass !!

he hates him, That ever I have felt. Kent. O my good master!

[Kneeling. Stretch him out longer.

That would apou the rack of this tough world Lear. Prythee, away. Edg. 'Tis noble Kent, your friend.

Edg. O, he is gone, indeed. Lear. A plague upon you, murderers, trai. He but usurp'd his life.

Kent. The wonder is, he hath endur'd so tors all! [ever!

[long:

Alb. Bear them from hence.-Our present I might have sav'd her; now she's gone for

business Cordelia, Cordelia, stay a little. Ha! What is't thou say’st?—Her voice was ever

Is general woe. Friends of my soul, you twain

[To KENT and EDGAR. soft,

(man:Gentle, and low; an excellent thing in wo-Rule in this realm, and the gor'd state sustain. I kill'd the slave that was a hanging thee.

Kent. I have a journey, Sir, shortly to go;

My master calls, and I must not say, no.
Off "Tis true, my lords, he did.
Lear. Did I not, fellow ?

[chion

Alb. The weight of this sad time we must I have seen the day, with my good biting faul- Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say.

obey; I would have made them skip: I am old now, The oldest hath borne most: we, that are And these same crosses spoil me.-Who are you?

(straight.

Young, Mine eyes are none o'the best:- I'll tell you

Shall never see so much, nor live so long.

Escalus, Prince of Verona.

ABRAM, Servant to Montague.
Paris, a young Nobleman, Kinsman to the An APOTHECARY.
Prince.

Three MUSICIANS.
MONTAGUE, Heads of two Houses, at vari. Chorus.-Boy, Page to Paris.-Perez, an
CAPULET,
ance with each other.

Officcr.
An Old Man, Uncle to Capulet.
ROMEO, Son to Montague.

LADY MONTAGUE, Wise to Montague.
MERCUTIO, Kinsman to the Prince, and Friend LADY CAPULET, Wife to Capulet.
to Romeo.

JULIET, Daughter to Capulet. BENVOLIO, Nephew to Montague, and Friend Nurse to Juliet.

to Romeo. TYBALT, Nephew to Lady Capulet.

Citizens of Verona; several Men and Wo. FRIAR LAWRENCE, a Franciscan.

men, relations to both Houses; Maskers, Friar John, of the same Order.

Guards, Watchmen, and Attendants.
BALTHAZAR, Servant to Romeo.
SAMPSON,
Servants to Capulet.

Scene, during the greater part of the Play, in GREGORY, S

Verona: once, in the tifth Act, at Mantua.

me.

PROLOGUE.

Gre. But thou art not quickly moved to

strike. Two households, both alike in dignity,

Sam. A dog of the house of Montague moves In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands un- is--to stand to it: therefore, if thou art mov’d,

Gre. To move, is—to stir; and to be valiant, clean.

thou run'st away. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life ; stand : I will take the wall of any man or maid

Sam. A dog of that house shall move me to Whose misadventur'd piteous overthrows Do, with their death, bury their parents'

of Montague's.

Gre. That shows thee a weak slave; for the strife. The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love, weakest goes to the wall.

Sam. True; and therefore women, being the And the continuance of their parents' rage, Which, but their children's end, nonght could weaker vessels, are ever thrust to the wall:

therefore I will push Montague's men from remove,

the wall, and thrust his maids to the wall. Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage;

Gre. The quarrel is between our masters, The which if you with patient ears attend

and us their men, What here shall niiss, our toil shall strive to

Sam. 'Tis all one, I will show myself a tyrant: mend.

when I have fought with the men, I will be cruel with the maids; I will cut off their

heads.
ACT I.

Gre. The heads of the maids?
SCENEI.-A public Place.

Sam. Ay, the heads of the maids, or their Enter SAMPSON and GREGORY, armed with

maidenbeads; take it in whal sense thou wili. Swords and Bucklers.

Gre. They must take it in sense, that feel

it. Sam. Gregory, o'my word, we'll not carry Sam. Me they shall feel, while I am able to coals.

stund : and, 'tis known, I'am a pretty piece of Gre. No, for then we should be colliers. flesh. Sam. I mean, an we be in choler, we'll draw. Gre. 'Tis well, thou art not fish: if thou

Gre. Ay, wbile you live, draw your neck out hadst, thou hadst been poor John.* Draw tby : the collar.

tool; here comes lwo of the house of the MouSam. I strike quickly, being moved.

tagues.

* A phrase formerly in use to signify the bearing inju