What is avouched there. If you miscarry, Edg. I was forbid it. When time fhail ferve, let but the herald cry, And I'll appear again. [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. Is now urg'd on you. Alb. We will greet the time. Edm. To both these fifters have I fworn my love: Are of the adder. Which of them fhall I take? Her husband being alive. Now then, we'll ufe SCENE, another open Field.: [Exiti Alarum within. Enter with drum and colours, Lear,, Cordelia, and foldiers over the stage, and exeunt. Enter Edgar and Glo'ster. ERE, father, take the fhadow of this tree" For your good hoft; pray, that the right may thrive: If ever I return to you again, I'll bring you comfort. Glo. Grace be with you, Sir! [Exit Edgar. [Alarum, and retreat, within. Re-enter Edgar. Edg. Away, old man; give me thy hand, away; Glo. No further, Sir; a man may rot even here. Glo. And that's true too. [Exeunt. Enter in conqueft, with Drum and Colours, Edmund; Cor. We're not the first, Who with beft meaning have incurr'd the worst ; As if we were God's fpies. In a wall'd prifon, packs and fects of great ones,. That ebb and flow by th' moon. Edm. Take them away. Lear. Upon fuch facrifices, my Cordelia, The gods themselves throw incenfe, Have I caught thee? Не He that parts us, fhall bring a brand from heav'n, Edm. Come hither, Captain, hark. Take thou this note; go, follow them to prifon. Do's not become a fword; My great employment (58). Capt. I'll do't, my Lord. Edm. About it, and write happy, when thou'ft done.. Mark, I fay, inftantly; and carry it fo, As I have fet it down. [Exit Captain Flourish. Enter Albany, Gonerill, Regan, and Soldiers.. Alb. Sir, you have fhew'd to day your valiant strain,, And fortune led you well: you have the captives, Who were the oppofites of this day's ftrife: We do require them of you, fo to use them, As we shall find their merits and our fafety May equally determine. Edm. Sir, I thought it fit To fend the old and miferable King To fome retention, and appointed guard; Whofe age has charms in it, whofe title more,. To pluck the common bofoms on his fide; Which do command them. With him I fent the Queen ;: (58) thy great employment Will not bear queftion;] All the copies concur in reading thus; but, without doubt, erroneously. The perfon, whom Edmund is here Speaking to, was of no higher degree than a captain; and therefore, certainly, accountable to his fuperiors. Edmund, 'tis plain, muft mean; "I leading one of the conquerors' forces, and having employ'd thee in this bufinefs, will be thy fufficient warrant, and "will fecure thee from being queftioned about it." My reafon all the fame; and they are ready At this time, We fweat and bleed; the friend hath loft his friend;、 And the belt quarrels, in the heat, are curft By thofe that feel their fharpnefs. The queftion of Cordelia, and her father, Alb. Sir, by your patience, I hold you but a fubject of this war, Reg. That's as we lift to grace him. Methinks, our pleasure might have been demanded And call itfelf your brother. Gon. Not fo hot: In his own grace he doth exalt himself, By me invested, he compeers the best. Alb. That were the moft, if he should husband your Reg. Jefters do oft prove prophets. Gon. Holla, holla! That eye, that told you fo, look'd but a-fquint. Reg. Lady, I am not well, elfe I fhould anfwer Gon. Mean you to enjoy him? (59) at this time We feat and bleed, &c.] Thefe very neceffary lines I have reftor'd from the old 4to. and they were, certainly, firft left out by the indifcretion of the players, merely for the fake of fhortning. But without them, as Edmund's fpeech is made to end, 'tis plain, he does not pretend to advise, but submits the whole procefs to Albany. How abfurdly then does the other reply, that be bolds Edmund but a fubject of the war ? Alb. Alb. The lett alone lyes not in your good will. Alb. Half-blooded fellow, yes. Reg. Let the drum ftrike, and prove my title thine. Alb. Stay yet; hear reafon: Edmund, I arrest thee On capital treafon; and, in thy arrest, This gilded ferpent: for your claim, fair fister, 'Tis fhe is fub-contracted to this Lord, Gon. An enterlude! Alb. Thou art arm'd, Glo'fter; let the trumpet found: If none appear to prove upon thy perfon Thy heinous, manifeft, and many treafons, There is my pledge: I'll prove it on thy heart,, Ere I tafte bread, thou art in nothing lefs Than I have here proclaim'd thee. Reg. Sick, O fick Gon. If not, I'll ne'er truft poison. [Afide. Edm. There's my exchange; what in the world he is, That names me traitor, villain-like he lies ; Alb. A herald, ho! Enter a Herald. Truft to thy fingle virtue; for thy foldiers, Reg. This fick nefs grows upon me. Alb. She is not well, convey her to my tent. [Exit Reg. led. Come hither, herald, let the trumpet found, [A trumpet founds. Herald |