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 sleep, We put fresh garments on him.

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 mu

sick 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 thunder?
In the most terrible and nimble stroke

Of quick, cross lightning? to watch (poor perdu!)
With this thin helm ?3 Mine enemy's dog,

Though he had bit me, should have stood that night
Against my fire; And wast thou fain, poor father,
To hovel thee with swine, and rogues forlorn,
In short and musty straw? Alack, alack!
'Tis wonder, that thy life and wits at once
Had not concluded all.-He wakes; speak to him.
Phys. Madam, do you; 'tis fittest.

Cor. How does my royal lord? How fares your majesty?

to watch (poor perdu!)

With this thin helm ?] The allusion is to the forlorn-hope in an army, which are put upon desperate adventures, and called in French enfans perdus. With this thin helm ? i. e. bare-headed.

Lear. You do me wrong, to take me out o'the

grave:

Thou art a soul in bliss; but I am bound

Upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears

Do scald like molten lead.

Cor.

Sir, do you

know me ?

Lear. You are a spirit, I know; When did you

die?

Cor. Still, still, far wide!

Phys. He's scarce awake; let him alone awhile.
Lear. Where have I been? Where am I?-Fair

day-light?

I am mightily abus'd.-I should even die with pity,
To see another thus.-I know not what to say.-
I will not swear, these are my hands:-let's see;
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.

Methinks, I should know you, and know this man; 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 not Where I did lodge last night: Do not laugh at me; For, as I am a man, I think this lady

To be my child Cordelia.

If

Cor.

And so I am, I am.

Lear. Be your tears wet? Yes, 'faith. I pray,

weep not:

you have poison for me, I will drink it.

I know, you do not love me; for your sisters
Have, as I do remember, done me wrong:

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:

Pray now, forget and forgive: I am old, and foolish.

[Exeunt LEAR, CORDELIA, Physician, and Attendants.

Gent. Holds it true, sir,

That the duke of Cornwall was so slain?

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

In Germany.

Kent.

Report is changeable.

'Tis time to look about; the powers o'the kingdom

Approach apace.

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

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

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

To make him even o'er the time he has lost.] i. e. To reconcile it to his apprehension.

ACT V.

SCENE I. The Camp of the British Forces, near 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 pleasure." [To an Officer, who goes out. Reg. Our sister's man is certainly miscarried. Edm. 'Tis to be doubted, madam.

Now, sweet lord,

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

Reg. But have

In honour'd love. you never found my brother's way

To the forefended place?

Edm.

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,

5

6

his constant pleasure.] His settled resolution.
forefended place?] i. e. prohibited, forbidden.

7 That thought abuses you.] That thought imposes on you.

Enter ALBANY, GONERIL, and Soldiers.

Gon. I had rather lose the battle, than that sister Should loosen him and me.

[Aside.

Alb. Our very loving sister, well be met.Sir, this I hear, The king is come to his daughter, With others, whom the rigour of our state Forc'd to cry out. Where I could not be honest, I never yet was valiant: for this business,

It toucheth us as France invades our land,

Not bolds the king; with others, whom, I fear,
Most just and heavy causes make oppose.9
Edm. Sir, you speak nobly.'

Reg.

Why is this reason'd? Gon. Combine together 'gainst the enemy: For these domestick and particular broils

Are not to question here.

Alb.

Let us then determine

With the ancient of war on our proceedings. Edm. I shall attend you presently at your tent. Reg. Sister, you'll go with us?

Gon. No.

Reg. 'Tis most convenient; pray you, go with us. Gon. O, ho, I know the riddle: [Aside.] I will

go.

As they are going out, enter EDGAR, disguised.

Edg. If e'er your grace had speech with man so poor,

Hear me one word.

• Not bolds the king;] i. e. emboldens him to assert his former title.

9 make oppose.] Compel to oppose us.

1 Sir, you speak nobly.] This reply must be understood ironically.