Let her, who would be rid of him, devise
His speedy taking off. As for the mercy
Which he intends to Lear, and to Cordelia,-
The battle done, and they within our power,
Shall never see his pardon: for my state
Stands on me to defend, not to debate.

[Exit.

SCENE II.

A Field between the two Camps.

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.

Glo.

Grace go with you, sir!
[Exit EDGAR.

Alarums; afterwards a Retreat. Re-enter EDGAR. Edg. Away, old man, give me thy hand, away; King Lear hath lost, he and his daughter ta'en: Give me thy hand, come on.

Glo. No further, sir; a man may rot even here.
Edg. What, in ill thoughts again? Men must
1. endure

Their going hence, even as their coming hither:
Ripeness is all: Come on.

Glo.

And that's true too.

[Exeunt.

5 Ripeness is all:] i, e. To be ready, prepared, is all.

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."

Cor. We are not the first, Who, with best meaning, have incurr'd the worst. For thee, oppressed king, am I cast down;

Myself could else out-frown false fortune's frown.Shall we not see these daughters, and these sisters? Lear. No, no, no, no! Come, let's away to

prison :

We two alone will sing like bird's i' the cage:
When thou dost ask me blessing, I'll kneel down,
And ask of thee forgiveness: So we'll live,
And pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and laugh
At gilded butterflies, and hear poor rogues
Talk of court news; and we'll talk with them too,-
Who loses, and who wins; who's in, who's out;-
And take upon us the mystery of things,

As if we were God's spies: And we'll wear out,
In a wall'd prison, packs and sects of great ones,
That ebb and flow by the moon.

Edm.

Take them away.

Lear. Upon such sacrifices, my Cordelia, The gods themselves throw incense. Have I caught

thee?

6 to censure them.] i. e. to pass sentence or judgment on them.

He that parts us, shall bring a brand from heaven,
And fire us hence, like foxes. Wipe thine eyes;
The goujeers' shall devour them, flesh and fell,
Ere they shall make us weep: we'll see them starve
first.

Come.

[Exeunt LEAR and CORDELIA, guarded.

Edm. Come hither, captain; hark.

Take thou this note; [Giving a Paper.] go, follow them to prison ;

One step I have advanc'd thee: if thou dost
As this instructs thee, thou dost make thy way
To noble fortunes: Know thou this,-that men
Are as the time is: to be tender-minded

Does not become a sword:-Thy great employment
Will not bear question;-either say, thou'lt do't,
Or thrive by other means.

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 oposites 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.

7 The goujeers-] The goujeres, i. e. Morbus Gallicus.

8

-flesh and fell,] Flesh and skin.

9 Will not bear question ;] Question, here, as in many other places, signifies, discourse, conversation.

Edm.

Sir, I thought it fit

To send the old and miserable king

To some retention, and appointed guard;
Whose age has charms in it, whose title more,
To pluck the common bosom on his side,
And turn our impress'd lances in our eyes'
Which do command them. With him I sent the
queen;

My reason all the same; and they are ready
To-morrow, or at further space, to appear

Where you shall hold your session. At this time, We sweat, and bleed: the friend hath lost his friend;

And the best quarrels, in the heat, are curs'd
By those that feel their sharpness :-

The question of Cordelia, and her father,
Requires a fitter place.2

Alb.

I hold you but a subject of this war,

Not as a brother.

Reg.

Sir, by your patience,

That's as we list to grace him.

Methinks, our pleasure might have been demanded,
Ere
you had spoke so far. He led our powers ;
Bore the commission of my place and person;
The which immediacy may well stand up,
And call itself your brother.

Gon.

Not so hot:

In his own grace he doth exalt himself,
More than in your advancement.

Reg.

In my rights,

By me invested, he compeers the best.

And turn our impress'd lances in our eyes-] i. e. Turn the launcemen whom we have hired by giving them press-money.

2 Requires a fitter place.] i. e. The determination of the question what shall be done with Cordelia and her father, should be reserved for greater privacy.

3 The which immediacy-] Immediacy is close and immediate connexion with me, and direct authority from me.

12

Gon. That were the most, if he should husband

you.

Reg. Jesters do oft prove prophets.

Gon. Holla, holla! That eye, that told you so, look'd but a-squint.

Reg. Lady, I am not well; else I should answer From a full-flowing stomach.-General,

Take thou my soldiers, prisoners, patrimony;
Dispose of them, of me; the walls are thine:
Witness the world, that I create thee here

My lord and master.

Gon.

Mean you to enjoy him?

Alb. The let-alone lies not in your good will.*
Edm. Nor in thine, lord.

Alb.

Half-blooded fellow, yes.

Reg. Let the drum strike, and prove my title

thine.

[To EDMUND.

Alb. Stay yet; hear reason:-Edmund, I arrest

thee

On capital treason; and, in thy arrest,

This gilded serpent: [Pointing to GON.]-for your claim, fair sister,

I bar it in the interest of my wife;

"Tis she is sub-contracted to this lord, And I, her husband, contradict your bans. If you will marry, make your love to me,

My lady is bespoke.

Alb. Thou art arm'd, Gloster:-Let the trumpet sound:

If none appear to prove upon thy person,
Thy heinous, manifest, and many treasons,
There is my pledge; [Throwing down a Glove.]
I'll prove it on thy heart,

4 The let-alone lies not in your good will.] Whether he shall not or shall, depends not on your choice.