Cure this great breach in his abused nature! You have some cause, they have not. Carr. No cause, no cause. of this child-changed father! Lear. Am I in France ? In your own kingdom, sir That we may wake the king ? he hath slept long. Lear. Do not abuse me. Cor. Be gorern'd by your knowledge, and proceed Phys. Be comforted, good madam : the great rage. l'the sway of your own will. Is he array'd ? You see, is cur'd in him: and yet it is danger Gent. Ay, madam; in the heaviness of his sleep, To make him even o'er the time he has lost. Desire him to go in; trouble him no more, Cor. Will't please your highness walk ? Very well. You must bear with me Phys. Please you, draw near.-Louder the mu. Pray now, forget and forgive : I am old, and foolish. sick there. [Exeunt LEAR, CORDELIA, Physician, and Cor. O my dear father! Restoration, hang Attendants. Gent. Holds it true, sir, Kent. Most certain, sir Kent. Kind and dear princess ! Gent. Who is conductor of his people ? Cor. Had you not been their father, these white Kent. As 'tis said, flakes The bastara son of Gloster. Had challeng'd pity of them. Was this a face Gent. They say, Edgar, To be expos'd against the warring winds ? His banish'd son, is with the earl of Kent Kent. Report is changeable. (Erit To hovel thee with swine, and rogues forlorn, Kent. My point and period will be throughly In short and musty straw? Alack, alack! wrought, 'Tis wonder, that thy life and wits at once Or well, or ill, as this day's battle's fought. [Erit. Had not concluded all.-He wakes ; speak to him. Phys. Madam, Jo you ; 'tis fittest. grave :Lear. You do me wrong, to take me out o'the ACT V. SCENE I.- The Camp of the British Forces, near Do scald like molten lead. Dover. Cor. Sir, do you know me ? Loear You are a spirit, I know; When did you Enter, with drums and colours, EDMUND, REGAN, die ? Officers, Soldiers, and others. Cur. Still, still ias wide! Edm. Know of the duke, if his last purpose hold; Phys. He's scarce awake, let him alone awhile. Or, whether since he is advis’d by aught Lear. Where have I been? Where am I ?-Fair To change the course : He's full of alteration, day-light? And self-reproving :-bring his constant pleasure. am mightily abus’d. - I should even die with pity, [To an Officer, who goes out. To see another thus. I know not what to say: - Reg. Our sister's man is certainly miscarried. I will not swear, these are my hands :-let's see; Edm. 'Tis to be doubted, madam. I feel this pin prick. 'Would I were assur'd Reg. Now, sweet lord, Of my condition. You know the goodness I intend upon you: Cor. 0, look upon me, sir, Tell me,—but truly,—but then speak the truth, And hold your hands in benediction o'er me :- Do you not love my sister ? No, sir, you must not kneel. Edm. In honour'd love. Lear. Pray, do not mock me: Reg. But have you never found my brother's way I am a very foolish fond old man, To the forefended place ? Fourscore and upward ; and, to deal plainly, Edm. That thought abuses you. I fear, I am not in my perfect mind. Reg. I am doubtful that you have been conjunct Methinks, I should know you, and know this man ; And bosom'd with her, as far as we call hers. Yet I am doubtful: for I am mainly ignorant Edm. No, by mine honour, madam. What place this is : and all the skill I have Rey. I never shall endure her: Dear my lord, Remembers not these garments; nor I know not Be not familiar with her. Where I did lodge last night: Do not laugh at me; Edm. Fear me not: She and the duke her husband, Enter ALBANY, GOneril, and Soldiers. (Aside. If you have poison for me, I will drink it. Alb. Our very loving sister, well be met. i Forc'd to cry out. Where I could not be honest, Glo. Grace go with you, sir : I never yet was valiant: for this business, (Erit EDGAR It toucheth us as France invades our land, Not bolds the king; with others, whom, I fear, Alarums ; afterwards a Retreat. Re-enter EDGAR. Most just and heavy causes make oppose. Edg. Away, old man, give me thy hand, away; Edm. Sir, you speak nobly. King Lear hath lost, he and his daughter ta'en: Reg. Why is this reason'd ? Give me thy hand, come on. Gon. Combine together 'gainst the enemy: Glos. No further, sir; a man may rot even here. l'or these domestick and particular broils Edy. What, in ill thoughts again? Men must Are not to question here. endure Alb. Let us then determine Their going hence, even as their coming hither : Glo. And that's true too. Rey. Sister, you'll go with us ? (Ereum Gon. No. Reg. 'Tis most convenient; pray you, go with us. SCENE III.—The British Camp near Dorer. Gon: o, ho, I know the riddle : [Aside.] I will go. Enter, in conquest, with drum and colours, Edmund; As they are going out, enter EDGAR, disguised. LEAR and CORDELIA, as Prisoners; Officers, Solo diers, &c. Edg. If e'er your grace had speech with man so Edm. Some officers take them away: good guard; poor, Hear me one word. Until their greater pleasures first be known That are to censure them. [Ereunt EDMUND, REGAN, Goneril, Officers, Cor. We are not the first, Who, with best meaning, have incurr'd the worst, Edg. Before you fight the battle, ope this letter. For thee, oppressed king, am I cast down; If you have victory, let the trumpet sound Myself could else out-frown false fortune's frown.For him that brought it: wretched though I seem, Shall we not see these daughters, and these sisters? Lear. No, no, no, no! Come, let's away to prisot : I can produce a champion, that will prove What is avouched there : If you miscarry, We two alone will sing like birds i'the cage Your business of the world hath so an end, When thou dost ask me blessing, I'll kneel down And machination ceases. Fortune love you! And ask of thee forgiveness : So we'll live, Alb. Stay till I have read the letter. And pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and laugh Edg. I was forbid it. At gilded butterflies, and hear poor rogues When time shall serve, let but the herald cry, Talk of court news; and we'll talk with them too, And I'll appear again. [Erit. Who loses, and who wins; who's in, who's out;Alb. Why, fare thee well; I will o'erlook thy And take upon us the mystery of things, As if we were God's spies : And we'll wear out, paper. In a wall’d prison, packs and sects of great ones, That ebb and flow by the moon. Take them away. The gods themselves throw incense. Have I caught By diligent discovery ;-but your haste thee? Is now urg'd on you. Alb. We will greet the time. (Exit. And fire us hence, like foxes. Wipe thine eyes; He that parts us, shall bring a brand from heaven, Edm. To both these sisters have I sworn my love; The goujeers shall devour them, flesh and fell, Each jealous of the other, as the stung Ere they shall make us weep : we'll see them starve Are of the adder. Which of them shall I take ? first. Both? one? or neither ? Neither can be enjoy'd, Come. (Ereunt LEAR and CORDELIA, guarded. If both remain alive: To take the widow, Edm. Come hither, captain ; hark. Exasperates, makes mad her sister Goneril; Take thou this note; (giving a paper.) go, follow And hardly shall I carry out my side, them to prison; Her husband being alive. Now then, we'll use His countenance for the battle ; which being done, As this instructs thee, thou dost make thy way One step I have advanc'd thee: if thou dost Let her, who would be rid of him, devise To noble fortunes: Know thou this,--that men His speedy taking off. As for the mercy. Are as the time is : to be tender-minded Which he intends to Lear, and to Cordelia,- Does not become a sword :-Thy great employment The battle done, and they within our power, Will not bear question ;-either say, thou'lt do't, Shall never see his pardon: for my state Or thrive by other means. Stands on me to defend, not to debate. (Erit. Off: I'll do't, my lord. Edm. About it; and write happy, when thou hast SCENE II.-A Field between the two Camps. done. Mark, -I say instantly; and carry it so, If it be man's work, I will do it. (Erit Officer. Flourish. Enter ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, Edy. Here, father, take the shadow of this tree Officers, and Attendants. For your good host; pray that the right may thrive : Alb. Sir, you have shown to-day your valiant If ever I return to you again, strain, L'll bring you comfort. And fortune 19d you well: You have the captives 1 Who were the opposites of this day's strife : Edm. There's my exchange: [ Throwing down a We do require them of you ; so to use them, glove.] what in the world he is As we shall find their merits and our safety That names me traitor, villain-like he lies : May equally determine. Call by thị trumpet: he that dares approach, Edm. Sir, I thought it fit On him, on you, (who not?) I will maintain To send the old and miserable king My truth and honour firmly. To some retention and appointed guard ; Alb. A herald, ho ? Whose age has charms in it, whose title more, Edm. A herald, ho, a herald! To pluck the common busom on his side, Alb. Trust to thy single virtue ; for thy soldiers, And turn our impress'd lances in our eyes All levied in my name, have in my name Which do command them. With him I sent the took their discharge. queen; Reg. This sickness grows upon me. My reason all the same; and they are ready Tomorrow, or at further space, to appear Enter a Herald. Where you shall hold your session. At this time, Alb. She is not well; convey her to my tent. We sweat, and bleed: the friend hath lost his friend; (Exit Regan, led. And the best quarrels, in the heat, are curs'd Come hither, herald, -Let the trumpet sound, By those that feel their sharpness: And read out this. The question of Cordelia, and her father, Off Sound, trumpet. (A trumpet sounds. Requires a fitter place. Alb. Sir, by your patience Herald reads. I hold you but a subject of this war, If any man of quality, or degree, within the lists of Not as a brother. the army, will maintain upon Edmund, supposed earl Reg. That's as we list to grace him. of Gloster, that he is a manifold traitur, let him appear Methinks, our pleasure might have been demanded, at the third sound of the trumpet : He is bold in his Ere you had spoke so far. He led our powers; defence. Bore the commission of my place and person; Edm. Sound. [1 Trumpet. The which immediacy may well stand up, Her. Again. 12 Trumpet. And call itself your brother. Her. Again. (3 Trumpet. Gon. Not so hot: [Trumpet answers within. In his own grace he doth exalt himself, More than in your advancement. · Enter Edgar, armed, preceded by a trumpet. Rey. In my rights, Alb. Ask him his purposes, why he appears By me invested, he compeers the best. Upon this call o'the trumpet. Gon. That were the most, if he should husband Her. What are you ? you. Your name, your quality? and why you answer Reg. Jesters do oft prove prophets. This present summons ? Holla, holla! Know, my name is lost. That eye, that told you so, look'd but a-squint. By treason's tooth bare gnawn, and canker-bit : Reg. Lady, I am not well; else I should answer Yet am I noble, as the adversary From a fuil-ilowing stomach.-General, I come to cope withal. Take tnou my soldiers, prisoners, patrimony; Alb. Which is that adversary? Dispose of them, of me; the walls are thine : Edg. What’s he, that speaks for Edmund earl of Witness the world, that I create thee here Gloster ? Edm. Himself;—What say'st thou to him? Draw thy sword; Thy arm may do thee justice : here is mine. Alb. Half-blooded fellow, yes. Behold, it is the privilege of mine honours, Reg. Let the drum strike, and prove my title My oath, and my profession; I protest, thine. [To EDMUND. Maugre thy strength, youth, place, and eminence, Alb. Stay yet; hear reason :-Edmund, I arrest Despite thy victor sword, and fire-new fortune, thee Thy valour, and thy heart, -thou art a traitor: On capital treason; and, in thy arrest, False to thy gods, thy brother, and thy father; This gilded serpent: (Pointing to Gon.)—for your Conspirant 'gainst this high illustrious prince; claim, fair sister, And, from the extremest upward of thy head, I bar it in the interest of my wife; To the descent and dust beneath thy feet, "Tis she is sub-contracted to this lord, A most toad-spotted traitor. Say thou, No, And I, her husband, contradict your bans. This sword, this arm, and my best spirits, are bent If you will marry, make your love to me, To prove upon thy heart, whereto I speak, Thou liest. Edm. In wisdom, I should ask thy name; Alb. Thou art arm'd, Gloster :-Let the trumpet But, since thy outside looks so fair and warlike, sound : And that thy tongue some 'say of breeding breathes, If none appear to prove upon thy person, What safe and nicely I might well delay Toy heinous, manifest, and many treasons, By rule of knighthood, I disdain and spurn: There is my pledge; (Throwing down a glove.] I'll Back do I toss these treasons to thy head; prove it on thy heart, With the hell-hated lie o'erwhelm thy heart; Ere I taste bread, thou art in nothing less Which, (for they yet glance by, and scarcely bruisc, Than I have here proclaim'd thee. This sword of mine shall give them instant way, Rey. Sick, O, sick! Where they shall rest for ever.--Trumpets, speak. Gon. If not, I'll ne'er trust poison. (Aside ( Alarums. They fight. EDMUND falls Alh. O save him, save him ! Whilst I was big in clamour, came there a man, Gon This is mere practice, Gloster: Who having seen me in my worst estate, By the law of arms, thou wast not bound to answer Shunn'd my abhorr'd society; but then, finding An unknown opposite; thou art not vanquish'd, Who 'twas that so endur'd, with his strong arms But cozen'd and beguild. He fasten'd on my neck, and bellow'd out Alb. Shut your mouth, dame, As he'd burst heaven; threw him on my father : Or with this paper shall I stop it :-Hold, sir :- Told the most piteous tale of Lear and him, Thou worse than any name, read thine own evil : :- That ever ear receiv'd: which in recounting No tearing, lady; I perceive you know it. His grief grew puissant, and the strings of life (Gives the letter to EDMUND. Began to crack: Twice then the trumpet sounded, Gon. Say, if I do: the laws are mine, not thine: And there I left him tranc'd. Who shall arraign me for't? Alb. But who was this? Alb. Most monstrous ! Edg. Kent, sir, the banish'd Kent; who in disguise Know'st thou this paper ? Follow'd his enemy king, and did him service Gon. Ask me not what I know. Improper for a slave. [Erit GonERIL. Alb. Go after her; she's desperate ; govern her. Enter a Gentleman hastily, with a bloody knife. (To an Officer, who goes out. Gent. Help! help! O help! Edm. What you have charg'd me with, that have Edg. What kind of help? I done; Alb. Speak, man. And more, much more: the time will bring it out; Edy. What means that bloody knife ? Gent. 'Tis past, and so am I : But what art thou, "Tis hot, it smokes ; That hast this fortune on me? If thou art noble, It came even from the heart of I do forgive thee. Alb. Who, man? speak. Edg. Let's exchange charity. Gent. Your lady, sir, your lady: and her sister I am no less in blood than thou art, Edmund By her is poison'd; she confesses it. If more, the more thou hast wroag'd me. Edm. I was contracted to them both; all three My name is Edgar, and thy father's son. Now marry in an instant. The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices Alb. Produce their bodies, be they alive or dead! Make instruments to scourge us : This judgment of the heavens, that makes us tremble, The dark and vicious place where thee he got, Touches us not with pity. (Exit Gertleman. Cost him his eyes. Enter Kent. Here comes Kent, sir. The wheel is come full circle; I am here. Alb. 0! it is he. Which very manners urges. Kent. I am come Did hate thee, or thy father! To bid my king and master aye good night; Edy. Worthy prince, Is he not here ? I know it well. Alb. Great thing of us forger Alb. Where have you bid yourself? Speak, Edmund, where's the king; and where's How have you known the miseries of your father ? Cordelia Edg. By nursing them, my lord. -List a brief See'st thou this object, Kent? tale; [The bodies of GoNeril and KEGAN are And, when 'tis told, 0, that my heart would burst !- brought in. The bloody proclamation to escape, Kent. Alack, why thus ? That follow'd me so near, (O our lives' sweetness ! Edm. Yet Edmund was belor'd : That with the pain of death we'd hourly die, The one the other poison'd for my sake, Rather than die at once!) taught me to shift And after slew herself. Into a madınan's rags; to asume a semblance Alb. Even so.-Cover their faces. That very dogs disdaind: and in this habit Edm. I pant for life :—Some good I mean to do, Met I my father with his bleeding rings, Despite of mine own nature. Quickly send, Their precious stones new lost; became his guide, Be brief in it,--to the castle ; for my writ Led him, begg'd for him, sav'd him from despair; Is on the life of lear, and on Cordelia :Never (O fault!) reveal'd myself unto him, Nay, send in time. Until some half hour past, when I was arm’d, Alb. Run, run, 0, runNot sure, though hoping, of this good success, Edg. To who, my lord ?--Who has the office ? send I ask'd his blessing, and from first to last Thy token of reprieve. Told him my pilgrimage: But his flaw'd heart, Édm. Well thought op; take my sword, (Alack, too weak the conflict to support!) Give it the cantain, 'Twixt two extremes of passion, joy and grief, Alb. Haste tree, for thy life.. [Erit EDGAR. Burst smilingly Edm. He hath commission from thy wife and me Edm. This speech of yours hath mov'd me, To hang Cordelia in the prison, and And shall, perchance, do good: but speak you on; To lay the blame upon her own despair, You look as you had something more to say. That she fordid herself. Alh. If there be more, more woful, hold it in ; Alb. The gods defend her! Bear him hence For I am almost ready to dissolve, awhile. (EDMUND is borne off. Hearing of this. Edy. This would have seem'd a period Enter Lear, with CORDELIA dead in his arms ; To such as love not sorrow; but acother, EDGAR, Officer, and others. To amplify too much, would make much more, Lear. Howl, howl, howl, howl!-0, you are men And tp extremity. of stones; more. Had I your tongues and eyes, I'd use them so That we present us to him. Very bootless Enter an Officer. She's dead as earth :-Lend me a looking-glass; Off. Edmund is dead, my lord. If that her breath will mist or stain the stone, Alb. That's but a trifle here. Why, then she lives. You lords, and noble friends, know our intent. Kent. Is this the promis'd end ? What comfort to this great decay may come, Edg. Or image of that horror ? Shall be applied: For us, we will resign, Alb. Fall, and cease! During the life of this old inajesty, Lear. This feather stirs; she lives! if it be so, To him our absolute power :-You, to your rights; It is a chance that does redeem all surrows (To Edgar and Kent. That ever I have felt, With boot, and such addition as your honours Kent. O my good master! [Kneeling. Have more than merited.--Al friends shall taste Lear. Prythee, away. The wages of their virtue, and all foes Edg. 'Tis noble Kent, your friend. The cup of their deservings.-0, see, see ! Lear. A plague upon you, murderers, traitors all! Lear. And my poor fool is bang'd! No, no, no I might have sav'd her; now she's gone for ever! life: Cordelia, Cordelia, stay a little. Ha! Why should a dog, a horse, a rat, have life, What is't thou say'st ?—Her voice was ever soft, And thou no breath at all? O, thou wilt come no Gentle, and low : an excellent thing in woman :I kill'd the slave that was a hanging thee. Never, never, never, never, never ! Off: 'Tis true, my lords, he did. Pray you, undo this button: Thank you, sir.Lear. Did I not, fellow? Do you see this ? Look on her,--look-her lips, I have seen the day, with my good biting faulchion Look there, look there! (He dies. I would have made them skip: I am old now, Edy. He faints !-My lord, my lord, And these same crosses spoil me.- Who are you? Kent. Break, heart; I pr’ythee, break! Mine eyes are none oʻthe best :--I'll tell you Edg. Look up, my lord. straight. Kent. Vex not his ghost: 0, let him pass! he Kent. If fortune brag of two she lov'd and hated, hates him, One of them we behold. That would upon the rack of this tough world The same; O, be is gone, indeed. Your servant Kent: Where is your servant Caius ? Kent. The wonder is, he hath endur'd so long Lear. He's a good fellow, I can tell you that; He but usurp'd his life. He'll strike, aud quickly too: He's dead and rotten. Alb. Bear them from hence. -Our present buKent. No, my good lord; I am the very man ; siness Lear. I'll see that straight. Is general woe. Friends of my soul, you twain Rent. That, from your first of difference and decay, [To Kent and EDGAR Have follow'd your sad steps. Rule in this realm, and the gor'd state sustain. Lear. You are welcome hither. Kent. I have a journey, sir, shortly to go; Kent. Nor no man else; all's cheerless, dark, My master calls, and I must not say, no. and deally: Alb. The weight of this sad time we must obey; Your eidest aavghters have fore-doom'd themselves, Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say, And desperately are dead. The oldest bath borne most: we, that are young, Lear. Ay, so I think. Sball dever see so much, nor live so long. Alb. He knows not what he says; uod vuiu it is ' Exeunt, with a dead match. ? |