Stew.

Enter Steward.

A proclaim'd prize! Most happy! That eyeless head of thine was first fram'd flesh To raise my fortunes. Thou old unhappy traitor, Briefly thyself remember: -The sword is out That must destroy thee. Glo.

Now let thy friendly hand
[EDGAR opposes.
Wherefore, bold peasant,

Put strength enough to it.
Stew.
Dar'st thou support a publish'd traitor? Hence ;
Lest that the infection of his fortune take
Like hold on thee. Let go his arm.

Edg. Chill not let go, zir, without vurther 'casion. Stew. Let go, slave, or thou diest. Edg. Good gentleman, go your gait, and let poor volk pass. And ch'ud ha' been zwagger'd out of my life, 'twould not ha' been zo long as 'tis by a vortnight. Nay, come not near the old man; keep out, che vor'ye, or ise try whether your costard or my bat be the harder: Ch'ill be plain with you. Stew. Out, dunghill!

Edg. Ch'ill pick your teeth, zir: Come; no matter vor your foins.

[They fight; and EDGAR knocks him down. Stew. Slave, thou hast slain me :- - Villain, take

[Reads.] Let our reciprocal vows be remembered. You have many opportunities to cut him off: if your will want not, time and place will be fruitfully of There is nothing done, if he return the conqueror; Then am I the prisoner, and his bed my gaol; from the loathed warmth whereof deliver me, and supply the place for your labour.

Your wife, (so I would say,) and your affectionate
GONERIL.

servant,

O undistinguish'd space of woman's will! A plot upon her virtuous husband's life;

Glo. The king is mad: How stiff is my vile

sense,

That I stand up, and have ingenious feeling
Of my huge sorrows! Better I were distract:
So should my thoughts be sever'd from my griefs;
And woes, by wrong imaginations lose
The knowledge of themselves.

Edg.

Re-enter EDGAR.

Give me vour band: | Far off, methinks, I hear the beaten drum. Come, father, I'll bestow yo" with a friend.

[Exeunt.

SCENE VII. A Tent in the French Camp LEAR On a Bed, asleep; Physician, Gentlemen, a others, attending.

Enter CORDELIA and KENT.

Cor. O thou good Kent, how shall I live, and work,

To match thy goodness? My life will be too short. And every measure fail me.

Kent. To be acknowledg'd, madam, is 'er-paid. All my reports go with the modest truth; Nor more, nor clipp'd, but so.

Cor. Be better suited: These weeds are memories of those worser hours; I pr'ythee, put them off.

Kent. Pardon me, dear madam; Yet to be known, shortens my made intent : My boon I make it, that you know me not, Till time and I think meet.

Cor. Then be it so, my good lord. - How does the king? [To the Physician

Phys. Madam, sleeps still.

Cor. O you kind gods,

Cure this great breach in his abused nature!
The untun'd and jarring senses, O, wind up,
Of this child-changed father!

Phys.
So please your majesty,
That we may wake the king? he hath slept long.
Cor. Be govern'd by your knowledge, and pro-

I'the sway

ceed 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.

Very well.

Cor.
Phys. Please you, draw near.- Louder the

musick there.

Thy medicine on my lips; and let this kiss
Cor. O my dear father! Restoration, hang
Have in thy reverence made!
Repair those violent harms, that my two sisters

Kent.

Thee I'll rake up, the post unsanctified

Of murderous lechers: and, in the mature time,
With this ungracious paper strike the sight
Of the death-practis'd duke: For him 'tis well,
That of thy death and business I can tell.

[Exit EDGAR, dragging out the body.

Of quick, cross-lightning? to watch (poor perdu!)
With this thin helm? 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?

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

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. Cor.

And so I am, I am.

In your own kingdom, sir.

Lear. Do not abuse me.
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:

'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.

[Erit.

Kent. My point and period will be throughly

She, and the duke her husband,

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. 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 u... Gon. O, ho, I know the riddle: [Aside. I will

go.

poor, Hear me one word.

Alb.
I'll overtake you.
Speak.
[Exeunt EDMUND, REGAN, GONERIL, Officers,
Soldiers, and Attendants.

Edg. Before you fight the battle, ope this letter.
If you have victory, let the trumpet sound
For him that brought it: wretched though I seem,
I can produce a champion, that will prove
What is avouched there: If you miscarry,
Your business of the world hath so an end,
And machination ceases. Fortune love you!
Alb. Stay till I have read the letter.
Edg.
I was forbid it.
When time shall serve, let but the herald cry,
And I'll appear again.

[Exit.

Alb. Why, fare thee well ; I will o'erlook thy

paper.

Is now urg'd on you.

Alb.
We will greet the time. [Exit.
Edm. To both these sisters have I sworn my love;
Each jealous of the other, as the stung

Are of the adder. Which of them shall I take?
Both? one? or neither? Neither can be enjoy'd,
If both remain alive: To take the widow,
Exasperates, makes mad her sister Goneril;
And hardly shall I carry out my side,
Her husband being alive. Now then, we'll use
Ilis countenance for the battle; which being done,
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.

[Ext.

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 GLOSTter.

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! [Erit 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

endure

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 birds 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.
Take them away.

Edm.

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

thee?

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

queen ;

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,

[1 Trumpet.

[2 Trumpet.

[3 Trumpet.

[Trumpet answers within.

Enter EDGAR, armed, preceded by a trumpet. Alb. Ask him his purposes, why he appears Upon this call o' the trumpet.

Her.

What are you? Your name, your quality? and why you answer This present summons? Edg.

Know, my name is lost; By treason's tooth bare gnawn, and canker-bit: Yet am I noble, as the adversary I come to cope withal.

Alb

Which is that adversary?

Edg. What's he, that speaks for Edmund earl of

Gloster?

Edm. Himself; - What say'st thou to him? Edg. Draw thy sworù ; That, if my speech offend a noble heart, Thy arm may do thee justice: here is mine. Behold, it is the privilege of mine honours, My oath, and my profession; I protest, Maugre thy strength, youth, place, and eminence, Despite thy victor sword, and fire-new fortune,

False to thy gods, thy brother, and thy father;
Conspirant 'gainst this high illustrious prince;
And, from the extremest upward of thy head,
To the descent and dust beneath thy feet,

A most toad-spotted traitor. Say thou, No,
This sword, this arm, and my best spirits, are bent
To prove upon thy heart, whereto I speak,

Edm. In wisdom, I should ask thy name; But, since thy outside looks so fair and warlike, And that thy tongue some 'say of breeding breathes, What safe and nicely I might well delay By rule of knighthood, I disdain and spurn: Back do I toss these treasons to thy head; With the hell-hated lie o'erwhelm thy heart; Which, (for they yet glance by, and scarcely bruise, This sword of mine shall give them instant way, Where they shall rest for ever. — Trumpets, speak. [Alarums. They fight. EDMUND falls

Alb. O save him, save him!