SCENE V.

A Prison.

KING LEAR asleep, with his Head on CORDELIA's Lap

Cord. What toils, thou wretched king, hast thou endured,

To make thee draw, in chains, a sleep so sound!
Thy better angel charm thy ravish'd mind
With fancied freedom! Peace is us'd to lodge
On cottage straw; thou hast the beggar's bed;
Therefore shouldst have the beggar's careless thought-
And now, my Edgar, I remember thee:

What fate has seiz'd thee in this general wreck
I know not, but I know thou must be wretched,
Because Cordelia holds thee dear.-O gods!
A sudden gloom o'erwhelms me, and the image
Of death o'erspreads the place.-Ha! who are these?

Enter CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD, another OFFICER, and SOLDIERS, with Cords.

Capt. Now, sirs, despatch; already you are paid In part, the best of your reward's to come.

Lear. Charge, charge upon their flank; their left wing halts ;

Push, push the battle, and the day's our own;
Their ranks are broken; down, down with Albany.-
Who holds my hands ?-O, thou deceiving sleep,
I was this very minute on the chase,

And now a pris'ner here !—What mean the slaves?
You will not murder me?

H

Cord. Help, earth and heaven!

For

your

--

soul's sake, dear sir, and for the gods',Offi. No tears, good lady; no pleading against gold and preferment.

Come, sirs, make ready your cords.

Cord. You, sir, I'll seize,

You have a human form; and, if no prayers
Can touch your soul to spare a poor king's life,
If there be any thing that you hold dear,
By that I beg you to despatch me first.

Capt. Comply with her request; despatch her first. Lear. Off, hell-hounds! by the gods I charge you, spare her;

'Tis my Cordelia, my true pious daughter;

No pity? Nay, then take an old man's vengeance. [KING LEAR Snatches a sword from the

OFFICER, and strikes down the Two
SOLDIERS who had seized CORDELIA.

Enter EDGAR, the DUKE OF ALBANY, and KING LEAR'S KNIGHTS.

Edg. Death! hell! ye vultures, hold your impious hands,

Or take a speedier death than you would give. Alb. Guards, seize those instruments of cruelty. Cord. Oh, my Edgar!

६

Edg. My dear Cordelia! lucky was the minute Of our approach; the gods have weigh'd our suff" rings; We've pass'd the fire, and now must shine to ages. Knight. Look here, my lord; see where the generous king

Has slain two of them.

Lear. Did I not, fellow?

I've seen the day, with my good biting falchion
I could have made them skip ;-I am old now,
And these vile crosses spoil me; out of breath,
Fie, oh! quite out of breath, and spent.

LONDON:

FAINTED BY THOMAS DAVISON, WHITEFRIARS.