Be by, good Madam, when we do awake him;
I doubt not of his temperance.

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

Kent. Kind and dearest Princess!

Cor. Had you not been their father, thefe white flakes Did challenge pity of them. Was this a face

To be expos'd against the warring winds?

To ftand against the deep, dread-bolted thunder ?
In the moit terrible and nimble ftroke

Of quick, crofs lightning? To watch, poor Perdu!
With this thin helm? My very enemy's dog,
Though he had bit me, fhou'd have ftood that night
Against my fire. And waft thou fain, poor father,
To hovel thee with fwine and rogues forlorn, 7
In fhort and mufty ftraw? alack, alack!

1

'Tis wonder that thy life and wits, at once,

Had not concluded. -Ah he wakes; speak to him. Phyf. Madam, do you, 'tis fitteft.

Cor. How does my Royal Lord? how fares

jefty?

your Ma

Lear. You do me wrong to take me out o' th' grave;

Thou art a foul in blifs, but I am bound 1

Upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears

Do fcald like molten lead.

Cor. Sir, do you know me?

Lear. You are a fpirit, I know; when did you die? Cor. Still, ftill, far wide

Phyf. He's fcarce awake, let him alone awhile. Lear. Where have I been? where am I? fair day-light? I'm mightily abus'd; (I should even die with pity, To fee another thus. I know not what to fay; I will not fwear thefe are my hands: let's fee, I feel this pin prick: would I were affur'd Of my condition.

Cor. O look upon me, Sir,

And hold your hand 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,

Fourfcore 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'm mainly ignorant
What place this is; and all the skill I have,
Remembers not these garments; nay, 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 fo I am; I am.

[not.

Lear. Be your tears wet? yes, 'faith; I pray you, weep
If you have poifon for me, I will drink it.
I know you do not love me; for your
fifters
Have, as I do remember, done me wrong.
You have fome caufe, they have none.
Cor. No caufe, no cause.
Lear. Am I in France?

Kent. In your own kingdom, Sir.
Lear. Do not abuse me.

I

Phyf. Be comforted, good Madam; the great rage,
You fee, is cur'd in him:- -and yet 'twere danger
To make him even o'er the time h' as loft.
Defire 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 you now, forget and forgive.

I am old and foolish.

[Exeunt Lear, Cord. Phyf. and Attendants. Manent Kent and Gentleman.

Gent. Holds it true, Sir, that the Duke of Cornwall was fo flain?

Kent. Moft certain, Sir..

Gent. Who is conductor of his people?

Kent. As 'tis faid, the bastard son of Glo'fter.

Gent. They fay, Edgar, his banish'd fon, is with the Earl of Kent in Germany.

1

Kent. Report is changeable. 'Tis time to look about the powers of the kingdom approach apaće. Gent. The arbitriment is like to be bloody.▬▬▬▬▬▬ Fare you well, Sir.

[Exit. Gent.

Kent.

Kent. My point and period will be throughly wrought, Or well, or ill, as this day's battle's fought.

Edm.

ACT V. SCENE I.

A camp.

[Exit Kent.

Enter Edmund, Regan, Gentleman, and Soldiers.

KNOW of the Duke, if his laft purpose hold ;

Or whether fince he is advis'd by aught

To change the courfe? he's full of alteration,
And felf-reproving: bring his conftant pleasure.
Reg. Our fifter's man is certainly miscarry'd.
Edm. 'Tis to be doubted, Madam.

Reg. Now, fweet Lord,

You know the goodness I intend upon you. Tell me but truly, but then speak the truth, you not love my fifter?

Do

Edm. In honour'd love.

Reg. But have you never found my

To the forefended place?

Edm. No, by mine honour, Madam.

brother's way

Reg. I never fhall endure her; dear my Lord, Be not familiar with her.

Edm. Fear not; fhe, and the Duke her husband

Enter Albany, Gonerill, and Soldiers.

Gon. I'd rather lose the battle, than that fifter
Should loofen him and me.-

Alb. Our very loving fifter, 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 holds.to.th' King, with others, whom, I fear,
Moft just and heavy caufes make oppose.

Edm. Sir, you fpeak nobly.

Reg. Why is this reafon'd?

Gon. Combine together 'gainft the enemy: For thefe domeftic and particular broils

[Afide.

Are

Are not the question here.

Edm. I fhall attend you presently at your tent.

Alb. Let's then determine with th' ancients of war On our proceeding.

Reg. Sifter, you'll go with us?

Gon. No.

Reg. 'Tis moft convenient, pray you, go with us.
Gon. Oh ho, I know the riddle, I will go.

SCENE II.

As they are going out, enter Edgar difguis'd.

[Afide.

Edg. If e'er your Grace had speech with man fo Hear me one word.

Alb. I'll overtake you,- -Speak.

poor,

[Exeunt Edm. Reg. Gon. and Attendants.
Edg. Before you fight the battle, ope this letter.
If you have vict'ry, let the trumpet found
For him that brought it: wretched though I feem,
I can produce a champion, that will prove
What is avouched there. If you mifcarry,
Your business of the world hath fo an end,
And machination ceafes. Fortune love you!
Alb. Stay till I've read the letter.
Edg. I was forbid it.

When time fhall ferve, let but the herald cry,
And I'll appear again.

[Exit.

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

Re-enter Edmund.

Edm. The enemy's in view, draw up your powers. Hard is the guefs of their true ftrength and forces, By diligent difcovery; but your hafte

Is now urg'd on you.

Alb. We will greet the time.

SCENE III.

[Exit.

Edm. To both these fifters have I fworn my love:
Each jealous of the other, as the ftung

Are of the adder. Which of them fhall I take?
Both one? or neither? neither can be enjoy'd,
If both remain alive: to take the widow,

Exafperates,

Exafperates, makes mad her fifter Gonerill;
And hardly fhall I carry out my fide,

Her husband being alive. Now then, we'll use
His countenance for the battle; which being done,
Let her who would be rid of him, devife
His speedy taking off. As for the mercy
Which he intends to Lear and to Cordelia,
The battle done, and they within our power,
They shall ne'er fee his pardon: for my state
Stands on me to defend, not to debate.

SCENE IV. Another open field.

[Exit.

Alarum within. Enter with drum and colours, Lear, Cor delia, and Soldiers over the flage, and exeunt. Enter Edgar and Glo'fter.

Edg. Here, father, take the shadow of this tree For your good hoft; pray, that the right may thrive. If ever I return to you again,

I'll bring you comfort.

Glo. Grace be with you, Sir!

[Exit. Edgar.

[Alarum and retreat within.

Re-enter Edgar.

Edg. Away, old man; give me thy hand, away. King Lear hath loft, 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 muft endure Their going hence, ev'n as their coming hither.

Ripenefs is all; come on.

Glo. And that's true too.'

SCENE V.·

[Exeunt.

Enter in conqueft, with drum and colours, Edmund; Lear and Cordelia, as prifoners; Soldiers, ‹ aptain.

Edm. Some officers take them away: good guard, Until their greater pleasures first be known, That are to cenfure them.

Cor. We're not the first,

Who with beft meaning have incurr'd the worst:

For