SCENE VII.-A Tent in the French Camp. LEAR on a Bed, asleep; Physician, Gentleman, and 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 o'erpaid. Cor. Be better suited: These weeds are memories of those worser hours; Kent. Pardon me, dear madam; Yet to be known, shortens my made intent: Till time and I think meet. Cor. Then be it so, my good lord. How does the king? Phys. Madam, sleeps still. Cor. O you kind gods, [To the Physician. 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 proceed I'the sway of your own will. Is he arrayed? 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. Cor. Very well. Phys. Please you, draw near.-Louder the music there. Cor. O my dear father! Restoration, hang Thy medicine on my lips; and let this kiss Repair those violent harms, that my two sisters Kent. Kind and dear princess! Cor. Had you not been their father, these white flakes Of quick, cross lightning? to watch (poor perdu !) Though he had bit me, should have stood that night In short and musty straw? Alack, alack! Had not concluded all.-He wakes; speak to him. Cor. How does my royal lord? How fares your ma jesty? Lear. You do me wrong, to take me out o'the 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? grave: 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. I am mightily abus'd.—I should even die with pity, Cor. O, look upon me, sir, And hold your hands in benediction o'er me :- Lear. Pray, do not mock me: I am a very foolish fond old man, Fourscore and upward; and, to deal plainly, Methinks, I should know you, and know this man; To be my child Cordelia. Cor. And so I am, I am. Lear. Be your tears wet? Yes, 'faith. I pray, weep not: If you have poison for me, I will drink it. I know, you do not love me; for your sisters You have some cause, they have not. Cor. No cause, no cause. Lear. Am I in France? Kent. In your own kingdom, sir. Lear. Do not abuse me. Phys. Be comforted, good madam: the great rage, Cor. Will❜'t please your highness walk? Pray now, forget and forgive: I am old, and foolish. Gent. Holds it true, sir, That the duke of Cornwall was so slain ? Kent. Most certain, sir. Gent. Who is conductor of his people? Kent. As 'tis said, The bastard son of Gloster. Gent. They say, Edgar, His banished son, is with the earl of Kent In Germany. Kent. Report is changeable. "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 wrought, Or well, or ill, as this day's battle's fought. [Exit. ACT V. SCENE I.-The Camp of the British Forces, near Dover. Enter, with Drums and Colours, EDMUND, REGAN, Edm. Know of the duke, if his last purpose hold; [To an Officer, who goes out. Reg. Our sister's man is certainly miscarried. Reg. Now, sweet lord, You know the goodness I intend upon you: Edm. In honour'd love. Reg. But have you never found my brother's way To the forefended place? Edm. That thought abuses you. Reg. I am doubtful that you have been conjunct And bosom'd with her, as far as we call hers. Edm. No, by mine honour, madam. Reg. I never shall endure her: Dear my lord, Be not familiar with her. |