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.

Gent. The arbitrement is like to be bloody. Fare you well, sir. (Exit. Kent. My point and period will be thoroughly wrought,

Or well or ill, as this day's battle's fought.

\Exit.

ACT V.

SCENE I. The British camp, near Dover.
Enter, with drum and colors, EDMUND,
REGAN, Gentlemen, and Soldiers.
Edm. Know of the duke if his last purpose
hold,

Or whether since he is advised by aught
To change the course: he's full of alteration
And self-reproving: bring his constant pleasure.
[To a Gentleman, who goes out.
Reg. Our sister's man is certainly miscarried.
Edm. 'Tis to be doubted, madam.
Reg.

Now, sweet lord,
You know the goodness I intend upon you:
Tell me but truly-but then speak the truth,
Do you not love my sister?
Edm.

In honor'd love.

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
Have, as I do remember, done me wrong:
You have some cause, they have not.

Cor.

Lear. Am I in France? Kent.

No cause, no cause.

In your own kingdom, sir.
Lear. Do not abuse me.
Doct. Be comforted, good madam: the great
rage,

You see, is kill'd in him: and yet it is danger
To make him even o'er the time he has lost. 80
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:
Pray you now, forget and forgive: I am old and
foolish.

[Exeunt all but Kent and Gentleman. Gent. Holds it true, sir, that the Duke of Cornwall was so slain?

Kent. Most certain, sir.

Gent. Who is conductor of his people? [ter. Kent. As'tis said, the bastard son of GloucesGent. They say Edgar, his banished son, with the Earl of Kent in Germany.

is

91

Kent. Report is changeable. 'Tis time to look about; the powers of the kingdom approach apace.

Enter, with drum and colors, Albany,
GONERIL, and Soldiers.

Gon. [Aside I had rather lose the battle than that sister

Should loosen him and me.

20

Alb. Our very loving sister, well be-met. Sir, this I hear; the king is come to his daughter, With others whom the rigor of our state Forced 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 domestic and particular broils 30 Are not the question here. Alb.

Let's 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 us. [go. Gon. [Aside] O, ho, I know the riddle,- I will

As they are going out, enter EDGAR disguised. Edg. If e'er your grace had speech with man

so poor,

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. 80 Reg. To Edmund] Let the drum strike, and prove my title thine. Alb. Stay yet: hear reason. Edmund, I arrest thee

On capital treason; and, in thine attaint,
This gilded serpent [pointing to Gon.] For your
claim, fair sister,

I bar it in the interest of my wife;
'Tis she is sub-contracted to this lord,
And I, her husband, contradict your banns.
If you will marry, make your loves to me,
My lady is bespoke.

Gon.

An interlude!

100.

Edm. There's my exchange [throwing down a glove): what in the world he is That names me traitor, villain-like he lies: Call by thy trumpet: he that dares approach, On him, on you, who not? I will maintain My truth and honor firmly. Alb. A herald, ho! Edm. A herald, ho, a herald! Alb. Trust to thy single virtue; for thy soldiers, All levied in my name, have in my name Took their discharge.

Reg.

My sickness grows upon me. Alb. She is not well; convey her to my tent. [Exit Regan, led.

130

Edm. Himself: what say'st thou to him? Edg Draw thy sword, That, if my speech offend a noble heart, Thy arm may do thee justice: here is mine. Behold, it is the privilege of mine honors, My oath, and my profession: I protest, Maugre thy strength, youth, place, and eminence, Despite thy victor sword and fire-new fortune, Thy valor and thy heart, thou art a traitor; 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 below thy foot, 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, 140 Thou liest.

Edm. In wisdom I should ask thy name; But, since thy outside looks so fair and warlike, And that thy tonguesomesay of breedingbreathes, 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 forever. Trumpets, speak!
JAlarums. They fight. Edmund falls.
Ath. Save him, save him'
Gon This is practice, Gloucester: 151
By the law of arms thou wast not bound to answer
An unknown opposite: thou art not vanquish'd,
But cozen'd and beguiled.
Alb.
Shut your mouth, dame,
Or with this paper shall I stop it: Hold, sir;
Thou worse than any name, read thine own evil:
No tearing, lady; I perceive you know it.
[Gives the letter to Edmund.
Gon. Say, if I do, the laws are mine, not thine:
Who can arraign me for't?
Aib.
Most monstrous! oh!
Know'st thou this paper?
Gon. Ask me not what I know. [Exit.
Alb. Go after her, she's desperate; govern her.
Edm. What you have charged me with, that
have I done;

159

And more, much more: the time will bring it out:
Tis past, and so am I. But what art thou
That hast this fortune on me? If thou'rt noble,
I do forgive thee.
Edg

Let's exchange charity.

I am no less in blood than thou art, Edmund;
If more, the more thou hast wrong'd me.
My name is Edgar, and thy father's son.

To amplify too much, would make much more,
And top extremity.
Whilst I was big in clamor came there in a man,
Who, having seen me in my worst estate, 209
Shunn'd my abhorr'd society; but then, finding
Who 'twas that so endured, with his strong arms
He fasten'd on my neck, and bellow'd out
As he'ld burst heaven; threw him on my father,
Told the most piteous tale of Lear and him
That ever ear received: which in recounting
His grief grew puissant, and the strings of life
Began to crack: twice then the trumpets sounded,
And there I left him tranced.
Alb.
But who was this?
Edg. Kent, sir, the banish'd Kent; who in
disguise

Follow'd his enemy king, and did him service 220
Improper for a slave.

Enter a Gentleman, with a bloody knife. Gent. Help, help, O, help! Edg. Alb

What kind of help? Speak, man. Edg. What means that bloody knife? Gent. 'Tis hot, it smokes;

It came even from the heart of-O, she's dead! Alb. Who dead? speak, man.

Gent. Your lady, sir, your lady: and her sister

The dark and vicious place where thee he Cost him his eyes.

got

Edm. Thou hast spoken right, 'tis true. The wheel is come full circle; I am here.

Alb. Methought thy very gait did prophesy A royal nobleness: I must embrace thee: Let sorrow split my heart, if ever I Did hate thee or thy father!

Edg.
Worthy prince. I know't.
Alb. Where have you hid yourself? 179
How have you known the miseries of your father?
Edg. By nursing them, my lord. List a brief
tale;

And when 'tis told, O, that my heart would burst!
The bloody proclamation to escape, [ness!
That followed me so near,-O, our lives' sweet-
That we the pain of death would hourly die
Rather than die at once!-taught me to shift
Into a madman's rags; to assume a semblance
That very dogs disdain'd: and in this habit
Met I my father with his bleeding rings, 189
Their precious stones new lost; became his guide,
Led him, begg'd for him, saved him from despair;
Never,-O fault'-reveal'd myself unto him,
Until some half-hour past, when I was arm'd:
Not sure, though hoping, of this good success,
I ask'd his blessing, and from first to last
Told him my pilgrimage: but his flaw'd heart,
Alack, too weak the conflict to support!
'Twixt two extremes of passion, joy and grief,
Burst smilingly.

Edm. This speech of yours hath moved me,
And shall perchance do good: but speak you on;
You look as you had something more to say. 201
Alb. If there be more, more woeful, hold it in;
For I am almost ready to dissolve,
Hearing of this.

Edg This would have seem'd a period To such as love not sorrow; but another,

Edm. I was contracted to them both: all three Now marry in an instant. Edg.

Here comes Kent. 229 Alb Produce their bodies, be they alive or dead: This judgment of the heavens, that makes us

tremble,

O, is this he? The time will not allow the compliment Which very manners urges. Kent. I am come To bid my king and master aye good right: Is he not here? Alb. Great thing of us forgot! Speak, Edmund, where's the king? and where's Cordelia ?

See'st thou this object. Kent?

The bodies of Goneril and Regan are brought in. Kent. Alack, why thus? Edm. Yet Edmund was beloved: The one the other poison'd for my sake, 40 And after slew herself.

Alb. Even so. Cover their faces.

Edm. I pant for life: some good I mean to do, Despite of mine own nature. Quickly send, Be brief in it, to the castle; for my writ Is on the life of Lear and on Cordelia: Nay, send in time.

To lay the blame upon her own despair, That she fordid herself.

Alb. The gods defend her! Bear him hence awhile. Edmund is borne off. Re-enter LEAR, with CORDELIA dead in his arms; EDGAR, Captain, and others following, Lear. Howl, howl, howl, how!! O, you are men of stones:

Had I your tongues and eyes, I'ld use them so
That heaven's vault should crack. She's gone
forever!
259
I know when one is dead, and when one lives;
She's dead as earth. Lend me a looking-glass;
If that her breath will mist or stain the stone,
Why, then she lives.
Kent.

Is this the promised end?
Edg. Or image of that horror?
Alb.
Fall, and cease!
Lear. This feather stirs; she lives! if it be So,
It is a chance which does redeem all sorrows
That ever I have felt.

Kent. Kneeling] O my good master!
Lear. Prithee, away.
Edg.
'Tis noble Kent, your friend.
Lear. A plague upon you, murderers, traitors
all!

I might have saved her, now she's gone forever!
Cordelia, Cordelia! stay a little. Ha! 271
What is't thou say'st? Her voice was ever soft,
Gentle, and low, an excellent thing in woman.
I kill'd the slave that was a-hanging thee.
Capt. 'Tis true, my lords, he did.
Lear.
Did I not, fellow?
I have seen the day, with my good biting falchion
I would have made them skip: I am old now,
And these same crosses spoil me. Who are you?
Mine eyes are not o' the best: I'll tell you
straight.

Kent. If fortune brag of two she loved and hated,

One of them we behold.

280

Lear. You are welcome hither. Kent. Nor no man else; all's cheerless, dark, and deadly. 290

Your eldest daughters have fordone themselves, And desperately are dead.

Lear.

Ay, so I think.
Alb. He knows not what he says: and vainitis
That we present us to him.
Edg.

Very bootless.
Enter a Captain.

Capt. Edmund is dead, my lord.
Alb.

That's but a trifle here.
You lords and noble friends, know our intent.
What comfort to this great decay may come
Shall be applied: for us, we will resign,
During the life of this old majesty,

300

To him our absolute power: To Edgar and
Kent] you, to your rights;
With boot, and such addition as your honors
Have more than merited. All friends shall taste
The wages of their virtue, and all foes
The cup of their deservings. O, see, see!

Lear. And my poor fool is hang'd! No, no, no life!

Why should a dog, a horse, a rat have life,
And thou no breath at all? Thou'lt come no more,
Never, never, never, never, never!

Pray you, undo this button: thank you, sir.
Do you see this? Look on her, look, her lips, 310
Look there, look there!
Dies.
Edg.
He faints! My lord, my lord!
Kent. Break, heart; I prithee, break!
Edg.
Look up, my lord.
Kent. Vex not his ghost: O, let him pass! he
hates him much

That would upon the rack of this tough world
Stretch him out longer.
Edg.
He is gone, indeed.
Kent. The wonder is, he hath endured so long:
He but usurp'd his life.

Alb. Bear them from hence. Our present business

Is general woe. [To Kent and Edgar] Friends of my soul, you twain

Rule in this realm, and the gored state sustain. Kent. I have ajourney, sir, shortly to go; 321 My master calls me, I must not say no.

Alb. The weight ofthis sad time we must obey; Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say. The oldest hath borne most: we that are young Shall never see so much, nor live so long.

[Exeunt, with a dead march