Cor. How does my royal lord? How fares your I know, you do not love me; for your sisters Lear O, look upon me, sir, 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. Have, as I do remember, done me wrong: Lear. Am I in France? I pray, No cause, no cause. In your own kingdom, sir. Lear. Do not abuse 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. [Exit. Kent. My point and period will be throughly wrought, Or well, or ill, as this day's battle's fought. [Exit. Fear me not: 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. As they are going out, enter EDGAR, disguised. Edg. If e'er your grace had speech with man so 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. [Erit. Alb. Why, fare thee well; I will o'erlook thy paper. Re-enter EDMUND. Edm. The enemy's in view, draw up your powers. Here is the guess of their true strength and forces 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? His speedy taking off. As for the mercy Which he intends to Lear, and to Cordelia, [Exrt. 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 GLOSTER. 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, Grace go with you, sir! [Exit 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, EDMUNE; LEAR and CORDELIA, as prisoners; Officer, Soldiers, &c. Edm. Some officers take them away: good guard; As if we were God's spies. And we'll wear out, Edm. 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 ; This gilded serpent: [Pointing to GoN.]-for your Thy valour, and thy heart, thou art a traitor : claim, fair sister, I bar it in the interest of my wife; 'Tis sue is sub-contracted to this lord, And I, her husband, contradict your bans. If you will marry, make your love to me, My lady is bespoke. Gon. An interlude ! False to thy gods, thy brother, and thy father; Alb. Thou art arm'd, Gloster :- - Let the trumpet Thou liest. sound: 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! Gon. This is mere practice, Gloster : By the law of arms, thou wast not bound to answer An unknown opposite; thou art not vanquish'd, But cozen'd and beguil'd. Alb. Shut your mouth, dame, Or with this paper shall I stop it: - Hold, sir: I done; Let's exchange charity. I am no less in blood than thou art, Edmund; The dark and vicious place where thee he got, Edm. Did hate thee, or thy father! Edg. I know it well. Alb. Worthy prince, Where have you hid yourself? 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 !— Edm. This speech of yours hath mov'd me, Alb. If there be more, more woful, hold it in; For I am almost ready to dissolve, Hearing of this. Alb. What kind of help? Edg. What means that bloody knife? Speak, man. 'Tis hot, it smokes; It came even from the heart of — Who, man? speak. Gent. Your lady, sir, your lady: and her sister By her is poison'd; she confesses it. Edm. I was contracted to them both; all three Now marry in an instant. Alb. Produce their bodies, be they alive or This judgment of the heavens, that makes us tremble, Edg. To who, my lord?—Who has the office? send Edm. Well thought on; take my sword, Alb. Haste thee, for thy life. [Exit EDGAR. This would have seem'd a period To lay the blame upon her own despair, To such as love not sorrow; but another, Whilst I was big in clamour, came there a man, Had I your tongues and eyes, I'd use them so That heaven's vault should crack:-O, she is gone for ever! I know when one is dead, and when one lives; Kent. Fall, and cease! Lear. This feather stirs ; she lives! if it be so, It is a chance that does redeem all sorrows O, he is gone, indeed. Kent. The wonder is, he hath endur'd so long: He but usurp'd his life. Alb. Bear them from hence. Our present business Is general woe. Friends of my soul, you twain Alb. The weight of this 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 |