'Tis wonder, that thy life and wits at once Had not concluded all.

He wakes; speak to him. Phys. Madam, do you; 'tis fittest. 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.

Cor.

Sir, do you know me? 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. Lear. Where have I been? Where am I? - Fair day-light? I am mightily abus'd.—I should even die with pity, To see another thus. I know not what to say. I will not swear, these are my hands: ―― let's see; I feel this pin prick. 'Would I were assur'd Of my condition.

Cor. O, look upon me, sir, And hold your hands in benediction o'er me : --No, sir, you must not kneel.

SCENE I.

Lear 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.

- The Camp of the British Forces, near Dover.

Enter, with drums and colours, EDMUND, REGAN, Officers, Soldiers, and others.

Edm. Know of the duke, if his last purpose hold;

Or, whether since he is advis'd by aught

To change the course: He's full of alteration,
And self-reproving : - bring his constant pleasure.
[To an Officer, 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 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.

Lear. Be your tears wet? Yes, 'faith. weep not:

Edm. No, by mine honour, madam.

Reg. I never shall endure her: Dear my lord, Be not familiar with her.

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.

No cause, no cause.

Cor.

In your own kingdom, sir.

Lear. Am I in France? Kent. Lear. Do not abuse me. Phys. Be comforted, good madam: the great rage, You see, is cur'd in him: and yet it is danger To make him even o'er the time he has lost. Desire him to go in; trouble him no more, Till further settling.

I pray,

Cor. Will't please your highness walk?
Lear.
You must bear with me:

Pray now, forget and forgive: I am old, and foolish. [Exeunt LEAR, CORDELIA, Physician, and Attendants.

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 banish'd 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.

[Exit. Kent. My point and period will be throughly wrought,

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

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. [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.

Here is the guess of their true strength and forces
By diligent discovery; but your haste
Is now urg'd on you.

Alb.
We will greet the time. [Erit.
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?
Both? one? or neither? Neither can be enjoy'd,
If both remain alive: To take the widow,
Exasperates, makes mad her sister Goneril;
And hardly shall I carry out my side,

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, devise
His speedy taking off. As for the mercy
Which he intends to Lear, and to Cordelia,
The battle done, and they within our power,
Shall never see his pardon for my state
Stands on me to defend, not to debate.

[Exrt.

SCENE II. -A Field between the two Camps. Alarum within. Enter, with drum and colours, LEAR, CORDELIA, and their Forces; and exeunt.

SCENE III.-The British Camp near Dover. Enter, in conquest, with drum and colours, EDMUND; LEAR and CORDELIA, as prisoners; Officers, Soldiers, &c.

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

And that's true too. [Exeunt.

Cor. We are not the first, Who, with best meaning, have incurr'd the worst. For thee, oppressed king, am I cast down; Myself could else out-frown false fortune's frown.— Shall we not see these daughters, and these sisters?

Lear. No, no, no, no! Come, let's away to prison: We two alone will sing like birds i' the cage : When thou dost ask me blessing, I'll kneel down, And ask of thee forgiveness: So we'll live, And pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and laugh At gilded butterflies, and hear poor rogues Talk of court news; and we'll talk with them too,Who loses, and who wins; who's in, who's out;And take upon us the mystery of things,

As if we were God's spies. And we'll wear out, In a wall'd prison, packs and sects of great ones, That ebb and flow by the moon.

Edm.

Take them away.

Lear. Upon such sacrifices, my Cordelia, The gods themselves throw incense. Have I caught thee?

He that parts us, shall bring a brand from heaven,
And fire us hence, like foxes. Wipe thine eyes;
The goujeers shall devour them, flesh and fell,
Ere they shall make us weep: we'll see them starv
first.

Come. [Exeunt LEAR and CORDELIA, guarded Edm. Come hither, captain; hark.

Take thou this note; [giving a paper.] go, follow

them to prison;

One step I have advanc'd thee: if thou dost

As this instructs thee, thou dost make thy way To noble fortunes: Know thou this, that men Are as the time is: to be tender-minded

Does not become a sword: - Thy great employment Will not bear question ;· either say, thou'lt do',

Or thrive by other means.
Of

I'll do't, my lord. Edm. About it; and write happy, when thou hast done.

Mark, I say, instantly; and carry it so,
As I have set it down.

Off. I cannot draw a cart, nor eat dried oats;
If it be man's work, I will do it. [Erit Officer.
Flourish. Enter ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN,
Officers, and Attendants.

Alb. Sir, you have shown to-day your valiant strain,

And fortune led you well: You have the captives
Who were the opposites of this day's strife:
We do require them of you; so to use them,
As we shall find their merits and our safety
May equally determine.

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;

:

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 shall arraign me for't?
Alb.

Most monstrous !

Know'st thou this paper?
Gon.

Ask me not what I know. (Exit GONERIL. Alb. Go after her she's desperate; govern her. [To an Officer, who goes out. Edm. What you have charg'd me with, that have I done; 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 art 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.
The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices
Make instruments to scourge us:

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

Worthy prince,

Alb. 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!— The bloody proclamation to escape, That follow'd me so near, (O our lives' sweetness! That with the pain of death we'd hourly die, Rather than die at once!) taught me to shift Into a mad-man's rags; to assume a semblance That very dogs disdain'd: and in this habit Met I my father with his bleeding rings, Their precious stones new lost; became his guide, Led him, begg'd for him, sav'd 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.

Edg.

I know it well.

Edm. This speech of yours hath mov'd me, And shall, perchance, do good: but speak you on; You look as you had something more to say.

Alb. If there be more, more woful, 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,
To amplify too-much, would make much more,
And top extremity.

Whilst I was big in clamour, came there a man,
Who having seen me in my worst estate,
Shunn'd my abhorr'd society; but then, finding
Who 'twas that so endur'd, with his strong arms
He fasten'd on my neck, and bellow'd out

Alb. He knows not what he says; and vain it is That we present us to him.

Edg.

Very bootless,

Enter an Officer. Off. 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, To him our absolute power:

You, to your rights; [To EDGAR and KENT. With boot, and such addition as your honours 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:

1

Why should a dog, a horse, a rat, have life,
And thou no breath at all? O, thou wilt come no

more.