Edg. Ch'ill not let go, Zir, without vurther | To match thy goodness? My life will be too 'casion. Stew. Let go, slave, or thou diest. Edg. Good gentleman, go your gait, and let poor volk pass. And ch'ud ha' been zwag. ger'd out of my life, 'twould not ha' been zo long as 'tis by a vortnight. Nay, come not near the old man; keep out, che vor'ye, or ise try whether your costard or my bati be the barder Ch'ill be plain with you. Stew. Out, dunghill! Edg. Ch'ill pick your teeth, Zir: Come; no matter vor your foins. § [They fight; and EDGAR knocks him Stew. Slave, thou hast slain me :-Villain, If ever thou wilt thrive, bury my body; And give the letters, which thou find'st about To Edmund earl of Gloster; seek him out As duteous to the vices of thy mistress, As badness would desire. Glo. What, is be dead? Edg. Sit you down, father; rest you.— Let's see his pockets: these letters; that he speaks of, (sorry May be my friends.-He's dead; I am only He had no other death's-man.-Let us see:Leave, gentle wax; and, manuers, blame us not: To know our enemies' minds, we'd rip their hearts; Their papers, is more lawful. || short, And every measure fail me. Kent. To be acknowledg'd, madam, is o'er. All my reports go with the modest truth; Cor. Be better-suited: * These weeds are memories of those worser hours; I pr'ythee, put them off. Kent. Pardon me, dear madam ; Yet to be known, shortens my made intent:‡ Cor. Then be it so, my good lord.-How Cure this great breach in his abused nature! Phys. So please your majesty, That we may wake the king? he hath siept long. Cor. Be govern'd by your knowledge, and proceed I'the sway of your own will. Is he array'd? Gent. Ay, madam: in the heaviness of his sleep, We put fresh garments on him. Phys. Be by, good madam, when we do I doubt not of his temperance. Phys. Please you, draw near.-Louder the Have in thy reverence made! Kent. Kind and dear princess ! Cor. Had you not been their father, these white flakes Cor. O my dear father! Restoration, hang Thy medicine on my lips; and let this kiss [Reads.] Let our reciprocal vows be remem-Repair those violent harms, that my two sisters bered. You have many opportunities to cut him off: if your will want not, time and place will be fruitfully offered. There is nothing done, if he return the conqueror: Then am I the prisoner, and his bed my jail; from the loathed warmth whereof deliver me, and supply the place for your labour. Your wife, (so I would say,) and your affectionate servant, GONERIL. O undistinguish'd space of woman's will Thee I'll rake up, ¶ the post unsanctified [Ecit EDGAR, dragging out the Body. Glo. The king is mad: How stiff is my vile sense, That I stand up, and have ingenious feeling griefs; And woes, by wrong imaginations, lose SCENE VII-A Tent in the French Camp. Had challeng'd pity of them. Was this a face of quick, cross lightning? to watch, (poor With this thin helm ? Mine enemy's dog, Though he had bit me, should have stood that night Against my fire: And wast thou fain, poor To hovel thee with swine, and rogues forlorn, Phys. Madam, do you: 'tis fittest. Lear. You do me wrong, to take me out o'the Lear. Where have I been ?-Where am I?- LEAR on a Bed, asleep: PHYSICIAN, GEN-I am mightily abus'd.-I should even die with TLEMAN, and others, attending. Enter CORDELIA and KENT. Cor. O thou good Kent, how shall 1 live and work, Go your way. + Head. 1 Club. Thrusts. fo rip their papers is more lawful. I'll cover thee (the dead steward) in the sands pity, To see another thus.-I know not what to say.- I will not swear, these are my hands :-let's see; + Memorials. • Dressed. t Intent formed. The allusion is to the forlorn-hope in an army, called in French enfans perdue. Thin covering of hair. 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. Lear. Be your tears wet? Yes, 'faith. I pray, weep not: If you have poison for me, I will drink it. Cor. No cause, no cause. Kent. In your own kingdom, Sir. Lear. Do not abuse me. Phys. Be comforted, good madam: the great |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. Edm. No, by mine honour, madam. Reg. I never shall endure her: Dear my lord, Be not familiar with her. Most just and heavy causes make oppose. § Reg. Why is this reason'd? Gon. Combine together 'gainst the enemy: Alb. Let us then determine With the ancient of war on our proceedings. Edm. I shall attend you presently at your 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 seem, I can produce a champion, that will prove When time shall serve, let but the herald cry, Alb. Why, fare thee well; I will o'erlook thy paper. 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 [Exeunt. Their going hence, even as their coming hither: Edm. Some officers take them away: good guard; Until their greater pleasures first be known Cor. We are not the first, Who, with best meaning, have incurr'd the worst. iant strain, And fortune led you well: You have the captives Who were the opposites of this day's strife: Edm. Sir, I thought it fit My reason all the same; and they are ready time, At this We sweat, and bleed the friend hath lost his friend ; And the best quarrels, in the heat, are curs'd Alb. Sir, by your patience, I hold you but a subject of this war, Reg. That's as we list to grace him. Methinks our pleasure might have been demanded, Ere you had spoke so far. He led our powers; Gon. Not so hot : More than in your advancement. Reg. In my rights, By me invested, he compeers the best. Gon. That were the most, if he should hu band you. Reg. Jesters do oft prove prophets. Gon. Holloa, holloa! That eye that told you so, look'd but a-squint. * Gon. Mean you to enjoy him? Alb. The let alone + lies not in your good Edm. Nor in thine, lord. prove my title Alb. She is not well; convey her to my tent. Off. Sound, trumpet. [A Trumpet sounds. Edg. What's he, tha speaks for Edmund earl Edm. Himself;-What say'st thou to him? That, if my speech offend a noble heart, Despite thy victor sword, and fire-new fortune bent To prove upon thy heart, whereto I speak Edm. In wisdom I should ask thy name : + By rule of knighthood, I disdain and spurn: 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 [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 [out; have I done; And more, much more: the time will bring it If any man of quality or degree, within the 'Tis past, and so am I: But what art thou, lists of the army, will maintain upon ED-That hast this fortune on me? If thou art noble, MUND, supposed earl of GLOSTER, that he is a manifold traitor, let him appear at the third sound of the trumpet: He is bold in his dejence. I do forgive thee. Edg. Let's exchange charity. I am no less in blood than thou art, Edmund ; Edm. Thou hast spoken right, 'tis true; Alb. Methought, thy very gait did prophesy I know it well. And, when 'tis told, O that my heart would Durst! 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, That very dogs disdain'd: and in this habit heart, flaw'd (Alack, too weak the conflict to support!) Twixt two extremes of passion, joy and grief, Burst smilingly. Edm. This speech of your's hath mov'd me, And shall, perchance, do good: but speak you on; You look as you had something more to say. For I am almost ready to dissolve, Edg. This would have seem'd a period 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 belov'd: Alb. Even so.-Cover their faces. Edm. I pant for life :-Some good I mean to do, Despite of mine own nature. Quickly send,- Alb. Run, run, O run Edg. To who, my lord ?-Who has the office? send Thy token of reprieve. Edm. Well thought on; take my sword, Give it the captain. Alb. Haste thee, for thy life. [Exit EDGAR. Edm. He hath commission from thy wife and me To hang Cordelia in the prison, and Alb. The gods defend her! Bear him bence awhile. [EDMUND is borne of. Enter LEAR, with CORDELIA dead in his Arms; EDGAR, OFFICER, and others. Lear. Howl, howl, howl, howl!-O you are men of stones; 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. Is this the promis'd end?† Aib. Fall, and cease! I might have sav'd her; now she's gone for Cordelia, Cordelia, stay a little. Ha! Enter a GENTLEMAN hastily, with a bloody What is't thou say'st?-Her voice was ever Knife. soft, [man :Gentle, and low; an excellent thing in WOI kill'd the slave that was a banging thee. Off. 'Tis true, my lords, he did. Lear. Did I not, fellow? [chion I have seen the day, with my good biting faul. Lear. This is a dull sight: Are you not [Caius ? Your scrvant Kent: Where is your servant Lear. He's a good fellow, I can tell you that; [rotten. He'll strike, and quickly too :-He's dead and Kent. No, my good lord; I am the very |