ACT Y.

SCENE I. The camp of the British forces near Dover.

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

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 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?

In honoured love.

EDM.
REG. I never shall endure her dear my lord,
Be not familiar with her.

EDM.

Fear me not :

She and the duke her husband!

Enter ALBANY, GONERIL, and Soldiers.

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

Should loosen him and me.

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

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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

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. GON. [Aside.] O, ho, I know the riddle :-I will go. 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 all but ALBANY and EDGAR.

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.

ALB. Why, fare thee well; I will o'erlook thy paper.

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[Exit EDGAR.

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 urged on you.

ALB.

We will greet the time.

EDM. To both these sisters have I sworn my love; Each jealous of the other, as the stung

[Exit.

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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,

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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.

SCENE II. A field between the two camps.

[Exit.

Alarum without. Enter, with drum and colours, LEAR,
CORDELIA, and their forces; and exeunt.

Enter EDGAR and GLOUCESTER.

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,

I'll bring you comfort.

GLO.

Grace go

with you, sir!

[Exit EDGAR.

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4

Re-enter EDGAR.

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Alarums; afterwards a retreat.

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
Their going hence, even as their coming hither:
Ripeness is all: come on.

GLO.

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SCENE III. The British camp near Dover.

Enter, in conquest, with drum and colours, EDMUND; LEAR and CORDELIA as prisoners; Officers, Soldiers, etc.

EDM. Some officers take them away: good guard, Until their greater pleasures first be known

That are to censure them.

COR.

We are not the first

Who with best meaning have incurred the worst.
For thee, oppressed king, I am cast down;
Myself could else outfrown false fortune's frown.
Shall we not see these daughters and these sisters?

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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,

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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;

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And take upon us the mystery of things,

As if we were God's spies and we'll wear out,

In a walled 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 good-years shall devour them, flesh and fell,

Ere they shall make us weep: we'll see 'em starve 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 advanced 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't,
Or thrive by other means.

OFF.

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'll do't.

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[Exit. 40

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.

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Sir, I thought it fit

To send the old and miserable king