Cor. Lear. Am I in France? Lear. Do not abuse me. No cause, no cause. In your own kingdom, sir, 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? Kent. As 'tis said, the bastard son of Gloucester. Gent. They say Edgar, his banished son, is with the Earl of Kent in Germany. Kent. Report is changeable. 'Tis time to look 79. "kill'd"; so Ff.; Qq., "cured"; Collier conj. "quell'd."-I. G. 79-80. Omitted in the Folios.-I. G. 91 80. Mrs. Jameson has the following not more beautiful than just remark of this wonderful scene: "The subdued pathos and simplicity of Cordelia's character, her quiet but intense feeling, the misery and humiliation of the bewildered old man, are brought before us in so few words, and sustained with such a deep intuitive knowledge of the innermost working of the human heart, that as there is nothing surpassing this scene in Shakespeare himself, so there is nothing that can be compared with it in any other writer."H. N. H. 85-98. Omitted in the Folios.-I. G. about; the powers of the kingdom approach apace. Gent. The arbitrement is like to be bloody. [Exit. Kent. My point and period will be thoroughly wrought, Or well or ill, as this day's battle's fought. Exit. ACT FIFTH 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, To change the course; he 's full of alteration pleasure. his constant [To a Gentleman, who goes out. Reg. Our sister's man is certainly miscarried. Now, sweet lord, You know the goodness I intend upon you: Edm. In honor'd love. Reg. But have you never found my brother's way To the forfended place? Edm. 10 That thought abuses you. Reg. I am doubtful that you have been conjunct And bosom'd with her, as far as we call hers. 11-13, omitted in the Folios.-I. G. 13. "bosom'd"; taken into her confidence.-C. H. H. Edm. No, by mine honor, madam. Reg. I never shall endure her: dear my lord, Edm. Fear me not. She and the duke her husband! 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. Alb. Our very loving sister, well be-met. 20 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 hon- I never yet was valiant: for this business, Edm. Sir, you speak nobly. Reg. Why is this reason'd? Gon. Combine together 'gainst the enemy; 17. That is, "here she comes, and the duke her husband." The speech is commonly pointed as if interrupted and left incomplete, thus: "She, and the duke her husband,-"-H. N. H. 18-19, 23-28, omitted in the Folios.-I. G. 25-26. Mason's conj. "Not the old king" for "not bolds the king" is worthy of mention. Albany's point is that the invading enemy is France and not the wronged king, together with others whom heavy causes compel to fight against them; otherwise "not bolds the king" =“not as it emboldens the king”; an awkward and harsh construction.-I. G. Alb. For these domestic and particular broils 30 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, Alb. Hear me one word. If I'll overtake you. Speak. [Exeunt all but Albany and Edgar. 41 Edg. Before you fight the battle, ope this letter. have victory, let the trumpet sound you 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. 33. Omitted in the Folios.-I. G. ceases"; iii. 76, 90, 144, 282, omitted in the That is, all designs against your life will have an end.-H. N. H. |