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IV. iii.

40

50

And clamour moyftened her, then away she started,

To deale with griefe alone.

Kent. It is the stars, the stars aboue vs gouerne our conditions,
Elfe one felfe mate and make could not beget,

Such different iffues, you spoke not with her fince.

Gent. No. Kent. Was this before the King returnd.
Gent. No, fince.

Kent. Well fir, the poore diftreffed Lear's ith towne,

Who fome time in his better tune remembers,

What we are come about, and by no meanes will yeeld to fee his
Gent. Why good fir?

(daughter.

Kent. A foueraigne l'hame fo elbows him his own vnkindnes

That stript her from his benediction turnd her,

To forraine cafualties gaue her deare rights,

To his dog-harted daughters, these things fting his mind,

So venomoufly that burning fhame detaines him from Cordelia.
Gent. Alack poore Gentleman.

Kent. Of Albanies and Cornewals powers you heard not.
Gent. Tis fo they are a foote.

Kent. Well fir, ile bring you to our maifter Lear,

And leaue you to attend him fome deere cause,

IV. iv.

Will in concealement wrap me vp awhile,

When I am knowne aright you shall not greeue,

Lending me this acquaintance, I pray you go along with me.

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Search euery acre in the hie growne field,

And bring him to our eye, what can mans wisdome

10 In the restoring his bereued fence, he that can helpe him Take all my outward worth.

Doct. There is meanes Madame.

Our fofter nurse of nature is repofe,

The which he lackes that to prouoke in him,

IV. iii.

IV. iv.

Scena Tertia.

Enter with Drum and Colours, Cordelia, Gentlemen,
and Souldiours.

Cor. Alacke, 'tis he: why he was met euen now
As mad as the vext Sea, finging alowd,
Crown'd with ranke Fenitar, and furrow weeds,
With Hardokes, Hemlocke, Nettles, Cuckoo flowres,
Darnell, and all the idle weedes that grow

In our fuftaining Corne. A Centery fend forth;

Search euery Acre in the high-growne field,

And bring him to our eye. What can mans wifedome

10 In the restoring his bereaued Senfe; he that helpes him,
Take all my outward worth.

Gent. There is meanes Madam:

Our fofter Nurfe of Nature, is repofe,

The which he lackes: that to prouoke in him

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IV. iv.

Are many simples operatiue whose power,

Will clofe the eye of anguifh.

Cord. All bleft fecrets all you vnpublifht vertues of the earth,

Spring with my teares beaydant and remediat,

In the good mans distresse, seeke, seeke, for him,

Left his vngouernd rage diffolue the life.

20 That wants the meanes to lead it.

Enter messenger.

Mef. News Madam, the Brittish powers are marching hither

Cord. Tis knowne before, our preparation stands,

In expectation of them, ô deere father

It is thy bufines that I go about, therfore great France
My mourning and important teares hath pitied,
No blowne ambition doth our armes in fight

But loue, deere loue, and our ag'd fathers right,
Soone may I heare and fee him.

Exit.

(ward.

IV. v.

10

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Stew. Madam with much ado, your fifter is the better foldier.

Reg. Lord Edmund fpake not with your Lady at home.

Stew. No Madam.

Reg. What might import my fifters letters to him?

Stew. I know not Lady.

Reg. Faith he is posted hence on ferious matter,

It was great ignorance, Glosters eyes being out

To let him liue, where he ariues he moues
All harts against vs, and now I thinke is gone
In pitie of his mifery to dispatch his nighted life,
Moreouer to difcrie the strength at'h army.

Stew. I must needs after him with my letters
Reg. Our troope fets forth to morrow stay with vs,
The wayes are dangerous.

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IV. iv.

20

V.

Are many Simples operatiue, whofe power

Will close the eye of Anguish.

Cord. All bleft Secrets,

All you vnpublish'd Vertues of the earth

Spring with my teares; be aydant, and remediate
In the Goodmans defires: feeke, feeke for him,
Leaft his vngouern'd rage, diffolue the life
That wants the meanes to leade it.

Enter Messenger.

Mef. Newes Madam,

The Brittish Powres are marching hitherward.

Cor. "Tis knowne before. Our preparation ftands

In expectation of them. O deere Father,

It is thy bufineffe that I go about: Therfore great France
My mourning, and importun'd teares hath pittied:

No blowne Ambition doth our Armes incite,

But loue, deere loue, and our ag'd Fathers Rite:
Soone may I heare, and fee him.

Scena Quarta.

Enter Regan, and Steward.

Reg. But are my Brothers Powres fet forth?

Stew. I Madam.

Reg. Himfelfe in person there?

Stew. Madam with much ado:

Your Sifter is the better Souldier.

Exeunt.

Reg. Lord Edmund spake not with your Lord at home?
Stew. No Madam.

Reg. What might import my Sifters Letter to him?
Stew. I know not, Lady.

Reg. Faith he is poasted hence on ferious matter:
It was great ignorance, Gloufters eyes being out
10 To let him liue. Where he arriues, he moues
All hearts against vs: Edmund, I thinke is gone
In pitty of his mifery, to dispatch

His nighted life: Moreouer to defcry

The ftrength o'th'Enemy.

Stew. I must needs after him, Madam, with my Letter. Reg. Our troopes fet forth to morrow, stay with vs: The wayes are dangerous.

IV.

IV. v.

Stew. I may not Madame, my Lady charg'd my dutie in this bufines.

Reg. Why should she write to Edmund? might not you 20 Transport her purposes by word, belike

Some thing, I know not what, ile loue thee much,
Let me vnfeale the letter.

Stew. Madam I'de rather

Reg. I know your Lady does not loue her husband
I am fure of that, and at her late being here
Shee gaue strange aliads, and most speaking lookes
To noble Edmund, I know you are of her bofome.
Stew. I Madam.

Reg. I fpeake in vnderstanding, for I know't,
Therefore I doe aduife you take this note,
30 My Lord is dead, Edmund and I haue talkt,
And more conuenient is he for my hand
Then for your Ladies, you may gather more
If you doe find him, pray you giue him this,

And when your miftris heares thus much from you

I pray defire her call her wifedome to her, fo farewell,

If you doe chance to heare of that blind traytor,
Preferment fals on him that cuts him off.

Ste. Would I could meet him Madam, I would shew

40 What Lady I doe follow.

Reg. Fare thee well.

Exit.

IV. vi.

Enter Glofter and Edmund.

Gloft. When shall we come toth'top of that fame hill?
Edg. You do climbe it vpnow, looke how we labour?
Gloft. Me thinks the ground is euen.

Edg. Horrible steepe, harke doe you heare the fea?

Gloft. No truly.

Edg. Why then your other fences grow imperfect

By your eyes anguish.

Gloft. So may it be indeed,

Me thinks thy voyce is altered, and thou fpeakest

With better phrafe and matter then thou didft.

Edg. Y'ar much deceaued, in nothing am I chang'd

10 But in my garments.

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