The Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare

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
down.

Stew. Slave, thou hast slain me :-Villain,
take my purse;

If ever thou wilt thrive, bury my body;

And give the letters, which thou find'st about
me,

To Edmund earl of Gloster; seek him out
Upon the British party :--O untimely death!
[Dies.
Edg. I know thee well: A serviceable vil-
lain;

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.
paid.

All my reports go with the modest truth;
Nor more, nor clipp'd, but so.

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:‡
My boon I make it, that you know me not,
Till time and I think ineet.

Cor. Then be it so, my good lord.-How
does the king? [To the PHYSICIAN.
Phys. Madam, sleeps still.
Cor. O you kind gods,

Cure this great breach in his abused nature!
The untun'd and jarring senses, O wind up
Of this child-changed father!

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
awake him;

I doubt not of his temperance.
Cor. Very well.

Phys. Please you, draw near.-Louder the
music there.

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
A plot upon her virtuous husband's life;
And the exchange, my brother!--Here, in the
sands,

Thee I'll rake up, ¶ the post unsanctified
Of murderous lechers: and, in the mature time,
With this ungracious paper strike the sight
Of the death-practis'd duke: For him 'tis well,
That of thy death and business I can tell,

[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
Of my huge sorrows! Better I were distract:
So should my thoughts be sever'd from my

griefs;

And woes, by wrong imaginations, lose
The knowledge of themselves.

SCENE VII-A Tent in the French Camp.

Had challeng'd pity of them. Was this a face
To be expos'd against the warring winds?
To stand against the deep dread-bolted thunder?
In the most terrible and nimble stroke

of quick, cross lightning? to watch, (poor
perdu !) {

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
father,

To hovel thee with swine, and rogues forlorn,
In short and musty straw? Alack, alack!
'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

Lear. Where have I been ?-Where am I?-
Fair day-light ?-

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.
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.

Cor. No cause, no cause.
Lear. Am I in France?

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. §
Edm. Sir, you speak nobly.

Reg. Why is this reason'd?

Gon. Combine together 'gainst the enemy:
For these domestic and particular broils
Art not to question here.

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
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,
[Exit.
And I'll appear again.

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:
Ripeness is all : + Come on.
Glo. And that's true too.
SCENE III.-The British Camp near Dover.
Enter, in Conquest, with Drum and Colours,
EDMUND; LEAR and CORDELIA, as Pri-
soners; Officers, Soldiers, &c.

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 incurr'd the

worst.

iant 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;
To pluck the common bosom on his side,
Whose age has charms in it, whose title more,
And turn our impress'd lances in our eyes
Which do commaud them. With him I sent the
queen ;

My reason all the same; and they are ready
To-morrow, or at further space to appear
Where you shall hold your session.

time,

At this

We sweat, and bleed the friend hath lost his friend ;

And the best quarrels, in the heat, are curs'd
By those that feel their sharpness:-
Requires a fitter place.
The question of Cordelia, and her father,

Alb. Sir, by your patience,

I hold you but a subject of this war,
Not as a brother.

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;
Bore the commission of my place and person;
The which immediacy || may well stand up,
And call itself your brother.

Gon. Not so hot :

More than in your advancement.
In his own grace he doth exalt himself,

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. *
Reg. Lady, I am not well; else I should answer
From a full-flowing stomach.-General,
Take thou my soldiers, prisoners, patrimony;
Dispose of them, of me; the walls are thine:
Witness the world, that I create thee here
My lord and master.

Gon. Mean you to enjoy him?

Alb. The let alone + lies not in your good
will.

Edm. Nor in thine, lord.
Alb. Half-blooded fellow, yes.
Reg. Let the drum strike, and

prove my title
thine.
(To EDMUND.
Alb. Stay yet; hear reason:-Edmund, I

Alb. She is not well; convey her to my tent.
[Exit REGAN, led.
Come hither, herald,-Let the trumpet sound,-
And read out this.

Off. Sound, trumpet. [A Trumpet sounds.
HERALD reads.

Edg. What's he, tha speaks for Edmund earl
of Gloster ?

Edm. Himself;-What say'st thou to him?
Edg. Draw thy sword:

That, if my speech offend a noble heart,
Tby arm may do thee justice: here is mine.
Behold it is the privilege of mine honours,
My oath and my profession: I protest,-
Maugre thy strength, youth, place, and emi-
nence,

Despite thy victor sword, and fire-new fortune
Thy valour, and thy heart,-thou art a traitor :
False to thy gods, thy brother, and thy father;
Conspirant 'gainst this high illustrious prince;
And, from the extremest upward of thy head,
To the descent and dust beneath thy feet,
A most toad-spotted traitor. Say thou, No,
This sword, this arm, and my best spirits, are

bent

To prove upon thy heart, whereto I speak
Thou liest.

Edm. In wisdom I should ask thy name : +
But, since thy outside looks so fair and war-
like,
[breathes,
And that thy tongue some 'say of breeding
What safe and nicely I might well delay

By rule of knighthood, I disdain and spurn:
Back do I toss these treasons to thy head;
With the hell-hated lie o'erwhelm thy heart;
Which, (for they yet glance by, and scarcely
bruise,)
[way,
This sword of mine shall give them instant
Where they shall rest for ever.-Trumpets,

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 ;
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 bate thee, or thy father!
Edg. Worthy prince,

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,
Rather than die at once!) taught me to shift
Into a madman's rags; to assume a sem-
blance

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,
[despair:
Led him, begg'd for him, sav'd im from
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

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.
Alb. If there be more, more woeful, 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 inake much more,
And top extremity.
[man,
Whilst I was big in clamour, came there a
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

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:
The one the other poison'd for my sake,
And after slew herself.

Alb. Even so.-Cover their faces.

Edm. I pant for life :-Some good I mean to do,

Despite of mine own nature. Quickly send,-
Be brief in it,-to the castle; for my writ
Is on the life of Lear, and on Cordelia ;-
Nay, send in time.

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
To lay the blame upon her own despair,
That she fordid herself.⚫

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;
She's dead as earth;-Lend me a looking-glass;
If that her breath will mist or stain the stone,
Why, then she lives.

Kent. Is this the promis'd end?†
Edg. Or image of that horror?

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.
I would have made them skip: I am old now,
And these same crosses spoil me.-Who are
you?
[straight.
Mine eyes are none o'the best:-I'll tell you
Kent. If fortune brag of two she lov'd and
One of them we behold.
[hated,

Lear. This is a dull sight: Are you not
Kent?
Kent. The same:

[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

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The Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare, Volume 10