¶Enter GONERIL, Bastard [EDMUND], and Steward [OSWALD]Gon. Welcome, my lord! I marvel our mild husbandNot met us on the way.—Now, where's your master?Osw. Madam, within; but never man so chang'd.I told him of the army that was landed;He smil'd at it. I told him you were coming;His answer was, "The worse." Of Gloucester's treachery,And of the loyal service of his son,When I inform'd him, then he call'd me sot,And told me I had turn'd the wrong side out.What most he should dislike seems pleasant to him;What like, offensive.Gon. [To EDM.] Then shall you go no further.It is the cowish 1 terror of his spirit,That dares not undertake; he'll not feel wrongsWhich tie him to an answer. 2 Our wishes on the way[284]May prove effects. 3 Back, Edmund, to my brother;Hasten his musters and conduct his powers.I must change names at home, and give the distaffInto my husband's hands. This trusty servantShall pass between us. Ere long you are like to hear,If you dare venture in your own behalf,A mistress's command. Wear this; spare speech;Decline your head. This kiss, if it durst speak,Would stretch thy spirits up into the air.Conceive, and fare thee well.Edm. Yours in the ranks of death. Exit.Gon. My most dear Gloucester!O, the difference of man and man!To thee a woman's services are due;My Fool usurps my body.Osw. Madam, here comes my lord. Exit.
¶Gon. I have been worth the whistle. 4Alb. O Goneril!You are not worth the dust which the rude windBlows in your face. [I fear your disposition.That nature which contemns its originCannot be bordered certain in itself. 5She that herself will sliver 6 and disbranchFrom her material 7 sap, perforce must witherAnd come to deadly use. 8Gon. No more; the text is foolish.Alb. Wisdom and goodness to the vile seem vile;Filths savour but themselves. What have you done ?Tigers, not daughters, what have you perform'd?A father, and a gracious aged man,Whose reverence even the head-lugg'd 9 bear would lick,Most barbarous, most degenerate! have you madded. 1 0[285]Could my good brother suffer you to do it?A man, a prince, by him so benefited!If that the heavens do not their visible spiritsSend quickly down to tame these vile offences,It will come,Humanity must perforce prey on itself,Like monsters of the deep.]Gon. Milk-liver'd 1 1 man!That bear'st a cheek for blows, a head for wrongs,Who hast not in thy brows an eye discerningThine honour from thy suffering, [that not know'stFools do those villains pity who are punish'dEre they have done their mischief, where's thy drum ?France spreads his banners in our noiseless 1 2 land,With plumed helm thy state begins to threat;Whiles thou, a moral fool, sits still, and cries,"Alack, why does he so?"]Alb. See thyself, devil!Proper 1 3 deformity seems not in the fiendSo horrid as in woman.Gon. O vain fool![Alb. Thou changed and self-cover'd 1 4 thing, for shame!Be-monster not thy feature. Were ' t my fitnessTo let these hands obey my blood,They are apt enough to dislocate and tearThy flesh and bones. Howe'er thou art a fiendA woman's shape doth shield thee.Gon. Marry, your manhood—Mew!
p. 285¶Enter a MessengerAlb. What news?]Mess. O, my good lord, the Duke of Cornwall's dead;Slain by his servant, going to put outThe other eye of Gloucester.Alb. Gloucester's eyes![286]Mess. A servant that he bred, thrill'd with remorse, 1 5Oppos'd against the act, bending 1 6 his swordTo his great master; who, thereat enrag'd,Flew on him, and amongst them fell'd him dead;But not without that harmful stroke, which sinceHath pluck'd him after.Alb. This shows you are above,You justicers, that these our nether 1 7 crimes.So speedily can venge! But, O poor Gloucester!Lost he his other eye ?Mess. Both, both, my lord.This letter, madam, craves a speedy answer.'Tis from your sister.Gon. [Aside.] One way I like this well;But being widow, and my Gloucester with her,May all the building in my fancy pluckUpon my hateful life. 1 8 Another way,The news is not so tart.—I'll read, and answer. Exit.Alb. Where was his son when they did take his eyes?Mess. Come with my lady hither.Alb. He is not here.Mess. No , my good lord; I met him back again.Alb. Knows he the wickedness ?Mess. Ay , my good lord; 'twas he inform'd against him;And quit the house on purpose, that their punishmentMight have the freer course.Alb. Gloucester, I liveTo thank thee for the love thou show'dst the King,And to revenge thine eyes. Come hither, friend;Tell me what more thou know'st. Exeunt.
¶Enter KENT and a GentlemanKent. Why the King of France is so suddenly gone back, knowyou no reason?[287]Gent. Something he left imperfect in the state, which since hiscoming forth is thought of; which imports to the kingdom so muchfear and danger that his personal return was most required andnecessary.Kent. Who hath he left behind him General ?Gent. The Marshal of France, Monsieur La Far.Kent. Did your letters pierce the Queen to any demonstration ofgrief ?Gent. Ay, sir; she took them, read them in my presence;And now and then an ample tear trill'd 1 downHer delicate cheek. It seem'd she was a queenOver her passion, 2 who, most rebel-like,Sought to be king o'er her.Kent. O, then it mov'd her.Gent. Not to a rage; patience and sorrow stroveWho should express her goodliest. You have seenSunshine and rain at once: her smiles and tearsWere like a better way; those happy smiletsThat play'd on her ripe lip seem'd not to knowWhat guests were in her eyes, which, parted thence,As pearls from diamonds dropp'd. In brief,Sorrow would be a rarity most beloved,If all could so become it.Kent. Made she no verbal question?Gent. Faith, once or twice she heav'd the name of "father"Pantingly forth, as if it press'd her heart;Cried, "Sisters! sisters! Shame of ladies! sisters!Kent! father! sisters! What, i' the storm? i' the night?Let pity 3 not be believ'd!" There she shookThe holy water from her heavenly eyes;And, clamour-moistened, then away she startedTo deal with grief alone.Kent. It is the stars,The stars above us, govern our conditions; 4Else one self mate and make 5 could not begetSuch different issues. You spoke not with her since?[288]Gent. No .Kent. Was this before the King return'd ?Gent. No, since.Kent. Well, sir, the poor distressed Lear's i' the town;Who sometime, in his better tune, remembersWhat we are come about, and by no meansWill yield to see his daughter.Gent. Why, good sir?Kent. A sovereign shame so elbows 6 him. His own unkind-ness,That stnpp'd her from his benediction, turn'd herTo foreign casualties, gave her dear rightsTo his dog-hearted daughters,—these things stingHis mind so venomously, that burning shameDetains him from Cordelia.Gent. Alack, poor gentleman!Kent. Of Albany's and Cornwall's powers 7 you heard not ?Gent. 'Tis so, they are afoot.Kent. Well, sir, I'll bring you to our master Lear,And leave you to attend, him. Some dear 8 causeWill in concealment wrap me up a while;When I am known aright, you shall not grieveLending me this acquaintance. I pray you, goAlong with me.] Exeunt.
¶Enter, with drum and colours, CORDELIA, Doctor, and SoldiersCor. Alack, 'tis he! Why, he was met even nowAs mad as the vex'd sea, singing aloud,Crown'd with rank fumiter and furrow-weeds,With hardocks, hemlock, nettles, cuckoo-flowers,Darnel, and all the idle weeds that growIn our sustaining corn. A sentry send forth;Search every acre in the high-grown field,And bring him to our eye. [Exit an Officer.] What can man'swisdom[289]In the restoring his bereaved sense?He that helps him take all my outward worth.Doct. There is means, madam.Our foster-nurse of nature is repose,The which he lacks; that to provoke in him,Are many simples 1 operative, whose powerWill close the eye of anguish.Cor. All blest secrets,All you unpublish'd virtues of the earth,Spring with my tears! be aidant and remediate 2In the good man's distress! Seek, seek for him,Lest his ungovern'd rage dissolve the lifeThat wants the means to lead it.
p. 289¶Enter a MessengerMess. News, madam!The British powers are marching hitherward.Cor. 'Tis known before; our preparation standsIn expectation of them. O dear father,It is thy business that I go about;Therefore great FranceMy mourning and importune 3 tears hath pitied.No blown 4 ambition doth our arms incite,But love, dear love, and our ag'd father's right.Soon may I hear and see him! Exeunt.
¶SCENE [ V . Gloucester's castle]
¶Enter REGAN and Steward [OSWALD]Reg. But are my brother's powers set forth?Osw. Ay , madam.Reg. Himself in person there ?Osw. Madam, with much ado. 5Your sister is the better soldier.Reg. Lord Edmund spake not with your lord at home ?Osw. No , madam.[290]Reg. What might import my sister's letter to him ?Osw. I know not, lady.Reg. Faith, he is posted hence on serious matter.It was great ignorance, 6 Gloucester's eyes being out,To let him live; where he arrives he movesAll hearts against us. Edmund, I think, is gone,In pity of his misery, to dispatchHis nighted 7 life; moreover, to descryThe strength o' the enemy.Osw. I must needs after him, madam, with my letter.Reg. Our troops set forth to-morrow, stay with us;The ways are dangerous.Osw. I may not, madam:My lady charg'd my duty in this business.Reg. Why should she write to Edmund ? Might not youTransport her purposes by word ? BelikeSome things—I know not what. I'll love thee much,Let me unseal the letter.Osw. Madam, I had rather—Reg. I know your lady does not love her husband;I am sure of that; and at her late being hereShe gave strange ceillades 8 and most speaking looksTo noble Edmund. I know you are of her bosom. 9Osw. I, madam?Reg. I speak in understanding; y' are, I know ' t .Therefore I do advise you, take this note:My lord is dead; Edmund and I have talk'd;And more convenient is he for my handThan for your lady's. You may gather more.If you do find him, pray you, give him this;And when your mistress hears thus much from you,I pray, desire her call her wisdom to her.So, fare you well.If you do chance to hear of that blind traitor,Preferment falls on him that cuts him off.[291]Osw. Would I could meet him, madam! I should showWhat party I do follow.Reg. Fare thee well. {Exeunt.
¶Enter GLOUCESTER, and EDGAR {dressed like a peasant]Glou. When shall I come to the top of that same hill ?Edg. You do climb up it now; look, how we labour.Glou. Methinks the ground is even.Edg. Horrible steep.Hark, do you hear the sea?Glou. No , truly.Edg. Why, then, your other senses grow imperfectBy your eyes' anguish.Glou. So may it be, indeed.Methinks thy voice is alter'd, and thou speak'stIn better phrase and matter than thou didst.Edg. You're much deceiv'd. In nothing am I chang'dBut in my garments.Glou. Methinks you're better spoken.Edg. Come on, sir, here's the place; stand still. How fearfulAnd dizzy 'tis, to cast one's eyes so low!The crows and choughs 1 that wing the midway airShow scarce so gross 2 as beetles. Half way downHangs one that gathers samphire, 3 dreadful trade!Methinks he seems no bigger than his head.The fishermen, that walk upon the beach,Appear like mice; and yond tall anchoring bark,Diminish'd to her cock; 4 her cock, a buoyAlmost too small for sight. The murmuring surge,That on the unnumb'red idle pebbles chafes,Cannot be heard so high. I'll look no more,Lest my brain turn, and the deficient sightTopple down headlong.[292]Glou. Set me where you stand.Edg. Give me your hand; you are now within a footOf the extreme verge. For all beneath the moonWould I not leap upright.Glou. Let go my hand.Here, friend, 's another purse; in it a jewelWell worth a poor man's taking. Fairies and godsProsper it with thee! Go thou further off;Bid me farewell, and let me hear thee going.Edg. Now fare ye well, good sir.Glou. With all my heart.Edg. Why I do trifle thus with his despairIs done to cure it.Glou. [Kneeling.] O you mighty gods!This world I do renounce, and in your sightsShake patiently my great affliction off.If I could bear it longer, and not fallTo quarrel with your great opposeless wills,My snuff 5 and loathed part of nature shouldBurn itself out. If Edgar, live, O bless him!Now , fellow, fare thee well.Edg. Gone, sir; farewell!—And yet I know not how conceit 6 may robThe treasury of life, when life itselfYields 7 to the theft. [GLOU. throws himself forward.] Had he beenwhere he thought,By this had thought been past. Alive or dead?—Ho, you sir! friend! Hear you, sir! speak!—Thus might he pass 8 indeed; yet he revives.—What are you, sir?Glou. Away, and let me die.Edg. Hadst thou been aught but gossamer, feathers, air,So many fathom down precipitating,Thou 'dst shiver'd like an egg: but thou dost breathe;Hast heavy substance; bleed'st not; speak'st; art sound.Ten masts at each 9 make not the altitude[293]Which thou hast perpendicularly fell.Thy life's a miracle. Speak yet again.Glou. But have I fallen, or no ?Edg. From the dread summit of this chalky bourn. 1 0Look up a-height; 1 1 the shrill-gorg'd 1 2 lark so farCannot be seen or heard. Do but look up.Glou. Alack, I have no eyes.Is wretchedness depriv'd that benefit,To end itself by death ? 'Twas yet some comfort,When misery could beguile the tyrant's rage,And frustrate his proud will.Edg. Give me your arm.Up : so. How is't ? Feel you your legs ? You stand.Glou. Too well, too well.Edg. This is above all strangeness.Upon the crown o' the cliff, what thing was thatWhich parted from you?Glou. A poor unfortunate beggar.Edg. As I stood here below, methought his eyesWere two full moons; he had a thousand noses,Horns whelk'd 1 3 and waved like the enridged sea.It was some fiend; therefore, thou happy father,Think that the clearest 1 4 gods, who make them honoursOf men's impossibilities, have preserv'd thee.Glou. I do remember now. Henceforth I'll bearAffliction till it do cry out itself,"Enough, enough," and die. That thing you speak of,I took it for a man; often 'twould say,"The fiend, the fiend!" He led me to that place.Edg. Bear free and patient thoughts.
p. 293¶Enter LEAR [fantastically dressed with wild flowers]But who comes hereThe safer 1 5 sense will ne'er accommodate 1 6His master thus.[294]Lear. No , they cannot touch me for coining;I am the King himself.Edg. O thou side-piercing sight!Lear. Nature's above art in that respect. There's your press-money.That fellow handles his bow like a crow-keeper; draw me a clothier'syard. Look, look, a mouse! Peace, peace; this piece of toasted cheesewill do't. There's my gauntlet; I'll prove it on a giant. Bring up thebrown bills. O, well flown, bird! I' the clout, 1 7 i' the clout! Hewgh!Give the word. 1 8Edg. Sweet marjoram.Lear. Pass.Glou. I know that voice.Lear. Ha! Goneril, with a white beard! They flatter'd me like adog, and told me I had the white hairs in my beard ere the black oneswere there. To say "ay" and "no" to everything that I said! " Ay "and "no" too was no good divinity. When the rain came to wet meonce, and the wind to make me chatter; when the thunder would notpeace at my bidding; there I found 'em, there I smelt 'em out. Go to,they are not men o' their words: they told me I was everything; 'tisa lie, I am not ague-proof.Glou. The trick of that voice I do well remember.Is't not the King?Lear. Ay , every inch a king!When I do stare, see how the subject quakes.I pardon that man's life. What was thy cause? 1 9Adultery ?Thou shalt not die. Die for adultery! No :The wren goes to't, and the small gilded flyDoes lecher in my sight.Let copulation thrive; for Gloucester's bastard sonWas kinder to his father than my daughtersGot 'tween the lawful sheets.To ' t , luxury, 2 0 pell-mell! for I lack soldiers.Behold yond simp'ring dame,Whose face between her forks 2 1 presages snow,That minces virtue, and does shake the head[295]To hear of pleasure's name,—The fitchew, 2 2 nor the soiled 2 3 horse, goes to ' tWith a more riotous appetite.Down from the waist they are Centaurs,Though women all above;But to the girdle do the gods inherit,Beneath is all the fiends';There's hell, there's darkness, there's the sulphurous pit,Burning, scalding, stench, consumption; fie, fie, fie! pah, pah!Give me an ounce of civet; good apothecary, sweeten my imagination.There's money for thee.Glou. O, let me kiss that hand!Lear. Let me wipe it first; it smells of mortality.Glou. O ruin'd piece of nature! This great worldShall so wear out to nought. Dost thou know me?Lear. I remember thine eyes well enough. Dost thou squiny 2 4 atme? No , do thy worst, blind Cupid; I'll not love. Read thou thischallenge; mark but the penning of it.Glou. Were all thy letters suns, I could not see.Edg. [Aside.] I would not take this from report. It is; and myheart breaks at it.Lear. Read.Glou. What, with the case 2 5 of eyes ?Lear. O, ho, are you there with me? No eyes in your head, norno money in your purse? Your eyes are in a heavy case, your pursein a light; yet you see how this world goes.Glou. I see it feelingly.Lear. What, art mad ? A man may see how this world goes withno eyes. Look with thine ears; see how yond justice rails upon yondsimple thief. Hark, in thine ear: change places, and, handy-dandy,which is the justice, which is the thief? Thou has seen a farmer'sdog bark at a beggar?Glou. Ay, sir.Lear. And the creature run from the cur? There thou mightstbehold the great image of authority: a dog's obey'd in office.Thou rascal beadle, hold thy bloody hand![296]Why dost thou lash that whore? Strip thy own back;Thou hotly lusts to use her in that kindFor which thou whip'st her. The usurer hangs the cozener. 5Through tatter'd clothes great vices do appear;Robes and furr'd gowns hide all. Plate sins with gold,And the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks;Arm it in rags, a pigmy's straw does pierce it.None does offend, none, I say, none; I'll able 2 7 'em.Take that of me, my friend, who have the powerTo seal the accuser's lips. Get thee glass eyes,And, like a scurvy politician, seemTo see the things thou dost not. Now, now, now, now.Pull off my boots; harder, harder: so.Edg. O, matter and impertinency 2 8 mix'dlReason in madness!Lear. If thou wilt weep my fortunes, take my eyes.I know thee well enough; thy name is Gloucester.Thou must be patient; we came crying hither.Thou know'st, the first time that we smell the air,We wawl and cry. I will preach to thee; mark.Glou. Alack, alack the day!Lear. When we are born, we cry that we are comeTo this great stage of fools.—This a good block. 2 9It were a delicate stratagem, to shoeA troop of horse with felt. I'll put't in proof; 3 0And when I have stol'n upon these son-in-laws,Then, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill!
p. 296¶Enter a Gentleman [with Attendants]Gent. O , here he is! Lay hand upon him. Sir,Your most dear daughter—Lear. No rescue ? What, a prisoner ? I am evenThe natural fool of fortune. Use me well;You shall have ransom. Let me have surgeons;I am cut to the brains.[297]Gent. You shall have anything.Lear. No seconds? All myself?Why, this would make a man a man of salt, 3 1To use his eyes for garden water-pots,[Ay, and laying autumn's dust.Gent. Good sir,—]Lear. I will die bravely, like a smug 3 2 bridegroom. What! I willbe jovial. Come, come; I am a king,My masters, know you that?Gent. You are a royal one, and we obey you.Lear. Then there's life in't. Come, an you get it, you shall get itby running. Sa, sa, sa, sa. Exit {running; Attendants follow].Gent. A sight most pitiful in the meanest wretch,Past speaking of in a king! Thou hast one daughterWho redeems Nature from the general curseWhich twain have brought her to.Edg. Hail, gentle sir.Gent. Sir, speed you: what's your will?Edg. Do you hear aught, sir, of a battle toward ?Gent. Most sure and vulgar; 3 3 every one hears that,Which can distinguish sound.Edg. But, by your favour,How near's the other army ?Gent. Near and on speedy foot; the main descry 3 4Stands on the hourly thought.Edg. I thank you, sir; that's all.Gent. Though that the Queen on special cause is here,Her army is mov'd on. Exit.Edg. I thank you, sir.Glou. You ever-gentle gods, take my breath from me;Let not my worser spirit tempt me againTo die before you please!Edg. Well pray you, father.Glou. Now , good sir, what are you?Edg. A most poor man, made tame to fortune's blows;[298]Who, by the art of known and feeling sorrows,Am pregnant 3 5 to good pity. Give me your hand,I'll lead you to some biding.Glou. Hearty thanks;The bounty and the benison of HeavenTo boot, and boot!
p. 298¶Enter Steward [OSWALD]Osw. A proclaim'd prize! Most happy!That eyeless head of thine was first fram'd fleshTo raise my fortunes. Thou old unhappy traitor,Briefly thyself remember; the sword is outThat must destroy thee.Glou. Now let thy friendly handPut strength enough to't. [EDGAR interposes.]Osw. Wherefore, bold peasant,Dar'st thou support a publish'd 3 6 traitor? Hence;Lest that the infection of his fortune takeLike hold on thee. Let go his arm.Edg. 'Chill 3 7 not let go, zir, without vurther 'casion.Osw. Let go, slave, or thou diest!Edg. Good gentleman, go your gait, and let poor volk pass. An'chud 3 8 ha' bin zwagger'd out of my life, 't would not ha' bin zo longas 'tis by a vortnight. Nay, come not near th' old man; keep out,'che vor ye, 3 9 or Ise try whether your costard 4 0 or my ballow 4 1 be theharder. 'Chill be plain with you.Osw. Out, dunghill!Edg. 'Chill pick your teeth, zir. Come, no matter vor your foins. 4 2[They fight, and EDGAR knocks him down.]Osw. 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 meTo Edmund, Earl of Gloucester; seek him outUpon 4 3 the English party. O, untimely death!Death! Dies.[299]Edg. I know thee well; a serviceable villain,As duteous to the vices of thy mistressAs badness would desire.Glou. What, is he dead?Edg. Sit you down, father; rest you.Let's see these pockets; the letters that he speaks o£May be my friends. He's dead; I am only sorryHe had no other death's-man. Let us see.Leave, gentle wax; and, manners, blame us not.To know our enemies' minds, we rip their hearts;Their papers, is more lawful.(Reads the letter.) "Let our reciprocal vows be rememb'red. Youhave many opportunities to cut him off; if your will want not, timeand place will be fruitfully offer'd. There is nothing done, if hereturn the conqueror; then am I the prisoner, and his bed my gaol;from the loathed warmth whereof deliver me, and supply the placefor your labour."Your—wife, so I would say—"Affectionate servant,
"goneril."
¶O indistinguish'd space 4 4 of woman's will! 4 5A plot upon her virtuous husband's life;And the exchange my brother! Here, in the sands,Thee I'll rake up, the post unsanctifiedOf murderous lechers; and in the mature timeWith this ungracious paper strike the sightOf the death-practis'd 4 6 duke. For him 'tis wellThat of thy death and business I can tell.Glou. The King is mad; how stiff is my vile senseThat I stand up and have ingenious 4 7 feelingOf my huge sorrows! Better I were distract;So should my thoughts be sever'd from my griefs,Drum afar off.And woes by wrong imaginations loseThe knowledge of themselves.[300]Edg. Give me your hand.Far off, methinks, I hear the beaten drum.Come, father, I'll bestow 4 8 you with a friend. Exeunt.
¶Enter CORDELIA, KENT , and Doctor
¶Cor. O thou good Kent, how shall I live and workTo match thy goodness? My life will be too 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, 1 but so.Cor. Be better suited;These weeds are memories of those worser hours.I prithee, put them off.Kent. Pardon, dear madam;Yet to be known shortens my made intent. 2My boon I make it, that you know me notTill time and I think meet.Cor. Then be ' t so, my good lord. [To the Doctor.]How does the King?Doct. Madam, sleeps still.Cor. O you kind gods,Cure this great breach in his abused nature!The untun'd and jarring senses, O, wind upOf this child-changed 3 father!Doct. So please your MajestyThat we may wake the King? He hath slept long.Cor. Be govern'd by your knowledge, and proceedI' the sway of your own will.
¶Enter LEAR in a chair carried by Servants. [Gentleman in attendance]Is he array'd ?Gent. Ay , madam; in the heaviness of sleepWe put fresh garments on him.[301]Doct. Be by, good madam, when we do awake him;I doubt not of his temperance/[Cor. Very well.Doct. Please you, draw near.—Louder the music there!]Cor. O my dear father! Restoration hangThy medicine on my lips; and let this kissRepair those violent harms that my two sistersHave in thy reverence made!Kent. Kind and dear princess!Cor. Had you not been their father, these white flakesDid challenge pity of them. Was this a faceTo be oppos'd against the warring winds?[To stand against the deep dread-bolted thunder?In the most terrible and nimble strokeOf quick, cross lightning? to watch—poor perdu! 5—With this thin helm?] Mine enemy's dog,Though he had bit me, should have stood that nightAgainst my fire; and wast thou fain, poor father,To hovel thee with swine and rogues forlornIn short and musty straw? Alack, alack!'Tis wonder that thy life and wits at onceHad not concluded all. He wakes; speak to him.Doct. Madam, do you; 'tis fittest.Cor. How does my royal lord? How fares your Majesty?Lear. You dome wrong to take me out o' the grave.Thou art a soul in bliss; but I am boundUpon a wheel of fire, that mine own tearsDo scald like molten lead.Cor. Sir, do you know me ?Lear. You are a spirit, I know; when did you die?Cor. Still, still, far wide! 6Doct. He's scarce awake; let him alone a while.Lear. Where have I been? Where am I? Fair daylight?I am mightily abus'd. I should even die with pity,To see another thus. I know not what to say.I will not swear these are my hands. Let's see;
p. 301¶' Sanity. 5 A soldier put on dangerous sentry duty. 6 Delirious.[302]I feel this pin prick. Would I were assur'dOf my condition!Cor. O, look upon me, sir,And hold your hand in benediction o'er me.[No, sir,] you must not kneel.Lear. Pray, do not mock me.I am a very foolish fond 7 old man,Fourscore and upward, not an hour more nor less;And, to deal plainly,I fear I am not in my perfect mind.Methinks I should know you, and know this man;Yet I am doubtful; for I am mainly 8 ignorantWhat place this is, and all the skill I haveRemembers not these garments; nor I know notWhere I did lodge last night. Do not laugh at me;For, asIa m a man, I think this ladyTo 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 sistersHave, 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.Doct. Be comforted, good madam; the great rage, 9You see, is kill'd in him: [and yet it is dangerTo make him even o'er the time he has lost.]Desire him to go in; trouble him no moreTill 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].[303][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 banish'd son, is with the Earl of Kentin Germany.Kent. Report is changeable. 'Tis time to look about; the powers ofthe kingdom approach apace.Gent. The arbitrement 1 0 is like to be bloody.Fare you well, sir.Kent. My point and period will be throughly wrought,Or well or ill, as this day's battle's fought.] Exit.
Act V
¶SCENE I. [The British camp, near Dover]
¶Enter, with drum and colours, EDMUND, REGAN, Gentlemen,and SoldiersEdm. Know of the Duke if his last purpose hold,Or whether since he is advis'd 1 by aughtTo change the course. He's full of alterationAnd self-reproving; bring his constant pleasure. 2[To a Gentleman, 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?Edm. In honour'd love.Reg. But have you never found my brother's wayTo the forfended 3 place?[Edm. That thought abuses you.Reg. I am doubtful that you have been conjunctAnd bosom'd with her,—as far as we call hers.] 4[304]Edm. No , by mine honour, madam.Reg. I never shall endure her. Dear my lord,Be not familiar with her.Edm. Fear me not.She and the Duke her husband!
p. 304¶Enter, with drum and colours, ALBANY, GONERIL, and Soldiers[Gon. [Aside.] I had rather lose the battle than that sisterShould loosen him and me.]Alb. Our very loving sister, well be-met.Sir, this I heard: the King is come to his daughter,With others whom the rigour of our state 5Forc'd 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 6 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? 7Gon. Combine together 'gainst the enemy;For these domestic and particular broilsAre not the question here.Alb. Let's then determine.With the ancient 8 of war on our proceeding.[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.Exeunt both the armies.
¶[As they are going out,] enter EDGAR [disguised. ALBANY remains]Edg. If e'er your Grace had speech with man so poor,Hear me one word.Alb. I'll overtake you.—Speak.Edg. Before you fight the battle, ope this letter.[305]If you have victory, let the trumpet soundFor him that brought it. Wretched though I seem,I can produce a champion that will proveWhat is avouched 9 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 1 0 thy paper.
p. 305¶Re-enter EDMUNDEdm. The enemy's in view; draw up your powers.Here is the guess of their true strength and forcesBy diligent discovery; 1 1 but your hasteIs now urg'd on you.Alb. We will greet the time. 1 2Edm. To both these sisters have I sworn my love;Each jealous 1 3 of the other, as the stungAre 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 widowExasperates, makes mad her sister Goneril;And hardly shall I carry out my side,Her husband being alive. Now then we'll useHis countenance for the battle; which being done,Let her who would be rid of him deviseHis speedy taking off. 14 As for the mercyWhich he intends to Lear and to Cordelia,The battle done, and they within our power,Shall never see his pardon; for my stateStands on me to defend, not to debate. 1 5
¶'Asserted. 1 0 Read. 1 1 Scouting.
p. 306¶SCENE II. [A field between the two camps]
¶Alarum within. Enter with drum and colours, LEAR, CORDELIA, and
¶Soldiers, over the stage; and exeunt
¶Enter EDGAR and GLOUCESTER
¶Edg. Here, father, take the shadow of this treeFor your good host; pray that the right may thrive.If ever I return to you again,I'll bring you comfort.Glou. Grace go with you, sir! Exit [EDGAR],
¶Alarum and retreat within. Re-enter EDGAREdg. Away, old man; give me thy hand; away!King Lear hath lost, he and his daughter ta'en.Give me thy hand; come on.Glou. No further, sir; a man may rot even here.Edg. What, in ill thoughts again? Men must endureTheir going hence, even as their coming hither;Ripeness is all. Come on.Glou. And that's true too. Exeunt.
¶SCENE III. [The British camp near Dover]
¶Enter, in conquest, with drum and colours, EDMUND; LEAR and CORDELIA as prisoners: Captain, Soldiers, etc.Edm. Some officers take them away. Good guard,Until their greater pleasures first be knownThat are to censure1 them.Cor. We are not the firstWho, with best meaning, have incurr'd the worst.For thee, oppressed king, I am cast down;Myself could else out-frown false Fortune's frown.Shall we not see these daughters and these sisters?Lear. No , no, no, no! Come, let's away to prison;We two alone will sing like birds i' the cage.[307]When thou dost ask me blessing, I'll kneel downAnd ask of thee forgiveness. So we'll live,And pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and laughAt gilded butterflies, and hear poor roguesTalk of court news; and we'll talk with them too,Who loses and who wins; who's in, who's out;And take upon's the mystery of thingsAs if we were God's spies; and we'll wear out,In a wall'd prison, packs and sects 2 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. 3 Wipe thine eyes;The good-years 4 shall devour them, flesh and fell,Ere they shall make us weep. We'll see 'em starv'd 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 advanc'd thee; if thou dostAs this instructs thee, thou dost make thy wayTo noble fortunes. Know thou this, that menAre as the time is; to be tender-mindedDoes not become a sword. Thy great employmentWill not bear question; 5 either say thou'lt do't,Or thrive by other means.Capt. I'll do't, my lord.Edm. About it; and write happy 6 when thou hast done.Mark, I say, instantly; and carry it soAs I have set it down.[Capt. I cannot draw a cart, nor eat dried oats;If it be man's work, I'll do't.] Exit.[308]Flourish. Enter ALBANY , GONERIL, REGAN, [another Captain] andSoldiersAlb. Sir, you have show'd to-day your valiant strain, 7And fortune led you well. You have the captivesWho were the opposites 8 of this day's strife;I do require them of you, so to use themAs we shall find their merits and our safetyMay equally determine.Edm. Sir, I thought it fitTo send the old and miserable kingTo some retention 9 [and appointed guard];Whose age had charms in it, whose title more,To pluck the common bosom on his side,And turn our impress'd lances in our eyesWhich do command them. With him I sent the Queen,My reason all the same; and they are readyTo-morrow, or at further space, to appearWhere you shall hold your session. [At this timeWe sweat and bleed: the friend hath lost his friend;And the best quarrels, in the heat, are curs'dBy those that feel their sharpness:The question of Cordelia and her fatherRequires a fitter place.]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 1 0 may well stand up,And call itself your brother.Gon. Not so hot.In his own grace he doth exalt himself,More than in your addition. 1 1[309]Reg. In my rights,By me invested, he compeers 1 2 the best.Gon. That were the most, if he should husband you.Reg. Jesters do oft prove prophets.Gon. Holla, holla!That eye that told you so look'd but a-squint.Reg. Lady, I am not well; else I should answerFrom a full-flowing stomach. 1 3 General,Take thou my soldiers, prisoners, patrimony;Dispose of them, of me; the walls are thine.Witness the world, that I create thee hereMy 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. [To EDMUND.] Let the drum strike, and prove my title thine.Alb. Stay yet; hear reason. Edmund, I arrest theeOn capital treason; and, in thy arrest,This gilded serpent. [Pointing to G ON . ] For your claim, fairsister,I bar it in the interest of my wife.'Tis she is sub-contracted to this lord,And I, her husband, contradict your bans.If you will marry, make your loves to me,My lady is bespoke.Gon. An interlude 1 5!Alb. Thou art armed, Gloucester; let the trumpet sound.If none appear to prove upon thy personThy heinous, manifest, and many treasons,There is my pledge [throwing down a glove]. I'll prove it on thyheart,Ere I taste bread, thou art in nothing lessThan I have here proclaim'd thee.Reg. Sick, O sick!Gon. [Aside.] If not, I'll ne'er trust medicine.[310]Edm. There's my exchange [throwing down a glove].What in the world he isThat names me traitor, villain-like he lies.Call by the trumpet;—he that dares approach,On him, on you, who not ? I will maintainMy truth and honour firmly.Alb. A herald, ho![Edm. A herald, ho, a herald!]Alb. Trust to thy single virtue; 1 6 for thy soldiers,All levied in my name, have in my nameTook their discharge.Reg. My sickness grows upon me.Alb. She is not well; convey her to my tent. [Exit REGAN, led.]
¶Come hither, herald,—Let the trumpet sound—And read out this.[Capt. Sound, trumpet!] A trumpet sounds.Her. (Reads.) "If any man of quality or decree within the listsof the army will maintain upon Edmund, supposed Earl of Gloucester, that he is a manifold traitor, let him appear by the thirdsound of the trumpet. He is bold in his defence."[Edm. Sound!] First trumpet.Her. Again! Second trumpet.Her. Again! Third trumpet.Trumpet answers within.
¶Enter EDGAR, at the third sound, armed, with a trumpet" before him.
¶Alb. Ask him his purposes, why he appearsUpon this call o' the trumpet.Her. What are you?Your name, your quality ? and why you answerThis present summons ?Edg. Know, my name is lost,By treason's tooth bare-gnawn and canker-bit; 1 8[311]Yet am I noble as the adversaryI come to cope. 1 9Alb. Which is that adversary?Edg. What's he that speaks for Edmund Earl of Gloucester?Edm. Himself; what say'st thou to him?Edg. Draw thy sword,That, if my speech offend a noble heart,Thy arm may do thee justice; here is mine.Behold, it is the privilege of mine honours,My oath, and my profession. I protest,Maugre 2 0 thy strength, place, youth, and eminence,Despite thy victor-sword and fire-hewn 2 1 fortune,Thy valour, and thy heart, 2 2 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 headTo the descent 2 3 and dust below thy foot,A most toad-spotted traitor. Say thou "No,"This sword, this arm, and my best spirits are bentTo 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 warlike,And that thy tongue some 'say 2 4 of breeding breathes,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,This sword of mine shall give them instant way,Where they shall rest for ever. Trumpets, speak!Alarums. They fight. [EDMUND falls.]Alb. Save him, save him!Gon. This is [mere] practice, 2 5 Gloucester.By the law of war thou wast not bound to answer[312]An unknown opposite. 2 6 Thou art not vanquish'd,But cozen'd 2 7 and beguil'd.Alb. Shut your mouth, dame,Or with this paper shall I stop it. Hold, sir.—Thou worse than any name, read thine own evil.No tearing, lady; I perceive you know it.Gon. Say, if I do, the laws are mine, not thine.Who can arraign me for't? [Exit.]Alb. Most monstrous! oh!—Know'st thou this paper ?Edm. Ask me not what I know.Alb. Go after her; she's desperate; govern her.Edm. What you have charg'd me with, that have I done;And more, much more; the time will bring it out.'Tis past, and so am I. But what art thouThat hast this fortune on me? If thou 'rt noble,I do forgive thee.Edg. Let's exchange charity.I am no less in blood than thou art, Edmund;If more, the more thou 'st wrong'd me.My name is Edgar, and thy father's son.The gods are just, and of our pleasant vicesMake instruments to plague us.The dark and vicious place where thee he gotCost him his eyes.Edm. Thou 'st spoken right, 'tis true.The wheel is come full circle; I am here.Alb. Methought thy very gait did prophesyA royal nobleness. I must embrace thee.Let sorrow split my heart, if ever IDid hate thee or thy father!Edg. Worthy prince, I know ' t .Alb. Where have you hid yourself?How have you known the miseries of your father ?Edg. By nursing them, my lord. List a brief tale;And when 'tis told, oh, that my heart would burst![313]The bloody proclamation to escape,That follow'd me so near,—oh, our lives' sweetness!That we the pain of death would hourly dieRather than die at once!—taught me to shiftInto a madman's rags, to assume a semblanceThat very dogs disdain'd; and in this habitMet I my father with his bleeding rings,Their precious stones new lost; became his guide,Led him, begg'd for him, sav'd him from despair;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 lastTold him our pilgrimage; but his flaw'd 2 8-heart,Alack, too weak the conflict to support!'Twixt two extremes of passion, joy and grief,Burst smilingly.Edm. This speech of yours 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, 2 9Hearing of this.[Edg. This would have seem'd a periodTo such as love not sorrow; but another,To amplify too much, would make much more,And top extremity. 3 0Whilst I was big 3 1 in clamour came there in a man,Who, having seen me in my worst estate,Shunn'd my abhorr'd society; but then, findingWho 'twas that so endur'd, with his strong armsHe fastened on my neck, and bellowed outAs he'd burst heaven; threw him on my father;Told the most piteous tale of Lear and himThat ever ear received; which in recounting,His grief grew puissant, and the strings of life[314]Began to crack. Twice then the trumpets sounded,And there I left him tranc'd.Alb. But who was this?Edg. Kent, sir, the banish'd Kent; who in disguiseFollow'd his enemy king, and did him serviceImproper for a slave.]
p. 314¶Enter a Gentleman with a bloody kjiifeGent. Help, help, O , help?Edg. What kind of help ?Alb. Speak, man.Edg. What means this bloody knife?Gent. 'Tis hot, it smokes;It came even from the heart of—O, she's dead!Alb. Who dead? Speak, man.Gent. Your lady, sir, your lady; and her sisterBy her is poison'd; she confesses it.Edm. I was contracted to them both. All threeNow marry in an instant.Edg. Here comes Kent.
¶Enter KENTAlb. Produce the bodies, be they alive or dead.This judgement of the heavens, that makes us tremble,Touches us not with pity. [Exit Gentleman.]— O , is this he?The time will not allow the complimentWhich very manners urges.Kent. I am comeTo bid my king and master aye good-night.Is he not here?Alb. Great thing of us forgot!Speak, Edmund, where's the King? and where's Cordelia?The bodies of GONERIL and REGAN are brought in.See'st thou this object,1 2 Kent?Kent. Alack, why thus?[315]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 writIs 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? SendThy token of reprieve.Edm. Well thought on. Take my sword,Give it the captain.Edg. Haste thee, for thy life. [Exit Gentleman.]Edm. He hath commission from thy wife and meTo hang Cordelia in the prison, andTo lay the blame upon her own despair,That she fordid1 3 herself.Alb. The gods defend her! Bear him hence a while.[EDMUND is borne off.]
p. 315¶Re-enter LEAR, with CORDELIA in his arms; [Gentleman following]Lear. Howl, howl, howl! O, you are men of stones!Had I your tongues and eyes, I'd use them soThat heaven's vault should crack. She's 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 ?2 4Alb. Fall, and cease!Lear. This feather stirs; she lives! If it be so,It is a chance which does redeem all sorrows[316]That ever I have felt.Kent. [Kneeling.] O my good master!Lear. Prithee, away.Edg. 'Tis noble Kent, your friend.Lear. A plague upon you, murderers, traitors all!I might have sav'd her; now she's gone for ever!Cordelia, Cordelia! stay a little. Ha!What is't thou say'st? Her voice was ever soft,Gentle, and low; an excellent thing in woman.I kill'd the slave that was a-hanging thee.Gent. 'Tis true, my lords, he did.Lear. Did I not, fellow?I have seen the day, with my good biting falchionI would have made him skip. I am old now,And these same crosses spoil me. Who are you ?Mine eyes are not o' the best. I'll tell you straight.Kent. If Fortune brag of two she lov'd and hated,One of them we behold.Lear. This is a dull sight. Are you not Kent?Kent. The same,Your servant Kent. Where is your servant Caius?Lear. He's a good fellow, I can tell you that;He'll strike, and quickly too. He's dead and rotten.Kent. No , my good lord; I am the very man,—Lear. I'll see that straight.Kent. That, from your first of difference and decay,Have follow'd your sad steps.Lear. You are welcome hither.Kent. Nor no man else; all's cheerless, dark, and deadly.Your eldest daughters have fordone themselves,And desperately are dead.Lear. Ay, so I think.Alb. He knows not what he says; and vain is itThat we present us to him.Enter a MessengerEdg. Very bootless.Mess. Edmund is dead, my lord.[317]Alb. That's but a trifle here.You lords and noble friends, know our intent.What comfort to this great decay 3 5 may comeShall be appli'd. For us, we will resign,During the life of this old majesty,To him our absolute power; [to EDGAR and KENT ] you, to your rights,With boot, 3 6 and such addition as your honoursHave more than merited. All friends shall tasteThe wages of their virtue, and all foesThe cup of their deservings. O , see, see!Lear. And my poor fool is hang'd! No , no, no life!Why should a dog, a horse, a rat, have life,And thou no breath at all ? Thou'lt come no more,Never, never, never, never, never!Pray you, undo this button. Thank you, sir.Do you see this? Look on her, look, her lips,Look there, look there! Dies.Edg. He faints! My lord, my lord!Kent. Break, heart; I prithee, break!Edg. Look up, my lord.Kent. Vex not his ghost; O, let him pass! He hates himThat would upon the rack of this tough worldStretch him out longer.Edg. He is gone, indeed.Kent. The wonder is he hath endur'd so long;He but usurp'd his life.Alb. Bear them from hence. Our present businessIs general woe. [To KENT and EDGAR.] Friends of my soul, you twainRule in this realm, and the gor'd 3 7 state sustain.Kent. I have a journey, sir, shortly to go.My master calls me; I must not say no.Edg. The weight of this sad time we must obey;Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say.The oldest hath borne most; we that are youngShall never see so much, nor live so long.Exeunt, with a dead march.