Lear. O, ho! are you there with me? No eyes in your head, nor no money in your purse? Your eyes are in a heavy case, your purse in a light: yet you see how this world goes.

Glo. I see it feelingly. Lear. What, art mad? A man may see how this world goes, with no eyes. Look with thine ears see how yond' justice rails upon yond' simple thief. Hark, in thine ear: change places; and handy-dandy, which is the justice, which is the thief?-Thou hast seen a farmer's dog bark at a beggar?

Through tatter'd clothes small vices do appear; Robes, and furr'd gowns, hide all. Plate sin with gold,

And the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks:
Arm it in rags, a pigmy's straw doth pierce it.
None does offend, none, I say, none; I'll able 'em :
Take that of me, my friend, who have the power
To seal th' accuser's lips. Get thee glass eyes;
And, like a scurvy politician, seem
To see the things thou dost not.-Now, now, now,

now:

Pull off my boots: harder, harder; so.

Edg. O, matter and impertinency mix'd! Reason in madness!

Lear. If thou wilt weep my fortunes, take my

eyes.

I know thee well enough; thy name is Gloster: 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 me. Glo. Alack! alack the day!

Lear. When we are born, we cry that we are come

To this great stage of fools.—This a good block?— It were a delicate stratagem, to shoe

A troop of horse with felt: I'll put it in proof; And when I have stolen upon these sons-in-law, Then, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill.

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

Good sir,

Lear. I will die bravely, Like a smug bridegroom. What! I will be 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 it. Nay, an you get it, you shall get it by running. Sa, sa, sa, sa. [Exit: Attendants follow. Gent. A sight most pitiful in the meanest wretch, Past speaking of in a king! - Thou hast one daughter,

Who redeems nature from the general curse
Which 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: 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
Stands 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.

Edg.
I thank you, sir. [Exit Gent.
Glo. You ever-gentle gods, take my breath from

Now let thy friendly hand [EDGAR interposes.

Osw. Let go, slave, or thou diest. Edg. Good gentleman, go your gait, and let poor volk pass. And ch'ud ha' been zwagger'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 ballow be the harder. Ch'ill be plain with you. Come; no

Osw. Out, dunghill!

Edg. Ch'ill pick your teeth, zir. matter vor your foins.

[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's 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 villain ;
As duteous to the vices of thy mistress,
As badness would desire.

Edg. Sit you down, father; rest you.Let's see his pockets: these letters, that he speaks of, May be my friends.-He's dead; I am only sorry He 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.] "Let our reciprocal vows be remembered. 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 gaol, from the loathed warmth whereof deliver me, and supply the place for your labour. "Your (wife, so I would say) "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.

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. [Drum afar off.
Edg.
Give me your hand :

Far off, methinks, I hear the beaten drum.
Come, father; I'll bestow you with a friend.

[Exeunt.

To 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, 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 meet.

Cor. Then be 't so, my good lord.-How does the king? [To the Physician.

Doct. Madam, sleeps still.

Cor. O, you kind gods,

Cure this great breach in his abused nature!

Th' untun'd and jarring senses, O, wind up
Of this child-changed father!
Doct.

So please your majesty, That we may wake the king? he hath slept long. Cor. Be govern'd by your knowledge, and proceed

I' the sway of your own will. Is he array'd? Doct. Ay, madam; in the heaviness of his sleep, We put fresh garments on him.

Kent. Good madam, be by when we do awake him; I doubt not of his temperance. Cor.

Very well. [Music. Doct. Please you, draw near.-Louder the music

there.

Cor. O my dear father! Restoration, hang Thy medicine on my lips; and let this kiss

Cor. Had you not been their father, these white flakes

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.
Doct. 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

grave.

Thou art a soul in bliss, but I am bound

Upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears Do scald like molten lead.

I am a very foolish fond 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 ignorant
What place this is; and all the skill I have
Remembers not these garments; nor I know not
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, 1 am.

You see, is cur'd in him; and yet it is danger
To make him even o'er the time he has lost.
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 LEAR, CORDELIA, Doctor, and Attendants. 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 Gloster. Gent. They say, Edgar, his banished son, is with the earl of Kent in Germany.

Kent. Report is changeable. 'Tis time to look about; the powers o' the kingdom approach apace. Gent. The arbitrement is like to be bloody. Fare you well, sir. [Exit.

Kent. My point and period will be throughly wrought,

Or well or ill, as this day's battle's fought. [Exit.

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

Edm. Know of the duke, if his last purpose hold; Or whether since he is advis'd 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 honour'd love.

Edm. 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.

Fear me not.

Edm. She, and the duke her husband,

Enter ALBANY, GONERIL, and Soldiers. Gon. I had rather lose the battle, than that sister Should loosen him and me.

[Aside.

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 Forc'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 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.

Let us, then, determine

Alb. 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. O, ho! I know the riddle. [Aside.] I will go.

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 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, And I'll appear again.

[Exit.

Alb. Why, fare thee well: I will o'erlook thy

paper.

SCENE II-A Field between the two Camps Alarum within. Enter, with drum and colours, LEAR, CORDELIA, and their forces: and exeunt. Enter EDGAR and GLOSTER.

For your good host; pray that the right may thrive.
Edg. Here, father, take the shadow of this tree
If ever I return to you again,
I'll bring you comfort.
Glo.

Grace go with you, sir!
[Exit EDGAR.
Alarum; afterwards a retreat. Re-enter EDGAR.
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.
And that's true too.

[Exeunt.