Well pray you, father. Glo. Now, good sir, what are you? Edg. A most poor man, made tame to fortune's blows; Who, by the art of known and feeling sorrows, Glo. Hearty thanks: The bounty and the benizon of heaven To boot, and boot! Put strength enough to it. [EDGAR opposes. Stew. Wherefore, bold peasant, Dar'st thou support a publish'd traitor? Hence; Lest that infection of his fortune take Like hold on thee. Let go his arm. Edg. Ch'ill not let go, zir, without vurther 'casion. Stew. Let go, slave, or thou diest. Edg. Good gentleman, go your gait, and let poor volk pass. And chud ha' been zwagger'd out of my life, 't would not ha' been zo long as 't is by a vortnight. Nay, come not near th' 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. Stew. Out, dunghill! What, is he dead? Edg. Sit you down, father; rest you.- Let's see these pockets: the letters that he speaks of, [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, O undistinguish'd space of woman's will!— Ballow. Grose, in his Provincial Glossary,' gives ballow as a north-country word for pole. Edgar is speaking the Somersetshire dialect. [Exit 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. Edg. Re-enter EDGAR. Give me your hand: Far off, methinks, I hear the beaten drum. Come, father, I'll bestow you with a friend. [Ezcunt, SCENE VII.-A Tent in the French Camp. LEAR on a Bed, asleep; Physician, Gentlemen, and others attending. Enter CORDELIA and KENT. Cor. O thou good Kent, how shall I live and work, To match thy goodness? My life will be too short, And every measure fail me. Kent. To be acknowledg'd, madam, is o'erpaid. Cor. Be better suited a 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: My boon I make it that you know me not, Till time and I think meet. Cor. Then be it so, my good lord. Phys. Madam, sleeps still. How does the [To the Physician. Cure this great breach in his abused nature! Phys. Gent. Ay, madam; in the heaviness of 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. Cor. O my dear father! Restoration hang Thy medicine on my lips; and let this kiss Repair those violent harms, that my two sisters Have in thy reverence made! Kent. Kind and dear princess! Cor. Had you not been their father, these white like Had challeng'd pity of them. Was this a face To be oppos'd against the jarring 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, a Suited-clothed. And hold your hand in benediction o'er me :No, sir, you must not kneel. Lear. Pray, do not mock me: I fear I am not in my perfect mind. Aud so I am, I am. Gent. Who is conductor of his people? Kent. The bastard son of Gloster. Gent. Most certain, sir. As 't is said, They say, Edgar, His banish'd son, is with the Earl of Kent In Germany. ACT V. Edm. Fear me not: SCENE I.-The Camp of the British Forces, near Dover. 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. "T is 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? Reg. But have you never found my brother's way To the forefended place? Edm. Reg. I never shall endure her: Dear my lord, "That most Shaksperian touch of nature "Fourscore and upward; not an hour more nor less "— has been mutilated by the modern editors. Malone says, "The folio absurdly adds, 'not an hour more nor less,' i.e., not an hour more nor less than an indeterminate number, for such is fourscore and upwards." Why, who is speaking? One who speaks logically and collectedly? No! one who immediately after says, "I fear I am not in my perfect mind." It was the halfconsciousness of the foolish, fond old man" which Shakspere meant to express by the mixture of a determinate and an indeterminate idea. Why is this reason'd? Gon. Combine together 'gainst the enemy: For these domestic and particular broils Are not the question here. Alb. Let's then determine with the ancient of war On our proceeding. Edm. I shall attend you presently at your tent. Reg. "T is most convenient; pray you go with us. 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 We will greet the time. [Exit. Alb. Are of the adder. Which of them shall I take? Her husband being alive. Now then, we 'll use [Exit. 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. Edg. Here, father, take the shadow of this tree For your good host; pray that the right may thrive: If ever I return to you again, I'll bring you comfort. Glo. Grace go with you, sir! [Exit EDG. Alarums; 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. SCENE III.--The British Camp near Dover. Enter, in conquest, with drum and colours, EDMUND; LEAR and CORDELIA, as prisoners; 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. 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: When thou dost ask me blessing, I'll kneel down, And ask of thee forgiveness: So we 'll live, And pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and laugh At gilded butterflies, and hear poor rogues 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 dost Does not become a sword :-Thy great employment I'll do 't, my lord. Edm. About it; and write happy, when thou hast done. Mark, I say, instantly; and carry it so As I have set it down. Off. I cannot draw a cart, nor eat dried oats; If it be man's work I will do it. [Exit Officer. Flourish. Enter ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, Officers, and Attendants. Alb. Sir, you have shown to-day your valiant strain, And fortune led you well: You have the captives Who were the opposites of this day's strife: I do require them of you, so to use them, Edm. Sir, I thought it fit To send the old and miserable king To some retention and appointed guard; Whose age has charms in it, whose title more, To pluck the common bosom on his side, And turn our impress'd lances in our eyes Which do command 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. At this time 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:— The question of Cordelia and her father Requires a fitter place. Alb. Gon. Reg. In my rights, By me invested, he compeers the best. a Fell-skin. That eye that told you so look'd but a-squint. Reg. Lady, I am not well; else I should answer Gon. Edm. Nor in thine, lord. I bar it in the interest of my wife; T is she is sub-contracted to this lord, Gon. An interlude! That, if my speech offend a noble heart, The privilege of mine honours, My oath, and my profession; I protest,- Edm. In wisdom, I should ask thy name; Gon. Alb. [Gives the letter to EDMUND Gon. Say, if I do the laws are mine, not thine : Who can arraign me for 't? [Exit GONERIL Alb. Know'st thou this paper? Edm. Most monstrous! Ask me not what I know. Alb. Go after her: she's desperate; govern her. [To an Officer, who goes out. Edm. What you have charg'd me with, that have I done And more, much more: the time will bring it out; T is past, and so am I: But what art thou That hast this fortune on me? If thou art noble I do forgive thee. Edg. Let's exchange charity. I am no less in blood than thou art, Edmund : The dark and vicious place where thee he got Eim. Thou hast spoken right, 't is 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 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 't is told, O, that my heart would burst ! The bloody proclamation to escape Say-assay. War-the quartos, as. That follow'd me so near, (O our lives' sweetness!-- Edm. Alb. If there be more, more woful, hold it in; Hearing of this. Edg. This would have seem'd a period Whilst I was big in clamour, came there in a man, Shunn'd my abhorr'd society; but then, finding But who was this? Alb. Enter a Gentleman hastily, with a bloody knife. Edg. What kind of help? Alb. Speak, man. : Edm. I was contracted to them both; all three Now marry in an instant. Edg. Here comes Kent. Alb. Produce the bodies, be they alive or dead!- Enter KENT. O, is this he?a The time will not allow the compliment, Which very manners urges. Kent. I am come To bid my king and master aye good night; Is he not here? Edg. What is 't thou say'st?-Her voice was ever soft, Lear. This is a dull sight. Are you not Kent? Kent. That, from your first of difference and decay, Lear. Your eldest daughters have fore-done themselves, Speak, Edmund, where 's the king; and where 's Cor- And desperately are dead. delia ? See'st thou this object, Kent? [The bodies of GON. and REGAN are brought in. Yet Edmund was belov'd: Lear. Ay, so I think. a The promis'd end-the end of the world foretold in the Scriptures. The image of that horror" is the same as "the great doom's image" of Macbeth." ▷ Fore-done. We have previously had for did used in the same sense of destroy. |