Then am I the prisoner, and his bed my gaol; from O undistinguish'd space of woman's will!. [Exit EDGAR, dragging out the Body. Re-enter EDGAR. Edg. Give me your hand: Far off, methinks, I hear the beaten drum. Come, father, I'll bestow you with a friend. SCENE VII. [Exeunt. A Tent in the French Camp. LEAR on a Bed, asleep: Physician, Gentleman, and others, attending. Enter CORDELIA and KENT. Cor. Othou 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. All my reports go with the modest truth; Nor more, nor clipp'd, but so. Cor. Be better suited 8: 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 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! 'Th' 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 slept 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. Beby, good madam, when we do awake him; I doubt not of his temperance. Cor. Very well. | Was this a face Had challeng'd pity of them. Lear. Pray do not mock me: I am a very foolish fond old man, Fourscore and upward; 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, I am. Lear. Be your tears wet? Yes, 'faith. I pray, weep not: If you have poison for me, I will drink it. Cor. Lear. Am I in France? Kent. No cause, no cause. In your own kingdom, sir. Lear. Do not abuse me. Phys. Be comforted, good madam: the great rage, 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 now, forget and forgive: I am old, and foolish. [Exeunt LEAR, CORDELIA, Physician, and Attendants. The allusion is to the forlorn hope in an army, called in French, enfans perdus. Thin covering of hair. 2 To reconcile it to his apprehension. ACT V. The Camp of the British Forces, near Enter, with Drums and Colours, EDMUND, REGAN, Edm. Know of the duke, if his last purpose hold; Or, whether since he is advis'd by aught To change the course: And self-reproving He's full of alteration, Bring his constant pleasure.3 [To an Officer, who goes out. Reg. Our sister's man is certainly miscarried. Edm. 'Tis to be doubted, madam. 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.5 Edm. Sir, you speak nobly. Reg. Why is this reason'd? Gon. Combine together 'gainst the enemy: For these domestick and particular broils Edg. Before you fight the battle, ope this letter. If you have victory, let the trumpet sound I can produce a champion, that will prove For him that brought it: wretched though I secm, 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. [Est. Alb. Why, fare thee well; I will o'erlook thy paper. Re-enter EDMUND. Edm. The enemy's in view, draw up your powers, Here is the guess of their true strength and forces By diligent discovery; - but your haste Is now urg'd on you. Alb. We will greet the time.7 [Erit. Edm. To both these sisters have I sworn my love; Each jealous of the other, as the stung Are 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 widow, Exasperates, makes mad her sister Goneril; And hardly shall I carry out my side, Her husband being alive. Now then we'll use His countenance for the battle: which being done, Let her, who would be rid of him, devise His speedy taking off. As for the mercy Which he intends to Lear, and to Cordelia,The battle done, and they within our power, Shall never see his pardon: for my state Stands on me to defend, not to debate. [Ent. SCENE II. - A Field between the two Camps. Alarum within. Enter, with Drum and Colours, LEAR, CORDELIA, and their Forces; and excunt. Enter EDGAR and GLOSTER. Edg. Here, father, take the shadow of this tree thrive. For your good host; pray that the right may If ever I return to you again, I'll bring you comfort. Glo. Grace go sir! with you, [Exit EDGAR. 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. 6 Decision. 7 Be ready to meet the occasion 8 i. c. Make my part good. Edg. What, in ill thoughts again? Men must | To send the old and miserable king endure Their going hence, even as their coming hither: Ripeness is all: Come on. SCENE III. And that's true too. To some retention, and appointed guard; queen; My reason all the same; and they are ready Edm. Some officers take them away: good guard; As if we were Heaven's spies: And we'll wear out, Edm. Take them away. He, that parts us, shall bring a brand from heaven, Where you shall hold your session. At this time, Alb. Sir, by your patience, Reg. Gon. Not so hot: In his own grace he doth exalt himself, In my rights, By me invested, he compeers the best. you. Reg. Jesters do oft prove prophets. Gon. Reg. Lady, I am not well; else I should answer Alb. Half-blooded fellow, yes. Reg. Let the drum strike, and prove my title [To EDMUND. Edmund, I arrest thine. Alb. Stay yet; hear reason: thee On capital treason; and, in thy arrest, I bar it in the interest of my wife; 'Tis she is sub-contracted to this lord, Gon. An interlude ! |