Ere they shall make us weep: we'll see them starve first. [Exeunt LEAR and CORDELIA, guarded. Take thou this note [Giving a paper]: go, follow them to prison; One step I have advanced thee: if thou dost As this instructs thee, thou dost make thy way To noble fortunes: Know thou this,-that men Does not become a sword:-Thy great employment Off. 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: We 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; 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 cursed By those that feel their sharpness: The question of Cordelia, and her father, Requires a fitter place. Alb. Sir, by your patience, I hold you but a subject of this war, Reg. That's as we list to grace him. Methinks, our pleasure might have been demanded, Gon. Not so hot: * Debate. † Immediately delegated authority In his own grace he doth exalt himself, By me invested, he compeers the best. Gon. That were the most, if he should husband you. 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; Gon. Mean you to enjoy him? Alb. The let-alone* lies not in your good will. Alb. Half-blooded fellow, yes. Reg. Let the drum strike, and prove my title thine. [To EDMUND. Alb. Stay yet; hear reason:-Edmund, I arrest thee On capital treason; and, in thy arrest, This gilded serpent [Pointing to GON.]:-for your claim, fair sister, I bar it in the interest of my wife; "Tis she is sub-contracted to this lord, And I, her husband, contradict your banns. If you will marry, make your love to me, My lady is bespoke. Gon. An interlude! Alb. Thou art arm'd, Gloster:-Let the trumpet sound: If none appear to prove upon thy person, Thy heinous, manifest, and many treasons, There is my pledge [Throwing down a glove]; I'll prove it on thy heart, Ere I taste bread, thou art in nothing less Than I have here proclaim'd thee. Reg. Sick, O, sick! Gon. If not, I'll ne'er trust poison. [Aside. Edm. There's my exchange Throwing down a glove]: what in the world he is That names me traitor, villain-like he lies: Call by thy trumpet: he that dares approach, On him, on you, (who not ?) I will maintain My truth and honour firmly. Alb. A herald, ho! Edm. A herald, ho, a herald! Alb. Trust to thy single virtue;† for thy soldiers, All levied in my name, have in my name Took their discharge. Reg. This sickness grows upon me. *The hinderance. † I. e. valour. Enter a HERALD. Alb. She is not well; convey her to my tent. Come hither, herald,-Let the trumpet sound,- [Exit REGAN, led. [4 trumpet sounds. If any man of quality, or degree, within the lists of the army, will maintain upon Edmund, 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 defence. Edm. Sound. Her. Again. Her. Again. [1 Trumpet. [2 Trumpet. [3 Trumpet. [Trumpet answers within. Enter EDGAR, armed, preceded by a Trumpet. Alb. Ask him his purposes, why he appears Upon this call o' the trumpet. Her. What are you? Your name, your quality? and why you answer This present summons? Edg. Know, my name is lost; By treason's tooth bare-gnawn, and canker-bit : I come to cope withal. Alb. Which is that adversary? Edg. What's he, that speaks for Edmund, earl of Gloster? Edg. Draw thy sword; That, if my speech offend a noble heart, 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 of breeding breathes, What safe and nicely I might well delay By rule of knighthood, I disdain and spurn: * As a knight. Because, if his adversary was not of equal rank, Edmund might have declined the combat. ✰ Sample. Back do I toss these treasons to thy head; [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 answer Alb. Shut your mouth, dame, Or with this paper shall I stop it:-Hold, Sir:- : [Gives the letter to EDMUND. Gon. Say, if I do; the laws are mine, not thine: Who shall arraign me for't? Alb. Most monstrous! Know'st thou this paper? Gon. Ask me not what I know. [Exit GONERIL. Alb. Go after her: she's desperate; govern her. [To an OFFICER, who goes out. Edm. What you have charged 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 thou, That hast this fortune on me? If thou art noble, Edg. Let's exchange charity. I am no less in blood than thou art, Edmund; If more, the more thou hast wrong'd me. The dark and vicious place where thee he got, Edm. Thou hast spoken right, 'tis true; 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 it well. 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;- That follow'd me so near, (O our lives' sweetness! * Stratagem. Into a madman's rags; to assume a semblance Their precious stones new lost; became his guide, Edm. This speech of yours hath moved me, 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 Whilst I was big in clamour, came there a man, Shunn'd my abhorr'd society; but then, finding Alb. But who was this? Edg. Kent, Sir, the banish'd Kent; who in disguise Follow'd his enemy king, and did him service Improper for a slave. Enter a GENTLEMAN hastily, with a bloody knife. Gent. Help! help! O help! Edg. What kind of help? Alb. Speak, man. Edg. What means that bloody knife? Gent. 'Tis hot, it smokes ; It came even from the heart of Alb. Who, man? speak. Gent. Your lady, Sir, your lady: and her sister By her is poison'd; she confesses it. Edm. I was contracted to them both; all three Now marry in an instant. Alb. Produce their bodies, be they alive or dead!— * I. e. pile Ossa on Pelion. |