ber:

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?-
Adultery.-

Thou shalt not die: Die for adultery! No:
The wren goes to't, and the small gilded fly
Does lecher in my sight.

Let copulation thrive, for Gloster's bastard son
Was kinder to his father, than my daughters
Got 'tween the lawful sheets.

To't, luxury, pell-mell, for I lack soldiers.Behold yon' simpering dame,

Whose face between her forks presageth snow;
That minces virtue, and does shake the head
To hear of pleasure's name;

The fitchew, nor the soil'd horse, goes to't
With 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

Why dost thou lash that whore? strip thine

own back;

Thou hotly lust'st to use her in that kind, For which thou whipp'st her. The usurer hangs the cozener.

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:

Stew. A proclaim'd prize! Most happy! That eyeless head of thine was first fram'd flesh To raise my fortunes. Thou old unhappy traitor,

Briefly thyself remember :-The sword is out That must destroy thee.

Glo. Now let thy friendly hand Put strength enough to it.

[Edgar opposes. Stew. Wherefore, bold peasant, Dar'st thou support a publish'd traitor? Hence; Lest that the 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 ch'ud ha' been zwaggered 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 bat be the harder: Ch'ill be plain with you.

Stew. Out, dunghill!

Edg. Ch'ill pick your teeth, zir: Come; no matter vor your foins.

[They fight; and Edgar knocks him down.

Stew. 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 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.

Glo. What, is he dead?

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'd rip up their hearts;

Their papers, is more lawful.

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.

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.

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.

[Exeunt.

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,

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!
The 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.

Do 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!

Phys. He's scarce awake; let him alone awhile. Lear. Where have I been? Where am I?Fair day-light?

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; I feel this pin prick. 'Would I were assur'd Of my condition.

Cor. O, look upon me, sir,

And hold your hands in benediction o'er me:No, sir, you must not kneel.

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

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 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.
Phys. 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

To be my child Cordelia.

Cor. And so I am, I am.

Lear. Be your tears wet? Yes, 'faith. I

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, Physi cian, 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 banish'd son, is with the earl of Kent
In Germany.

Kent. Report is changeable.

SCENE I.- -The camp of the British Forces, near Dover.

Enter, with drum and colours, EDMUND, RE-
GAN, 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?

Edm. In honour'd love.

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 to question here.

Alb. Let us then determine

With the ancient of war on our proceedings. Edm. I shall attend you presently at your tent. Reg. Sister, you'll go with us?"

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.

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. [Exit.

SCENE II.-A field between the two camps. Alarum within. Enter, with drum and colours, LEAR, CORDELIA, and their Forces; and ex

eunt.

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 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. 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, am I cast down-; Myself could else out-frown false fortune's frown.

And fortune led you well: You have the captives,
We do require them of you; so to use them,
Who were the opposites of this day's strife:
As we shall find their merits and our safety
May equally determine.

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

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
Talk of court news; and we'll talk with them
too,-

Who loses, and who wins; who's in, who's out;-
And take upon us the mystery of things,
As if we were God's spies: And we'll wear out,
In a wall'd prison, packs and sects 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. Wipe thine eyes; The goujeers shall devour them, Ålesh and fell,

Where you shall hold your session. At this time, We sweat, and bleed: the friend hath lost his