I feel this Pin prick, would I were affur'd
Of my condition,

Cor. O look upon me, Sir,

And hold your hand in benediction o'er me,

You must not kneel.

Lear. Pray do not mock me;

I am a very foolish fond old Man,
Fourfcore and upward,

Not an hour more, nor lefs 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 thefe Garments; nor I know not
Where I did lodge laft Night. Do not laugh at me,
For, as I am a Man, I think this Lady

To be my Child Cordelia.

Cor. And fo I am; I am----

Lear. Be your tears wet? Yes faith; I pray you weep not. If you have Poifon for me, I will drink it;

I know you do not love me, for your Sifters
Have, as I do remember, done me wrong.

You have fome caufe, they have not.

Cer. No caufe, no cause,

Lear. Am I in France?

Kent. In your own Kingdom, Sir.

Lear. Do not abufe me.

Gent. Be comforted, good Madam, the great rage
You fee is kill'd in him defire him to go in,"
Trouble him no more 'till further fettling.

Cor. Will't please your Highness walk?
Lear. You muft bear with me ;

Pray you now forget, and forgive,

I am old and foolish.

[Exeunt

ACT V.

SCENE I.

SCENE

A Camp.

Baft.

K

Enter Baftard, Regan, Gentlemen, and Soldiers.
Now of the Duke if his laft purpose hold,
Or whether fince he is advis'd by ought
To change the courfe; he's full of alteration,
And felf reproving; bring his conftant pleasure.
Reg. Our Sifter's Man is certainly miscarried.
Baft. 'Tis to be doubted, Madam.

Reg. Now fweet Lord,

You know the goodness I intend upon you:
Tell me but truly, but then speak the truth,
Do you not love my Sifter?

Baft. In honour'd Love.

Reg. But have you never found my Brother's way, To the fore-fended place?

Baft. No by mine Honour, Madam.

Reg. I never fhall endure her; dear my Lord,
Be not familiar with her.

Baft. Fear not, fhe and the Duke her Husband-
Enter Albany, Gonerill, and Soldiers.

Alb. Our very loving Sifter, well be met:

Sir, this I heard, the King is come to his Daughter
With others, whom the rigour of our State

Forc'd to cry out.

Reg. Why is this reafon'd?

Gon. Combine together 'gainft the Enemy:

For these Domestick, and particular Broils,

Are not the queftion here.

Alb. Let's then determine with th'ancient of War

Reg. 'Tis moft convenient, pray go with us.

Gon. Oh, ho, I know the Riddle, I will go. [Exeunt.

Manet

Manet Albany. Enter Edgar.

Edg. If e'er your Grace had Speech with Man fo poor, Hear me one word.

Alb. I'll overtake you, speak.

Edg. Before you fight the Battel, ope this Letter
If you have Victory, let the Trumpet found
For him that brought it: wretched though I feem,
I can produce a Champion, that will prove
What is avouched there. If you mifcarry,
Your bufinefs of the World hath fo an end,
And machination ceases. Fortune loves you.
Alb. Stay 'till I have read the Letter.
Edg. I was forbid it.

When time fhall ferve, let but the Herald cry,
And I'll appear again.

[Exit. Alb. Why fare thee well, I will o'erlook thy Paper. Enter Baftard,

Baft. The Enemy's in view, draw up your powers,
Here is the guess of their true ftrength and forces,
By diligent difcovery, but your hafte

Is now urg'd on you.

Alb. We will greet the time.

Baft. To both thefe Sifters have I fworn my love:
Each jealous of the other, as the ftung

Are of the Adder. Which of them fhall I take?
Both? One? Or neither? Neither can be enjoy'd,
If both remain alive: To take the Widow,
Exafperates, makes mad her Sifter Gonerill,
And hardly thall I carry out my fide,

Her Husband being alive. Now then, we'll ufe
His countenance for the Battel, which being done,
Let her who would be rid of him, devise
His fpeedy taking off. As for the mercy
Which he intends to Lear, and to Cordelia,
The Battel done, and they within our power;
Shall never fee his pardon: for my state,
Stands on me to defend, not to debate.

H 3

[Exit:

[Exit.

SCENE

SCENE II. A Field.

Alarum within.

Enter with Drum and Colours, Lear,
Cordelia, and Soldiers, over the Stage, and Exeunt.
Enter Edgar and Giofter.

Edg. Here Father, take the fhadow of this Tree
For your good Hoff; pray that the right may thrive;

If ever I return to you again,

I'll bring you comfort.

Glo. Grace be with

you, Sir.

Enter Edgar.

Edg. Away old Man, give me thy hand, away;
Kig Lear hath loft, 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 muft endure
Their going hence, even as their coming hither,
Ripeness is all, come on.

Glo. And that's true too.

[Exeunt.

Enter Baftard, Lear and Cordelia as Prisoners, Soldiers,

Captain.

Baft. Some Officers take them away; good Guard, Until their greater pleasures first be known

That are to cenfure them.

Cor. We are not the firft,

Who with beft meaning have incurr'd the worst:
For thee, oppreffed King, I am cast down,
My felt could elfe out-frown falfe Fortune's frown.
Shall we not fee thefe Daughters, and thefe Sifters?
Lear. No, no, no, no; come let's away to Prison;
We two alone will fing like Birds i'th'Cage:
When thou do'ft ask me bleffing, I'll kneel down
And ask of thee forgivenefs: So we'll live,
And Pray, and Sing, and tell old tales, and laugh
At gilded Butterflies: and hear poor Rogues

Talk

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's the mystery of things,

As if we were God's fpies. And we'll wear out
In a wall'd Prifon, packs and fects of great ones
That ebb and flow by th' Moon.

Baft. Take them away.

Lear. Upon fuch facrifices, my Cordelia,

The Gods themselves throw incenfe. Have I caught thee?
He that parts us, fhall bring a Brand from Heav'n,
And fire us hence, like Foxes; wipe thine Eye,

The good Years shall devour them, fl.fh and fel!,
E'er they shall make us weep,
We'll fee 'em ftarv'd firft: Come.

Baft. Come hither Captain, hark.

Take thou this Note, go follow them to Prifon,
One ftep I have advanc'd thee, if thou doft
As this inftructs thee, thou doft make thy way
To noble Fortunes; know thou this, that Men
Are as the time is; to be tender minded

[Exit. [Whispering.

Do's not become a Sword; thy great Imployment
Will not bear queftion; either fay thou'lt do't,
Or thrive by other means.

Capt. I'll do't, my Lord.

Baft. About it, and write happy, when thou'ft done. Mark, I fay,infiantly, and carry it fo

As I have fet it down.

[Exit Captain. Enter Albany, Gonerill, Regan, and Soldiers. Alb. Sir, you have thew'd to day your valiant ftrain And fortune led you well: You have the Captives Who were the oppofites of this Day's ftrife: I do require them of you, fo to use them, As we hall find their Merits, and our fafety May equally determine.

Baft. Sir, I thought it fit,

To fend the old and miferable King to fome retention;
Whofe Age had Chaims in it, whole Title more,

To pluck the common Bofum on his fide,

And turn our impreft Launces in our Eyes

Which do command them. With him I fent the Queer,

Hh 4

My