Lear. You must bear with me:

Pray you now, forget and forgive: I am old, and foolish.

[Exeunt LEAR, CORDELIA, Physician, 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 it is 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.

'Tis time to look about; the powers o' the kingdom

Approach apace.

Gent. The arbitrament is like to be bloody.

Fare you well, sir.

[Exit.

Kent. My point and period will be throughly wrought,

Or well, or ill, as this day's battle's fought.] [Exit.

ACT V. SCENE I.

The Camp of the British Forces, near Dover. Enter, with Drums and Colours, EDMUND, REGAN, Gentlemen, and Soldiers.

Edmund.

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,
Reg. Our sister's man is certainly miscarry'd.
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.

[Reg. But have you never found my brother's way

To the fore-fended place?w th

Edm. That thought abuses you

Reg. I am doubtful that you have been conjunct
And bosom'd with her, as far as we call hers.
Edm. No, by mine honour, madam.]

Reg. I never shall endure her: Dear my lord,
Be not familiar with her.

Edm. Fear me not:

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 touches 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?

Gon. No.

Reg. 'Tis most convenient; pray you, go with us. Gon [Aside.] O, ho, I know the riddle: I will go..

As they are going out, enter EDGAR disguised.

Edg. If e'er your grace had speech with man so Hear me one word..

Alb. I'll overtake you.

Speak.

[poor,

[Exeunt EDM. REG. GON. and Attendants. Edg. Before you fight the battle, ope this letter. If you have victory, let the trumpet sound For him that brought it: wretched though I seem,

I can produce a champion, that will prove
What is avouched there: If you miscarry,
Your business of the world hath so an end,
And machinations 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.

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.

[Exit.

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.

SCENE II.

[Exit.

A Field between the two Camps. Alarum within. Enter, with Drum and Colours, LEAR, CORDELIA, and Soldiers over the Stage; and exeunt. Enter EDGAR and GLOSTER.

Edg. Here, father, take the shadow of this trec 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

[Alarum, and retreat within ̧

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 ou.

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.

Enter in Conquest, with Drum and Colours, EDMUND; LEAR, and CORDELIA, as Prisoners; Soldiers, Capa

tain.

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 incur'd the worst.
For thee, oppressed king, am I 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 r' 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, flesh, and fell,
Ere they shall make us weep: we'll see them starve
first.

Come. [Exeunt LEAR, and CORDELIA, guarded.
Edm. Come hither, captain; hark.

Take thou this note; go, follow them to prison :
One step I have advanc'd thee; if thou dost
As this instructs thee, thou dost make thy way
To noble fortunes: Know thou this-that men
Are as the time is: to be tender-minded

Does not become a sword :-Thy great employment
Will not bear question; either say, thou'lt do't,
Or thrive by other means.

Capt. I'll do it, my lord.

Edm. About it; and write happy, when thou hast Mark-I say, instantly; and carry it so,

As I have set it down.'

[done,

Capt. I cannot draw a cart, nor eat dry'd oats; If it be man's work, I will do it

[Exit Capt.

Flourish. Enter ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, and

Soldiers.

Alb. Sir, you have shewn 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, 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 imprest 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 a further space, to appear
Where you shall hold your session. [At this time,