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: I know, you do not love me; for your sisters Cor. No cause, no cause. Lear. Am I in France ? Kent. 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.3 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. 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 arbitrement is like to be a 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. (3) To reconcile it to his apprehension. WARBURTON. ACT V. SCENE I-The Camp of the British Forces, near Dover. Enter, with drums and colours, EDMUND, REGAN, 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, [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: Edm. In honour'd love. Reg. But have you never found my brother's way To the forefended place? Edm. That thought abuses you. Reg. I am doubtful that you have been conjunct Reg. I never shall endure her: Dear my lord, 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.- It toucheth us as France invades our land, Not bolds the king;5 with others, whom, I fear, [4] His settled resolution. JOHNSON. [5] This business (says Albany,) touches us as France invades our land, not as it bolds the king, &c. i. e. emboldens hi to assert his former title. STEEVENS. 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. Gon. No. Reg. 'Tis most convenient; pray you, go with us. Gon. O, ho, I know the riddle: [Aside.] I will go. As they are going out, enter EDGAR, disguised. Edg. If e'er your grace had speech with man so poor, Hear me one word. Alb. I'll overtake you.-Speak. [Exeunt EDM. REG. GON. Officers, Soldiers, and Attendants. Edg. Before you fight the battle, ope this letter. For him that brought it: Wretched though I seem, 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? STEEVENS. [6] All designs against your life will have an end. And hardly shall I carry out my side, Her husband being alive. Now then, we'll use SCENE II. [Exit. A Field between the two Camps. Alarum within. Enter, with drum and colours, LEAR, CORDELIA, and their Forces; and exeunt. 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. STEEVENS. Shall we not see these daughters, and these sisters? Talk of court-news; and we'll talk with them too,- As if we were God's spies: And we'll wear out, Edm. Take them away. Lear. Upon such sacrifices, my Cordelia, The gods themselves throw incense. Have I caught thee? Take thou this note; [Giving a paper.] go, follow them to prison: One step I have advanc'd thee; if thou dost Are as the time is: to be tender-minded 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. Offi. I cannot draw a cart, nor eat dried oats; If it be man's work, I will do it. [Exit. [9] As if we were angels commissioned to survey and report the lives of men, and were consequently endowed with the power of prying into the original motives of action and the mysteries of conduct. JOHNSON. [] The thought is extremely noble, and expressed in a sublime of imagery that Seneca fell short of on the like occasion. "Ecce spectaculum dig. num ad quod respiciat, intentus operi suo deus: ecce par deo dignum, vir "fortis cum mala fortuna compositus." WARBURTON. [2] It is usual to smoke foxes out of their holes. STEEVENS. [3] The goujeres is the morbus gallicus. Gouge, Fr. one of the common women attending a camp. HANMER. [4] Flesh and fell-flesh and skin. JOHNSON.. |