تالية

will, daß ich gandle, nicht noch gründen finge.

alarium e alarm, wasgenauf, gebii.net,

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 discovery8;-but your haste

Is now urg'd on you.

Alb.

We will greet the time9. [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 side1o,

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 debate11.

[Exit.

SCENE II. A Field between the two Camps. Alarum within. Enter, with Drum, and Colours, LEAR, CORDELIA, and their Forces; and exeunt. Enter EDGAR and GLoster1.

Edg. Here, father, take the shadow of this tree For your good host; pray that the right may thrive:

9 i. e. be ready to meet the occasion.

ro Hardly shall I be able to make my side (i. e. my party) good; to maintain the game. Steevens has shown that it was a phrase commonly used at cards. So in the Paston Letters, vol. iv. p. 155:'Heydon's son hath borne out the side stoutly here,' &c.

11 Such is my determination concerning Lear; as for my state, it requires now not deliberation, but defence and support.'

1 Those who are curious to know how far Shakspeare was indebted

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 all2: 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 censure1 them.

Cor. We are not the first, Who, with best meaning, have incurr'd the worst2. For thee, oppressed king, am I cast down; Myself could else outfrown false fortune's frown. Shall we not see these daughters, and these sisters? Lear. No, no, no, no! Come, let's away to prison:

to the Arcadia, will find a chapter entitled The Pitifull State and Storie of the Paphlagonian unkinde King, and his kinde Sonne; first related by the Sonne, then by the blinde Fater, at p. 141 of

the edition of 1590, 4to.

2 i. e. to be ready, prepared, is all. So in Hamlet: If it be not now, yet it will come: the readiness is all.'

11. e. to pass sentence or judgment on them. So in Othello:~~ 'Remains the censure of this hellish villain."

2 That is the worst that fortune can inflict.'

en kann auch hier verfaulen
wieder wūbges:ū17,
wüngesint? man

Amusß die Zeit. Abwarten bey dem aut gang, was bejön Eintritt.

it alles: kommt.