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, Physician, and

Attendants.

Gent. Holds it true, sir,

That the duke of Cornwall was so slain?

Kent.

Gent. Who is conductor of his people?

Kent.

The bastard son of Gloster.

Gent.

Most certain, sir.

As 'tis said,

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.

ACT V.

[Exit.

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,

And self-reproving:-bring his constant pleasure.

[To an Officer, who goes out.

s To make him even o'er the time he has lost.] i. e. To render all that past during the interval of his insanity even (i.e. plain or level) to his understanding, while it continues in its present state of uncertainty.-STEEVENS.

his constant pleasure.] His settled resolution.-JOHNSON.

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.

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
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.

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."

[Aside.

Why is this reason'd?

Reg.
Gon. Combine together 'gainst the enemy:

For these domestick and particular broils

Are not to question here.

Alb.

Let us then determine

With the ancient of war on our proceedings.

- forefended-] i. e. Prohibited, forbidden.

That thought abuses you.] That thought imposes on you.-MALONE.

y Not bolds the king;] i. e. Not as it emboldens the king to assert his former title. STEEVENS.

make oppose.] Compel to oppose us.

Sir, you speak nobly.] This reply must be understood ironically.

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. 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.

4lb.

I'll overtake you.—Speak.

[Exeunt EDMUND, REGAN, GONERIL, Officers,
Soldiers, 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 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.

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;

b And machination ceases.] i. e. All designs against your life will have an end. STEEVENS.

C

greet the time.] i. e. Ready to meet the occasion.-JOHNSON.

And hardly shall I carry out my side,d

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 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.

— hardly shall I carry out my side,] i. e. "I shall scarcely be able to make out my game." The allusion is to a party at cards, and he is afraid he shall not be able to make his side successful.-M. MASON.

e Ripeness is all:] i. e. To be ready, prepared, is all.-STEEVENS.

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.—
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 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, flesh and fell,*
Ere they shall make us weep: we'll see them starve first.
Come.
[Exeunt LEAR and CORDELIA, guarded.

f to censure them.] i. e. To pass sentence or judgment on them.-STEEVens. As if we were God's spies:] 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.

h And fire us hence like foxes.] It is usual to smoke foxes out of their holes.STEEVENS.

k

The goujeers-] i. e. Morbus Gallicus.

- flesh and fell,] Flesh and skin.