Cor.
O you kind gods,
Cure this great breach in his abused nature!
The untun'd and jarring senses, O, wind up
Of this child-changed father!^{1 note}

Phy.
So please your majesty,
That we may wake the king? he hath slept long.

Cor.
Be govern'd by your knowledge, and proceed
I' the sway of your own will.

Phy.
In the heaviness of his sleep,
We put fresh garments on him.
When we do wake him
I doubt not of his temperance.

Cor.
O, my dear father! Restoration, hang
Thy medicine on my lips, and let this kiss
Repair those violent harms, that my two sisters
Have in thy reverence made.

Phy.
Kind and dear princess!

Cor.
Had you not been their father, these white flakes
Had challeng'd pity of them. Was this a face
To be expos'd against the warring winds?
Mine enemy's dog,
Though he had bit me, should have stood that night
Against my fire.

Phy.
Louder the music there.8Q0116

Cor.
He wakes; speak to him.

Phy.
Madam, do you; 'tis fittest.

Cor.
How does my royal lord? How fares your majesty?

Lear.
You do me wrong, to take me out o' the grave—
Thou art a soul in bliss; but I am bound
Upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears
Do scald like molten lead.

Cor.
Sir, do you know me?

Lear.
You are a spirit, I know. When did you die?

Cor.
Still, still, far wide!

Phy.
He's scarce awake.

Lear.
Where have I been?—Where am I?—Fair daylight!
I am mightily abus'd.^{2 note}—I should even die with pity,
To see another thus.—I know not what to say.
I will not swear these are my hands:
Would I were assur'd of my condition.

Cor.
O, look upon me, Sir,
And hold your hands in benediction o'er me:
No, Sir; you must not kneel.

Lear.
Pray do not mock me:
I am a very foolish, fond old man,
Fourscore and upward; 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 these garments; nor I know not
Where I did lodge last night. Do not laugh at me:
For, as I am a man, I think this lady
To be my child Cordelia.

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
Have, as I do remember, done me wrong:
You have some cause, they have not.

Cor.
No cause, no cause.

Lear.
Am I in France?

Phy.
In your own kingdom, Sir.

Lear.
Do not abuse me.

Phy.
Be comforted, good Madam: the great rage,^{3 note}
You see, is cur'd in him.

Cor.
Wil'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. Scene II. —THE CAMP OF THE BRITISH FORCES NEAR DOVER, WITH DISTANT VIEW OF THE SAXON CASTLE. Enter 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.^{4 note} [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.
Tell me—but truly—but then speak the truth,
Do you not love my sister?

Edm.
In honour'd love.

Reg.
I never shall endure her, dear my lord.

Edm.
Fear me not—
She, and the duke her husband,— Enter Albany, Goneril, and Soldiers.

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. France invades our land;
Let us then determine
With the ancient of war on our proceedings.

Edm.
I shall attend you presently at your tent. [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 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.^{5 note}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.^{6 note} [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? To take the widow,
Exasperates, makes mad her sister Goneril;

And hardly shall I carry out my side,^{7 note}
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. ALARUMS OF DISTANT BATTLE. Re-enter, in conquest, Edmund, Officers, Soldiers, &c., Lear, and Cordelia, as prisoners.

Edm.
Some officers take them away: good guard;
Until their greater pleasures first be known
That are to censure them.^{8 note}

Cor.
We are not the first,
Who, with best meaning, have incurr'd the worst.^{9 note}
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 my blessing, I'll kneel down,
And ask of thee forgiveness: So we'll live,
And pray, and sing, and tell old tales,
And we'll wear out
In a wall'd prison, packs and sects^{10 note} 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.
Wipe thine eyes;
We'll see them starve, ere they shall make us weep;
Come, come. [Exeunt Lear and Cordelia guarded.

Edm.
Come hither, captain; hark.
Take thou this note^{11 note} (giving a paper); 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: Thy great employment^{12 note}
Will not bear question;^{13 note} either say, thou'lt do it,
Or thrive by other means.

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.

Off.
If it be man's work, I will do it. [Exit Officer. Flourish. Enter Albany, Goneril, Regan, Officers, and Attendants.

Alb.
Sir, you have shown 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.^{14 note}
With him I sent the queen;

My reason all the same; and they are ready
To-morrow, or at further space, to appear
Where you shall hold your session.

Alb.
Sir, by your patience,
I hold you but a subject of this war,
Not as a brother.

Reg.
That's as we list to grace him.
General, take thou my soldiers, prisoners, patrimony;
Dispose of them, of me; all are thine:
Witness the world, that I create thee here
My lord and master.

Gon.
Mean you to wed him?

Alb.
The let-alone lies not in your good will.^{15 note}

Edm.
Nor in thine, lord.

Alb.
Half-blooded fellow, yes.

Reg.
Let the drum strike, and prove my title thine. [To Edmund.

Alb.
Stay yet; hear reason:—Edmund, I arrest thee
On capital treason; and, in thy arrest,
This gilded serpent (pointing to Goneril)—for your claim, fair sister,
I bar it in the interest of my wife;
'Tis she is sub-contracted to this lord,
And I, her husband, contradict your bans.
Thou art arm'd Gloster. Let the trumpet sound:
If none appear to prove upon thy person,
Thy heinous, manifest, and many treasons,
I'll prove it on thy heart,
Ere I taste bread, thou art in nothing less
Than I have here proclaim'd thee.

Reg.
Sick, O, sick!

Gon.
If not, I'll ne'er trust poison. [Aside.

Alb.
She is not well; convey her to my tent. [Exit Regan, led.

Edm.
What in the world he is
That names me traitor, villain-like he lies:
Call by thy trumpet: he that dares approach,

On him, on you (who not?) I will maintain
My truth and honour firmly.

Alb.
A herald, ho! [Enter Herald.
Trust to thy single virtue;^{16 note} for thy soldiers,
All levied in my name, have in my name
Took their discharge.
Come hither, herald,—Let the trumpet sound,—
And read out this.

Her.
Sound, trumpet. [A trumpet sounds. Herald reads.

“If any man of quality, or degree, within the lists of the army, will maintain upon Edmund, supposed Earl of Gloster, that he is a manifold traitor, let him appear at the third sound of the trumpet: He is bold in his defence.”

Edm.
Sound. [1 trumpet.

Her.
Again. [2 trumpet.

Her.
Again. [3 trumpet. [Trumpet answers within. Enter Edgar, armed, preceded by a trumpet.

Alb.
Ask him his purposes, why he appears
Upon this call o' the trumpet.

Her.
What are you?
Your name, your quality? and why you answer
This present summons?

Edg.
Know, my name is lost;
By treason's tooth bare-gnawn, and canker-bit:
Yet am I noble, as the adversary
I come to cope withal.

Alb.
Which is that adversary?

Edg.
What's he, that speaks for Edmund earl of Gloster?

Edm.
Himself;—What say'st thou to him?

Edg.
Draw thy sword;
That, if my speech offend a noble heart,
Thy arm may do thee justice; here is mine.^{17 note}
Behold, it is the privilege of mine honours,

My oath, and my profession.^{18 note}
I protest,—
Maugre^{19 note} thy strength, youth, place, and eminence,
Despite thy victor sword, and fire-new fortune,
Thy valour, and thy heart,—thou art a traitor;
False to thy gods, thy brother, and thy father;
Conspirant 'gainst this high illustrious prince;
And, from the extremest upward of thy head,
To the descent and dust beneath thy feet,
A most toad-spotted traitor. Say thou, No,
This sword, this arm, and my best spirits, are bent
To prove upon thy heart, whereto I speak,
Thou liest.

Edm.
In wisdom, I should ask thy name;^{20 note}
But since thy outside looks so fair and warlike,
And that thy tongue some say^{21 note} of breeding breathes,
What safe and nicely^{22 note} I might well delay
By rule of knighthood, I disdain and spurn;
Back do I toss these treasons to thy head;
With the hell-hated lie o'erwhelm thy heart!
Which (for they yet glance by, and scarcely bruise),
This sword of mine shall give them instant way,
Where they shall rest for ever.^{23 note}—Trumpets, speak. [Alarums. They fight. Edmund falls.(B)8Q0117

Alb.
O save him, save him!

Gon.
This is mere practice,^{24 note} Gloster:
Thou art not vanquish'd,
But cozen'd and beguil'd.

Alb.
Shut your mouth, dame,
Or with this paper shall I stop it:—
No tearing, lady; I perceive you know it. [Gives the letter to Edmund.

Gon.
Say, if I do,
Who shall arraign me for't?

Alb.
Most monstrous!
Know'st thou this paper?

Gon.
Ask me not what I know. [Exit Goneril.

Alb.
Go after her: she's desperate; govern her. [To an Officer, who goes out.

Edm.
What you have charg'd me with, that have I done;
'Tis past, and so am I. But what art thou,
That hast this fortune on me? If thou art noble,
I do forgive thee.

Edg.
Let's exchange charity.
I am no less in blood than thou art, Edmund;
My name is Edgar, and thy father's son.
The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices
Make instruments to scourge us.

Edm.
Thou hast spoken right, 'tis true;
The wheel is come full circle; I am here.

Alb.
Methought, thy very gait did prophecy
A royal nobleness. Enter Curan hastily.

Gent.
My lord, my lord!

Alb.
Speak, man, speak.

Gent.
Your lady, Sir, your lady is no more; and her sister
By her is poison'd; she confessed it—
And after slew herself.

Alb.
This judgment of the heavens, that makes us tremble,
Touches us not with pity.

Enter Kent.

Kent.
I am come,
To bid my king and master aye^{25 note} good night;
Is he not here?

Alb.
Great thing of us forgot!—
Speak, Edmund, where's the king? and where's Cordelia?

Edm.
I pant for life:—Some good I mean to do,
Despite of mine own nature. Quickly send,—
Be brief in it,—to the castle; for my writ
Is on the life of Lear, and on Cordelia:—
Nay, send in time.

Edg.
To whom, my lord? Who has the office? send
Thy token of reprieve.

Edm.
Well thought on; take my sword,
Give it the captain.

Alb.
Haste thee, for thy life. [Exit Edgar and Kent.

Edm.
He hath commission from thy wife and me
To hang Cordelia in the prison, and
To lay the blame upon her own despair,
That she fordid herself.^{26 note}

Alb.
The gods defend her! Bear him hence. [Edmund is borne off. Enter Lear, with Cordelia dead in his arms; Edgar, Kent, Officer, and others.

Lear.
Howl, howl, howl, howl!—O, you are men of stones;
Had I your tongues and eyes, I'd use them so
That heaven's vault should crack: O, she is gone for ever!
I know when one is dead, and when one lives;
She's dead as earth;—Lend me a looking-glass;
If that her breath will mist or stain the stone,
Why, then she lives.

Kent.
Is this the promis'd end?

Edg.
Or image of that horror?^{27 note}

Alb.
Fall and cease!^{28 note}

Lear.
This feather stirs; she lives! if it be so,
It is a chance that does redeem all sorrows
That ever I have felt.

Kent.
O, my good master. [Kneeling.

Lear.
Pr'ythee, away.

Edg.
'Tis noble Kent, your friend.

Lear.
A plague upon you, murderers, traitors all!
I might have sav'd her; now she's gone for ever!—
Cordelia, Cordelia, stay a little! Ha!
What is't thou say'st?—Her voice was ever soft,
Gentle, and low;
I kill'd the slave that was a hanging thee.

Off.
'Tis true, my lords, he did.

Lear.
Did I not, fellow?
I have seen the day, with my good biting faulchion,
I would have made them skip. I am old now,
And these same crosses spoil me. Who are you?
Mine eyes are none o'the best.

Kent.
Your servant Kent,
That, from your first of difference and decay,^{29 note}
Have follow'd your sad steps.

Lear.
You are welcome hither.

Kent.
Nor no man else;^{30 note} all's cheerless, dark, and deadly.—
Your eldest daughters have fore-doom'd themselves,
And desperately are dead.

Lear.
Ay, so I think.

Alb.
He knows not what he says; and vain it is
That we present us to him.

Edg.
O, see, see!

Lear.
And my poor fool is hang'd!^{31 note} No, no, no life:
Why should a dog, a horse, a rat, have life,
And thou no breath at all?^{32 note}
O, wilt come no more.
Never, never, never, never, never!—
Pray you, undo this button.^{33 note} Thank you, Sir.—
Do you see this? Look on her,—look,—her lips,—
Look there,—look there! [He dies.

Alb.
He faints—my lord—my lord!

Kent.
Vex not his ghost. Oh! let him pass! he hates him
That would upon the rack of this tough world
Stretch him out longer. [Curtain descends, with a dead march. END OF ACT FIFTH.

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