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.

Next section