Cor.
All bless'd secrets;
All you unpublish'd virtues of the earth,
Spring with my tears—be aidant and remediate,
In the good man's distress—
Oh, you kind heavens,
Cure this great breach in his abused nature,
Th' untun'd and jarring senses, oh wind up,
Of this child-changed father.

Phy. (L.)
We have employ'd the utmost pow'r of art,
And this deep rest will perfect our design.

Cor.
O Regan! Goneril! Inhuman sisters?
Had he not been your father, these white hairs
Had challeng'd sure some pity! Was this a face
To be expos'd against the jarring winds?
My enemy's dog, though he had bit me, shou'd
Have stood that night against my fire.

Phy.
Be by, good madam, when we do awake him;
I doubt not of his temperance.

Cor.
O, my dear father! Restoration, hang
Thy med'cine on my lips; and let this kiss
Repair those violent harms, that my two sisters
Have in thy rev'rence made. 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'th' grave. [Lear rises and Cordelia supports him to the front.

Cor.
Speak to me, sir; who am I?

Lear. (C.)
You are a soul in bliss; but I am bound

Upon a wheel of fire, which my 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.
Madam he's scarce awake; he'll soon grow more compos'd.

Lear.
Where have I been? Where am I? Fair daylight?
I am mightily abus'd: I should even die with pity
To see another thus. I will not swear,
These are my hands.

Cor.
O, look upon me, sir,
And hold your hand in blessing o'er me. [Attempts to kneel.]—Nay,
You must knot 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.

Cor.
Nay, then farewell to patience! Witness for me,
Ye mighty pow'rs, I ne'er complain'd 'till now!

Lear.
Methinks, I shou'd know you, and know this man.
Yet I am doubtful, for I'm mainly ignorant
What place this is; and all the skill I have,
Remembers not these garments; nor do I know
Where I did sleep last night.—Pray do not mock me;
For, as I am a man, I think that lady
To be my child Cordelia.

Cor.
O, my dear, dear father!

Lear.
Be your tears wet? Yes, faith; pray, do not weep.
I know, I have giv'n thee cause, and am so humbled
With crosses since, that I could ask
Forgiveness of thee, were it possible
That thou couldst grant it;
If thou hast poison for me, I will drink it,
Bless thee, and die.

Cor. (C.)
O, pity, sir, a bleeding heart, and cease
This killing language.

Lear. (L.)
Tell me, friends, where am I?

Phy. (R.)
In your own kingdom, sir.

Lear.
Do not abuse me.

Phy.
Be comforted, good madam; for the violence
Of his distemper's past; we'll lead him in,

Nor trouble him, till he is better settled.
Will it please you, sir, walk into freer air?

Lear.
You must bear with me, I am old and foolish;
Forget and forgive. [The Physician leads off King Lear, followed by two Knights, L.

Cor.
The Gods restore you! [A distant March.
Hark, I hear afar
The beaten drum. Old Kent's a man of's word.
Oh! for an arm
Like the fierce thunderer's when the earth-born sons
Storm'd heav'n, to fight this injur'd father's battle!
That I cou'd shift my sex, and dye me deep
In his opposer's blood! But, as I may,
With women's weapons, piety and pray'rs,
I'll aid his cause.—You never-erring gods,
Fight on his side, and thunder on his foes
Such tempests, as his poor aged head sustain'd!
Your image suffers when a monarch bleeds;
'Tis your own cause; for that your succours bring;
Revenge yourselves, and right an injured king. Exit, L. SCENE II. —The Camp of the British Forces, near Dover.—Flourish.. Enter Edmund, Regan, Officers, Banners, and Soldiers, L.

Edm. (C.)
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 Officer, who exits R.

Reg. (L.)
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.

Edm.
She and the duke her husband. [Flourish Enter Albany, Goneril, and Soldiers, R.

Alb. (R. C.)
Our very loving sister, well be met.
Sir, this I hear, the king is come to his daughter,
With others, whom the rigours of the state
Forc'd to cry out.

Reg.
Why is this reason'd?

Gon. (R.)
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.

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.
I know the riddle: [Aside.] I will go. [Going. [Flourish—Exeunt Edmund, Regan, Goneril, Officers, Banners, and Soldiers, L. Enter Edgar, disguised, R.

Edg.
If e'er your grace had speech with man so poor,
Hear me one word.

Alb.
I'll overtake you.

Alb. (C.)
Speak!

Edg. (R.)
Before you fight the battle, ope this letter.
If you have victory, let the trumpet sound
For him that brought it: wretched tho' 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, R.

Alb.
Why, fare thee well; I will o'erlook thy paper. Re-enter Edmund, L. with a folded Paper.

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, L.

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,
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 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, R SCENE III. —A Valley near the Field of Battle. Enter Edgar and Gloster, R. U. E.

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. [Exit Edgar, L.

Glo.
Grace go with you, sir. [An alarum within, L.
The fight grows hot; the whole war's now at work,
And the gor'd battle bleeds in every vein,
Whilst drums and trumpets drown loud slaughter's roar.
Where's Gloster now, that us'd to head the onset,
And scour the ranks where deadliest danger lay?
Here, like a shepherd, in a lonely shade,
Idle, unarm'd, and list'ning to the fight.
No more of shelter, thou blind worm, but forth
To th' open field; the war may come this way,
And crush thee into rest. [Advances a little
O, dark despair! When, Edgar, wilt thou come
To pardon, and dismiss me to the grave? [A Retreat sounded, L.
Hark! a retreat; the king, I fear, has lost. Re-enter Edgar, L.

Edg.
Away, old man; give me your hand; away! [Crosses to R.
King Lear has lost; he and his daughter ta'en
Give me thy hand. Come on!

Glo.
No farther, sir; a man may rot even here.

Edg
What! in ill thoughts again? Men must endure
Their going hence, ev'n as their coming hither.
Ripeness is all.—Come on!

Glo.
And that's true too. [Exeunt, R.

SCENE IV. —The British Camp near Dover. Enter, in conquest, with Banners, &c. Edmund, L.; Lear and Cordelia prisoners an Officer and four Soldiers preceding them, and the same number following, L. S. E.—Flourish.

Edm. (R.)
Some officers take them away: good guard;
Until their greater pleasures first be known
That are to censure them.

Cor. (R. C.) [Coming forward a little.]
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. (C.)
No, no, no, no!—Come, let's away to prison
We two alone will sing like birds i'th' 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;
In a wall'd prison, packs and sects of great ones,
That ebb and flow by the moon.

Edm. [Crossing to L.]
Take them away! [Lear and Cordelia go forward, R.

Lear. (R. C.)
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. [Officer on the R. advances a little, and motions them to follow.] 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, preceded by Officer, and followed by four Soldiers, R.

Edm. (L.)
Come hither, captain; hark— [Officer comes down R.
Take thou this note; [Giving a paper] go, follow them to prison:
One step I've advanced thee: if thou dost
As this instructs thee, thou dost make thy way
To noble fortunes. Know thou this—that men

Are as the time is: to be tender-minded
Does not become a sword; that great employment
Will not bear question: either say, thou'lt do't
Or thrive by other means.

Officer.
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.

Officer.
I will do it. [Exit, R. Flourish.—Enter Albany, Goneril, Regan, Officers and Guards, L.

Alb. (C.)
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. (R.)
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,
And turn our impress'd lancers in our eyes,
Which do command them. 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. (L.)
That's as we list to grace him,
Methinks, our pleasure might have been demanded,
Ere you had spoke so far. He led our powers;
Bore the commission of my place and person:
The which immediacy may well stand up,
And call itself your brother.

Gon. (L. C.)
Not so hot!
In his own grace he doth exalt himself,
More than in your advancement.

Reg.
In my rights,
By me invested, he compeers the best. General. [Crosses to Edmund,
Dispose of them, of me; the walls are thine!

Witness the world, that I create thee here
My lord and master!

Alb.
The let-alone lies not in your good will.

Edm.
Nor in thine, lord.

Alb.
Half-blooded fellow, yes.

Reg. (R. C.)
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,
There is my pledge; [Throwing down a Gaunlet.] I'll prove it on thy heart,
Ere I taste bread, thou art nothing less
Than I have here proclaim'd thee.

Reg.
Sick, O sick!

Glo.
If not, I'll ne'er trust poison. [Exit, L.

Edm.
There's my exchange: [Throwing down Gaunlet] 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!

Edm.
A herald, oh, a herald!

Alb.
Trust to thy single virtue; for thy soldiers,
All levied in my name, have in my name
Took their discharge.

Reg.
This sickness grows upon me! Enter Herald, R.

Alb.
She is not well; convey her to my tent.
And read out this [Gives a paper.] Sound, trumpet. Regan is led off, L.
Come hither, herald—Let the trumpet sound, [Trumpet sounds, R.

Her. (R.) [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! [First Trumpet.

Her.
Again! [Second Trumpet.] Again! [Third Trumpet.] [A Trumpet answers on L. three times. Enter Edgar, R at the end of the second sound.

Alb. (C.)
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. (L.)
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. [Herald retires up.

Alb. (C.)
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.
Behold, it is the privilege of mine honours,
My oath, and my profession. I protest—
Maugre 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 upwards of the 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;
But since thy outside looks as fair and warlike,
And that thy tongue some say of breeding breathes,
What safe and nicely 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 glace by, and scarcely bruise,)
This sword of mine shall give them instant way,

Where they shall rest for ever. Trumpets, speak! [Alarms.—They fight.—Edmund falls, L.

Edm.
What you have charged me with, that have I done;
And more, much more: the time will bring it out;
'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:
If more, the more thou hast wrong'd me.
My name is Edgar, and thy father's son.
The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices
Make instruments to scourge us:
The dark and vicious place where thee he got,
Cost him his eyes.

Alb.
Where have you hid yourself?
How have you known the mis'ries of your father?

Edg.
By nursing them, my lord.
The bloody proclamation to escape,
That follow'd me so near, taught me to shift
Into a madman's rags; became his guide,
Led him, begg'd for him, sav'd him from despair;
Never (O fault!) reveal'd myself unto him,
Until some half hour past, when I arm'd,
Not sure, tho' hoping of this good success,
I ask'd his blessing, and from first to last
Told him my pilgrimage: but his flaw'd heart,
(Alack, too weak the conflict to support!)
'Twixt two extremes of passion, joy, and grief,
Burst smilingly.

Edm. [Raised by Officers.]
I pant for life!—Some good I mean to do,
Despite of my own nature. Quickly send—
Be brief in it—to the castle; for my writ
Is on the life of Lear, and on Cordelia.

Edg.
Who has the office? Send thy token of reprieve.

Edm.
Take my sword—give it the captain.

Alb.
Haste thee, for thy life! [Exit Edgar, R.
The gods defend her!—Bear him hence awhile. [Flourish.—Edmund is led off L.—Albany and others exeunt R.

SCENE V. —A Prison. Enter Lear with Cordelia dead in his arms. R.—An Officer on guard L. U. E.; he remains at the back, L.

Lear. [Advancing to C.]
Howl, howl, howl, howl! O ye 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? [Kneels on his right knee, and places Cordelia across his left.
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. Enter Edgar, Albany, Kent, Officer, and Soldiers, R.

Kent.
Is this the promis'd end?

Edg.
Or image of that horror? [Crosses behind Lear.

Alb.
Fall, and cease!

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. (R. C.) [Kneeling]
O, my good master!

Lear.
Pr'ythee away!

Edg. (L. C.)
'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? but I did kill the slave
That was a hanging thee!

Officer. (L.) [Advancing a little.]
'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?
My eyes are none o'the best;—I'll tell you straight.

Kent. (R. C.)
If fortune brag of two she lov'd and hated,
One of them we behold.

Lear.
This is a dull sight.—Are you not Kent?

Kent.
The same;
Your servant Kent.—Where is your servant Caius?

Lear.
He's a good fellow; I can tell you that;
He'll strike, and quickly too:—He's dead and rotten.

Kent.
No, my good lord; I am the very man.

Lear.
I'll see that straight.

Kent.
That, from you first of difference and decay,
Have follow'd your sad steps.

Lear.
You are welcome hither.

Kent.
Nor no man else; all's cheerless, dark, and deadly.
Your eldest daughters have foredoom'd themselves,
And desperately are dead.

Lear.
Ay, so I think.

Kent.
He knows not what he says; and vain it is
That we present us to him. O see! see!

Lear.
And my poor fool is hang'd! No, no, no life:
Why should a dog, a horse, a rat, have life.
And thou no breath at all? [Laying Cordelia on the ground, and kneeling.] O, thou wilt come no more!
Never, never, never, never!
Pray you, undo this button. [Placing his hand to his throat.]
Thank you, sir.
Do you see this? Look on her—look—her lips— [Kisses her.
Look there!—look there! [Gives a convulsive grasp, and falls back. He is supported by Kent, R. and Edgar, L.—The Curtain falls to slow music. DISPOSITION OF THE CHARACTERS AT THE FALL OF THE CURTAIN.
Soldiers. Soldiers. Soldiers.
R. Officer. Kent. King Lear. Edgar. Officer. L.
Body of Cordelia THE END.

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