Edg.
Here, sir, take you 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.

Glo.
Thanks, friendly sir;
The fortune your good cause deserves betide you. An Alarm; after which Glocester speaks.
The fight grows hot; the whole war's now at work,

Where's Glo'ster now, that us'd to head the fray?
No more of shelter, thou blind worm, but forth
To th' open field? the war may come this way,
And crush thee into rest.—Here lay thee down,
And tear the earth. When, Edgar, wilt thou come
To pardon, and dismiss me to the grave? [A Retreat sounded.
Hark! a retreat; the king I fear has lost. Re-enter Edgar.

Edg.
Away, old man, give me your hand, away!
King Lear has lost; he and his daughter ta'en:
Give me your 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.

Glo.
Heaven's will be done then! henceforth I'll endure
Affliction, till it do cry out itself,
Enough, enough, and die. [Exeunt. Flourish. Enter in Conquest, Albany, Gonerill, Regan, Bastard.—Lear, Kent, Cordelia, Prisoners.

Alb.
It is enough to have conquer'd; cruelty
Shou'd ne'er survive the fight. Captain o'th' Guard,
Treat well your royal prisoners, 'till you have
Our farther orders, as you hold our pleasure.

Bast.
Sir, I approve it safest to pronounce
Sentence of death upon this wretched king,
Whose age has charms in it, his title more,
To draw the commons once more to his side;
'Twere best prevent—

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

Reg.
That's as we list to grace him.
Have you forgot that he did lead our pow'rs?
Bore the commission of our place and person?
And that authority may well stand up,
And call itself your brother.

Gon.
Not so hot!
In his own merit he exalts himself,
More than in your addition. Enter Edgar disguis'd.

Alb.
What art thou?

Edg.
Pardon me, sir, that I presume to stop
A prince and conqu'ror; yet, ere you triumph,
Give ear to what a stranger can deliver
Of what concerns you more than triumph can.
I do impeach your general there of treason,
Lord Edmund, that usurps the name of Glo'ster,
Of foulest practice 'gainst your life and honour;
This charge is true: and wretched though I seem,
I can produce a champion that will prove
In single combat what I do avouch,
If Edmund dares but trust his cause and sword.

Edm.
What will not Edmund dare? my lord, I beg
You'd instantly appoint
The place where I may meet this challenger,
Whom I will sacrifice to my wrong'd fame:
Remember, sir, that injur'd honour's nice,
And cannot brook delay!

Alb.
Anon, before our tent, i'th' army's view,
There let the herald cry!

Edg.
I thank your highness in my champion's name:
He'll wait your trumpet's call.

Alb.
Lead, [Exit Alb. and train.

Edm.
Come hither, captain, hark! take thou this note; [Giving a paper.
One step I have advanc'd 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; my great employment
Will not bear question; either say, thou'lt do't;
Or thrive by other means.

Capt.

I'll do't, my lord.

Edm.

About it, and write happy when thou'st done.

Manent Lear, Kent, Cordelia, guarded.

Lear.
O Kent! Cordelia!
You are the only pair that e'er I wrong'd,
And the just gods have made you witnesses
Of my disgrace; the very shame of fortune,
To see me chain'd and shackled at these years!
Yet were you but spectators of my woes,
Not fellow-sufferers, all were well.

Cor.
This language, sir, adds yet to our affliction.

Lear.
Thou Kent, didst head the troops that fought my battle.
Expos'd thy life and fortunes for a master
That had (as I remember) banish'd thee.

Kent.
Pardon me, sir, that once I broke your orders.
Banish'd by you, I kept me here disguis'd
To watch your fortunes, and protect your person:
You know you entertain'd a rough blunt fellow,
One Caius, and you thought he did you service.

Lear.
My trusty Caius, I have lost him too!
'Twas a rough honesty. [Weeps.

Kent.
I was that Caius,
Disguis'd in that coarse dress, to follow you.

Lear.
My Caius, too! wert thou my trusty Caius?
Enough, enough.—

Cor.
Ah me, he faints! his blood forsakes his cheek.
Help, Kent!

Lear.
No, no, they shall not see us weep.
We'll see them rot first.—Guards, lead away to prison.
Come, Kent; Cordelia, come;
We two will sit alone, like birds i'th' cage:
When thou dost ask me blessing, I'll kneel down
And ask of thee forgiveness; thus we'll live and pray,
And take upon us the mystery of things,
As if we were heav'n's spies.

Cor.
Upon such sacrifices
The gods themselves throw incense.

Lear.
Have I caught you?
He that parts us, must bring a brand from heav'n:
Together we'll out-toil the spite of hell,
And die the wonders of the world; away! [Exeunt guarded. Flourish. Enter before the Tents, Albany, Edmund, Guards and Attendants.

Alb.
Now Glo'ster, trust to thy single virtue: for thy soldiers,
All levied in my name, have in my name
Took their discharge: now let our trumpets speak,
And herald read out this. [Herald reads.

“If any man of quality within the lists of the army will maintain upon Edmund, suppos'd earl of Glo'ster, that he is a manifold traitor, let him appear by the third sound of the trumpet; he is bold in his defence.—Again, again.”

Alb.

Lord Edgar!

Edm.
Ha! my brother!
The only combatant that I cou'd fear,
For in my breast guilt duels on his side:
But, conscience, what have I to do with thee?
Awe thou the dull legitimate slaves: but I
Was born a libertine, and so I keep me.

Edg.
My noble prince, a word;—ere we engage,
Into your highness' hands I give this paper;
It will the truth of my impreachment prove,
Whatever be my fortune in the fight.

Alb.
We shall peruse it.

Edg.
Now, Edmund, draw thy sword,
That if my speech has wrong'd a noble heart,
Thy arm may do thee justice: here i'th' presence

Of this high Prince, and this renowned list,
I brand thee with the spotted name of Traitor;
False to thy gods, thy father, and thy brother,
And, what is more, thy friend; false to this Prince:
If then thou shar'st a spark of Glo'ster's virtue,
Acquit thyself; or if thou shar'st his courage,
Meet this defiance bravely.

Edm.
I have a daring soul, and so have at thy heart.
Sound, trumpet. [Fight, Bastard falls.
What you have charg'd me with, that I have done:
And more, much more; the time will bring it out.
'Tis past, and so am I.

Edg.
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.

Edm.
Thou'st spoken right, 'tis true,
The wheel is come full circle; I am here.
Yet, ere I die, some good I mean to do,
Despight of mine own nature. Quickly send
(Be brief,) into the castle; for my order
Is on the life of Lear and Cordelia.
Nay, send in time.

Edg.
Run, run, O run—

Alb.
The gods defend them! bear him hence a while. [Edm. is borne off. Exeunt.

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