Bastard.
Know of the Duke if his last purpose hold,
Or whether since he is advis'd by ought
To change the course? he's full of Alteration,
And self-reproving brings his constant pleasure.

Reg.
Our sister's man is certainly miscarry'd.

Bast.
'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?

Bastard.
In honour'd love.

Reg.
But have you never found my brother's way
To the fore-fended place?

Bast.
No by mine honour.

Reg.
I never shall endure her; dear my lord,
Be not familiar with her.

Bast.
Fear not; she and the Duke her husband— Enter Albany, Gonerill, and Soldiers.

Alb.
Our very loving sister, well be met:
Sir, this I heard, the King is come to his daughter
With others, whom the rigour of our state
Forc'd to cry out. † ^noteWhere I could not be honest
I never yet was valiant: for this business,

It toucheth us, as France invades our land,
Not † ^noteholds the King, with others, whom I fear
Most just and heavy causes make oppose.

Reg.
Why is this reason'd?

Gon.
Combine together 'gainst the enemy:
For these domestick and particular broils
Are not the question here.

Alb.
Let's then determine with th' Ancient of war
On our proceeding.

Reg.
Sister, you'll go with us?

Gon.
No.

Reg.
'Tis most convenient, pray go with us.

Gon.
Oh ho, I know the riddle, I will go. Exeunt. SCENE II. Manet Albany. Enter Edgar.

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

Alb.
I'll overtake you: speak.

Edg.
Before you fight the battel, ope this letter.
If you have vict'ry, 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've 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.

Enter Bastard.

Bast.
The enemy's in view, draw up your powers,
^{a note}Hard 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. SCENE III.

Bast.
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 Gonerill,
And hardly shall I carry out my side,
Her husband being alive. Now then, we'll use
His countenance for the battel; 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 battel done, and they within our power,
Shall never see his pardon: for my state
Stands on me to defend, not to debate. Exit.

SCENE IV. A Field. Alarum within. Enter with drum and colours, Lear, Cordelia, and Soldiers over the stage, and exeunt. Enter Edgar and Glo'ster.

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 be with you, Sir. Exit Edgar. [Alarum and retreat within. 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, ev'n as their coming hither:
Ripeness is all; come on.

Glo.
And that's true too. Exeunt. SCENE V. A Camp. Enter Bastard, Lear and Cordelia as prisoners, Soldiers, Captain.

Bast.
Some officers take them away; good guard,
Until their greater pleasures first be known

That are to censure them.

Cor.
We're not the first,
Who with best meaning have incurr'd the worst:
For thee, oppressed King, I am cast down,
My self 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'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:
And take upon's 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 th' moon.

Bast.
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 heav'n,
And fire us hence like foxes; wipe thine eye,
The good years shall devour them, flesh and fell,
Ere they shall make us weep; we'll see 'em starv'd first,
Come. Ex. Lear and Cordelia.

Bast.
Come hither captain, hark. [Whispering.
Take thou this note, 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: know thou this, that men
Are as the time is; to be tender-minded
Do's not become a sword; thy great imployment

Will not bear question; either say thou'lt do't,
Or thrive by other means.

Capt.
I'll do't, my lord.

Bast.
About it, and write happy, when thou'st done.
Mark, I say,—instantly, and carry it so
As I have set it down. [Exit Captain. SCENE VI. To him, Enter Albany, Gonerill, Regan, and Soldiers.

Alb.
Sir, you have shew'd to-day your valiant strain,
And fortune led you well: you have the captives
Who were the opposites of this day's strife:
I do require then of you, so to use them,
As we shall find their merits and our safety
May equally determine.

Bast.
I thought 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 bosoms on his side,
And turn our imprest launces 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, t' 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.
Methinks our pleasure might have been demanded
Ere you had spoke so far. He led our pow'rs,
Bore the commission of my place and person,

The which immediate may well stand up,
And call it self your brother.

Gon.
Not so hot:
In his own grace he doth exalt himself,
More than in your advancement.

Reg.
In my right,
By me invested, he compeers the best.

Alb.
That were the most, if he should husband you.

Reg.
Jesters do oft prove prophets.

Gon.
Holla, holla!
That eye that told you so, look'd but a-squint.

Reg.
Lady I am not well, else I should answer
From a full flowing stomach. General,
Take thou my soldiers, prisoners, patrimony,
Dispose of them, of me, the walls are thine:
Witness the world that I create thee here
My lord and master.

Gon.
Mean you to enjoy him?

Alb.
The lett alone lyes not in your good will.

Bast.
Nor in thine, lord.

Alb.
Half-blooded fellow, yes.

Bast.
Let the drum strike, and prove my title good.

Alb.
Stay yet; hear reason: Edmund, I arrest thee
On capital treason, and in thy arrest,
This gilded serpent: 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 banes.
If you will marry, make your loves to me,
My lady is bespoke.

Gon.
An enterlude.

Alb.
Thou art arm'd, Glo'ster, let the trumpet sound:
If none appear to prove upon thy person

Thy heinous, manifest, and many treasons,
There is my pledge: 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 ^{a note}poison. [Aside.

Bast.
There's my exchange, what in the world he is
That names me traitor, villain-like he lies;
Call by the trumpet: he that dares approach,
On him, on you, who not? I will maintain
My truth and honour firmly. Enter a Herald.

Alb.
A herald, ho.
Trust to thy single virtues, for thy soldiers,
All levied in my name, have in my name
Took their discharge.

Reg.
My sickness grows upon me.

Alb.
She is not well, convey her to my tent. [Exit Reg. SCENE VII.

Come hither, herald, let the trumpet sound,
And read out this. [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 Glo'ster, that he is a manifold traitor, let him appear by the third sound of the trumpet: he is bold in his defence.

Her.
Again. 2 trumpet.

Her.
Again. 3 trumpet. [Trumpet answers him within.

Enter Edgar armed.

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

Alb.
Which is that adversary?

Edg.
What's he that speaks for Edmund Earl of Glo'ster?

Bast.
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, place, youth, and eminence,
Spite of 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 th' extreamest upward of thy head,
To the descent and dust below thy foot,
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 lyest.

Bast.
In wisdom I should ask thy name,
But since thy out-side looks so fair and warlike,
And that thy tongue some † ^note'say of breeding breaths,
What safe and nicely I might well delay

By rule of Knight-hood, 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. Trumpets, speak. [Alarum. Fight.

Alb.
Save him, save him.

Gon.
This is practice, Glo'ster:
By th' law of war, thou wast not bound to answer
An unknown opposite; thou art not vanquish'd,
But cozen'd and beguil'd.

Alb.
Shut your mouth, dame,
Or with this paper shall I stop it;
Thou worse than any thing, read thine own evil:
No tearing, lady, I perceive you know it.

Gon.
Say if I do, the laws are mine, not thine,
Who can arraign me for't?

Alb.
Monster, know'st thou this paper?

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

Alb.
Go after her, she's desperate, govern her. SCENE VIII.

Bast.
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: but what art thou
That hast this fortune on me? If thou'rt noble,
I do forgive thee.

Edg.
Let's exchange our charity:
I am no less in blood than thou art, Edmund;
If more, the more thou'st wrong'd me.
My name is Edgar, and thy father's son.

The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices
Make instruments to plague us:
The dark and vitious place, where thee he got,
Cost him his eyes.

Bast.
Thou'st spoken right, 'tis true,
The wheel is come full circle, I am here.

Alb.
Methought thy very gate did prophesie
A royal nobleness; I must embrace thee:
Let sorrow split my heart, if ever I
Did hate thee, or thy father.

Edg.
Worthy Prince, I know't.

Alb.
Where have you hid your self?
How have you known the miseries of your father?

Edg.
By nursing them, my lord. List a brief tale,
And when 'tis told, O that my heart would burst.
The bloody proclamation to escape
That follow'd me so near, (O our lives sweetness!
That we the pain of death would hourly bear
Rather than die at once) taught me to shift
Into a mad-man's rags, t'assume a semblance
The very dogs disdain'd: and in this habit
Met I my father with his bleeding rings,
Their precious gems new lost; became his guide,
Led him, beg'd for him, sav'd him from despair,
Never (O fault) reveal'd my self unto him,
Until some half hour past, when I was arm'd,
Not sure, though 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 extreams of passion, joy and grief,
Burst smilingly.

Bast.
This speech of yours hath mov'd me,

And shall perchance do good, but speak you on,
You look as you had something more to say.

Alb.
If there be more, more woful, hold it in,
For I am almost ready to dissolve,
Hearing of this. SCENE IX. Enter a Gentleman.

Gent.
Help, help!

Edg.
What kind of help?

Alb.
Speak man.

Edg.
What means this bloody knife?

Gent.
'Tis hot, it smoaks, it came even from the heart
Of—O she's dead.

Alb.
Who's dead? speak man.

Gent.
Your lady, Sir, your lady; and her sister
By her is poison'd; she confesses it.

Bast.
I was contracted to them both, all three
Now marry in an instant.

Edg.
Here comes Kent. Enter Kent.

Alb.
Produce the bodies, be they live or dead. [Gonerill and Regan's Bodies brought out.
This judgment of the heav'ns, that makes us tremble,
Touches us not with pity. O! is this she?
The time will not allow the compliment
Which very manners urge.

Kent.
I am come
To bid my King and Master aye good night,
Is he not here?

Alb.
Great thing of us forgot!

Speak Edmund, where's the King? and where's Cordelia?
See'st thou this object, Kent?

Kent.
Alack, why thus?

Bast.
Yet Edmund was belov'd:
The one the other poison'd for my sake,
And after slew her self.

Alb.
Even so; cover their faces.

Bast.
I pant for life; some good I mean to do
Despight of mine own nature. Quickly send,
(Be brief) into the castle, for my writ
Is on the life of Lear and on Cordelia:
Nay, send in time.

Alb.
Run, run, O run—

Edg.
To whom, my lord? who has the office?
Send thy token of reprieve.

Bast.
Well thought on, take my sword,
Give it the captain—

Edg.
Haste thee for thy life.

Bast.
He hath commission from thy wife and me,
To hang Cordelia in the prison, and
To lay the blame upon her own despair.

Alb.
The gods defend her, bear him hence a while. SCENE X. Enter Lear with Cordelia dead in his arms.

Lear.
Howl, howl, howl, howl,—O you are men of stone,
Had I your tongues and eyes, I'd use them so,
That heaven's vault should crack; she's 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?

Lear.
This feather stirs, she lives; if it be so,
It is a chance which do's redeem all sorrows
That ever I have felt.

Kent.
O my good master!

Lear.
Pr'ythee away—

Edg.
'Tis noble Kent your friend.

Lear.
A plague upon you murth'rers, 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, an excellent thing in woman.
I kill'd the slave that was a hanging thee.

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

Lear.
Did I not, fellow?
I've 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'th' best. I'll tell you strait.

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

Lear.
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 strait.

Kent.
That from your ^{a note}life of difference and decay,
Have follow'd your sad steps—

Lear.
You're welcome hither.

Kent.
^{b note}'Twas no man else; all's cheerless, dark, and deadly:

Your eldest daughters have fore-done themselves,
And desp'rately are dead.

Lear.
Ay, so I think.

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

Edg.
Very bootless. Enter a Messenger.

Mes.
Edmund is dead, my lord.

Alb.
That's but a trifle.
You lords and noble friends know our intent;
What comfort to this great decay may come,
Shall be apply'd. For us, we will resign
During the life of this old majesty,
To him our absolute power: to you, your rights, [To Edg.
With boot; and such addition as your honours
Have more than merited. All friends shall taste
The wages of their virtue, and all foes
The cup of their deservings: 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? thou'lt come no more,
Never, never, never, never, never,—
Pray you undo this button. Thank you, Sir,
Do you see this? look on her, look on her lips,
Look there, look there— [He Dies.

Edg.
He faints, my lord.

Kent.
Break heart, I pr'ythee break.

Edg.
Look to my lord.

Kent.
Vex not his ghost: o let him pass! He hates him,
That would upon the rack of this rough world
Stretch him out longer.

Edg.
He is gone indeed.

Kent.
The wonder is, he hath endur'd so long:
He but usurpt his life.

Alb.
Bear them from hence, our present business
Is general woe: friends of my soul, you twain,
Rule in this realm, and the gor'd state sustain.

Kent.
I have a journey, Sir, shortly to go;
My Master calls me, I must not say no. Dies.

^{c note}Alb.
The weight of this sad time we must obey,
Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say.
The oldest hath born most; we that are young
Shall never see so much, nor live so long. [Exeunt with a dead march.

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