Kent. In your own kingdom, Sir.
Lear. Do not abuse me.
Phyf. Be comforted, good Madam; the great rage
You fee is cur'd: defire him to go in.
And trouble him no more 'till further fettling.
Cor. Will't please your Highness walk?
Lear. You must bear with me;
Pray you now, forget and forgive,
I am old and foolish.
Enter Baftard, Regan, Gentlemen, and Soldiers.
Now of the Duke if his laft purpose hold,
Or whether fince he is advis'd by ought
To change the courfe? he's full of alteration,
And felf-reproving: bring his conftant pleasure.
Reg. Our fifter's man is certainly miscarry'd.
Baft. 'Tis to be doubted, Madam.
Reg. Now, fweet Lord,
You know the goodness I intend upon you:
Tell me but truly, but then fpeak the truth,
Do you not love my fifter?
Baft. In honour'd love.
Reg. But have you never found my brother's way To the fore-fended place?
Baft. No, by mine honour.
Reg. I never fhall endure her; dear my Lord,
Be not familiar with her.
Baft. Fear not; fhe and the Duke her husband.
Enter Albany, Gonerill, and Soldiers.
Alb, Our very loving fifter, 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. Where I could not be honeft
I never yet was valiant: for this bufinefs,
It toucheth us as France invades our land,
Not holds to th' King, with others, whom I fear
Moft just and heavy caufes make oppose.
Reg. Why is this reafon'd?
Gon. Combine together 'gainst the enemy:^
For thefe domeftick and particular broils
Are not the question here.
Alb. Let's then determine with th' Ancients of war
Reg. It is moft convenient, pray go with us.
Gon. Oh ho, I know the riddle, I will go. [Afide.] [Exe SCENE II.
Manet Albany. Enter Edgar difguis d.
Edg. If e'er your Grace had fpeech with man fo poor, Hear me one word.
Edg. Before you fight the battel, ope this letter.
If you have vict'ry, let the trumpet found
For him that brought it: wretched though I feem,
I can produce a champion, that will prove
What is avouched there.
If you miscarry, Your business of the world hath fo an end,
And machination ceases.
Alb. Stay 'till I've read the letter."
Edg. I was forbid it.”
When time fhall ferve, let but the herald cry,
[Exit Alb. Why, fare thee well; I will o'erlook thy paper.
Baft. The enemy's in view, draw up your powers.
Hard is the guess of their true strength and forces,
By diligent difcovery; but your hafte
Is now urg'd on you.
Alb. We will greet the time."
Baft. To both thefe fifters have I fworn my love:
Each jealous of the other, as the stung
Are of the adder. Which of them fhall I take?
Both? one? or neither? neither can be enjoy'd,
If both remain alive: to take the widow,
Exafperates, makes mad her fifter Gonerill,
And hardly fhall I carry out my fide,
Her hufband 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 fpeedy taking off. As for the mercy
Which he intends to Lear and to Cordelia,
The battel done, and they within our power,
They fhall ne'er fee his pardon: for my state
Stands on me to defend, not to debate.
SCENE IV. A Field.
Ex Alarum within. Enter with drum and colours, Lear, Cor
delia, and Soldiers over the ftage, and exeunt.
Enter Edgar and Glo'fter.
Edg. Here, father, take the fhadow of this tree
For your good hoft; pray that the right may thrive :
If ever I return to you again,
I'll bring you comfort.
Glo. Grace be with you, Sir!
[Alarum and retreat within.
Edg. Away, old man, give me thy hand, away;
King Lear hath loft, 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.
SCENE V. A Camp.
Enter Baftard; Lear, and Cordelia as prifoners; Soldiers,
Baft. Some officers take them away; good guard,
Until their greater pleasures firft be known
That are to cenfure them.
Cor. We're not the first,
Who with beft meaning have incurr'd the worst:
For thee, oppreffed King, I am caft down,
My felf could elfe out-frown falfe fortune's frown.
Shall we not fee thefe daughters and these fifters?
Lear. No, no, no, no; come, let's away to prifon;
We two alone will fing like birds i'th' cage:
When thou doft afk me bleffing, I'll kneel down
And ask of thee forgiveness: fo we'll live,
And pray, and fing, 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 lofes, and who wins; who's in, who's out:
And take upon's the mystery of things,
As if we were God's fpies. And we'll wear out,
In a wall'd prifon, packs and fects of great ones
That ebb and flow by th' moon.
Baft. Take them away.
Lear. Upon fuch facrifices, my Cordelia,
The Gods themselves throw incenfe. Have I caught thee?
He that parts us fhall bring a brand from heav'n,
And fire us hence like foxes; wipe thine eye,
The goujeres fhall devour them flesh and fell,
Ere they fhall make us weep; we'll fee 'em ftarv'd first.
Come.
[Exe, Lear and Cordelia, guarded.
Baft. Come thou hither, captain, hark. [Whispering.
Take thou this note, go follow them to prifon.
One ftep I bave advanc'd thee; if thou do
As this inftructs thee, thou doft 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 fword; my great imployment
Will not bear question; either fay thou'lt do't,
Or thrive by other means.
Capt. I'll do't, my Lord.
Baft. About it, and write happy, when thou’ft done. Mark, I fay inftantly, and carry it fo
To him, Enter Albany, Gonerill, Regan, and Soldiers.
Alb. Sir, you have fhew'd to-day your valiant ftrain,
And fortune led you well: you have the captives
Who were the oppofites of this day's ftrife:
I do require them of you, fo to use them,
As we shall find their merits and our fafety
May equally determine.
To fend the old and miferable King
To fome retention and appointed guard;
Whofe age has charms in it, whofe title more,
To pluck the common bofoms on his fide,
And turn our impreft launces in our eyes
Which do command them. With him I fent the Queen,
My reafon all the fame; and they are ready
To-morrow, or at further space, t' appear
Where we shall hold our feffion.
Alb. Sir, by your patience,
I hold you but a subject of this war,
Not as a brother.
Reg. That's as we lift to grace him.
Methinks our pleasure might have been demanded
Ere you had spoke so far. He led our pow'rs,
Bore the commiffion of my place and perfon,
The which immediate may well stand up,
And call it felf your brother.
In his own grace he doth exalt himself,
More than in your advancement.
Reg. In my right,
By me invefted, he compeers the best.
Alb. That were the most, if he fhould husband you.
Reg. Jefters do oft prove prophets.
That eye that told you fo, look'd but a-fquint.
Reg. Lady, I am not well, elfe I should answer
From a full flowing ftomach. General,
Take thou my foldiers, prifoners, patrimony,
Difpofe of them, of me, they all are thine:
Witness the world that I create thee here
My Lord and mafter.
Gon. Mean you to enjoy him?
Alb. The lett alone lyes not in your good will.
Baft. Nor in thine, Lord.
Alb. Half-blooded fellow, yes.
Reg. Let the drum ftrike, and prove my title thine.
[To the Baft. They offer to go out.
|
