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At once, had not concluded all. He wakes,
Speak to him.

Phyf. Madam, do you fpeak, 'tis fitteft.

Cor. How does my royal Lord? how fares your Majefty? Lear. You do me wrong to take me out o'th' grave; Thou art a foul in blifs, but I am bound

Upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears

Do fcald like molten lead.

Cor. Sir, do you know me?

Lear. You are a fpirit I know, when did you die?
Cor. Still, ftill, far wide-

Phyf. He's fcarce awake, let him alone a while.
Lear. Where have I been? where am I? fair day-light?
I'm much abus'd; I fhould ev'n die with pity
To fee another thus. I know not what;

I will not fwear these are my hands: let's fee
I feel this pin prick: would I were affur'd
Of my condition.

Cor. O look on me, Sir,

And hold your hand 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,

Fourfcore and upward, and to deal plainly with you,
I fear I am not in my perfect mind.

Methinks I should 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 thefe garments; nay, I know not
Where I did lodge laft night. Do not laugh at me,
For, as I am a man, I think this Lady

To be my child Cordelia.

Cor. And fo I am; I am

Lear. Be your tears wet? yes, 'faith; I pray you, weep nota If you have poifon for me, I will drink it;

I know you do not love me; for your fifters
Have, as I do remember, done me wrong.
You have fome caufe, they have none.
Cor. No caufe, no caufe.

Lear. Am I in France ?

Kent

Kent. In your own kingdom, Sir.

Lear. Do not abufe 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 muft bear with me;

Pray you now, forget and forgive,

I am old and foolish.

ACT V. SCENE IV.
SCENE A Camp.

[Exeunt.

Enter Baftard, Regan, Gentlemen and Soldiers.

Baß. K

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 speak 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 business,

It toucheth us as France invades our land,

Not holds to th' King, with others, whom I fear
Moft juft and heavy caufes make oppose.
Reg. Why is this reafon'd?

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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 On our proceeding.

Reg. Sifter, you'll go with us?

Gon. No.

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 so poor, Hear me one word.

Alb. I'll overtake you:- -speak.

Edg. Before you fight the battle, 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 bufinefs of the world hath so an end,
And machination ceafes. Fortune love you!
Alb. Stay 'till I've read the letter.
Edg. I was forbid it.

When time shall ferve, let but the herald cry,
And I'll appear again.

[Exit

Alb. Why, fare thee well; I will o'erlook thy paper.

Enter Baftard.

Baft. The enemy's in view, draw up your powers. Hard is the guess of their true ftrength and forces, By diligent difcovery; but your hafte

Is now urg'd on you.

Alb. We will greet the time.

SCENE

III.

[Exit

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

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,
They fhall ne'er fee his pardon for my ftate
Stands on me to defend, not to debate.

:

SCENE IV. A Field.

[Exit.

Alarum within. Enter with drum and colours, Lear, Cordelia, and Soldiers over the flage, and exeunt. Enter Edgar and Glo'fter.

Edg. Here, father, take the shadow 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!

[Exit Edgar.

[Alarum and retreat within.

Re-enter Edgar.

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 muft 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.

[Exeunt.

Enter Baftard; Lear and Cordelia as prifoners; Soldiers,

Captain.

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

When thou doft ask me bleffing, I'll kneel down
And afk of thee forgiveness: fo we'll live,

And pray, and fing, and tell old tales, and laugh
As 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 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,

Come.

Ere they fhall make us weep; we'll fee 'em ftarv'd firft.
[Exe. Lear and Cordelia, guarded.
Baft. Come thou hither, captain, hark. [Whispering.
Take thou this note, go follow them to prifon.
One ftep I have advanc'd thee; if thou doft
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 queftion; 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

As I have fet it down.

SCENE

[Exit Captaia.

VI.

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 fhall find their merits and our fafety
May equally determine.

Baf. I thought fit

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