-Our party in good stead to know.

66

-What's here?

[Takes a letter out of his pocket, and reads it.

"To Edmund Earl of Gloster.

[Reads.] Let our mutual loves be remember'd: you have many opportunities to cut Albany off. If he return the Conqueror, then I am still a prisoner, and his bed my jail; from the loath'd warmth of which deliver me, and supply the place for your labour. "GONERIL."

A plot upon the duke her husband's life,
And the exchange my brother!-

In time and place convenient I'll produce
This letter to the sight of th' injur'd duke
As best shall serve our purpose.

Come, your hand;

Far off, methinks I hear the beaten drum;
Come, sir, I will bestow you with a friend.

[Aside.

[Music, L.

END OF ACT IV.

[Exeunt, L.

ACT V.

SCENE I.-A Chamber.-King Lear asleep on a

couch, R.

CORDELIA, R. seated, PHYSICIAN, and two KNIGHTS standing by him.

Cord. 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.

Phys. (L.) We have employ'd the utmost pow'r of art,

And this deep rest will perfect our design.

E

Cord. 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.

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

Cord. 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.

Phys. Madam, do you; 'tis fittest.

Cord. 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 down to the front of the Stage.

Cord. (On R.)-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.

Cord. Sir, do you know me?

Lear. You are a spirit, I know; when did you die? Cord. Still, still, far wide!

Phys. Madam, he's scarce awake; he'll soon grow more compos'd.

Lear. Where have I been? Where am I? Fair day-light?

I am mightily abus'd: I should even die with pity
To see another thus. I will not swear,

These are my hands.

Cord. O, look upon me, sir,

And hold your hand in blessing o'er me. [LEAR attempts

to kneel.]-Nay,

You must not 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.

Cord. 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.

Cord. 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.

Cord. (c.) O, pity, sir, a bleeding heart, and cease This killing language.

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

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

Lear. Do not abuse me.

Phys. 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.

Cord. 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 injur'd 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.

Reg. (L.) Now, sweet lord,

[To Officer, who exits R.

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 our 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.

As they are going out 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.

[Flourish-Exeunt EDMUND, REGAN, GONERIL, Officers, Banners, and Soldiers, L.

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 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.

[An alarum within,

Glost. Grace go with you, sir.

The fight grows hot; the whole war's now at work,

And the gor'd battle bleeds in every vein,