Kent. In your own kingdom, Sir."
Lear. Do not abuse me.

Phyf. Be comforted, good Madam; the great rage, You fee, is cur'd in him :—and, yet, 'twere danger To make him even o'er the time, h'as loft.

Defire him to go in; trouble him no more,
"Till further fettling.

Cor. Wilt please your Highness walk?
Lear. You must bear with me;

Pray you now, forget and forgive;

I am old and foolish.

[Exeunt Lear, Cord. Phyf. and Attendants.

Manent Kent and Gentleman.

Gent. Holds it true, Sir, that the Duke of Cornwall was fo flain'?

Kent. Moft certain, Sir.

Gent. Who is conductor of his people?

Kent. As 'tis faid, the baftard fon of Glofter... Gent. They fay, Edgar, his banifht fon, is with the Earl of Kent in Germany.

Kent. Report is changeable; 'tis time to look about i the powers of the kingdom approach apace.

Gent. The arbitrement is like to be bloody.

Fare you well, Sir.

[Exit Gent. Kent. My point and period will be throughly wrought, Or well, or ill, as this day's battle's fought. [Exit Kent.

ACT

A C T V.

SCENE, A Camp.

Enter Edmund, Regan, Gentleman, and Soldiers.

K

EDMUN D.

NOW of the Duke, if his laft purpose hold:
Or whether fince he is advis'd by aught,
To change the courfe? he's full of alteration,
And felf-reproving: bring his conftant pleasure.
Reg. Our fifter's man is certainly mifcarry'd.
Edm. '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?

Edm. In honour'd love.

Reg. But have you never

To the fore-fended place?

found my brother's way

Edm. No, by mine honour, Madam.

Reg. I never fhall endure her; dear my Lord, Be not familiar with her.

Edm. Fear not; fhe, and the Duke her husband

Enter Albany, Gonerill, and Soldiers.

Gon. I'd rather lofe the battle, than that fifter Should loofen him and me.

[Afide.

Alb. Our very loving fifter, well be met:
Sir, this I hear, 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 honest,
I never yet was valiant: 'fore this business,
It toucheth us, as France invades our land,

(Not

(Not holds the King, with others, whom I fear,
Moft juft and heavy caufes make oppofe,)
Edm. Sir, you fpeak nobly.

Reg. Why is this reason'd'?

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

Edm. I fhall attend you prefently at your tent.
Alb. Let's then determine with th' Antient of war
On our proceeding.

Reg. Sifter, you'll go with us?

Gon. No.

Reg. 'Tis most convenient, pray you, go with us. Gon. Oh, ho, I know the riddle, I will go.

As they are going out, Enter Edgar difguis'd.

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

If

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

[Exeunt Edm. Reg. Gon. and Attendants. Edg. Before you fight the battle, ope this letter. you have vict❜ry, let the trumpet found 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 fo an end, Fortune love you! Alb. Stay 'till I've read the letter.

And machination ceases.

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.

Re-enter Edmund.

Edm. 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.

Alb. We will greet the time.

[Exit.

Edm. To both these fifters have I fworn my love:
Each jealous of the other, as the ftung

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,
Exasperates, makes mad her fifter Gonerill;
And hardly fhall I carry out my fide,

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 fpeedy taking off. As for the mercy
Which he intends to Lear and to Cordelia,
The battle done, and they within our power,
Shall never fee his pardon for my state
Stands on me to defend, not to debate.

SCENE, another open Field.

[Exit.

Alarm within. Enter with drum and colours, Lear, Cordelia, and foldiers over the frage, 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.

[Alarm, 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 ev'n here. Edg. What, in ill thoughts again? men must endure Their going hence, ev'n as their coming hither:

Ripenefs

Ripenefs is all; come on.

Glo. And that's true too.

[Exeunt.

Enter in Conqueft, with Drum and Colours, Edmund; Lear and Cordelia, as prisoners; Soldiers, Captain.

4

Edm. Some officers take them away; good guard, Until their greater pleasures first 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, am I caft down;
Myfelf could elfe out-frown falfe fortune's frown.
Shall we not see these 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 dost ask me bleffing, I'll kneel down,
And ask of thee forgivenefs: 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 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.

Edm. Take them away.

Lear. Upon fuch facrifices, my Cordelia,

The Gods themselves throw incenfe. Havel caught thee?
He that parts us, fhall bring a brand from heav'n,
And fire us hence, like foxes; wipe thine eye,
The good-jers fhall devour them, flesh and fell,
Ere they shall make us weep; we'll fee them ftarv'd first.
Come.
[Exeunt Lear and Cordelia guarded.
Edm. Come hither, Captain, hark.

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

Does