2739The knowledge of themselues.

2740Edg. Giue me your hand:

2741Farre off methinkes I heare the beaten Drumme.

2742Come Father, Ile bestow you with a Friend. Exeunt.

2745Cor. O thou good Kent,

2746How shall I liue and worke

2747To match thy goodnesse?

2748My life will be too short,

2749And euery measure faile me.

2750Kent. To be acknowledg'd Madam is ore-pai'd,

2751All my reports go with the modest truth,

2752Nor more, nor clipt, but so.

2753Cor. Be better suited,

2754These weedes are memories of those worser houres:

2755I prythee put them off.

2756Kent. Pardon deere Madam,

2757Yet to be knowne shortens my made intent,

2758My boone I make it, that you know me not,

2759Till time and I, thinke meet.

2760Cor. Then be't so my good Lord:

2761How do's the King?

2762Gent. Madam sleepes still.

2763Cor. O you kind Gods!

2764Cure this great breach in his abused Nature,

2765Th'vntun'd and iarring senses, O winde vp,

2766Of this childe-changed Father.

2767Gent. So please your Maiesty,

2768That we may wake the King, he hath slept long?

2769Cor. Be gouern'd by your knowledge, and proceede

2770I'th'sway of your owne will: is he array'd?

2772Gent. I Madam: in the heauinesse of sleepe,

2773We put fresh garments on him.

2774Be by good Madam when we do awake him,

2775I doubt of his Temperance.

2776Cor. O my deere Father, restauratian hang

2777Thy medicine on my lippes, and let this kisse

2778Repaire those violent harmes, that my two Sisters

2779Haue in thy Reuerence made.

2780Kent. Kind and deere Princesse.

2781Cor. Had you not bin their Father, these white flakes

2782Did challenge pitty of them. Was this a face

2783To be oppos'd against the iarring windes?

2784Mine Enemies dogge, though he had bit me,

2785Should haue stood that night against my fire,

2786And was't thou faine (poore Father)

2787To houell thee with Swine and Rogues forlorne,

2788In short, and musty straw? Alacke, alacke,

2789'Tis wonder that thy life and wits, at once

2790Had not concluded all. He wakes, speake to him.

2791Gen. Madam do you, 'tis fittest.

2792Cor. How does my Royall Lord?

2793How fares your Maiesty?

2794Lear. You do me wrong to take me out o'th'graue,

2795Thou art a Soule in blisse, but I am bound

2796Vpon a wheele of fire, that mine owne teares

2797Do scal'd, like molten Lead.

2798Cor. Sir, do you know me?

2799Lear. You are a spirit I know, where did you dye?

2800Cor. Still, still, farre wide.

2801Gen. He's scarse awake,

2802Let him alone a while.

2803Lear. Where haue I bin?

2804Where am I? Faire day light?

2805I am mightily abus'd; I should eu'n dye with pitty

2806To see another thus. I know not what to say:

2807I will not sweare these are my hands: let's see,

2808I feele this pin pricke, would I were assur'd

2809Of my condition.

2810Cor. O looke vpon me Sir,

2811And hold your hand in benediction o're me,

2812You must not kneele.

2813Lear. Pray do not mocke me:

2814I am a very foolish fond old man,

2815Fourescore and vpward,

2816Not an houre more, nor lesse:

2817And to deale plainely,

2818I feare I am not in my perfect mind.

2819Me thinkes I should know you, and know this man,

2820Yet I am doubtfull: For I am mainely ignorant

2821What place this is: and all the skill I haue

2822Remembers not these garments: nor I know not

2823Where I did lodge last night. Do not laugh at me,

2824For (as I am a man) I thinke this Lady

2825To be my childe Cordelia.

2826Cor. And so I am: I am.

2827Lear. Be your teares wet?

2828Yes faith: I pray weepe not,

2829If you haue poyson for me, I will drinke it:

2830I know you do not loue me, for your Sisters

2831Haue (as I do remember) done me wrong.

2832You haue some cause, they haue not.

2833Cor. No cause, no cause.

2834Lear. Am I in France?

2835Kent. In your owne kingdome Sir.

2836Lear. Do not abuse me.

2837Gent. Be comforted good Madam, the great rage

2838You see is kill'd in him: desire him to go in,

2839Trouble him no more till further setling.

2840Cor. Wilt please your Highnesse walke?

2841Lear. You must beare with me:

2842Pray you now forget, and forgiue,

2843I am old and foolish. Exeunt

2847Bast. Know of the Duke if his last purpose hold,

2848Or whether since he is aduis'd by ought

2849To change the course, he's full of alteration,

2850And selfe reprouing, bring his constant pleasure.

2851Reg. Our Sisters man is certainely miscarried.

2852Bast. 'Tis to be doubted Madam.

2853Reg. Now sweet Lord,