2940Bast. Some Officers take them away: good guard,

2941Vntill their greater pleasures first be knowne

2942That are to censure them.

2943Cor. We are not the first,

2944Who with best meaning haue incurr'd the worst:

2945For thee oppressed King I am cast downe,

2946My selfe could else out-frowne false Fortunes frowne.

2947Shall we not see these Daughters, and these Sisters?

2948Lear. No, no, no, no: come let's away to prison,

2949We two alone will sing like Birds i'th'Cage:

2950When thou dost aske me blessing, Ile kneele downe

2951And aske of thee forgiuenesse: So wee'l liue,

2952And pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and laugh

2953At gilded Butterflies: and heere (poore Rogues)

2954Talke of Court newes, and wee'l talke with them too,

2955Who looses, and who wins; who's in, who's out;

2956And take vpon's the mystery of things,

2957As if we were Gods spies: And wee'l weare out

2958In a wall'd prison, packs and sects of great ones,

2959That ebbe and flow by th'Moone.

2960Bast. Take them away.

2961Lear. Vpon such sacrifices my Cordelia,

2962The Gods themselues throw Incense.

2963Haue I caught thee?

2964He that parts vs, shall bring a Brand from Heauen,

2965And fire vs hence, like Foxes: wipe thine eyes,

2966The good yeares shall deuoure them, flesh and fell,

2967Ere they shall make vs weepe?

2968Weele see e'm staru'd first: come. Exit.

2969Bast. Come hither Captaine, hearke.

2970Take thou this note, go follow them to prison,

2971One step I haue aduanc'd thee, if thou do'st

2972As this instructs thee, thou dost make thy way

2973To Noble Fortunes: know thou this, that men

2974Are as the time is; to be tender minded

2975Do's not become a Sword, thy great imployment

2976Will not beare question: either say thou'lt do't,

2977Or thriue by other meanes.

2978Capt. Ile do't my Lord.

2979Bast. About it, and write happy, when th'hast done,

2980Marke I say instantly, and carry it so

2981As I haue set it downe. Exit Captaine.

2983Alb. Sir, you haue shew'd to day your valiant straine

2984And Fortune led you well: you haue the Captiues

2985Who were the opposites of this dayes strife:

2986I do require them of you so to vse them,

2987As we shall find their merites, and our safety

2988May equally determine.

2989Bast. Sir, I thought it fit,

2990To send the old and miserable King to some retention,

2991Whose age had Charmes in it, whose Title more,

2992To plucke the common bosome on his side,

2993And turne our imprest Launces in our eies

2994Which do command them. With him I sent the Queen:

2995My reason all the same, and they are ready

2996To morrow, or at further space, t' appeare

2997Where you shall hold your Session.

2998Alb. Sir, by your patience,

2999I hold you but a subiect of this Warre,

3000Not as a Brother.

3001Reg. That's as we list to grace him.

3002Methinkes our pleasure might haue bin demanded

3003Ere you had spoke so farre. He led our Powers,

3004Bore the Commission of my place and person,

3005The which immediacie may well stand vp,

3006And call it selfe your Brother.

3007Gon. Not so hot:

3008In his owne grace he doth exalt himselfe,

3009More then in your addition.

3010Reg. In my rights,

3011By me inuested, he compeeres the best.

3012Alb. That were the most, if he should husband you.

3013Reg. Iesters do oft proue Prophets.

3014Gon. Hola, hola,

3015That eye that told you so, look'd but a squint.

3016Rega. Lady I am not well, else I should answere

3017From a full flowing stomack. Generall,

3018Take thou my Souldiers, prisoners, patrimony,

3019Dispose of them, of me, the walls is thine:

3020Witnesse the world, that I create thee heere

3021My Lord, and Master.

3022Gon. Meane you to enioy him?

3023Alb. The let alone lies not in your good will.

3024Bast. Nor in thine Lord.

3025Alb. Halfe-blooded fellow, yes.

3026Reg. Let the Drum strike, and proue my title thine.

3027Alb. Stay yet, heare reason: Edmund, I arrest thee

3028On capitall Treason; and in thy arrest,

3029This guilded Serpent: for your claime faire Sisters,

3030I bare it in the interest of my wife,

3031'Tis she is sub-contracted to this Lord,

3032And I her husband contradict your Banes.

3033If you will marry, make your loues to me,

3034My Lady is bespoke.

3035Gon. An enterlude.

3036Alb. Thou art armed Gloster,

3037Let the Trmpet sound:

3038If none appeare to proue vpon thy person,

3039Thy heynous, manifest, and many Treasons,

3040There is my pledge: Ile make it on thy heart

3041Ere I taste bread, thou art in nothing lesse

3042Then I haue heere proclaim'd thee.

3043Reg. Sicke, O sicke.

3044Gon. If not, Ile nere trust medicine.

3045Bast. There's my exchange, what in the world hes

3046That names me Traitor, villain-like he lies,

3047Call by the Trumpet: he that dares approach;

3048On him, on you, who not, I will maintaine

3049My truth and honor firmely.

3051Alb. A Herald, ho.

3052Trust to thy single vertue, for thy Souldiers

3053All leuied in my name, haue in my name

3054Tooke their discharge.

3055Regan. My sicknesse growes vpon me.

3056Alb. She is not well, conuey her to my Tent.

3057Come hither Herald, let the Trumper sound,

3058And read out this. A Tumpet sounds.

3060 If any man of qualitie or degree, within the lists of the Ar-

3061my, will maintaine vpon Edmund, supposed Earle of Gloster,

3062that he is a manifold Traitor, let him appeare by the third

3063sound of the Trumpet: he is bold in his defence. 1 Trumpet.

3064Her. Againe. 2 Trumpet.

3065Her. Againe. 3 Trumpet.

3068Alb. Aske him his purposes, why he appeares

3069Vpon this Call o'th'Trumpet.

3070Her. What are you?

3071Your name, your quality, and why you answer

3072This present Summons?

3073Edg. Know my name is lost

3074By Treasons tooth: bare-gnawne, and Canker-bit,

3075Yet am I Noble as the Aduersary

3076I come to cope.

3077Alb. Which is that Aduersary?

3078Edg. What's he that speakes for Edmund Earle of Glo- (ster?

3079Bast. Himselfe, what saist thou to him?

3080Edg. Draw thy Sword,

3081That if my speech offend a Noble heart,

3082Thy arme may do thee Iustice, heere is mine:

3083Behold it is my priuiledge,

3084The priuiledge of mine Honours,

3085My oath, and my profession. I protest,

3086Maugre thy strength, place, youth, and eminence,

3087Despise thy victor-Sword, and fire new Fortune,

3088Thy valor, and thy heart, thou art a Traitor:

3089False to thy Gods, thy Brother, and thy Father,

3090Conspirant 'gainst this high illustirous Prince,

3091And from th'extremest vpward of thy head,

3092To the discent and dust below thy foote,

3093A most Toad-spotted Traitor. Say thou no,

3094This Sword, this arme, and my best spirits are bent

3095To proue vpon thy heart, whereto I speake,

3096Thou lyest.

3097Bast. In wisedome I should aske thy name,

3098But since thy out-side lookes so faire and Warlike,

3099And that thy tongue (some say) of breeding breathes,

3100What safe, and nicely I might well delay,

3101By rule of Knight-hood, I disdaine and spurne:

3102Backe do I tosse these Treasons to thy head,

3103With the hell-hated Lye, ore-whelme thy heart,

3104Which for they yet glance by, and scarely bruise,

3105This Sword of mine shall giue them instant way,

3106Where they shall rest for euer. Trumpets speake.

3107Alb. Saue him, saue him. Alarums. Fights.

3108Gon. This is practise Gloster,

3109By th'law of Warre, thou wast not bound to answer

3110An vnknowne opposite: thou art not vanquish'd,

3111But cozend, and beguild.

3112Alb. Shut your mouth Dame,

3113Or with this paper shall I stop it: hold Sir,

3114Thou worse then any name, reade thine owne euill:

3115No tearing Lady, I perceiue you know it.

3116Gon. Say if I do, the Lawes are mine not thine,

3117Who can araigne me for't? Exit.

3118Alb. Most monstrous! O, know'st thou this paper?

3119Bast. Aske me not what I know.

3120Alb. Go after her, she's desperate, gouerne her.

3121Bast. What you haue charg'd me with,

3122That haue I done,

3123And more, much more, the time will bring it out.

3124'Tis past, and so am I: But what art thou

3125That hast this Fortune on me? If thou'rt Noble,

3126I do forgiue thee.

3127Edg. Let's exchange charity:

3128I am no lesse in blood then thou art Edmond,

3129If more, the more th'hast wrong'd me.

3130My name is Edgar and thy Fathers Sonne,

3131The Gods are iust, and of our pleasant vices

3132Make instruments to plague vs:

3133The darke and vitious place where thee he got,

3134Cost him his eyes.

3135Bast. Th'hast spoken right, 'tis true,

3136The Wheele is come full circle, I am heere.

3137Alb. Me thought thy very gate did prophesie

3138A Royall Noblenesse: I must embrace thee,

3139Let sorrow split my heart, if euer I

3140Did hate thee, or thy father.

3141Edg. Worthy Prince I know't.

3142Alb. Where haue you hid your selfe?

3143How haue you knowne the miseries of your Father?

3144Edg. By nursing them my Lord. List a breefe tale,

3145And when 'tis told, O that my heart would burst.

3146The bloody proclamation to escape

3147That follow'd me so neere, (O our liues sweetnesse,

3148That we the paine of death would hourely dye,

3149Rather then die at once) taught me to shift

3150Into a mad-mans rags, t'assume a semblance

3151That very Dogges disdain'd: and in this habit

3152Met I my Father with his bleeding Rings,

3153Their precious Stones new lost: became his guide,

3154Led him, begg'd for him, sau'd him from dispaire.

3155Neuer (O fault) reueal'd my selfe vnto him,

3156Vntill some halfe houre past when I was arm'd,

3157Not sure, though hoping of this good successe,

3158I ask'd his blessing, and from first to last

3159Told him our pilgrimage. But his flaw'd heart

3160(Alacke too weake the conflict to support)

3161Twixt two extremes of passion, ioy and greefe,

3162Burst smilingly.

3163Bast. This speech of yours hath mou'd me,

3164And shall perchance do good, but speake you on,

3165You looke as you had something more to say.

3166Alb. If there be more, more wofull, hold it in,

3167For I am almost ready to dissolue,

3168Hearing of this.

3170Gen. Helpe, helpe: O helpe.

3171Edg. What kinde of helpe?

3172Alb. Speake man.

3173Edg. What meanes this bloody Knife?

3174Gen. 'Tis hot, it smoakes, it came euen from the heart

3175of----O she's dead.

3176Alb. Who dead? Speake man.

3177Gen. Your Lady Sir, your Lady; and her Sister

3178By her is poyson'd: she confesses it.

3179Bast. I was contracted to them both, all three

3180Now marry in an instant.

3181Edg. Here comes Kent.

3183Alb. Produce the bodies, be they aliue or dead;

3185This iudgement of the Heauens that makes vs tremble.

3186Touches vs not with pitty: O, is this he?

3187The time will not allow the complement

3188Which very manners vrges.

3189Kent. I am come

3190To bid my King and Master aye good night.

3191Is he not here?

3192Alb. Great thing of vs forgot,

3193Speake Edmund, where's the King? and where's Cordelia?

3194Seest thou this obiect Kent?

3195Kent. Alacke, why thus?

3196Bast. Yet Edmund was belou'd:

3197The one the other poison'd for my sake,

3198And after slew herselfe.

3199Alb. Euen so: couer their faces.

3200Bast. I pant for life: some good I meane to do

3201Despight of mine owne Nature. Quickly send,

3202(Be briefe in it) to'th'Castle, for my Writ

3203Is on the life of Lear, and on Cordelia:

3204Nay, send in time.

3205Alb. Run, run, O run.

3206Edg. To who my Lord? Who ha's the Office?

3207Send thy token of repreeue.

3208Bast. Well thought on, take my Sword,

3209Giue it the Captaine.

3210Edg. Hast thee for thy life.

3211Bast. He hath Commission from thy Wife and me,

3212To hang Cordelia in the prison, and

3213To lay the blame vpon her owne dispaire,

3214That she for-did her selfe.

3215Alb. The Gods defend her, beare him hence awhile.

3217Lear. Howle, howle, howle: O your are men of stones,

3218Had I your tongues and eyes, Il'd vse them so,

3219That Heauens vault should crack: she's gone for euer.

3220I know when one is dead, and when one liues,

3221She's dead as earth: Lend me a Looking-glasse,

3222If that her breath will mist or staine the stone,

3223Why then she liues.

3224Kent. Is this the promis'd end?

3225Edg. Or image of that horror.

3226Alb. Fall and cease.

3227Lear. This feather stirs , she liues: if it be so,

3228It is a chance which do's redeeme all sorrowes

3229That euer I haue felt.

3230Kent. O my good Master.

3231Lear. Prythee away.

3232Edg. 'Tis Noble Kent your Friend.

3233Lear. A plague vpon you Murderors, Traitors all,

3234I might haue sau'd her, now she's gone for euer:

3235Cordelia, Cordelia, stay a little. Ha:

3236What is't thou saist? Her voice was euer soft,

3237Gentle, and low, an excellent thing in woman.

3238I kill'd the Slaue that was a hanging thee.

3239Gent. 'Tis true (my Lords) he did.

3240Lear. Did I not fellow?

3241I haue seene the day, with my good biting Faulchion

3242I would haue made him skip: I am old now,

3243And these same crosses spoile me. Who are you?

3244Mine eyes are not o'th'best, Ile tell you straight.

3245Kent. If Fortune brag of two, she lou'd and hated,

3246One of them we behold.

3247Lear. This is a dull sight, are you not Kent?

3248Kent. The same: your Seruant Kent,

3249Where is your Seruant Caius?

3250Lear. He's a good fellow, I can tell you that,

3251He'le strike and quickly too, he's dead and rotten.

3252Kent. No my good Lord, I am the very man.

3253Lear. Ile see that straight.

3254Kent. That from your first of difference and decay,

3255Haue follow'd your sad steps.

3256Lear. Your are welcome hither.

3257Kent. Nor no man else:

3258All's cheerlesse, darke, and deadly,

3259Your eldest Daughters haue fore-done themselues,

3260And desperately are dead

3261Lear. I so I thinke.

3262Alb. He knowes not what he saies, and vaine is it

3263That we present vs to him.

3265Edg. Very bootlesse.

3266Mess. Edmund is dead my Lord.

3267Alb. That's but a trifle heere:

3268You Lords and Noble Friends, know our intent,

3269What comfort to this great decay may come,

3270Shall be appli'd. For vs we will resigne,

3271During the life of this old Maiesty

3272To him our absolute power, you to your rights,

3273With boote, and such addition as your Honours

3274Haue more then merited. All Friends shall

3275Taste the wages of their vertue, and all Foes

3276The cup of their deseruings: O see, see.

3277Lear. And my poore Foole is hang'd: no, no, no life?

3278Why should a Dog, a Horse, a Rat haue life,

3279And thou no breath at all? Thou'lt come no more,

3280Neuer, neuer, neuer, neuer, neuer.

3281Pray you vndo this Button. Thanke you Sir,

3282Do you see this? Looke on her? Looke her lips,

3283Looke there, looke there. He dies.

3284Edg. He faints, my Lord, my Lord.

3285Kent. Breake heart, I prythee breake.

3286Edg. Looke vp my Lord.

3287Kent. Vex not his ghost, O let him passe, he hates him,

3288That would vpon the wracke of this tough world

3289Stretch him out longer.

3290Edg. He is gon indeed.

3291Kent. The wonder is, he hath endur'd so long,

3292He but vsurpt his life.

3293Alb. Beare them from hence, our present businesse

3294Is generall woe : Friends of my soule, you twaine,

3295Rule in this Realme, and the gor'd state sustaine.

3296Kent. I haue a iourney Sir, shortly to go,

3297My Master calls me, I must not say no.

3298Edg. The waight of this sad time we must obey,

3299Speake what we feele, not what we ought to say:

3300The oldest hath borne most, we that are yong,

3301Shall neuer see so much, nor liue so long.