5.3.0.22938Enter, in conquest with drum and colors, Edmund [the Bastard]; Lear, 2939and Cordelia, as prisoners; soldiers, Captain. Some officers take them away. Good guard,
5.3.22941Until their greater pleasures first be known
That are to censure them. We are not the first
5.3.42944Who, with best meaning, have incurred the worst.
5.3.52945For thee, oppressèd king I am cast down;
5.3.62946Myself could else out-frown false fortune's frown.
5.3.72947Shall we not see these daughters and these sisters?
No, no, no, no. Come, let's away to prison.
5.3.92949We two alone will sing like birds i'th'cage.
5.3.102950When thou dost ask me blessing, I'll kneel down
5.3.112951And ask of thee forgiveness; so we'll live,
5.3.122952And pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and laugh
5.3.132953At gilded butterflies, and hear poor rogues
5.3.142954Talk of court news; and we'll talk with them too--
5.3.152955Who loses and who wins, who's in, who's out,
5.3.172957As if we were gods' spies; and we'll wear out,
5.3.182958In a walled prison, packs and sects of great ones
That ebb and flow by th'moon. [To soldiers] Take them away.
Upon such sacrifices, my Cordelia,
The gods themselves throw incense. 2963Have I caught thee?
5.3.222964He that parts us shall bring a brand from heaven
5.3.232965And fire us hence, like foxes. Wipe thine eyes.
5.3.242966The goodyears shall devour them, flesh and fell,
5.3.26.1Exeunt [Lear and Cordelia, guarded]. Come hither captain, hark. [Handing him a paper]
5.3.282970Take thou this note. Go follow them to prison.
5.3.292971One step I have advanced thee; if thou dost
5.3.302972As this instructs thee, thou dost make thy way
5.3.312973To noble fortunes. Know thou this, that men
5.3.332975Does not become a sword. Thy great employment
5.3.342976Will not bear question. Either say thou'lt do't,
Or thrive by other means. I'll do't, my lord.
About it, and write "happy" when th'hast done.
[To the Bastard] Sir, you have showed today your valiant strain
5.3.402984And fortune led you well. You have the captives
5.3.412985Who were the opposites of this day's strife.
5.3.422986I do require them of you, so to use them
5.3.432987As we shall find their merits and our safety
May equally determine. Sir, I thought it fit
5.3.452990To send the old and miserable King to some retention,
5.3.462991Whose age had charms in it, whose title more,
5.3.482993And turn our impressèd lances in our eyes
5.3.492994Which do command them. With him I sent the queen--
5.3.502995My reason all the same--and they are ready
Sir, by your patience,
Not as a brother. That's as we list to grace him.
5.3.563002Methinks our pleasure might have been demanded
5.3.573003Ere you had spoke so far. He led our powers,
5.3.583004Bore the commission of my place and person,
And call itself your brother. Not so hot.
More than in your addition. In my rights,
That were the most, if he should husband you.
Jesters do oft prove prophets.
Jesters do oft prove prophets. Hola, hola!
5.3.663015That eye that told you so looked but asquint.
Lady, I am not well, else I should answer
5.3.683017From a full-flowing stomach.
[To the Bastard] General,
5.3.693018Take thou my soldiers, prisoners, patrimony;
5.3.703019Dispose of them, of me. The walls are thine.
5.3.713020Witness the world that I create thee here
My lord and master. Mean you to enjoy him?
The let-alone lies not in your good will.
Nor in thine, lord.
Nor in thine, lord. Half-blooded fellow, yes.
[To Edmund] Let the drum strike, and prove my title thine.
Stay yet, hear reason. Edmund, I arrest thee
5.3.783029[Indicating Goneril] This gilded serpent.
[To Regan] For your claim, fair sister,
5.3.813032And I, her husband, contradict your banns.
5.3.823033If you will marry, make your loves to me--
My lady is bespoke. An interlude!
Thou art armed, Gloucester.
3037Let the trumpet sound.
5.3.863039Thy heinous, manifest, and many treasons,
5.3.873040There is my pledge. I'll make it on thy heart,
5.3.883041Ere I taste bread, thou art in nothing less
Sick, oh sick.
Sick, oh sick. [Aside] If not, I'll ne'er trust medicine.
[Throwing down a glove] There's my exchange. What in the world he is
5.3.923046That names me traitor, villain-like he lies.
5.3.933047Call by the trumpet. He that dares approach,
5.3.943048On him, on you--who not?--I will maintain
My truth and honor firmly. A herald, ho!
5.3.963052[To the Bastard] Trust to thy single virtue, for thy soldiers,
Took their discharge. My sickness grows upon me.
She is not well. Convey her to my tent.
"If any man of quality or degree within the lists of the
30612771army will maintain upon Edmund, supposed Earl of Gloucester,
30622772that he is a manifold traitor, let him appear by the third
3063sound
2773of the trumpet. He is bold in his defense."
Again!
Again!
Ask him his purposes; why he appears
Upon this call o'th'trumpet. What are you?
This present summons. Know my name is lost,
I come to cope. Which is that adversary?
What's he that speaks for Edmund, Earl of Gloucester?
Himself. What sayest thou to him?
Himself. What sayest thou to him? Draw thy sword
5.3.1193086Maugre thy strength, place, youth, and eminence,
5.3.1203087Despite thy victor-sword and fire-new fortune,
5.3.1213088Thy valor and thy heart--thou art a traitor,
5.3.1223089False to thy gods, thy brother, and thy father;
5.3.1233090Conspirant 'gainst this high, illustrious prince,
5.3.1273094This sword, this arm, and my best spirits are bent
Thou liest. In wisdom I should ask thy name,
5.3.1303098But since thy outside looks so fair and warlike,
5.3.1313099And that thy tongue some say of breeding breathes,
5.3.1353103With the hell-hated lie o'erwhelm thy heart,
5.3.1363104Which, for they yet glance by and scarcely bruise,
5.3.1373105This sword of mine shall give them instant way
5.3.1383106Where they shall rest for ever. Trumpets, speak!
5.3.138.1Alarums. Fights. [The Bastard is wounded.] [To Edgar] Save him, save him.
[To Edgar] Save him, save him. This is practice, Gloucester.
But cozened and beguiled. Shut your mouth, dame,
5.3.1433113Or with this paper shall I stop it.--Hold, sir--
5.3.1443114[To Goneril, giving her the letter] Thou, worse than any name, read thine own evil.
Say if I do, the laws are mine not thine.
Who can arraign me for't? Most monstrous!
5.3.148[To Edmund] Oh, know'st thou this paper?
[To Edmund] Oh, know'st thou this paper? Ask me not what I know.
[To an attendant] Go after her. She's desperate--govern her.
What you have charged me with,
3122that have I done,
5.3.1523124'Tis past, and so am I.
[To Edgar] But what art thou
5.3.1533125That hast this fortune on me? If thou'rt noble,
I do forgive thee. Let's exchange charity.
5.3.1553128I am no less in blood than thou art, Edmund;
5.3.1583131The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices
Cost him his eyes. Th'hast spoken right, 'tis true.
[To Edgar] Methought thy very gait did prophesy
Did hate thee or thy father. Worthy prince, I know't.
Where have you hid yourself?
5.3.1683143How have you known the miseries of your father?
By nursing them, my lord. List a brief tale,
5.3.1703145And when 'tis told, oh, that my heart would burst.
5.3.1723147That followed me so near--oh, our life's sweetness,
5.3.1783153Their precious stones new lost, became his guide,
5.3.1793154Led him, begged for him, saved him from despair.
5.3.1823157Not sure, though hoping of this good success,
5.3.1833158I asked his blessing, and from first to last
5.3.1843159Told him our pilgrimage. But his flawed heart,
5.3.1863161'Twixt two extremes of passion, joy and grief,
Burst smilingly. This speech of yours hath moved me,
5.3.1883164And shall perchance do good; but speak you on,
If there be more, more woeful, hold it in,
Help, help, oh help!
What kind of help?
Speak, man.
What means this bloody knife?
What means this bloody knife? 'Tis hot, it smokes.
5.3.197It came even from the heart
3175of--oh she's dead.
Who dead? Speak, man.
Your lady, sir, your lady; and her sister
I was contracted to them both. All three
Now marry in an instant. Here comes Kent.
Produce the bodies, be they alive or dead.
5.3.2043185This judgment of the heavens that makes us tremble
Which very manners urges. I am come
Is he not here? Great thing of us forgot.
5.3.2103193Speak, Edmund, where's the King, and where's Cordelia?
Seest thou this object, Kent? Alack, why thus?
Yet Edmund was beloved.
Even so. Cover their faces.
I pant for life. Some good I mean to do
Nay, send in time. Run, run, Oh, run!
To who my lord? Who has the office?
Well thought on. Take my sword.
3209Give it the captain.
Haste thee for thy life.
He hath commission from thy wife and me
The gods defend her. Bear him hence awhile.
5.3.229.13216Enter Lear with Cordelia in his arms [followed by the Gentleman]. Howl, howl, howl. Oh, you are men of stones.
5.3.2323219That heaven's vault should crack. She's gone for ever.
5.3.2343221She's dead as earth. Lend me a looking-glass.
5.3.2353222If that her breath will mist or stain the stone,
Why then she lives. Is this the promised end?
Or image of that horror?
Or image of that horror? Fall and cease.
This feather stirs--she lives. If it be so,
5.3.2393228It is a chance which does redeem all sorrows
That ever I have felt. O my good master.
Prithee, away.
Prithee, away. 'Tis noble Kent, your friend.
A plague upon you murderers, traitors all.
5.3.2433234I might have saved her. Now she's gone for ever.
5.3.2453236What is't thou sayest? Her voice was ever soft,
5.3.2463237Gentle and low, an excellent thing in woman.
'Tis true, my lords, he did.
'Tis true, my lords, he did. Did I not, fellow?
5.3.2493241I have seen the day, with my good biting falchion
5.3.2513243And these same crosses spoil me.
[To Kent] Who are you?
5.3.2523244Mine eyes are not o'th'best, I'll tell you straight.
If fortune brag of two she loved and hated,
This is a dull sight. Are you not Kent?
The same; your servant Kent.
3249Where is your servant Caius?
He's a good fellow, I can tell you that.
5.3.2583251He'll strike, and quickly too. He's dead and rotten.
No, my good lord, I am the very man--
I'll see that straight.
That from your first of difference and decay
Have followed your sad steps. You are welcome hither.
Nor no man else.
3258All's cheerless, dark, and deadly.
And desperately are dead. Ay, so I think.
He knows not what he says, and vain is it
That we present us to him. Very bootless.
Edmund is dead, my lord.
Edmund is dead, my lord. That's but a trifle here.
5.3.2693268You lords and noble friends, know our intent.
5.3.2733272To him our absolute power.
[To Edgar and Kent] You to your rights
5.3.2763275Taste the wages of their virtue, and all foes
And my poor fool is hanged. No, no, no life?
5.3.2803279And thou no breath at all? Thou'lt come no more,
5.3.2833282Do you see this? Look on her. Look, her lips--
Look there, look there. He faints. My lord, my lord!
Break heart, I prithee break.
Break heart, I prithee break. Look up, my lord.
Vex not his ghost. O let him pass. He hates him
5.3.2873288That would upon the rack of this tough world
Stretch him out longer. He is gone indeed.
The wonder is he hath endured so long;
Bear them from hence. Our present business
5.3.2923294Is general woe.
[To Kent and Edgar] Friends of my soul, you twain
5.3.2933295Rule in this realm, and the gored state sustain.
I have a journey, sir, shortly to go.
The weight of this sad time we must obey,
5.3.2973299Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say.
5.3.2983300The oldest hath borne most; we that are young