29382657Enter [the Bastard] Edmund, with Lear 2939and Cordelia prisoners, [a captain, and soldiers]. Some officers take them away. Good guard,
29412659Until their greater pleasures best be known
That are to censure them. We are not the first
2944Who, with best meaning, have incurred
2662the worst.
2945For thee, oppressèd king am I cast down;
29462663Myself could else out-frown false fortune's frown.
29472664Shall we not see these daughters and these sisters?
No, no. Come, let's away to prison.
29492666We two alone will sing like birds i'th'cage.
29502667When thou dost ask me blessing, I'll kneel down
29512668And ask of thee forgiveness; so we'll live,
29522669And pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and laugh
29532670At gilded butterflies, and hear poor rogues
29542671Talk of court news; and we'll talk with them too--
29552672Who loses and who wins, who's in, who's out,
29562673And take upon's the mystery of things
29572674As if we were gods' spies; and we'll wear out,
29582675In 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,
29622679The gods themselves throw incense.
[Embracing Cordelia]
The gods themselves throw incense. 2963Have I caught thee?
29642680He that parts us shall bring a brand from heaven,
29652681And fire us hence like foxes. Wipe thine eyes.
29662682The goodyears shall devour 'em, flesh and fell,
29672683Ere they shall make us weep.
2968We'll see 'em starve first.
Come.
[Exeunt Lear and Cordelia, guarded.]
Come hither captain, hark. [Handing him a paper]
29702685Take thou this note. Go follow them to prison.
29712686One step I have advanced thee; if thou dost
29722687As this instructs thee, thou dost make thy way
29732688To noble fortunes. Know thou this, that men
29742689Are as the time is. To be tender-minded
29752690Does not become a sword. Thy great employment
29762691Will 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 thou hast done.
29802695Mark--I say instantly, and carry it so
I cannot draw a cart, nor eat dried oats.
29822699Enter [the] Duke [of Albany], the two ladies [Goneril and Regan], and others. [To the Bastard] Sir, you have showed today your valiant strain,
29842701And fortune led you well. You have the captives
29852702That were the opposites of this day's strife.
29862703We do require them of you, so to use them
29872704As we shall find their merits and our safety
May equally determine. Sir, I thought it fit
29902707To send the old and miserable King
To some retention and
62 appointed guard;
62.1 29912708Whose age has charms in it, whose title more,
29922709To pluck the common bosom on his side,
29932710And turn our impressèd lances in our eyes
29942711Which do command them. With him I sent the Queen--
29952712My reason all the same--and they are ready
2996tomorrow,
2713Or at further space, to appear
2997where you shall hold
2715The friend hath lost his friend, and the best quarrels
2997.22716In the heat are cursed by those that feel their sharpness.
Requires a fitter place. Sir, by your patience,
29992720I hold you but a subject of this war,
Not as a brother. That's as we list to grace him.
30022722Methinks our pleasure should have been demanded
30032723Ere you had spoke so far. He led our powers,
30042724Bore the commission of my place and person,
30052725The which immediate may well stand up
And call itself your brother. Not so hot.
3008In his own grace he doth exalt himself
More than in your advancement. In my right,
3011By me invested, he compeers the best.
That were the most, if he should husband you.
Jesters do oft prove prophets.
Jesters do oft prove prophets. Hola, hola!
3015That eye that told you so looked but asquint.
Lady, I am not well, else I should answer
30172734From a full-flowing stomach.
[To the Bastard] General,
30182735Take thou my soldiers, prisoners, patrimony.
3019Dispose of them, of me. The walls are thine.
30202736Witness the world that I create thee here
My lord and master. Mean you to enjoy him then?
The let-alone lies not in your good will.
Nor in thine, lord.
Nor in thine, lord. Half-blooded fellow, yes.
Let the drum strike, and prove my title good.
Stay yet, hear reason. Edmund, I arrest thee
30282744On capital treason, and in thine attaint
30292745[Indicating Goneril] This gilded serpent.
[To Regan] For your claim, fair sister,
30302746I bar it in the interest of my wife.
30312747'Tis she is subcontracted to this lord,
30322748And I, her husband, contradict the banns.
30332749If you will marry, make your love to me--
Albany
5757.1Thou art armed, Gloucester.
3037Let the trumpet sound. 30382751If none appear to prove upon thy head
30392752Thy heinous, manifest, and many treasons,
[Throwing down a glove]
30402753There is my pledge. I'll prove it on thy heart,
30412754Ere I taste bread, thou art in nothing less
30422755Than I have here proclaimed thee.
Sick, oh sick.
Sick, oh sick. [Aside] If not, I'll ne'er trust poison.
[Throwing down a glove] There's my exchange. What in the world he is
30462759That names me traitor, villain-like he lies.
30472760Call by thy trumpet. He that dares approach,
30482761On him, on you--who not?--I will maintain
My truth and honor firmly. A herald, ho!
A herald, ho, a herald!
63.1 [To the Bastard] Trust to thy single virtue, for thy soldiers,
30532765All levied in my name, have in my name
3054Took their discharge.
Took their discharge. This sickness grows upon me.
She is not well. Convey her to my tent.
[Exit Regan, supported.]
30572768Come hither herald. Let the trumpet sound,
Sound trumpet!
[Trumpet sounds]
[Reads]
"If any man of quality or degree, in the host of the
27713061army, will maintain upon Edmund, supposed Earl of Gloucester,
30622772that he's a manifold traitor, let him appear at the third
3063sound
2773of the trumpet. He is bold in his defense."
Sound!
[Trumpet sounds]
[Trumpet sounds]
30672775Enter Edgar at the third sound, a trumpeter before him. Ask him his purposes; why he appears
What are you?
3071Your name and quality,
2779And why you answer
3072this present summons.
Oh, know my name is lost,
3074by treason's tooth
2781Bare-gnawn and canker-bit.
3075Yet, ere I move't,
To cope withal?
To cope withal? 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,
30812787That if my speech offend a noble heart
3082Thy arm
2788may do thee justice. Here is mine.
[Draws his sword.]
30852790My oath, and my profession. I protest,
30862791Maugre thy strength, youth, place and eminence,
30872792Despite thy victor-sword and fire-new fortune,
30882793Thy valor and thy heart--thou art a traitor,
30892794False to thy gods, thy brother, and thy father;
30902795Conspirant 'gainst this high, illustrious prince,
30912796And from th'extremest upward of thy head
30922797To the descent and dust beneath thy feet
30932798A most toad-spotted traitor. Say thou no,
30942799This sword, this arm, and my best spirits
2800are bent
3095To prove upon thy heart whereto I speak
Thou liest. In wisdom I should ask thy name,
30982802But since thy outside looks so fair and warlike,
30992803And that thy being some say of breeding breathes,
3100What safe and nicely I might well delay
3101By 59right of knighthood, I disdain and spurn.
31022805Here do I toss those treasons to thy head,
31032806With the hell-hated lie o'erturn thy heart,
31042807Which, for they yet glance by and scarcely bruise,
31052808This sword of mine shall give them instant way
31062809Where they shall rest for ever. Trumpets, speak!
[Trumpet sounds. They fight, and the Bastard is wounded.]
[To Edgar] Save him, save him.
[To Edgar] Save him, save him. This is mere practice, Gloucester.
3109By the law of arms
2812thou art not bound to answer
3110An unknown opposite.
2813Thou art not vanquished,
3111But cozened and beguiled.
But cozened and beguiled. Stop your mouth, dame,
3113Or with this paper shall I stopple
2815it.
3114[Giving her the letter] Thou worse than anything, read thine own evil.
3115Nay, no
2816tearing, lady, I perceive you know't.
Say if I do, the laws are mine not thine.
3117Who shall arraign me for't?
Most monstrous! [To Goneril] Know'st thou this paper?
Ask me not what I know.
Exit Goneril.
[To an attendant] Go after her. She's desperate--govern her.
[Exit attendant.]
What you have charged me with,
3122that have I done,
31232822And more, much more. The time will bring it out.
31242823'Tis past, and so am I.
[To Edgar] But what art thou
31252824That hast this fortune on me? If thou beest noble,
I do forgive thee. Let's exchange charity.
31282827I am no less in blood than thou art, Edmund;
31292828If more, the more thou hast wronged me.
31302829My name is Edgar, and thy father's son.
31312830The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices
31322831Make instruments to scourge us.
3133The dark and vicious
2832Place where thee he got
3134cost him his eyes.
Thou hast spoken truth.
3136The wheel is come
2834Full circle; I am here.
[To Edgar] Methought thy very gait did prophesy,
31382836A royal nobleness. I must embrace thee.
Hate thee or thy father.
Hate thee or thy father. Worthy prince, I know't.
Where have you hid yourself?
31432840How have you known the miseries of your father?
By nursing them, my lord.
2842List a brief tale,
3146The bloody proclamation
2844to escape,
3147That followed me so near--
2845oh, our lives' sweetness,
3148That we the pain of death
2846would hourly die
3149Rather than die at once--
2847taught me to shift
3150Into a madman's rags,
2848to assume a semblance
3151That very dogs disdained;
2849and in this habit
3152Met I my father with his bleeding rings,
31532850The precious stones new lost; became his guide,
31542851Led him, begged for him, saved him from despair.
31552852Never--O father!--revealed myself unto him
31562853Until some half hour past when I was armed.
31572854Not sure, though hoping of this good success,
31582855I asked his blessing, and from first to last
31592856Told him my pilgrimage. But his flawed heart,
31602857Alack, too weak the conflict to support,
31612858'Twixt two extremes of passion, joy and grief,
Burst smilingly. This speech of yours hath moved me,
31642861And shall perchance do good; but speak you on,
31652862You look as you had something more to say.
If there be more, more woeful, hold it in,
31672864For I am almost ready to dissolve,
This would have seemed a period to such
3168.22866As love not sorrow, but another to amplify too much
3168.42868Whilst I was big in clamor, came there in a man
3168.62870Shunned my abhorred society; but then finding
3168.72871Who 'twas that so endured, with his strong arms
3168.92873As he'd burst heaven, threw him on my father,
3168.122876His grief grew puissant and the strings of life
3168.132877Began to crack. Twice then the trumpets sounded,
And there I left him tranced. But who was this?
Kent sir, the banished Kent, who in disguise,
Help, help!
What kind of help?
3173What means that bloody knife?
It's hot, it smokes. It came even from the heart
3175of--
Who, man? Speak!
Your lady, sir, your lady; and her sister
31782889By her is poisoned. She hath confessed it.
I was contracted to them both. All three
Produce their bodies, be they alive or dead.
[Exit Gentleman.]
31852893This justice of the heavens that makes us tremble
Touches us not with pity. Here comes Kent, sir.
3182Enter Kent [as himself]. Oh, 'tis he.
3187The time will not allow
2896The compliment
3188that very manners urges.
I am come
3190to bid my king and master aye good night.
Is he not here? Great thing of us forgot.
31932900Speak, Edmund, where's the King, and where's Cordelia?
The bodies of Goneril and Regan are brought in.
Alack, why thus?
Alack, why thus? Yet Edmund was beloved.
31972904The one the other poisoned for my sake,
Even so. Cover their faces.
I pant for life. Some good I mean to do
32012907Despite of my own nature. Quickly send--
32022908Be brief in't--to th'castle, for my writ
32032909Is on the life of Lear and on Cordelia.
Run, run, Oh run!
To who my lord? Who hath the office?
3207[To the Bastard] Send
2912Thy token of reprieve.
Well thought on. Take my sword. The Captain,
Give it the Captain. Haste thee for thy life.
[Exit 2 Captain.]
He hath commission from thy wife and me
32122916To hang Cordelia in the prison, and
3213To lay
2917the blame upon her own despair
The gods defend her. Bear him hence awhile.
[The Bastard is carried off.]
32162920Enter Lear with Cordelia in his arms, [followed by the 2 Captain]. Howl, howl, howl, howl! Oh, you are men of stones.
32182922Had I your tongues and eyes I would use them so,
32192923That heaven's vault should crack. She's gone for ever.
32202924I know when one is dead and when one lives;
32212925She's dead as earth. Lend me a looking-glass.
32222926If 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,
32282930It is a chance which does redeem all sorrows
That ever I have felt. Ah, my good master.
Prithee, away.
Prithee, away. 'Tis noble Kent, your friend.
A plague upon you, murderous traitors all.
32342934I might have saved her. Now she's gone for ever.
32352935Cordelia, Cordelia, stay a little. Ha?
32362936What is't thou sayest? Her voice was ever soft,
32372937Gentle and low, an excellent thing in women.
32382938I killed the slave that was a-hanging thee.
'Tis true, my lords, he did.
'Tis true, my lords, he did. Did I not, fellow?
3241I have seen the day,
2941with my good biting falchion
3242I would
2942have made them skip. I am old now,
32432943And these same crosses spoil me.
[To Kent] Who are you?
32442944Mine eyes are not o'the best, I'll tell you straight.
If fortune bragged of two she loved or hated,
One of them we behold. Are not you Kent?
The same; your servant Kent.
3249Where is your servant Caius?
He's a good fellow, I can tell that.
32512949He'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 life of difference and decay
Have followed your sad steps. You're welcome hither.
Nor no man else.
3258All's cheerless, dark, and deadly.
32592955Your eldest daughters have foredone themselves
And desperately are dead. So think I too.
He knows not what he sees, and vain it is
That we present us to him. Very bootless.
Enter [3] Captain.
Edmund is dead, my lord.
Edmund is dead, my lord. That's but a trifle here.
3268You lords and noble friends,
2961know our intent.
3269What comfort to this decay may come
3270Shall be
2962applied. For us, we will resign
3271During the life of this old majesty
32722963To him our absolute power.
[To Edgar and Kent] You to your rights
3273With boot, and
2964such addition as your honors
3274Have more than merited. All friends
2965shall
3275Taste the wages of their virtue, and all foes
3276The cup of their
2966deservings. Oh, see, see!
And my poor fool is hanged. No, no life.
3278Why should a
2968dog, a horse, a rat have life
3279And thou no breath at all? Oh, thou wilt
2969come no more.
3281Pray you, undo this button.
2970Thank you sir.
O, o, o, o.
He faints. My lord, my lord!
Break heart, I prithee break.
[He dies.]
Break heart, I prithee break. Look up, my lord.
Vex not his ghost. O let him pass.
2973He hates him
3288That would upon the rack
2974of this tough world
3289Stretch him out longer.
Stretch him out longer. Oh, he is gone indeed.
The wonder is he hath endured so long;
Bear them from hence. Our present business
32942979Is to general woe.
[To Kent and Edgar] Friends of my soul, you twain
32952980Rule in this kingdom, and the gored state sustain.
I have a journey, sir, shortly to go.
32972982My master calls, and I must not say no.
The weight of this sad time we must obey,
32992984Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say.
33002985The oldest have borne most; we that are young
33012986Shall never see so much, nor live so long.
3302[Exeunt with a dead march, bearing the bodies.]