Whilst drums and trumpets drown loud slaughter's roar. No more of shelter, thou blind worm, but forth [A retreat sounded, L. Hark! a retreat; the king, I fear, has lost. Re-enter EDGAR, L. Edg. Away, old man; give me your hand; away! [Crosses to R. King Lear has lost; he and his daughter ta'en: Glost. No farther, sir; a man may rot even here. Edg. What! in ill thoughts again? Men must endure Their going hence, ev'n as their coming hither. Ripeness is all.-Come on! Glost. And that's true too. [Exeunt, R. SCENE IV.-The British Camp near Dover. Enter, in conquest, with Banners, &c. EDMUND, L.; LEAR and CORDELIA as prisoners; an Officer and four Soldiers preceding them, and the same number following, L. S. E.- -Flourish. Edm. (R.) Some officers take them away: good guard; Until their greater pleasures first be known That are to censure them. Cord. (R. c.) [Coming forward a little.] We are not the first, Who, with best meaning, have incurr'd the worst. Myself could else out-frown false fortune's frown. prison: We two alone will sing like birds i'th' cage: And pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and laugh At gilded butterflies, and hear poor rogues Talk of court news; and we'll talk with them too- Edm. [Crossing to L.] Take them away! [LEAR and CORDELIA go forward, R. Lear. (R. c.) Upon such sacrifices, my Cordelia, The gods themselves throw incense. Have I caught thee? He that parts us, shall bring a brand from heaven, And fire us hence, like foxes. [Officer on the R. advances a little, and motions them to follow.] Wipe thine eyes; The goujeers shall devour them, flesh and fell, Ere they shall make us weep; we'll see them starve first. Come. [Exeunt LEAR and CORDELIA, preceded by Officer, and followed by four Soldiers, R. Edm. (L.) Come hither, captain; hark [Officer comes down R. Take thou this note; [Giving a paper] go, follow them to prison : One step I've advanced thee; if thou dost As this instructs thee, thou dost make thy way Does not become a sword; that great employment Officer. I'll do't, my lord, Edm. About it; and write happy when thou hast done. Mark-I say instantly; and carry it so, As I have set it down. Officer. I will do it. [Exit, R. Flourish.-Enter ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, Officers and Guards, L. Alb. (c.) Sir, you have shown to-day your valiant strain, And fortune led you well: you have the captives Edm. (B.) Sir, I thought it fit To send the old and miserable king To some retention, and appointed guard; Which do command them. With him I sent the queen; Alb. Sir, by your patience, I hold you but a subject of this war, Reg. (L.) That's as we list to grace him. Gon. (L. c.) Not so hot: In his own grace he doth exalt himself, Reg. In my rights, By me invested, he compeers the best. General, [Crosses to EDMUND, Dispose of them, of me; the walls are thine: Witness the world, that I create thee here My lord and master! Alb. The let-alone lies not in your good will. Alb. Half-blooded fellow, yes. Reg. (R. C.) Let the drum strike, and prove my title thine. [To EDMUND. Alb. Stay yet; hear reason: Edmund, I arrest thee On capital treason; and in thy arrest, This gilded serpent: [Pointing to GONERIL] for your claim, fair sister, I bar it in the interest of my wife; "Tis she is sub-contracted to this lord, And I, her husband, contradict your bans. Thou art arm'd, Gloster: let the trumpet sound: If none appear to prove upon thy person, Thy heinous, manifest, and many treasons, There is my pledge; [Throwing down a Gauntlet.] I'll prove it on thy heart, Ere I taste bread, thou art nothing less Reg. Sick, O sick! Gon. If not, I'll ne'er trust poison. [Exit, L. [Throwing down Gauntlet] what in the world he is That names me traitor, villain-like he lies. Alb. A herald, ho! Edm. A herald, ho, a herald! Alb. Trust to thy single virtue; for thy soldiers, All levied in my name, have in my name Took their discharge. Reg. This sickness grows upon me! Enter Herald, R. Alb. She is not well; convey her to my tent. [REGAN is led off, L. Come hither, herald-Let the trumpet sound, [Trumpet sounds, R. Her. (R.) [Reads.]" If any man of quality, or degree, within the lists of the army, will maintain upon Edmund, supposed Earl of Gloster, that he is a manifold traitor, let him appear at the third sound of the trumpet. He is bold in his defence." Edm. Sound! [1st Trumpet. Her. Again! [2d Trumpet.] Again! [3d Trumpet. [A Trumpet answers on L. three times. 'Enter EDGAR, L. at the end of the second sound. Alb. (c.) Ask him his purposes, why he appears Upon this call o'the trumpet. Her. What are you? Your name, your quality? and why you answer Edg. (L.) Know, my name is lost; By treason's tooth bare-gnawn, and canker-bit: Yet am I noble, as the adversary I come to cope withal. [Herald retires up. Alb. [A little up Stage in c.] Which is that adversary? Edg. What's he, that speaks for Edmund, Earl of Gloster? Edm. Himself! what say'st thou to him? Edg. Draw thy sword; 6 That, if my speech offend a noble heart, Edm. In wisdom, I should ask thy name; By rule of knighthood, I disdain and spurn: [Alarums.-They fight.-EDMUND falls, L. Edm. What you have charged me with, that have I done; And more, much more: the time will bring it out; That hast this fortune on me? If thou art noble, Edg. Let's exchange charity. I am no less in blood than thou art, Edmund : The dark and vicious place where thee he got, Alb. Where have you hid yourself? How have you known the mis'ries of your father? Edg. By nursing them, my lord. The bloody proclamation to escape, That follow'd me so near, taught me to shift Into a madman's rags; became his guide, |