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Will yield to see his daughter.

Gen.

Why, good sir? Kent. A sovereign shame so elbows him;-his own unkindness,

That stripp'd her from his benediction, turn'd her To foreign casualties, gave her dear rights

To his dog-hearted daughters;-these things sting His mind so venomously, that burning shame Detains him from Cordelia.

Gen.

Alack, poor gentleman!

Kent. Of Albany's and Cornwall's powers you heard not?

Gen. 'Tis so; they are afoot.

Kent. Well, sir, I'll bring you to our master

Lear,

1

And leave you to attend him: some dear cause
Will in concealment wrap me up awhile:
When I am known aright, you shall not grieve
Lending me this acquaintance. I pray you, go
Along with me.
[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.

The same. A tent.

Enter CORDELIA, PHYSICIAN, and Soldiers.

Cor. Alack, 'tis he: why, he was met even now As mad as the vex'd sea; singing aloud; Crown'd with rank fumiter, and furrow weeds,

1 Important business.

2 Fumitory.

With harlocks,1 hemlock, nettles, cuckoo-flowers,
Darnel, and all the idle weeds that grow

In our sustaining corn: a century send forth;
Search every acre in the high-grown field,
And bring him to our eye. [Exit an Officer.]
What can man's wisdom do,

In the restoring his bereaved sense?

He, that helps him, take all my outward worth. Phy. There is means, madam :

Our foster-nurse of Nature is repose,

The which he lacks that to provoke in him,
Are many simples operative, whose power
Will close the eye of anguish.

Cor.

All bless'd secrets,

All you unpublish'd virtues of the earth,

Spring with my tears! be aidant, and remediate, In the good man's distress !-Seek, seek for him Lest his ungovern'd rage dissolve the life

That wants the means to lead it.

;

Mes.

Enter MESSENGER.

Madam, news;

The British powers are marching hitherward.

Cor. 'Tis known before; our preparation stands In expectation of them.-O dear father,

It is thy business that I go about;

Therefore great France

My mourning and important? tears hath pitied.

Charlocks.

? For importunate.

No blown 1 ambition doth our arms incite,

But love, dear love, and our aged father's right.
Soon may I hear and see him!

[Exeunt.

SCENE V.

A room in Gloster's castle.

Enter REGAN and STEWARD.

Re. But are my brother's powers set forth?

Stew.

Re.

In person there?

Stew.

Ay, madam.

Himself

Madam, with much ado:

Your sister is the better soldier.

Re. Lord Edmund spake not with your lord at home?

Stew. No, madam.

Re. What might import my sister's letter to him? Stew. I know not, lady.

Re. Faith, he is posted hence on serious matter. It was great ignorance, Gloster's eyes being out, To let him live; where he arrives, he moves All hearts against us. Edmund, I think, is gone, In pity of his misery, to despatch

His nighted life; moreover, to descry

The strength o' the enemy.

Stew. I must needs after him, madam, with my letter.

1 Inflated, swelling.

Re. Our troops set forth to-morrow: stay with us: The ways are dangerous.

Stew.

I

may not, madam ;

My lady charged my duty in this business.

Re. Why should she write to Edmund? Might not you

Transport her purposes by word? Belike,

Something I know not what:- I'll love thee

much,

Let me unseal the letter.

Stew.

Madam, I had rather

Re. I know, your lady does not love her husband; I am sure of that: and, at her late being here, She gave strange œiliads,1 and most speaking looks To noble Edmund: I know, you are of her bosom. Stew. I, madam ?

Re. I speak in understanding; you are; I know

it:

Therefore, I do advise you, take this note.9
My lord is dead: Edmund and I have talk'd;
And more convenient is he for my hand,
Than for your lady's: you may gather more.3
If
you do find him, pray you, give him this;

And when your mistress hears thus much from you, pray, desire her call her wisdom to her.

I

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If you do chance to hear of that blind traitor,
Preferment falls on him that cuts him off.

1 Significant glances.

2 Observe what I am saying.

3 i. e. you may infer more than I have told you.

Stew. Would I could meet him, madam! I would

[blocks in formation]

Enter GLOSTER, and Edgar, dressed like a peasant. Glos. When shall we come to the top of that same hill?

Edg. You do climb up it now: look, how we

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Edg. Why, then your other senses grow imper

fect

By your eyes' anguish.

Glos.

So may

it be, indeed:

Methinks, thy voice is alter'd; and thou speak'st
In better phrase and matter than thou didst.

Edg. You are much deceived; in nothing am I changed

But in my garments.

Glos.

Methinks, you are better spoken. Edg. Come on, sir; here's the place: stand still.

-How fearful

And dizzy 'tis, to cast one's eyes so low!

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