Cor. O you kind gods,

Cure this great breach in bis abused nature!
The untun'd and jarring senses, O, wind up
Of this child-changed father!

Phys.
So please your majesty,
That we may wake the king? he hath slept long.
Cor. Be govern'd by your knowledge, and
proceed

I' the sway of your own will. Is he array'd? Gent. Ay, madam; in the heaviness of his sleep, We put fresh garments on him.

Phys. Be by, good madam, when we do awake I doubt not of his temperance.

[him;

Cor.
Very well.
Phys. Please you, draw near.-Louder the
musick there.

Cor. O my dear father! Restoration, hang Thy medicine on my lips; and let this kiss Repair those violent harms, that my two sisters Have in thy reverence made!

Kent.

Kind and dear princess! Cor. Had you not been their father, these white flakes

Had challeng'd pity of them. Was this a face
To be expos'd against the warring winds?
To stand against the deep dread-bolted thunder?
In the most terrible and nimble stroke

Of quick, cross lightning? to watch (poor perdu!)
With this thin helm? Mine enemy's dog,
Though he had bit me, should have stood that
night

Against my fire; And wast thou fain, poor father, To hovel thee with swine, and rogues forlorn, In short and musty straw? Alack, alack! 'Tis wonder, that thy life and wits at once Had not concluded all.-He wakes; speak to him.

Phys. Madam, do you; 'tis fittest.

Cor. How does my royal lord? How fares your majesty?

Lear. You do me wrong, to take me out o' the

grave:

Thou art a soul in bliss; but I am bound

Upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears
Do scald like molten lead.

Cor.

Sir, do

Fair day light?

Lear. You are a spirit, I know; When did Cor. Still, still, far wide! [you die? Phys. He's scarce awake; let him alone awhile. Lear. Where have I been?-Where am I?[pity, I am mightily abus'd.-I should even die with To see another thus.-I know not what to say.I will not swear, these are my hands :-let's see; I feel this pin prick. 'Would, I were assur'd Of my condition.

Cor.

O, look upon me, sir, And hold your hands in benediction o'er me;No, sir, you must not kneel.

Lear.

Pray, do not mock me: I ain a very foolish fond old man,

Fourscore and upward; and, to deal plainly, I fear, I am not in my perfect mind.

Methinks, I should know you, and know this

man:

Yet I am doubtful: for I am mainly ignorant What place this is; and all the skill I have Remembers not these garments; nor I know not Where I did lodge last night: Do not laugh at me; For, as I am a man, I think this lady

To be my child Cordelia.

Cor.

And so I am, I am. Lear. Be your tears wet? Yes, 'faith. I pray, weep not:

If you have poison for me, I will drink it.
I know you do not love me; for your sisters
Have, as I do remember, done me wrong:
You have some cause, they have not.

Cor.

Lear. Am I in France?
Kent.

No cause, no cause.

In your own kingdom, sir. Lear. Do not abuse me. [rage, Phys. Be comforted, good madam: the great You see, is cur'd in him: and yet it is danger To make bim even o'er the time he has lost. Desire him to go in; trouble him no more, Till further settling.

Cor. Will't please your highness walk? Lear. You must bear with me: 'Pray now, forget and forgive: I am old, and foolish.

[Exeunt LEAR, COR. Phy. and Attendants.

Gent. Holds it true, sir,

That the Duke of Cornwall was so slain ?

Kent.

Gent. Who is conductor of his people?

Kent.

The bastard son of Gloster.

Gent.

Most certain, sir.

A's 'tis said,

They say, Edgar,

His banish'd son, is with the Earl of Kent

In Germany.
Kent.

Report is changeable.

'Tis time to look about; the powers o' the kingApproach apace.

Gent. The arbitrement is like to be a bloody.

[dom

[Exit.

Kent. My point and period will be thoroughly

Fare you well, sir.

wrought,

Or well, or ill, as this day's battle's fought.

ACT V.

[Exit.

SCENE I. The Camp of the British Forces, near Dover.

Enter, with Drums and Colours, EDMUND, REGAN, Officers, Soldiers, and Others.

Edm. Know of the Duke, if his last purpose hold;

Or, whether since he is advis'd by aught
To change the course: He's full of alteration,
And self-reproving:-bring his constant plea-
[To an Officer, who goes out.
Reg. Our sister's man is certainly miscarried.
Edm. 'Tis to be doubted, madam.

sure.

Reg. Now, sweet lord, You know the goodness I intend upon you: Tell me, but truly, but then speak the truth, Do you not love my sister?

Edm.

In honour'd love.

Reg. But have you never found my brother's To the forefended place?

[way

Edm.
That thought abuses you.
Reg. I am doubtful that you have been con-
junct

And bosom'd with her, as far as we call hers.
Edm. No, by mine honour, madam.

Reg. I never shall endure her: Dear my lord, Be not familiar with her.

Edm.

Fear me not:She, and the duke her husband,——

Enter ALBANY, GONERIL, and Soldiers. Gon. I bad rather lose the battle, than that sister Should loosen him and me.

[Aside. Alb. Our very loving sister, well be met.Sir, this I hear,-The king is come to his daughter,

With others, whom the rigour of our state
Forc'd to cry out. Where I could not be honest,
I never yet was valiant: for this business,
It toucheth us as France invades our land,
Not bolds the king; with others, whom, I fear,
More just and heavy causes make oppose.
Edm. Sir, you speak nobly.

Reg.
Why is this reason'd?
Gon. Combine together 'gainst the enemy:
For these domestick and particular broils
Are not to question here."

Alb.

Let us then determine

With the ancient of war on our proceedings. Edm. I shall attend you presently at your tent. Reg. Sister, you'll go with us?

Gon. No.

Reg. 'Tis most convenient; 'pray you, go with us.

Gon. O, ho, I know the riddle: [Aside.] I will go.

As they are going out, Enter EDGAR, disguised. Edg. If e'er your grace had speech with man so poor,

Hear me one word.

Alb.

I'll overtake you.-Speak. [Exeunt EDMUND, REGAN, GONERIL, Officers, Soldiers, and Attendants. Edg. Before you fight the battle,ope this letter. If you have victory, let the trumpet sound For him that brought it: wretched though I seem, I can produce a champion, that will prove What is avouched there: If you miscarry, Your business of the world hath so an end, And machination ceases. Fortune love you! Alb. Stay till I have read the letter.

Edg.

I was forbad it. When time shall serve, let but the herald cry, And I'll appear again.

[Exit. Alb. Why, fare thee well; I will o'erlook thy

Edm. The enemy's in view, draw up your

powers,

Here is the guess of their true strength and forces By diligent discovery;-but your haste

Is now urg'd on you.

Alb.

We will greet the time. [Exit. Edm. To both these sisters have I sworn my Each jealous of the other, as the stung [love: Are of the adder. Which of them shall I take? Both? one? or neither? Neither can be enjoy'd, If both remain alive; To take the widow, Exasperates, makes mad her sister Goneril; And hardly shall I carry out my side,

Her husband being alive. Now then, we'll use His countenance for the battle: which being done,

Let her, who would be rid of him, devise
His speedy taking off. As for the mercy
Which he intends to Lear, and to Cordelia,-
The battle done, and they within our power,
Shall never see his pardon: for my state
Stands on me to defend, not to debate. [Erit.

SCENE II. A Field between the two Camps. Alarum within. Enter, with Drum, and Colours, LEAR, CORDELIA, and their Forces; and exeunt. Enter EDGAR and GLOSTER.

Edg. Here, father, take the shadow of this tree For your good host; pray that the right may If ever I return to you again, [thrive: I'll bring you comfort.

Grace go with you,

Glo. sir! [Exit EDG. Alarums; afterwards a Retreat. Re-enter EDGAR. Edg. Away, old man, give me thy hand, away; King Lear hath lost, he and his daughter ta'en: Give me thy hand, come on.

Glo. No further, sir; a man may rot even here. Edg. What, in ill thoughts again? Men must endure