Have in thy reverence made!

Kent. Kind and dearest Princess!

Cor. Had you not been their Father, these white flakes
Did challenge pity of them. Was this a face,
To be expos'd against the warring winds?
To ftand against the deep, dread-bolted Thunder?
In the most terrible and nimble Stroke

Of quick, crofs Lightning? To watch poor Perdue,
With this thin Helm? My very Enemy's Dog,
Though he had bit me, fhou'd have stood That Night
Against my fire: And waft thou fain, poor Father,
To hovel thee with fwine and rogues forlorn,
In short and mufty ftraw? alack, alack!
'Tis wonder, that thy life and wits, at once,
Had not concluded all. He wakes; fpeak to him..
Phyf. Madam, do you, 'tis fitteft.

Cor. How does my royal lord? how fares your Majesty? Lear. You do me wrong to take me out o'th' grave; Thou art a foul in blifs, but I am bound Upon a wheel of fire; that mine own tears

Do fcald like molten lead.

Cor. Sir, do you know me?

Lear. You are a fpirit, I know; when did you die? Cor. Still, ftill, far wide

Phyf. He's fcarce awake, let him alone a while. Lear. Where have I been? where am I? fair day-light? I'm mightily abus'd; I should even die with Pity, To fee another thus. I know not what to fay; I will not fwear, these are my hands: let's fee, I feel this pin prick: 'would I were affur'd Of my condition.

Cor. O look upon me, Sir,

And hold your hand in benediction o'er me.
No, Sir, you must not kneel.

Lear. Pray, do not mock me;

I am a very foolish fond old man,

Fourfcore 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'm mainly ignorant,

What

What place this is; and all the skill I have,
Remembers not thefe garments; nay, I know not
Where I did lodge laft night. Do not laugh at me,
For, as I am a man, I think, this lady
To be my child Cordelia.

Cor. And fo I am ; I am. —

[weep not.

Lear. Be your tears wet? yes, faith; I pray you,

If you have poison for me, I will drink it;
I know, you do not love me ; for your fifters
Have, as I do remember, done me wrong.
You have fome caufe, they have not.

Cor. No caufe, no cause.
Lear. Am I in France?

Kent. In your own kingdom, Sir.
Lear. Do not abuse me.

Phyf. Be comforted, good Madam; the great Rage, You fee, is cur'd in him :- and, yet, 'twere danger To make him even o'er the Time, h'as loft.

Defire him to go in; trouble him no more,

'Till further fettling.

Cor. Will't please your Highness walk?

Lear. You must bear with me;

Pray you now, forget and forgive;

I am old and foolish.

[Exeunt Lear, Cord. Phyf. and Attendants.

Manent Kent and Gentleman.

Gent. Holds it true, Sir, that the Duke of Cornwall was fo flain?

Kent. Moft certain, Sir.

Gent. Who is Conductor of his people?

Kent. As 'tis faid, the Bastard Son of Glofter.
Gent. They fay, Edgar, his banifht Son, is with the

Earl of Kent in Germany.

Kent. Report is changeable; 'Tis time to look about: the Powers of the Kingdom approach apace.

Gent. The Arbitrement is like to be bloody.

Fare you well, Sir.

[Exit Gent. Kent. My Point and Period will be throughly wrought, Or well, or ill, as this day's Battle's fought. [Ex. Kent.

ACT

SCENE, a Camp

Enter Edmund, Regan, Gentlemen, and Soldiers.

K

EDMUND.

NOW of the Duke, if his laft purpose hold;
Or whether fince he is advis'd by aught,

To change the courfe? he's full of Alteration,
And felf-reproving: bring his conftant pleasure.
Reg. Our fifter's man is certainly miscarry'd.
Edm. 'Tis to be doubted, Madam.

Reg. Now, fweet lord,

You know the goodness I intend upon you:
Tell me but truly, but then speak the truth,
Do you not love my fifter

Edm. In honour'd love.

Reg. But have

you never found my brother's way

To the fore-fended place?

Edm. No, by mine honour, Madam.

Reg. I never fhall endure her; dear my lord, Be not familiar with her.

Edm. Fear not; fhe, and the Duke her husband

Enter Albany, Gonerill, and Soldiers. Gon. I'd rather lofe the Battle, than that Sifter Should loofen him and Me.

[Afide

Alb. Our very loving fifter, 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: 'fore this business,
It toucheth us, as France invades our Land,
(Not holds the King, with others, whom, I fear,
Moft juft and heavy caufes make oppose,)
Edm. Sir, you fpeak nobly.

Reg.

Reg. Why is this reafon'd?

Gon. Combine together 'gainst the enemy: For these domeftick and particular broils

Are not the question here.

Edm. I fhall attend you prefently at your Tent.' Alb. Let's then determine with th' Antient of war On our proceeding.

Reg. Sifter, you'll go with us?

Gon. No.

Reg. 'Tis moft convenient, pray you, go with us.'
Gon. Oh ho, I know the riddle, I will go.

As they are going out, Enter Edgar difguis'd.

Edg. If e'er your Grace had speech with man so poor, Hear me one word.

Alb. I'll overtake you:

fpeak.

[Exeunt Edm. Reg. Gon. and Attendants. Edg. Before you fight the battle, ope this letter. If you have vict❜ry, let the trumpet found For him that brought it: wretched though I feem, I can produce a Champion, that will prove What is avouched there. If you miscarry, Your bufiness of the world hath so an end, And machination ceases. Fortune love you! Alb. Stay 'till I've read the letter. Edg. I was forbid 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 paper.

Re-enter Edmund

Edm. The Enemy's in view, draw up your Powers. Hard is the guess of their true ftrength and forces, By diligent difcovery; but your hafte

Is now urg'd on you.

Alb. We will greet the time.

[Exit.

Edm. To both these fifters have I fworn my love: Each jealous of the other, as the ftung

Are of the adder. Which of them fhall I take?
Both? one? or neither? neither can be enjoy'd,

If both remain alive: to take the widow,
Exafperates, makes mad her fifter Gonerill;
And hardly fhall I carry out my fide,

Her husband being alive. Now then, we'll ufe
His countenance for the battle; which being done,
Let her, who would be rid of him, devise
His fpeedy taking off. As for the mercy
Which he intends to Lear and to Cordelia,
The battle done, and they within our power,
Shall never fee his pardon: for my state
Stands on me to defend, not to debate!

SCENE, another open Field.

[Exit.

Alarum within. Enter with drum and colours, Lear, Cordelia, and foldiers over the flage, and exeunt.

H

Enter Edgar and Glo'fter.

Edg. TTERE, father, take the fhadow of this tree For your good Hoft; pray, that the right may thrive:

If ever I return to you again,

I'll bring you comfort.

Glo. Grace be with you, Sir!

[Exit Edgar.

[Alarum, and retreat, within.

Re-enter Edgar.

Edg. Away, old man; give me thy hand, away; King Lear hath loft, 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 Their going hence, ev'n as their coming hither: Ripenefs is all; come on.

Glo. And that's true too.

[Exeunt.

Enter in Conqueft, with Drum and Colours, Edmund ; Lear and Cordelia, as prisoners; Soldiers, Captain. Edm. Some Officers take them away; good guard, Until their greater pleasures first be known,

That