You have fome caufe, they have not.

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

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

Phyf. Be comforted, good Madam; the great rage,
You fee, is cured in him :---and yet 'twere danger
To make him even o'er the time h' as loft.
Defire him to go in; trouble himr no more

Till further fettling.

Cor. Will't pleate your Highness walk?

Lear. You must bear with me;

Pray you now, forget and forgive;

I am old and foolih.

[Exeunt Lear, Cord. Phyf. and Attendants.

Manent KENT and Gentleman.

Gent. Holds it true, Sir, that the Duke of Corn. wall was fo flain? (54)

Kent. Molt certain, Sir.

Gent. Who is conductor of his people? Kent. As 'tis faid, the bastard fon of Glo'fter. Gent. They fay, Edgar his banished fon 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.

(54) Gent. Holds it true, Sir,] This short dialogue, which was retrenched by the players in their edition, I have restored from the old Quarto. The matter of it is natural and eafy; and though. the language be not pompous, -it is to the subject: and the uncertainty of common report, with regard to Kent and Edgar, must be very pleafing to the audience who knew how Rumour was mistaken in reprefenting them to be abroad.

Kent. My point and period will be throughly

wrought,

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

ACT V.

[Exit Kent.

SCENE, a Camp.

Enter EDMUND, REGAN, Gentlemen and Soldiers.

'

EDMUND,

KNow of the Duke, if his last purpose hold;
Or whether fince he is advifed by aught,
To change the courfe? he's full of alteration
And felf-reproving: bring his conftant pleasure. (53)
Reg. Our fifter's man is certainly mifcarried.
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 honoured love.

Reg. But have you never found my brother's

To the fore-fended place?

Edm. No, by mine honour, Madam.

[way

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

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

'(55) he's full of alteration,

•And self-reproving brings his conflant pleasure:] Thus in the impreffions by Mr Pope is this paffage most nonfenfically read and pointed. But fome better copies have aflifted to set it right.

Enter ALBANY, GONERIL, and Soldiers.

Gon. I'd rather lofe the battle, than this filter(56) Should loofen him and me.--

[afide
Alb. Our very loving filter, well be-met:
Sir, this I hear, the King is come to his daughter,
With others, whom the rigour of our state
Forced to cry out. Where I could not be honest,
I never yet was valiant: 'fore this bufineis, (57)
It toucheth us, as France invades our land,
(Not holds the King, with others, whom I fear,
Molt juit and heavy caules make oppofe,).
Edm. Sir, you speak nobly.
Reg Why is this reafoned?

Gon. Combine together 'gainst the enemy;
For thefe domestic and particular broils
Are not the question here.

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

Reg. Sifter, you'll go with us?

(56) Gon. I'd rather life the battle,—] This I have reftored from the old Quarto; and, confidering the jealousy of the Princeffes on each fide, it comes very naturally from Gone, ril, upon her seeing Regan and Edmund together; as well as belps to mark the bufinefs going on, to the reader.

(57) for this business,

It touches us, as France invades our land,

Not holds the King, with others, whom I fear

Moft juft and heavy causes make oppofe,] I have made a flight variation in thefe lines, which are added from the old Quarto. Albany's fpeech feems interrupted, before finished; and this I take to be the purport of what he was going to fay. "But before we fight this battle, Sir, it concerns me, (tho not the King, and the difcontented party), to question about your intereft in our fifter, and the event of the war." -And Regan and Goneril, in their replies, both feem ap prehensive that this subject was coming into debate.

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 disguised.

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

Alb. I'll over ake you :---fpeak.

[Exeunt Edm. Reg. Gon. and Attendants.
Edg. Before you fight the battle, ope this letter.
If you have victory 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 bufinefs of the world hath so an end,
And machination ceafes. Fortune love you
Alb. Stay 'till I've read the letter.
Edg. I was forbid it.

When time thall ferve, 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 hatte

Is new urged 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 enjoyed, If both remain alive to take the widow,

:

Exafperates, makes mad her fifter Goneril;
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 devife 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 fee his pardon: for my state Stands on me to defend, not to debate.

SCENE, another open Field.

[Exit.

Alarm within. Enter with Drum and Colours, LEAR, CORDELIA and Soldiers over the flage, and exeunt.

.

Enter EDGAR and GLO'STER.

Edg. Here, 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.

[Alarm, 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 muit endure

Their going hence even as their coming hither: Ripenets is all. Come on.

Glo. And that's true too.

[Exeunt.

Enter in conqueft, with Drum and Colours, EDMUND; LEAR and CORDELIA as Prifoners; Soldiers, Captain.

Edm. Soine officers take them away; good guard