Enter Baftard, Regan, Gentlemen, and Soldiers..

BA S I. A D..

NOW of the. Duke if his last purpose

hold,
K

Or whether since he is advis'd by ought
To change the course? he's full of Ale.

teration,
And self-reproying brings his constant:

pleasure.
Reg. Our sister's man is certainly miscarry'd.
Baft. 'Tis to be doubted, Madam..

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

fifter? Baft. In honour'd love..

Reg. But have. you never found my brother's way To the fore-fended place?

Baft. No by mine honour.

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

Baft. Fear not; she and the Duke her husband

Enter Albany, Gonerilt, and Soldiers..
Alb. Our very loving fifter, well be met:
Sir, this I heard, the King is come to his daughter

With

With others, whom the rigour of our ftate
Forc'd to cry out. t Where I could not be honest
I never yet was valiant: for this business,
It toucheth us, as France invades our land,
Not holds the King, with others whom I fear
Most just and heavy causes make oppose.

Reg. Why is this reason'd?

Gon. Combine together 'gainst the enemy:
For these domestick and particular broils
Are not the question here.

Alb. Let's then determine with th' Ancient of war On our proceeding.

Reg. Sifter, you'll go with us?
Gon. No,
Reg. 'Tis most convenient, pray go with us.
Gön. Oh ho, I know the riddle, I will go. (Exeunt,

SCENE II.

Manet Albany. Enter Edgar. Edg. If e'er your grace had speech with man fo poor, Hear me one word.

Alb. I'll overtake you : fpeak.

Edg. Before you fight the battel, ope this letter, If you have viét'ry, let the trumpet found 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 fo an end, And machination ceases. Fortune love you.

Alb. Stay 'till I've read the letter.

Edg. I was forbid it.
When time shall serye, let but the herald cry,
And I'll appear again.

[Exit. Alb, why fare thee well, I will o'erlook thy paper.

Enter + The four next lines are added from the old edition,

holds, for obliges er binds,

Enter Bastard. Baft. The enemy's in view, draw up your powers, • Hard is the guess of their true strength and forces, By diligent discovery; but your hafte Is now urg'd on you. Alb. We will greet the time,

(Exit.

SCENE III.

Baft. To both these sisters have I sworn my love: Each jealous of the other, as the stung 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 Gonerill, And hardly shall I carry out my side, Her husband being alive. Now then, we'll use His countenance for the battel; 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. [Exit.

SCENE IV.

A Field.

Alarum within. Enter with drum and colours, Lear,

Cordelia, and soldiers over the stage, and exeunt.

Enter Edgar and Glo'fter,
ERE father, take of

Eds. He for your good hoft; pray that the right may

If ever I return to you again,
I'll bring you comfort

. Glo. Grace be with you, Sir. [Exit Edgar,

(Alarum and retreat within,

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 :
Ripeness is all; come on.
Glo. And that's true too..

(Exeunt.

Baf.

Enter. Bastard, Lear; and Cordelia as prisoners, Soldiers,

Captain.
OME officers take them away, good guard,

Until their greater pleasures first be known
That are to censure them..

Cor., We're not the first,
Who with best meaning have incurr'd the worst :
For thee, oppressed King, I am cast down,
My self could else out-frown false fortune's frown.
Shall we not see these daughters and these sisters ?

Lear. No, no, no, no, come let's away to prisons
We two alone will sing like birds. i'th' cage:
When thou doft ask me blessing, I'll kneel down
And ask of thee forgiveness: so we'll live,
And pray, and fing, and tell old tales, and laugh
At gilded butterflies : and hear poor rogues
Talk of court news, and we'll talk with them too,
Who loses, and who wins;. who's in, who's out :
And take upon's the myftery of things,

As

a

men

As if we were God's spies. And we'll wear out,
In a wall d prison, packs and seets of great ones
That ebb and Aow by th' moon.

Baft. Take them away

Lear. Upon such facrifices, my Cordelia, The gods themselves throw incense. Have I caught

thee? He that parts us, shall bring a brand from heay’n, And fire-us hence like foxes; wipe thine eye, The good years shall devour them, flesh and fell, Ere they shall make us weep:. We'll see. 'em stary'd first Come.

(Ex. Lear and Cordelia. Baft. Come hither captain, hark. [Whispering. Take thou this note, go follow them to prison, One step I have advane'd thee, if thou doft As this instructs thee thou doft make thy way To noble fortunes: know thou this, that Are as the time is; to be tender-minded Do's not become a sword; thy great employment Will not bear question; either say thou'lt do't, Or thrive by other means.

Capt. I'll do't, my lord.

Bast. About it, and write happy, when thou'st done." Mark, I say, - instantly, and carry it so As I have set it down..

(Exit Captain SCENE VI. To him, Enter Albany, Gonerill, Regan, and Soldiers,

Alb. Sir, you have shew'd to-day your valiant strain,
And fortune led you well: you have the captives
Who were the opposites of this day's strife :
I do require then of you, fo. to use them,..
As we shall find their merits and our safety
May equally determine.

Baft. I thought fit
To send the old and miserable King
To some retention and appointed guard
Whose

age

has charms in it, whole title more, To pluck the common bosoms on his fide,

And