[fic there! 30

Cor. Had you not been their father, thefe white
Had challeng'd pity of them. Was this a face
To be expos'd against the warring winds?
To ftand against the deep dread-bolted thunder? 4
In the most terrible and nimble stroke

Of quick, crofs lightning! to watch (poor perdu !)
With this thin helm 7? Mine enemy's dog,
Though he had bit me, fhould have ftood that
night

Against my fire; And waft thou fain, poor father,
Thovel thee with fwine, and rogues forlorn,

45

Had not concluded all.-He wakes; fpeak to him. 50 That the duke of Cornwall was so flain?

1i. e. All good which I fhall allot thee, or meafure cut to thee, will be fcanty. 2 i, e. Be better dreft, put on a better fuit of cloaths. 3 i. e. memorials, remembrancers. 4 An intent made, is

an intent formed. So we fay in common language, to make a defign, and to make a refolution. changed to a child by his years and wrongs. • Reftoration is recovery perfonified. 7 The allufion, Dr. Warburton fays, is to the forlorn-hope in an army, which are put upon defperate adventures, and called, in French, enfans perdus; the therefore calls her father, poor perdu. 8 I am ftrangely impofed on by appearances; I am in a strange mift of uncertainty." 9 i. e. to reconcile it to his apprehenfion,

Or whether fince he is advis'd by aught
To change the courfe: He's full of alteration,
And self-reproving :-bring his conftant pleasure 1.
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:
but truly,-but then speak the truth,

20

25

Tell me,

Do you not love my fifter?

Edm. In honour'd love.

[way

Reg. But have you never found my brother's

To the fore-fended 2 place?

30

Edm. That thought abuses you.

[junct

Reg. I am doubtful that you have been con

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

Aib. Let us then determine

With the ancient of war on our proceedings.
Edm. I fhall attend you presently at your tent.
Reg. Sifter, you'll go with us?
Gon. No.

[us.

Reg. 'Tis moft convenient; pray you, go with
Gon. [Afide.] O, ho, I know the riddle: I will

[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 have read the letter.
Edg. I was forbid it.

Reg. I never fhall endure her: Dear my lord, 135 When time fhall serve, let but the herald cry, Be not familiar with her.

Alb. Our very loving fifter, well be met.

3 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, 45
I never yet was valiant: for this business,
It toucheth us as France invades our land,
Not bolds the king 4; with others, whom, I fear,
Moft juft and heavy caufes make oppofe.
Edm. Sir, you fpeak nobly.

Reg. Why is this reafon'd?

Gon. Combine together 'gainst the enemy:
For thefe domeftic and particular broils
Are not to question here.

Each jealous of the other, as the ftung

Are of the adder. Which of them shall I take?

50 Both? one? or neither? Neither can be enjoy'd,
If both remain alive: To take the widow,
Exafperates, makes mad her fifter Goneril;
And hardly fhall I carry out my fide 5,
Her husband being alive. Now then, we'll ufe

3 The meaning of this

1 His fettled refolution. 2 Fore-fended means prohibited, forbidden. fpeech is, The king and others whom we have oppofed are come to Cordelia. I could never be valiant but in a juft quarrel. We must distinguish; it is just in one sense and unjust in another. As France invades our land, I am concerned to repel him; but as he holds, entertains, and fupports the king, and others whom I fear many just and heavy causes make, or compel, as it were, to oppofe us, I esteem it unjust to engage against them. 4 This business (fays Albany) touches us as France invades our land, not as it bolds the king, &c. i. e. emboldens him to affert his former title. 5 i. e. bring my purpose to a fuccefsful iffue, to completion. Side feems here to have the fenfe of the French word partie, in prendre partie, to take bis refolution,

Edm. Take them away.

Lear. Upon fuch facrifices, my Cordelia, The gods themselves throw incense. Have I caught thee?

5 He, that parts us, shall bring a brand from heaven, And fire us hence, like foxes 4. Wipe thine eyes; The goujeers 5 fhall devour them, flesh, and fell, Ere they fhall make us weep: we'll fee them ftarve first.

10 Come.

15

[Alarum, and retreat within. 20 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, fir; a man may rot even here.
Edg. What, in ill thoughts again? Men muft
endure

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

Glo. And that's true too.

SCENE

III.

25

[Exeunt Lear, and Cordelia, guarded.
Edm. Come hither, captain; hark.
Take thou this note; go, follow them to prifon :
One ftep I have advanc'd thee; if thou doft
As this inftructs thee, thou doft make thy way
To noble fortunes: Know thou this,---that men
Are as the time is to be tender-minded
Does not become a fword :--Thy great employment
Will not bear queftion 7; either fay, thou’lt do 't,
Or thrive by other means.

:

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

Edm. About it; and write happy, when thou
haft done.

Mark,---I fay, inftantly; and carry it fo,
As I have fet it down.

Capt. I cannot draw a cart, nor eat dry'd oats;
If it be man's work, I will do it. [Exit Capt.
Flourish. Enter Albany, Goneril, Regan, and Seidurs.
Alb. Sir, you have fhewn to-day your valiant

ftrain,

[Exeunt. 30 And fortune led you well: You have the captives
Who were the oppofites of this day's ftrife:
We do require them of you; fo to use them,
As we fhall find their merits and our fafety
May equally determine.

Enter, in conqueft, with drum and colours, Edinurd;
Lear, and Cordelia, as prifoners; Soldiers, Captain.
Edm. Some officers take them away: good guard; 35 Edm. Sir, I thought it fit

Until their greater pleasures first be known

That are to cenfure them.

Cor. We are not the first,

Who, with beft meaning, have incurr'd the worst.
For thee, oppreffed king, am I caft down;
Myfelf could elfe out-frown falfe fortune's frown.--
Shall we not see these daughters, and thefe fifters?
Lear. No, no, no, no! Come, let's away to

prifon :

4

45

We two alone will fing like birds i' the cage:
When thou doft afk me bleffing, I'll kneel down,
And afk of thee forgivenefs: 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,--5c
Who lofes, and who wins; who's in, who's out;---
And take upon us the mystery of things,

As if we were God's ipies: And we'll wear out,
In a wall'd prifon, packs and fects 3 of great ones,
That ebb and flow by the moon.

2

To fend the old and miferable king

To fome retention, and appointed guard;
Whofe age has charms in it, whofe title more,

To pluck the common bofom on his fide,

And turn our impreft lances in our eyes

Which do command them. With him I fent the

queen;

My reafon all the fame; and they are ready
To-morrow, or at a further space, to appear
Where you fhall hold your feffion. At this time,
We fweat, and bleed: the friend hath loft his
friend;

And the beft quarrels, in the heat, are curs'd
By thofe that feel their fharpnefs :-
The queftion of Cordelia, and her father,
Requires a fitter place.

Aib. Sir, by your patience,

I hold you but a fubject of this war,
Not as a brother.

Reg. That's as we lift to grace him.

1 Dr. Johnson thinks that for does not stand in this place as a word of inference or caufality. The meaning is rather: Such is my determination concerning Lear; as for my state it requires now, net deliberation, but defence and Jupport. i. c. To be ready, prepared, is all. 3 Packs is used for combinations or collection, as is a pack of cards. For fits, fets might be more commodiously read. Thus we say, affairs are new managed by a new fet. 4 It is ufual to fioke fix's out of their holes. 5 i. e. Markus Gallus. Gouge, Fr. fignifies one of the comtron women attending a camp; and as that disease was first difperfed over Europe by the French army, and the women who followed it, the first name it obtained among us was the gougeries, i. e. the difeafe of the gorges. 6 Flesh and skin. 7 The meaning is, that the important bufirefs he now had in hand, did not admit of debate: he muft instantly refolve to do it, or not. Si. e. turn the launcimen which are profe'd into our fervice, against us.

Methinks,

"If any man of quality, or degree, within the lifts of the army, will maintain upon Edmund, fuppofed earl of Glofter, that he is a manifold traitor, let him appear by the third found of the "trumpet: He is bold in his defence."

That eye, that told you fo, look'd but a-fquint.
Reg. Lady, I am not well; else I should anfwer 15"
From a full-flowing stomach.-General,
Take thou my foldiers, prifoners, patrimony;
Dispose of them, of me; the walls are thine 4:
Witness the world, that I create thee here
My lord and master.

Gon. Mean you to enjoy him?

Alb. The let alone lies not in your good will 5.
Edm. Nor in thine, lord.

Alb. Half-blooded fellow, yes.

Edm. Sound.
Her. Again.

Her. Again.

20

Alb. Stay yet; hear reafon :-Edmund, I arreft On capital treason; and, in thy arrest,

[Pointing to Goneril. This gilded ferpent:-for your claim, fair fifter, I bar it in the intereft of my wife; 'Tis fhe is fub-contracted to this lord, And I, her husband, contradict your banes. If you will marry, make your love to me, My lady is bespoke.

Gon. An interlude !

Alb. Thou art arm'd, Glofter :-Let the trumpet found:

Enter Edgar, armed.

Alb. Afk him his purposes, why he appears Upon this call o' the trumpet.

Her. What are you?

Your name, your quality? and why you answer
This prefent fummons?

Edg. Know, my name is loft;

By treafon's tooth bare-gnawn, and canker-bit ;
Yet am I noble, as the adverfary

30I come to cope withal.

Alb. Which is that adversary?

[of Glofter?

Edg. What's he, that speaks for Edmund earl
Edm. Himfelf;-What fay'ft thou to him?
Edg. Draw thy fword;

6

35 That, if my speech offend a noble heart, Thy arm may do thee juftice: here is mine. Behold, it is the privilege of mine honours, My oath, and my profeffion :-I protest, Maugre thy ftrength, youth, place, and eminence, 40 Defpight thy victor sword, and fire-new fortune, Thy valour, and thy heart,-thou art a traitor : Falfe to thy gods, thy brother, and thy father; Confpirant 'gainst this high illustrious prince; And, from the extremeft upward of thy head, [Afide. 45 To the descent and duft beneath thy feet,

If none appear to prove upon thy person
Thy heinous, manifeft, and many treasons,
There is my pledge; I'll prove it on thy heart,
Ere I tafte bread, thou art in nothing lefs
Than I have here proclaim'd thee.

Reg. Sick, O, fick !

Gon. If not, I'll ne'er truft poison.

Edm. There's my exchange: what in the world
he is

That names me traitor, villain-like he lies:
Call by thy trumpet: he that dares approach,
On him, on you, (who not?) I will maintain
My truth and honour firmly.

Alb. A herald, ho!

Edm. A herald, ho, a herald!

Cmmiffin, for authority. 2 Immediacy implies fupremacy, in oppofition to fubordination. here means accomplishments, or bonours. 4 A metaphorical phrafe taken from the camp, and fignifying, to furrender at difcretion. 5 Whether he shall not or fhall, depends not on your choice. charge he is here going to bring against the Bastard, he calls the privilege, &c. to understand which phrafeology, we must confider that the old rites of knighthood are here alluded to; whofe oath and profeffion required him to discover all treasons, and whose privilege it was to have his challenge accepted, or otherwise to have his charge taken pro confijo. For if one who was no knight accused another who was, that other was under no obligation to accept the challenge. On this account it was neceffary, as Edgar came difguifed, to tell the Baftard he was a knight. 7 'Say, for clay, some shew or probability. By

By rule of knighthood, I disdain and spurn :
Back do I tofs these treasons to thy head;
With the hell-hated lie o'erwhelm thy heart;
Which, (for they yet glance by, and scarcely bruife)
This fword of mine shall give them instant way, 5
Where they shall reft for ever.-Trumpets, speak.
[Alarum. Fight. Edmund falls.

Alb. Save him, fave him!
Gon. This is mere practice, Glofter:
By the law of arms, thou waft not bound to answer
An unknown oppofite; thou art not vanquish'd,
But cozen'd and beguil'd.

Alb. Shut your mouth, dame,

Told him my pilgrimage: But his flaw'd heart,
(Alack, too weak the conflict to support!)
'Twixt two extremes of paffion, joy, and grief,
Burft fmilingly.

Edm. This fpeech of yours hath mov'd me,
And shall, perchance, do good: but speak you on;
You look as you had something more to say.

Alt. If there be more, more woeful, hold it in; For I am almost ready to diffolve, 10 Hearing of this.

Or with this paper fhall I ftop it :---Hold, fir:--
Thou worse than any name, read thine own evil :---15
No tearing, lady; I perceive, you know it.

[Gives the letter to Edmund.

Gon. Say, if I do; the laws are mine, not thine: Who fhall arraign me for 't?

[Exit Gon.

Alb. Monster, know'st thou this paper ?
Gon. Afk me not what I know.
Alb. Go after her; fhe's defperate; govern her.
Edm. What you have charg'd me with, that 1|

have done;

Edg. This would have seem'd a period

To fuch as love not forrow; but, another ';—
To amplify too-much, would make much more,
And top extremity :-

Whilft I was big in clamour, came there in a man,
Who having feen me in my worst estate,
Shunn'd my abhorr'd society; but then, finding
Who 'twas that fo endur'd, with his strong arms
He faften'd on my neck, and bellow'd out
20 As he'd burft heaven; threw him on my father;
Told the most piteous tale of Lear and him, 1
That ever ear receiv'd: which in recounting,
His grief grew puissant, and the strings of life
Began to crack: Twice then the trumpet founded,

Alb. But who was this?

And more, much more: the time will bring it out; 25 And there I left him tranc'd.
"Tis past, and so am I: But what art thou,
That haft this fortune on me? If thou art noble,

Edg. Kent, fir, the banish'd Kent; who in disguise
Follow'd his enemy king, and did him service
Improper for a flave.

Enter a Gentleman baftily, with a bloody knife.
Gent. Help! help! O help!

Edg. What kind of help?

Alb. Speak, man.

Edg. What means this bloody knife?

Gent. 'Tis hot, it smoaks;

It came even from the heart of

Alb. Who, man? speak.

-O! she's dead!

Gent. Your lady, fir, your lady: and her fifter By her is poifon'd; fhe hath confefs'd it.

Edm. was contracted to them both; all three Now marry in an instant.

Enter Kent.

Alb. Produce the bodies, be they alive or dead![Goneril and Regan's balics brought out.

How have you known the miseries of your father? 45 This judgment of the heavens, that makes us Edg. By nurting them, my lord. Lift a brief

tale;

And,when 'tis told, O, that my heart would burst !-

The bloody proclamation to efcape,

tremble,

Touches us not with pity.

Edg. Here comes Kent, fir.

Alb. O is this he? The time will not allow

That follow'd me fo near, (O our lives' fweetnefs! 50 The compliment which very manners urge.

That we the pain of death would hourly bear,
Rather than die at once!) taught me to shift
Into a mad-man's rags; to affume a femblance
That very dogs difdain'd: and in this habit
Met I my father with his bleeding rings,
Their precious ftones new loft; became his guide,
Led him, begg'd for him, fav'd him from defpair;]
Never (O fault!) reveal'd myfelf unto him,
Until fome half-hour paft, when I was arm'd,
Not fure, though hoping, of this good fuccefs,
1 afk'd his bleffing, and from first to last

Kent. I am come

To bid my king and master aye good night;
Is he not here?

Alb. Great thing of us forgot!

55 Speak, Edmund, where's the king? and where's

Cordelia?

See'ft thou this object, Kent?

Kent. Alack, why thus?

Edm. Yet Edmund was belov'd:
60 The one the other poifon'd for my fake,
And after flew herself.

*The fenfe may probably be this: This would have feemed a period to fuch as love not forrow; but,— another, i. e. but I must add another, i. e. another period, another kind of conclufion to my story, such te will increase the horrors of what has been already told.

Alb.