Fair day-light? I am mightily abus'd 8.-I should even die with 10 To fee another thus.---I know not what to say.... Cor. O, look upon me, fir, 15 And hold your hands in benediction o'er me: No, fir, you must not kneel. Lear. Pray do not mock me: I am a very foolish fond old man, 20 Not an hour more, nor less: and, to deal plainly, [fic there 30 Phyf. Please you, draw near.-Louder the mu- Thy medicine on my lips; and let this kiss Cor. And fo I am, I am. [weep not: Lear. Be your tears wet? Yes, 'faith. I pray, : Kent. Kind and dear princess! [Aakes Lear. Am I in France? Kent. In your own kingdom, fir. Had challeng'd pity of them. Was this a face Lear. Do not abuse me. [rage, To be expos'd against the warring winds? Phyf. Be comforted, good madam: the great To stand against the deep dread-bolted thunder? 40 You fee, is cur'd in him: and yet it is danger Had not concluded all. -He wakes; speak to him. 50 That the duke of Cornwall was so flain? Phys. Madam, do you; 'tis fittest. majefty? Cor. How does my royal lord? How fares your Kent. Most certain, fir. Gent. Who is conductor of his people? 55 His banish'd fon, is with the earl of Kent j. e. j. e. All good which I shall allot thee, or measure out to thee, will be scanty. 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 say in common language, to make a defign, and to make a refolution. changed to a child by his years and wrongs. • Restoration is recovery perfonified. 7 The allufion, Dr. Warburton fays, is to the forlorn-hope in an army, which are put upon desperate 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 mist of uncertainty. 9 i. e. to reconcile it to his apprehenfion. Enter, with drums and colours, Edmund, Regan, 15 Reg. Sifter, you'll go with us? Edm. I shall attend you presently at your tent. Gentlemen, and Soldiers. Gon. No. [us. Reg. 'Tis most convenient; pray you, go with Gon. [Afide.] O, ho, I know the riddle: I will Edg. I was forbid it. And I'll appear again. [Exit. Edm. Fear me not: Alb. Why, fare thee well; I will o'erlook thy paper. Edm. That thought abuses you. And bofom'd with her, as far as we call hers. Edm. No, by mine honour, madam. Reg. I never shall endure her: Dear my lord, 35 When time shall serve, let but the herald cry, Be not familiar with her. She, and the duke her husband, Enter Albany, Goneril, and Soldiers. [Afide. Gon. I had rather lose the battle, than that fifter 40 Alb. Our very loving sister, well be met.- It toucheth us as France invades our land, Not bolds the king 4; with others, whom, I fear, Edm. Sir, you fpeak nobly. Reg. Why is this reason'd ? Gon. Combine together 'gainst the enemy: For these domeftic and particular broils Are not to question here. Re-enter Edmund. His fettled refolution. 2 Fore-fended means prohibited, forbidden. 3 The meaning of this speech is, The king and others whom we have opposed are come to Cordelia. I could never be valiant but in a just quarrel. We must diftinguish; 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 supports the king, and others whom I fear many juft and heavy causes make, or compel, as it were, to opp fe us, I esteem it unjust to engage against them. + 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 fuecessful iffue, to completion, Side feems here to have the fense of the French word partie, in prendre partie, to take bis refolution, Hiş 1 A Field between the two Camps. exeunt. [Exeunt Lear, and Cordelia, guarded. Edm. Come hither, captain; hark. Enter Edgar, and Glofter. If ever I return to you again, Glo. Grace go with you, fir! Re-enter Edgar. Edg. Away, old man, give me thy hand, away; Are as the time is: to be tender-minded [Exit Edgar. [Alarum, and retreat within. 20 Edm. About it; and write happy, when thou haft done. Mark,---I say, instantly; and carry it so, As I have fet it down. If it be man's work, I will do it. Give me thy hand, come on. Glo. No further, fir; a man may rot even here. 25 Capt. I cannot draw a cart, nor eat dry'd oats; Alb. Sir, you have shewn to-day your valiant ftrain, [Excunt. 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; so to use them, As we shall find their merits and our fafety May equally determine. Enter, in conquest, with drum and colours, Edsmurd; Edm. Some officers take them away: good guard; 35 Edm. Sir, I thought it fit Cor. We are not the first, Lear. No, no, no, no! Come, let's away to To fend the old and miferable king To fome retention, and appointed guard; Whofe age has charms in it, whose title more, To pluck the common bofom on his fide, 40 And turn our imprest lances in our eyes Which do command them. With him I fent the queen; My reason all the fame; and they are ready To-morrow, or at a further space, to appear 45 Where you shall hold your feffion. At this time, We sweat, and bleed: the friend hath lost his friend; We two alone will fing like birds i' the cage: As if we were God's ipies: And we'll wear out, Dr. Johnfon thinks that for does not stand in this place as a word of inference or caufality. The meaning is rather: Such is my Jetermination concerning Lear; as for my state it requires now, not deliberation, but defence and jupport. 2 i. e. To be ready, prepared, is all. 3 Packs is used for combinations or collection, as is a pack of rards. For fiets, fets might be more commodiously read. Thus we fay, affurs are now managed by a new fet. 4 It is ufual to fmoke fixes out of their holes. 5 i. e. Mabus Gall Gouge, Fr. fignifies one of the compron women atrending a camp; and as that disease was firit 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 disease of the gorges. 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 $ i. e. turn the lauseiman waich are prefied into our service, against us. or not. Methinks, 1 T By me invested, he compeers the best. Alb. That were the most, if he should husband you. Reg. Jesters do oft prove prophets. Gon. Holla, holla! That eye, that told you fo, look'd but a-squint. Reg. Lady, I am not well; else I should answer From a full-flowing stomach. -General, Gon. Mean you to enjoy him? Alb. The let alone lies not in your good will 5. Alb. Half-blooded fellow, yes. Reg. Let the drum strike, and prove my title 25 thine. [thee Alb. Stay yet; hear reafon: Edmund, I arrest On capital treason; and, in thy arrest, [Pointing to Goneril. [1 trumpet. [2 trumpet. [3 trumpet. [Trumpet anfwers, within. Your name, your quality? and why you answer Edg. Know, my name is loft; By treason's tooth bare-gnawn, and canker-bit ; This gilded ferpent:-for your claim, fair sister, 30 I come to cope withal. I bar it in the interest of my wife; 'Tis she 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! Edg. Draw thy fword; 35 That, if my speech offend a noble heart, Thy arm may do thee justice: here is mine. 40 Despight thy victor sword, and fire-new fortune, [Afide. 45 To the descent and dust beneath thy feet, 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, My truth and honour firmly. Alb. A herald, ho! Edm. A herald, ho, a herald! A most toad-fpotted traitor. Say thou, No, 50 Edm. In wisdom, I should ask thy name; But, fince thy out-fide looks fo fair and warlike 3 Grace 6 The Commiffion, for authority. 2 Immediacy implies fupremacy, in opposition 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 shall, depends not on your choice. charge he is here going to bring against the Bastard, he calls the privilege, &c. to understand which phraseology, we must confider that the old rites of knighthood are here alluded to; whose oath and profession required him to discover all treasons, and whose privilege it was to have his challenge accepted, or otherwise to have his charge taken pro confeffo. 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 7 'Say, for effay, fome shew necessary, as Edgar came disguised, to tell the Bastard he was a knight. or probability. By ין By rule of knighthood, I disdain and spurn: Alb. Save him, save him! Gon. This is mere practice, Glofter: A 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 smilingly. Edm. This speech of yours hath mov'd me, And shall, perchance, do good: but speak you on; You look as you had something more to say. Alb. If there be more, more woeful, hold it in; For I am almost ready to diffolve, By the law of arms, thou wast not bound to answer 10 Hearing of this. An unknown opposite; thou art not vanquish'd, But cozen'd and beguil'd. Alb. Shut your mouth, dame, Or with this paper shall I stop it:---Hold, fir:--- 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: C E Who having seen me in my worst eftate, Shunn'd my abhorr'd society; but then, finding Who 'twas that so endur'd, with his strong arms He faften'd on my neck, and bellow'd out 20 As he'd burst heaven; threw him on my father; Told the most piteous tale of Lear and him, 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, 1 And more, much more: the time will bring it out; 25 And there I left him tranc'd. That haft this fortune on me? If thou art noble, I do forgive thee. Edg. Let us exchange charity. I am no less in blood than thou art, Edmund; The dark and vicious place where thee he got, Edm. Thou hast spoken right, 'tis true; The wheel is come full circle; I am here. Alb. Methought, thy very gait did prophesy A royal nobleness :-I must embrace thee: Let forrow split my heart, if ever I Did hate thee, or thy father! Edg. Worthy prince, I know it. Alb. Where have you hid yourself? 30 35 40 Alb. But who was this? Edg. Kent, fir, the banish'd Kent; who in disguife 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 O! she's dead! Alb. Who, man? speak. Gent. Your lady, fir, your lady: and her fifter By her is poison'd; the hath confefs'd it. Edm. I 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 bodies brought sut. How have you known the miferies of your father? 45 This judgment of the heavens, that makes us "That follow'd me so near, (O our lives' (weetness! 50 The compliment which very manners urge. Met I my father with his bleeding rings, Alb. Great thing of us forgot! 55 Speak, Edmund, where's the king? and where's Cordelia? See'ft thou this object, Kent? 60 The one the other poifon'd for my fake, And after flew herself. * The sense may probably be this: This would have fecmed 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, fuch will increafe the horrors of what has been already told. |