To know our enemies minds wee'd rip their hearts,
Their papers is more lawfull.

A Letter.

Let your reciprocall vowes be remembred, You haue many opportunities to cut him off.

If your will want not, time and place will be fruitfully offered.
There is nothing done: if he returne the conqueror,

Then am I the prifoner, and his bed my iayle,
From the loath'd warmth whereof deliuer me,

And fupply the place for your labour.

Your wife (fo I would fay) and your affectionate feruant,

Edg. O vndistinguisht space of womans wit,
A plot vpon her vertuous husbands life,

And the exchange my brother: heere in the fands
Thee Ile rake vp, the poft vnfanctified

Of murtherous letchers, and in the mature time
With this vngracious paper strike the fight
Of the death practisd duke, for him tis well,

That of his death and busineffe I can tell.

Glo. The king is mad, how stiffe is my vilde sense,
That I stand vp, and haue ingenious feeling
Of my huge forrowes, better I were distract,

So should my thoughts be fenced from my greefes,
And woes by wrong imaginations, lose

The knowledge of themfelues.

Gonorill,

Enter Cordelia, Kent, and Doctor.

Cor. O thou good Kent,

How fhall I liue and worke to match thy goodneffe,
My life will be too fhort, and euery measure faile me.
Kent. To be acknowledg'd madam is ore-paid,
All my reports go with the modest truth,

Nor more, nor clipt, but fo.

Cor. Be better fuited,

Thefe weeds are memories of those worfer houres,
I prethee put them off.

Kent. Pardon me dcere madam,

Yet to be knowne fhortens my made intent,
My boone I make it that you know me not,

Till time and I thinke meet.

Cor. Then be it fo: my lord how does the king.
Doct. Madam fleepes ftill.

Cor. O you kinde gods,

Cure this great breach in his abused nature,

The vntun'd and hurrying fenfes, O winde vp,

Of this childe-changed father.

Doct. So please your maiefty we may wake the king He hath flept long.

Cor. Be gouern'd by your knowledge, and proceede Ith fway of your owne will is he array'd?

Doct. I madam, in the heauinesse of his sleepe,

We put fresh garments on him.

Kent. Good madam be by when we do awake him,

I doubt not of his temperance.

Cor. Very well.

Dot. Please you draw neere: louder the muficke there.
Cor. O my deere father,

Reftoration hang thy medicine on my lippes,

And

And let this kiffe repaire those violent harmes
That my two fifters haue in thy reuerence made.
Kent. Kinde and deere princeffe.

Cor. Had you not bin their father, thefe white flakes
Had challeng'd pitty of them. Was this a face
To be expofd against the warring windes,
To ftand againft the deepe dread bolted thunder,
In the most terrible and nimble stroke

Of quicke croffe lightning, to watch poore Per du,
With this thin helme? mine iniurious dogge,
Though he had bit me, should haue stood that night
Against my fire, and waft thou faine (poore father)
To houill thee with fwine and rogues forlorne,
In short and musty straw? Alack, alacke,
Tis wonder that thy life and wits at once,

Had not concluded all. He wakes, fpeake to him.
Dot. Madam do you, tis fittest.

C. How does my royal lord? how fares your maiesty
Lear. You do me wrong to take me out a'th graue,
Thou art a foule in bliffe, but I am bound

Vpon a wheele of fire, that mine owne teares
Do fcald like molten lead.

Cor. Sir, know ye me?

Lear. Y'are a fpirit I know, when did you dye?

Cor. Still, ftill, farre wide.

Doct. He's scarfe awake, let him alone awhile.

Lear. Where haue I bin? where am I? faire day light!

I am mightily abufd; I fhould ene dye with pity

To fee another thus. I know not what to say:

I will not fweare these are my hands, let's fee,

I feele this pin pricke, would I were affur'd of my condition. Cor. O looke vpon me fir,

And hold your hands in benediction ore me,

No fir, you must not kneele.

Lear.

Lear. Pray do not mocke me:

I am a very foolish fond olde man,
Fourefcore and vpward, and to deale plainly,

I feare I am not perfect in my minde.

Me thinkes I should know you, and know this man,
Yet I am doubtfull: for I am mainly ignorant
What place this is, and all the skill I haue

Remembers not these garments: nor I know not
Where I did lodge laft night. Do no laugh at me,
For (as I am a man) I thinke this lady

To be my childe Cordelia.

Cor. And fo I am.

Lear. Be your teares wet? yes faith: I pray weepe not,
If you haue poifon for me I will drinke it :

I know you do not loue me, for your sisters
Haue (as I do remember) done me wrong,
You haue fome caufe, they haue not.

Cor. No caufe, no cause.

Lear. Am I in France?

Kent. In your owne kingdome fir.
Lear. Do not abuse me.

Doct. Be comforted good madame, the great rage you see is cured in him, and yet it is danger to make him euen ore the time hee has loft; defire him to goe in, trouble him no more till further fetling.

Cor. Wilt please your highnesse walke?

Lear. You must beare with me:

Pray now forget and forgiue,

I am olde and foolish.

Exeunt.

Manet Kent and Gentleman.

Gen. Holds it true fir that the duke of Cornwall was fo

flaine?

Kent. Moft certaine fir.

Gent.

Gent. Who is conductor of his people?

Kent. As tis faid, the baftard fonne of Glofter.

Gent. They fay Edgar his banisht fonne, is with the earle

of Kent in Germany.

Kent. Report is changeable, tis time to looke about,

The powers of the kingdome approch apace.

Gent. The arbitrement is like to be bloody, fare you well fir.

Kent. My point and period will be throughly wrought, Or well, or ill, as this dayes battels fought.

Enter Edmund, Regan, and their powers.

Baft. Know of the duke if his last purpose holde,
Or whether fince he is aduifd by ought
To change the courfe, he is full of alteration
And felfe-reprouing, bring his conftant pleasure.
Reg. Our fifters man is certainly miscarried.
Baft. Tis to be doubted madam.
Reg. Now fweet lord,

You know the goodnesse I intend vpon you :
Tell me truly, but then fpeake the truth,

Reg. But haue you neuer found my brothers way, To the forefended place?

Baft. That thought abufes you.

Reg. I am doubtfull that you haue beene coniunct
And bofom'd with her, as farre as we call hers.
Baft. No by mine honor madam.

Reg. I neuer fhall endure her,

Deere my lord be not familiar with her.

Baft. Feare me not, fhe and the duke her husband.

Enter