To know our enemies minds wee'd rip their hearts, 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. Then am I the prifoner, and his bed my iayle, And fupply the place for your labour. Your wife (fo I would fay) and your affectionate feruant, Edg. O vndistinguisht space of womans wit, And the exchange my brother: heere in the fands Of murtherous letchers, and in the mature time That of his death and busineffe I can tell. Glo. The king is mad, how stiffe is my vilde sense, So should my thoughts be fenced from my greefes, 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, Nor more, nor clipt, but fo. Cor. Be better fuited, Thefe weeds are memories of those worfer houres, Kent. Pardon me dcere madam, Yet to be knowne fhortens my made intent, Till time and I thinke meet. Cor. Then be it fo: my lord how does the king. 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. Reftoration hang thy medicine on my lippes, And And let this kiffe repaire those violent harmes Cor. Had you not bin their father, thefe white flakes Of quicke croffe lightning, to watch poore Per du, Had not concluded all. He wakes, fpeake to him. C. How does my royal lord? how fares your maiesty Vpon a wheele of fire, that mine owne teares 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, I feare I am not perfect in my minde. Me thinkes I should know you, and know this man, Remembers not these garments: nor I know not To be my childe Cordelia. Cor. And fo I am. Lear. Be your teares wet? yes faith: I pray weepe not, I know you do not loue me, for your sisters Cor. No caufe, no cause. Lear. Am I in France? Kent. In your owne kingdome fir. 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, You know the goodnesse I intend vpon you : 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 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 |