Enter Albany and Gonorill with troopes.
Gon. I had rather loose the battell
Then that fifter fhould loofen him and me.

Alb. Our very louing fifter well be-met,
For this I heare 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
I neuer yet was valiant; for this businesse

It toucheth vs, as France inuades our land
Not bolds the king, with others whom I feare,
Moft iuft and heauy caufes make oppofe.
Baft. Sir you fpeake nobly.

Regan. Why is this reafon'd?

Gon. Combine together gainft the enemy,
For thefe domefticke doore particulars,
Are not to queftion heere.

Alb. Let vs then determine

With the ancient of warre on our proceedings.
Baft. I fhall attend you prefently at your tent.
Reg. Sifter youle go with vs ?

Gon. No.

Reg. Tis moft conuenient, pray you go with vs.
Gon. O ho, I know the riddle, I will go.

Enter Edgar.

Edg. If ere your grace had fpeech with one fo poore, Heare me one word.

Alb. Ile ouertake you, speake.

Edg. Before you fight the battell, ope this letter,

If you haue victory let the trumpet founde

For him that brought it, wretched though I seeme,
I can produce a champion, that will prooue
What is auouched there. If you mifcarry,

Exit.

Your

Your bufineffe of the world hath fo an end,
Fortune loue you.

Alb. Stay till I haue read the letter.

Edg. I was forbid it,

When time shall ferue let but the herald cry,

And Ile appeare againe.

Alb. Why fare thee well, I will looke ore the paper.

Enter Edmund.

Baft. The enemy's in view, draw vp your powers,
Hard is the guesse of their great strength and forces
By diliget discouery, but your haft is now vrgd on you.
Alb. We will greet the time.

Baft. To both these fifters haue I fworne my loue,
Each iealous of the other, as the fting are of the adder,
Which of them fhall I take, both one

Or neither; neither can be enioy'd

If both remaine aliue: to take the widdow,
Exafperates, makes mad her fifter Gonorill,
And hardly fhall I carry out my fide

Her hufband being aliue. Now then wee'l vfe

His countenance for the battell, which being done
Let her that would be rid of him deuife

His speedy taking off: as for his mercie

Which he extends to Lear and to Cordelia,

The battell done, and they within our power,

Shall neuer fee his pardon : for my state

Stands on me to defend, not to debate.

Exit.

Exit.

Alarum. Enter the powers of France ouer the ftage, Cordelia with her Father in her hand.

Enter Edgar and Glofter.

Edg. Heere father take, the fhadow of this bush

For

For your good hoaft: pray that the right may thriue..

If euer I returne to you againe,

Ile bring you comfort.

Glo. Grace go with you fir.

Alarum and retreat. Enter Edgar.

Edg. Away olde man, giue me thy hand, away,
King Lear hath loft, he and his daughter tane :
Giue me thy hand, come on.

Glo. No farther fir, a man may rot euen heere.
Edg. What in ill thoughts agen? men must endure,
Their going hence, euen as their comming hither,
Ripenesse is all come on.

Enter Edmund, with Lear and Cordelia prisoners.
Baft. Some officers take them away, good guard,
Vntill their greater pleasures best be knowne
That are to cenfure them.

Cor. We are not the first,

Who with best meaning haue incurr'd the worst:
For thee oppreffed king am I caft downe,
My felfe could elfe out-frowne falfe fortunes frowne.
Shall we not fee thefe daughters, and these fifters?
Lear. No, no, come let's away to prison,
We two alone will fing like birds i'th cage:
When thou doft afke me bleffing, Ile kneele downe
And afke of thee forgiueneffe: fo weell liue,
And pray, and tell old tales, and laugh

At gilded butterflies, and heare poore rogues

Talke of court newes, and weel talke with them too,
Who looses, and who wins; whofe in, whofe out;
And take vpon's the mystery of things,

As if we were Gods fpies: and weel weare out

Exit.

Exit.

In

In a walld prison, packes and fects of great ones,
That ebbe and flow by the moone.

Baft. Take them away.

Lear. Vpon fuch facrifices my Cordelia

The gods themfelues throw incenfe. Haue I caught thee? He that parts vs fhall bring a brand from heauen,

And fire vs hence like foxes, wipe thine eyes,

The good shall deuoure em, fleach and fell,

Ere they shall make vs weepe? weele fee em starue first.

Baft. Come hither captaine, hearke.

Take thou this note, go follow them to prifon,

Exit.

(thee,

One ftep I haue aduancft thee, if thou doft as this inftructs
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 sword,
Thy great employment will not beare question,
Either fay thout do't, or thriue by other meanes.
Cap. Ile doot my lord.

Baft. About it, and write happy when thou haft done,
Marke I say instantly, and carry it fo

As I haue fet it downe.

Cap. I cannot draw a cart, nor eate dryed oates, If it be mans worke, Ile doo't.

Enter the Duke, the two Ladies, and others.

Alb. Sir you haue fhewne to day your valiant ftraine, And fortune led you well: you haue the captiues

That were the oppofites of this dayes ftrife:

We do require then of you so to vse them,

As we shall finde their merits, and our fafety
May equally determine.

Baft.

Baft. Sir I thought it fit,

To fend the olde and miferable king

To fome retention, and appointed guard,
Whofe age has charmes in it, whose title more,
To plucke the common bloffomes of his fide,
And turne our impreft launces in our eyes

Which do command them. With him I fent the queene:
My reafon all the fame, and they are ready to morrow,
Or at a further space, to appeare where you shall hold
Your feffion at this time: we fweate and bleed,
The friend hath loft his friend, and the beft quarrels
In the heate are curft by those that feele their sharpeneffe.
The question of Cordelia and her father

Requires a fitter place.

Alb. Sir by your patience,

I hold you but a fubiect of this warre, not as a brother,
Reg. That's as we lift to grace him.

Methinkes our pleasure should haue been demanded

Ere you had spoke so farre. He led our powers,
Bore the commiffion of my place and perfon,

The which immediate may well stand vp,

And call it felfe your brother.

Gon. Not fo hot in his owne grace he doth exalt himselfe, More then in your

aduancement.

Reg. In my right by me inuefted, he compeers the best.

Gon. That were the most, if he should husband you.

Reg. Iefters do oft proue prophets.

Gon. Hola, hola, that eye that told you fo, lookt but a fquint.

Reg. Lady I am not well, else I should answer

From a full flowing ftomacke. Generall,

Take thou my foldiers, prifoners, patrimony,