Man My Father poorly led depriv'd of Sight The precious Stones torn from their bleeding Rings Some-thing I heard of this inhumane Deed But disbeliev'd it as an Act too horrid For the hot Hell of a curst Woman's fury When will the measure of my woes be full Glost. Revenge thou art afoot Success attend Thee Well have I sold my Eyes if the Event Prove happy for the injur'd King Old M. O my good Lord I have been your Tenant and your Father's Tenant these Fourscore years Glost. Away get thee Away good Friend be gone Thy Comforts can do me no good at All Thee they may hurt Old M. You cannot see your Way Glost. I have no Way and therefore want no Eyes I stumbled when I saw O dear Son Edgar The Food of thy abused Father's Wrath Might I but live to see thee in my Touch I 'd say I had Eyes agen Edg. Alas he 's sensible that I was wrong'd And shou'd I own my Self his tender Heart Would break betwixt th' extreams of Grief and Joy Old M. How now who 's There Edg. A Charity for poor Tom. Play fair and defie the foul Fiend O Gods and must I still persue this Trade Aside Trifling beneath such Loads ofMisery Old M. 'T is poor mad Tom. Glost. In the late Storm I such a Fellow saw Which made me think a Man a Worm Where is the Lunatick Old M. Here my Lord. Glost. Get thee now away if for my sake Thou wilt o're-take us hence a Mile or Two I' th' way tow'rd Dover do 't for ancient Love And bring some cov'ring for this naked Wretch Whom I 'll intreat to lead me Old M. Alack my Lord He 's Mad. Glost. 'T is the Time's Plague when Mad-men lead the Blind Do as I bid thee Old M. I 'll bring him the best ' Parrel that I have Come on 't what will Exit Glost. Sirrah naked Fellow Edg. Poor Tom's a cold I cannot fool it longer And yet I must bless thy sweet Eyes they Bleed Believe 't poor Tom ev'n weeps his Blind to see ' em Glost. Know'st thou the way to Dover Edg. Both Stile and Gate Horse-way and Foot-path poor Tom has been scar'd out of his good Wits bless every true Man's Son from the foul Fiend Glost. Here take this Purse that I am wretched Makes thee the Happier Heav'n deal so still Thus let the griping Userers Hoard be Scatter'd So Distribution shall undo Excess And each Man have enough Dost thou know Dover Edg. I Master Glost. There is a Cliff whose high and bending Head Looks dreadfully down on the roaring Deep Bring me but to the very Brink of it And I 'll repair the Poverty thou bearst With something Rich about me from that Place I shall no leading need Edg. Give me thy Arm poor Tom shall guid thee Glost. Soft for I hear the Tread ofPassengers Enter Kent and Cordelia Cord. Ah me your Fear 's too true it was the King I spoke but now with some that met him As Mad as the vext Sea Singing aloud Crown'd with rank Femiter and furrow Weeds With Berries Burdocks Violets Dazies Poppies And all the idle Flow'rs that grow In our sustaining Corn conduct me to him To prove my last Endeavours to restore him And Heav'n so prosper thee Kent I will good Lady Ha Gloster here turn poor dark Man and hear A Friend's Condolement who at Sight of thine Forgets his own Distress thy old true Kent Glost. How Kent from whence return'd Kent I have not since my Banishment been absent But in Disguise follow'd the abandon'd King 'T was me thou saw'st with him in the late Storm Glost. Let me embrace thee had I Eyes I now Should weep for Joy but let this trickling Blood Suffice instead of Tears Cord. O misery To whom shall I complain or in what Language Forgive O wretched Man the Piety That brought thee to this pass 't was I that caus'd it I cast me at thy Feet and beg of thee To crush these weeping Eyes to equal Darkness If that will give thee any Recompence Edg. Was ever Season so distrest as This Aside Glost. I think Cordelia's Voice rise pious Princess And take a dark Man's Blessing Cord. O my Edgar My Vertue 's now grown Guilty works the Bane Of those that do befriend me Heav'n forsakes me And when you look that Way it is but Just That you shou'd hate me too Edg. O wave this cutting Speech and spare to wound A Heart that 's on the Rack Glost. No longer cloud thee Kent in that Disguise There 's business for thee and of noblest weight Our injur'd Country is at length in Arms Urg'd by the King 's inhumane Wrongs and Mine And only want a Chief to lead 'em on That Task be Thine Edg. Brave Britains then there 's Life in 't yet Aside Kent Then have we one cast for our Fortune yet Come Princess I 'll bestow you with the King Then on the Spur to Head these Forces Farewell good Gloster to our Conduct trust Glost. And be your Cause as Prosp'rous as t is Just. Exeunt Gonerill's Palace Enter Gonerill Attendants Gon. It was great Ignorance Gloster's Eyes being out To let him live where he arrives he moves All Hearts against us Edmund I think is gone In pity to his Misery to dispatch him Gent. No Madam he 's return'd on speedy Summons Back to your Sister Gon. Ha! I like not That Such speed must have the Wings of Love where 's Albany Gent. Madam within but never Man so chang'd I told him of the uproar of the Peasants He smil'd at it when I inform'd him Of Gloster's Treason Gon. Trouble him no further It is his coward Spirit back to our Sister Hasten her Musters and let her know I have giv'n the Distaff into my Husband's Hands That done with special Care deliver these Dispatches In private to young Gloster Enter a Messenger Mess. O Madam most unseasonable News The Duke of Cornwall's Dead of his late Wound Whose loss your Sister has in part supply'd Making brave Edmund General of her Forces Gon. One way I like this well But being Widow and my Gloster with her May blast the promis'd Harvest of our Love A word more Sir add Speed to your Journey And if you chance to meet with that blind Traytor Preferment falls on him that cuts him off Exeunt Field SCENE Gloster and Edgar Glost. When shall we come to th' Top of that same Hill Edg. We climb it now mark how we Labour Glost. Methinks the Ground is even Edg. Horrible Steep heark do you hear the Sea Glost. No truly Edg. Why then your other Senses grow imperfect By your Eyes Anguish Glost. So may it be indeed Methinks thy Voice is alter'd and thou speak'st In better Phrase and Matter than thou did'st Edg. You are much deceiv'd in nothing am I Alter'd But in my Garments Glost. Methinks y' are better Spoken Edg. Come on Sir here 's the Place how fearfull And dizy 't is to
this licentious Insolence of your Servants Is most unseemly hourly they break out In quarrels bred by their unbounded Riots I had fair hope by making this known to you T' have had a quick Redress but find too late That you protect and countenance their out-rage And therefore Sir I take this freedom which Necessity makes Discreet Lear. Are you our Daughter Gon. Come Sir let me entreat you to make use Of your discretion and put off betimes This Disposition that of late transforms you From what you rightly are Lear. Do's any here know me why this is not Lear. Do's Lear walk thus speak thus where are his Eyes Who is it that can tell me who I am Gon. Come Sir this Admiration's much o' th' savour Of other your new humours I beseech you To understand my purposes aright As you are old you shou'd be staid and wise Here do you keep an hundred Knights and Squires Men so debaucht and bold that this our Palace Shews like a riotous Inn a Tavern Brothel Be then advised by her that else will take The she beggs to lessen your Attendance Take half a way and see that the remainder Be such as may befit your Age and know Themselves and you Lear. Darkness and Devils Saddle my Horses call my Train together Degenerate Viper I 'll not stay with Thee I yet have left a Daughter Serpent Monster Lessen my Train and call 'em riotous All men approv'd of choice and rarest Parts That each particular of duty know How small Cordelia was thy Fault O Lear Beat at this Gate that let thy Folly in And thy dear Judgment out Go go my People Going off meets Albany entring Ingratefull Duke was this your will Alb. What Sir Lear. Death fifty of my Followers at a clap Alb. The matter Madam Gon. Never afflict your self to know the Cause But give his Dotage way Lear. Blasts upon thee Th' untented woundings of a Father's Curse Pierce ev'ry Sense about Thee old fond Eyes Lament this Cause again I 'll pluck ye out And cast ye with the Waters that ye lose To temper Clay No Gorgon thou shalt find That I 'll resume the Shape which thou dost think I have cast off for ever Gon. Mark ye that Lear. Hear Nature Dear Goddess hear and if thou dost intend To make that Creature fruitfull change thy purpose Pronounce upon her Womb the barren Curse That from her blasted Body never spring A Babe to honour her but if she must bring forth Defeat her Joy with some distorted Birth Or monstrous Form the Prodigy o' th' Time And so perverse of spirit that it may Live Her Torment as 't was Born to fret her Cheeks With constant Tears and wrinkle her young Brow Turn all her Mother's Pains to Shame and Scorn That she may curse her Crime too late and feel How sharper than a Serpent's Tooth it is To have a Thankless Child Away away Exit cum suis. Gon. Presuming thus upon his numerous Train He thinks to play the Tyrant here and hold Our Lives at will Alb. Well you may bear too far Ex. End of the First Act. ACT II. SCENE Gloster's House Enter Bastard Bast. THE Duke comes here to night I 'll take advantage Of his Arrival to compleat my project Brother a Word come forth 't is I your Friend Enter Edgar My Father watches for you fly this place Intelligence is giv'n where you are hid Take the advantage of the Night bethink ye Have not spoke against the Duke of Cornwall Something might shew you a favourer of Duke Albany's Party Edg. Nothing why ask you Bast. Because he 's coming here to Night in haste And Regan with him heark the Guards Away Ed. Let 'em come on I 'll stay and clear my self Bast. Your Innocence at leisure may be heard But Gloster's storming Rage as yet is deaf And you may perish e're allow'd the hearing Ex. Edgar Gloster comes yonder now to my feign'd scuffle Yield come before my Father Lights here Lights Some Blood drawn on me wou'd beget opinion Stabs his Arm. Of our more fierce Encounter I have seen Drunkards do more than this in sport Glost. Now Edmund where 's the Traytour Enter Gloster and Servants Bast. That Name Sir Strikes Horrour through me but my Brother Sir Stood here i' th' Dark Glost. Thou bleed'st pursue the Villain And bring him piece-meal to me Bast. Sir he 's fled Glost. Let him fly far this Kingdom shall not hide him The noble Duke my Patron comes to Night By his Authority I will proclaim Rewards for him that brings him to the Stake And Death for the Concealer Then of my Lands loyal and natural Boy I 'll work the means to make thee capable Exeunt Enter Kent disguis'd still and Goneril's Gentleman severally Gent. Good morrow Friend belong'st thou to this House Kent Ask them will answer thee Gent. Where may we set our Horses Kent I' th' Mire Gent. I am in haste prethee an' thou lovâ—st me tell me Kent I love thee not Gent. Why then I care not for Thee Kent An' I had thee in Lipsbury Pinfold I 'd make thee care for me Gent. What dost thou mean I know thee not Kent But Minion I know Thee Gent. What dost thou know me for Kent For a base proud beggarly white-liver'd Glass-gazing superserviceable finical Rogue one that wou'd be a Pimp in way of good Service and art nothing but a composition of Knave Beggar Coward Pandar Gent. What a monstrous Fellow art thou to rail at one that is neither known of thee nor knows thee Kent Impudent Slave not know me who but two days since tript up thy heels before the King draw Miscreant or I 'll make the Moon shine through thee Gent. What means the Fellow Why prethee prethee I tell thee I have nothing to do with thee Kent I know your Rogueship's Office you come with Letters against the King taking my young Lady Vanity's part against her royal Father draw Rascal Gent. Murther murther help Ho! Kent Dost thou scream Peacock strike Puppet stand dappar Slave Gent. Help Hea ' Murther help Exit Kent after him Flourish Enter Duke of Cornwal Regan attended Gloster Bastard Glost. All Welcome to your Graces you do me honour Duke Gloster w 'ave heard with sorrow that your Life Has been attempted by your impious Son But Edmund here has paid you strictest Duty Glost. He did betray his Practice and receiv'd The Hurt you see striving to apprehend him Duke Is He pursu'd Glost. He is my Lord. Reg. Use our Authority to apprehend The Traytour and do Justice on his Head For you Edmund that have so signaliz'd Your Vertue you from henceforth shall be ours Natures of such firm Trust we much shall need A charming Youth and worth my further Thought Aside Duke Lay comforts noble Gloster to your Breast As we to ours This Night be spent in Revels We choose you Gloster for our Host to Night A troublesome expression of our Love On to
instantly bid 'em come forth and hear me Or at their Chamber door I 'll beat the Drum Till it cry sleep to Death Enter Cornwall and Regan Oh! are ye come Duke Health to the King Reg. I am glad to see your Highness Lear. Regan I think you are I know what cause I have to think so shoud'st thou not be glad I wou'd divorce me from thy Mother's Tomb Beloved Regan thou wilt shake to hear What I shall utter Thou coud'st ne'r ha' thought it Kent here set at liberty Thy Sister 's naught O Regan she has ty'd Ingratitude like a keen Vulture here I scarce can speak to thee Reg. I pray you Sir take patience I have hope That you know less to value her Desert Then she to slack her Duty Lear. Ha! how 's that Reg. I cannot think my Sister in the least Would fail in her respects but if perchance She has restrain'd the Riots of your Followers 'T is on such Grounds and to such wholsome Ends As clears her from all Blame Lear. My Curses on her Reg. O Sir you are old And shou'd content you to be rul'd and led By some discretion that discerns your State Better than you yourself therefore Sir Return to our Sister and say you have wrong'd her Lear. Ha! ask her Forgiveness No no 't was my mistake thou didst not mean so Dear Daughter I confess that I am old Age is unnecessary but thou art good And wilt dispense with my Infirmity Reg. Good Sir no more of these unsightly passions Return back to our Sister Lear. Never Regan She has abated me of half of my Train Lookt black upon me stabb'd me with her Tongue All the stor'd Vengeances of Heav'n fall On her Ingratefull Head strike her young Bones Ye taking Ayrs with Lameness Reg. O the blest Gods Thus will you wish on me When the rash mood Lear. No Regan Thou shalt never have my Curse Thy tender Nature cannot give thee o're To such Impiety Thou better know'st The Offices of Nature bond of Child-hood And dues of Gratitude Thou bear'st in mind The halfo'th ' Kingdom which our love conferr'd On thee and thine Reg. Good Sir toth ' purpose Lear. Who put my Man i' th' Stocks Duke What Trumpet 's that Reg. I know 't my Sister 's this confirms her Letters Sir is your Lady come Enter Gonerill's Gentleman Lear. More Torture still This is a Slave whose easie borrow'd pride Dwells in the fickle Grace of her he follows A Fashion-fop that spends the day in Dressing And all to bear his Ladie 's flatt'ring Message That can deliver with a Grace her Lie And with as bold a face bring back a greater Out Varlet from my sight Duke What means your Grace Lear. Who stockt my Servant Regan I have hope Thou didst not know it Enter Gonerill Who comes here oh Heavens If you do love Old men if your sweet sway Allow Obedience if your selves are Old Make it your Cause send down and take my part Why Gorgon dost thou come to haunt me here Art not asham'd to look upon this Beard Darkness upon my Eyes they play me false O Regan wilt thou take her by the Hand Gon. Why not by th' Hand Sir how have I offended All 's not Offence that indiscretion finds And Dotage terms so Lear. Heart thou art too tough Reg. I pray you Sir being old confessyou are so If till the expiration of your Month You will return and sojourn with your Sister Dismissing half your Train come then to me I am now from Home and out of that Provision That shall be needfull for your Entertainment Lear. Return with her and fifty Knights dismist No rather I 'll forswear all Roofs and chuse To be Companion to the Midnight Wolf My naked Head expos'd to th' merciless Air Then have my smallest wants suppli'd by her Gon. At your choice Sir Lear. Now I prithee Daughter do not make me mad I will not trouble thee my Child farewell Wee 'l meet no more no more see one another Let shame come when it will I do not call it I do not bid the Thunder-bearer strike Nor tell Tales of thee to avenging Heav'n Mend when thou canst be better at thy leisure I can be patient I can stay with Regan I and my hundred Knights Reg. Your Pardon Sir I lookt not for you yet nor am provided For your fit welcome Lear. Is this well spoken now Reg. My Sister treats you fair what fifty Followers Is it not well what shou'd you need of more Gon. Why might not you my Lord receive Attendance From those whom she calls Servants or from mine Reg. Why not my Lord if then they chance to slack you We cou'd controll'em if you come to me For now Isee the Danger I entreat you To bring but Five and Twenty to no more Will I give place Lear. Hold now my Temper stand this bolt unmov'd And I am Thunder-proof The wicked when compar'd with the more wicked Seem beautifull and not to be the worst Stands in some rank of Praise now Gonerill Thou art innocent agen I 'll go with thee Thy Fifty yet do's double Five and Twenty And thou art twice her Love Gon. Hear me my Lord What need you Five and Twenty Ten or Five To follow in a House where twice so many Have a Command t' attend you Reg. What need one Lear. Blood Fire hear Leaprosies and bluest Plague Room room for Hell to belch her Horrors up And drench the Circes in a stream of Fire Heark how th' Infernals eccho to my Rage Their Whips and Snakes Reg. How lewd a thing is Passion Gon. So old and stomachfull Lightning and Thunder Lear. Heav'ns drop your Patience down You see me here ye Gods a poor old Man As full of Griefs as Age wretched in both I 'll bear no more no you unnatural Haggs I will have such Revenges on you both That all the world shall I will do such things What they are yet I know not but they shall be The Terrors of the Earth you think I 'll weep Thunder again This Heart shall break into a thousand pieces Before I 'll weep O Gods I shall go mad Exit Duke 'T is a wild Night come out o' th' Storm Exeunt End of the Second Act. ACT III. SCENE A Desert Heath Enter Lear and Kent in the Storm Lear. BLOW Winds and burst your Cheeks rage louderyet Fantastick Lightning singe singe my white Head Spout Cataracts and Hurricanos fall Till you have drown'd the Towns and Palaces Of proud ingratefull Man Kent Not all my best intreaties can perswade him Into some needfull shelter or to bide This poor slight Cov'ring on his aged Head Expos'd to this wild war of Earth and Heav'n Lear. Rumble thy fill fight Whirlwind Rain and Fire Not Fire Wind Rain or Thunder are my Daughters I tax not you ye Elements with unkindness I never gave you Kingdoms call'd you Children You owe me no Obedience then let fall Your horrible
arroynt her Glost. What has your Grace no better Company Edg. The Prince of Darkness is a Gentleman Modo he is call'd and Mahu Glost. Go with me Sir hard by I have a Tenant My Duty cannot suffer me to obey in all your Daughters hard Commands who have enjoyn'd me to make fast my Doors and let this Tyrannous Night take hold upon you Yet have I ventur'd to come seek you out and bring you where both Fire and Food is ready Kent Good my Lord take his offer Lear. First let me talk with this Philosopher Say Stagirite what is the Cause of Thunder Glost. Beseech you Sir go with me Lear. I 'll talk a Word with this same Learned Theban What is your Study Edg. How to prevent the Fiend and to kill Vermin Lear. Let me ask you a Word in private Kent His Wits are quite unsetled Good Sir let 's force him hence Glost. Canst blame him his Daughters seek his Death This Bedlam but disturbs him the more Fellow be gone Edg. Child Rowland to the dark Tow'r came His Word was still Fie Fo and Fum I smell the Bloud of a British Man Oh Torture Exit Glost. Now I prethee Friend let 's take him in our Arms and carry him where he shall meet both Welcome and Protection Good Sir along with us Lear. You say right let 'em Anatomize Regan see what breeds about her Heart is there any Cause in Nature for these hard Hearts Kent Beseech your Grace Lear. Hist Make no Noise make no Noise so so we 'll to Supper i' th' Morning Exeunt Enter Cordelia and Arante Ar. Dear Madam rest ye here our search is Vain Look here 's a shed beseech ye enter here Cord. Prethee go in thy self seek thy own Ease Where the Mind 's free the Body's Delicate This Tempest but diverts me from the Thought Of what wou'd hurt me more Enter Two Ruffians 1 Ruff. We have dog'd 'em far enough this Place is private I 'll keep 'em Prisoners here within this Hovell Whilst you return and bring Lord Edmund Hither But help me first to House ' em 2 Ruff. Nothing but this dear Devil Shows Gold Shou'd have drawn me through all this Tempest But to our Work They seize Cordelia and Arante who Shriek out Soft Madam we are Friends dispatch I say Cord. Help Murder help Gods some kind Thunderbolt To strike me Dead Enter Edgar Edg. What Cry was That ha Women seiz'd by Ruffians Is this a Place and Time for Villany Avaunt ye Bloud-hounds Drives'em with his Quarter-staff Both. The Devil the Devil Run off Edg. O speak what are ye that appear to be O' th' tender Sex and yet unguarded Wander Through the dead Mazes of this dreadfull Night Where tho' at full the Clouded Moon scarce darts Imperfect Glimmerings Cord. First say what art thou Our Guardian Angel that wer 't pleas'd t' assume That horrid shape to fright the Ravishers We 'll kneel to Thee Edg. O my tumultuous Bloud By all my trembling Veins Cordelia's Voice 'T is she her self My Senses sure conform To my wild Garb and I am Mad indeed Cord. Whate're thou art befriend a wretched Virgin And if thou canst direct our weary search Edg. Who relieves poor Tom that sleeps on the Nettle with the Hedge-pig for his Pillow Whilst Smug ply'd the Bellows She truckt with her Fellows The Freckle-fac't Mab Was a Blouze and a Drab Yet Swithin made Oberon jealous Oh! Torture Ar. Alack Madam a poor wandring Lunatick Cord. And yet his Language seem'd but now well temper'd Speak Friend to one more wretched than thy self And if thou hast one Interval of sense Inform us if thou canst where we may find A poor old Man who through this Heath has stray'd The tedious Night Speak sawest thou such a One Edg. The King her Father whom she's come to seek Aside Through all the Terrors of this Night O Gods That such amazing Piety such Tenderness Shou'd yet to me be Cruel Yes Fair One such a One was lately here And is convey'd by some that came to seek him T' a Neighb'ring Cottage but distinctly where I know not Cord. Blessings on 'em Let 's find him out Arante for thou seest We are in Heavens Protection Going off Edg. O Cordelia Cord. Ha! Thou knowst my Name Edg. As you did once know Edgar's Cord. Edgar Edg. The poor Remains of Edgar what your Scorn Has left him Cord. Do we wake Arante Edg. My Father seeks my Life which I preserv'd In hopes of some blest Minute to oblidge Distrest Cordelia and the Gods have giv'n it That Thought alone prevail'd with me to take This Frantick Dress to make the Earth my Bed With these bare Limbs all change ofSeasons bide Noons scorching Heat and Midnights piercing Cold To feed on Offals and to drink with Herds To Combat with the Winds and be the Sport Of Clowns or what 's more wretched yet their Pity Ar. Was ever Tale so full ofMisery Edg. But such a Fall as this I grant was due To my aspiring Love for 't was presumptuous Though not presumptuously persu'd For well you know I wore my Flames conceal'd And silent as the Lamps that Burn in Tombs 'Till you perceiv'd my Grief with modest Grace Drew forth the Secret and then seal'd my Pardon Cord. You had your Pardon nor can you Challenge more Edg. What do I. Challenge more Such Vanity agrees not with these Rags When in my prosp'rous State rich Gloster's Heir You silenc'd my Pretences and enjoyn'd me To trouble you upon that Theam no more Then what Reception must Love's Language find From these bare Limbs and Beggers humble Weeds Cord. Such as the Voice of Pardon to a Wretch Condemn'd Such as the Shouts Of succ'ring Forces to a Town besieg'd Edg. Ah! what new Method now of Cruelty Cord. Come to my Arms thou dearest best of Men And take the kindest Vows that e're were spoke By a protesting Maid Edg. Is' t possible Cord. By the dear Vital Stream that baths my Heart These hallow'd Rags ofThine and naked Vertue These abject Tassels these fantastick Shreds Ridiculous ev'n to the meanest Clown To me are dearer than the richest Pomp Of purple Monarchs Edg. Generous charming Maid The Gods alone that made can rate thy Worth This most amazing Excellence shall be Fame's Triumph in succeeding Ages when Thy bright Example shall adorn the Scene And teach the World Perfection Cord. Cold and weary We 'll rest a while Arante on that Straw Then forward to find out the poor Old King Edg. Look I have Flint and Steel the Implements Of wandring Lunaticks I 'll strike a Light And make a Fire beneath this Shed to dry Thy Storm-drencht Garments e're thou Lie to rest thee Then Fierce and Wakefull as th' Hesperian Dragon I 'll watch beside thee to protect thy Sleep Mean while the Stars shall dart their kindest Beams And Angels Visit my Cordelia's Dreams Exeunt SCENE The Palace Enter Cornwall Regan Bastard Servants Cornwall with
Fourth Act. ACT V. SCENE A Camp Enter Gonerill and Attendants Gon. OUR Sisters Pow'rs already are arriv'd And She her self has promis'd to prevent The Night with her Approach have you provided The Banquet I bespoke for her Reception At my Tent Att. So please your Grace we have Gon. But thou my Poysner must prepare the Bowl That Crowns this Banquet when our Mirth is high The Trumpets sounding and the Flutes replying Then is the Time to give this fatal Draught To this imperious Sister if then our Arms succeed Edmund more dear than Victory is mine But if Defeat or Death it self attend me 'T will charm my Ghost to think I 've left behind me Trumpet No happy Rival heark she comes Exeunt Enter Bastard in his Tent. Bast. To both these Sisters have I sworn my Love Each jealous of the other as the Stung Are of the Adder neither can be held If both remain Alive where shall I fix Cornwall is Dead and Regan's empty Bed Seems cast by Fortune for me but already I have enjoy'd her and bright Gonerill With equal Charms brings dear variety And yet untasted Beauty I will use Her Husband's Countenance for the Battail then Usurp at once his Bed and Throne Enter Officers My trusty Scouts y' are well return'd have ye descry'd The Strength and Posture of the Enemy Off. We have and were surpriz'd to find The banisht Kent return'd and at their Head Your Brother Edgar on the Rear Old Gloster a moving Spectacle led through their Ranks Whose pow'rfull Tongue and more prevailing Wrongs Have so enrag'd their rustick Spirits that with Th' approaching Dawn we must expect their Battle Bast. You bring a welcome Hearing Each to his Charge Line well your Ranks and stand on your Award To Night repose you and i' th' Morn we 'll give The Sun a Sight that shall be worth his Rising Exeunt SCENE A Valley near the Camp Enter Edgar and Gloster Edg. Here Sir take you the shadow of this Tree For your good Host pray that the Right may thrive If ever I return to you again I 'll bring you Comfort Exit Glost. Thanks friendly Sir The Fortune your good Cause deserves betide you An Alarum after which Gloster speaks The Fight grows hot the whole War 's now at Work And the goar'd Battle bleeds in every Vein Whilst Drums and Trumpets drown loud Slaughter's Roar Where 's Gloster now that us'd to head the Fray And scour the Ranks where deadliest Danger lay Here like a Shepherd in a lonely Shade Idle unarm'd and listning to the Fight Yet the disabled Courser Maim'd and Blind When to his Stall he hears the ratling War Foaming with Rage tears up the batter'd Ground And tugs for Liberty No more of Shelter thou blind Worm but forth To th' open Field the War may come this way And crush thee into Rest. Here lay thee down And tear the Earth that work befits a Mole O dark Despair when Edgar wilt thou come To pardon and dismiss me to the Grave A Retreat sounded Heark a Retreat the King has Lost or Won Re-enter Edgar bloody Edg. Away old Man give me your Hand away King Lear has loft He and his Daughter tane And this ye Gods is all that I can save Of this most precious Wreck give me your Hand Glost. No farther Sir a Man may Rot even here Edg. What in ill Thoughts again Men must endure Their going hence ev'n as their coming hither Glost. And that 's true too Exeunt Flourish Enter in Conquest Albany Gonerill Regan Bastard Lear Kent Cordelia Prisoners Alb. It is enough to have Conquer'd Cruelty Shou'd ne're survive the Fight Captain o' th' Guards Treat well your royal Prisoners till you have Our further Orders as you hold our Pleasure Gon. Heark Sir not as you hold our Husbands pleasure To the Captain aside But as you hold your Life dispatch your Pris'ners Our Empire can have no sure Settlement But in their Death the Earth that covers them Binds fast our Throne Let me hear they are Dead Capt. I shall obey your Orders Bast. Sir I approve it safest to pronounce Sentence of Death upon this wretched King Whose Age has Charms in it his Title more To draw the Commons once more to his Side 'T were best prevent Alb. Sir by your Favour I hold you but a Subject of this War Not as a Brother Reg. That 's as we list to Grace him Have you forgot that He did lead our Pow'rs Bore the Commission of our Place and Person And that Authority may well stand up And call it self your Brother Gon. Not so hot In his own Merits he exalts himself More than in your Addition Enter Edgar disguised Alb. What art Thou Edg. Pardon me Sir that I presume to stop A Prince and Conquerour yet e'er you Triumph Give Ear to what a Stranger can deliver Of what concerns you more than Triumph can I do impeach your General there of Treason Lord Edmund that usurps the Name of Gloster Of fowlest Practice 'gainst your Life and Honour This Charge is True and wretched though I seem I can produce a Champion that will prove In single Combat what I do avouch If Edmund dares but trust his Cause and Sword Bast. What will not Edmund dare my Lord I beg The favour that you 'd instantly appoint The Place where I may meet this Challenger Whom I will sacrifice to my wrong'd Fame Remember Sir that injur'd Honour 's nice And cannot brook delay Alb. Anon before our Tent i' th' Army's view There let the Herald cry Edg. I thank your Highness in my Champion's Name He 'll wait your Trumpet 's call Alb. Lead Exeunt Manent Lear Kent Cordelia guarded Lear. O Kent Cordelia You are the onely Pair that I e'er wrong'd And the just Gods have made you Witnesses Of my Disgrace the very shame of Fortune To see me chain'd and shackled at these years Yet were you but Spectatours of my Woes Not fellow-sufferers all were well Cord. This language Sir adds yet to our Affliction Lear. Thou Kent didst head the Troops that fought my Battel Expos'd thy Life and Fortunes for a Master That had as I remember banisht Thee Kent Pardon me Sir that once I broke your Orders Banisht by you I kept me here disguis'd To watch your Fortunes and protect your Person You know you entertain'd a rough blunt Fellow One Cajus and you thought he did you Service Lear. My trusty Cajus I have lost him too Weeps 'T was a rough Honesty Kent I was that Cajus Disguis'd in that course Dress to follow you Lear. My Cajus too wer 't thou my trusty Cajus Enough enough Cord. Ah me he faints his Blood forsakes his Cheek Help Kent Lear. No no they shall not see us weep We 'll see them rot first Guards lead away to Prison Come Kent Cordelia come We Two will sit alone like Birds i' th' Cage When Thou dost ask me Blessing I 'll kneel down And ask of Thee