the Sports before us who are These Enter the Gentleman pursu'd by Kent Glost. Now what 's the matter Duke Keep peace upon your Lives he dies that strikes Whence and what are ye Att. Sir they are Messengers the one from your Sister The other from the King Duke Your Difference speak Gent. I 'm scarce in breath my Lord. Kent No marvel you have so bestirr'd your Valour Nature disclaims the Dastard a Taylor made him Duke Speak yet how grew your Quarrel Gent. Sir this old Ruffian here whose Life I spar'd In pity to his Beard Kent Thou Essence Bottle In pity to my Beard Your leave my Lord And I will tread the Muss-cat into Mortar Duke Know'st thou our Presence Kent Yes Sir but Anger has a Privilege Duke Why art thou angry Kent That such a Slave as this shou'd wear a Sword And have no Courage Office and no Honesty Not Frost and Fire hold more Antipathy Than I and such a Knave Glost. Why dost thou call him Knave Kent His Countenance likes me not Duke No more perhaps does Mine nor His or Hers. Kent Plain-dealing is my Trade and to be plain Sir I have seen better Faces in my time Than stands on any Shoulders now before me Reg. This is some Fellow that having once been prais'd For Bluntness since affects a sawcy Rudeness But I have known one of these surly Knaves That in his Plainness harbour'd more Design Than twenty cringing complementing Minions Duke What 's the offence you gave him Gent. Never any Sir It pleas'd the King his Master lately To strike me on a slender misconstruction Whilst watching his Advantage this old Lurcher Tript me behind for which the King extold him And flusht with th' honour of this bold exploit Drew on me here agen Duke Bring forth the Stocks we 'll teach you Kent Sir I 'm too old to learn Call not the Stocks for me I serve the King On whose Employment I was sent to you You 'll shew too small Respect and too bold Malice Against the Person of my royal Master Stocking his Messenger Duke Bring forth the Stocks as I have Life and Honour There shall he sit till Noon Reg. Till Noon my Lord till Night and all Night too Kent Why Madam if I were your Father's Dog You wou'd not use me so Reg. Sir being his Knave I will Glost. Let me beseech your Graces to forbear him His fault is much and the good King his Master Will check him for 't but needs must take it ill To be thus slighted in his Messenger Duke Wee 'l answer that Our Sister may receive it worse to have Her Gentleman assaulted to our business lead Exit Glost. I am sorry for thee Friend 't is the Duke's pleasure Whose Disposition will not be controll'd But I 'll entreat for thee Kent Pray do not Sir I have watcht and travell'd hard Some time I shall sleep out the rest I 'll whistle Ex. Glost. Fare-well t' ye Sir All weary and o're-watcht I feel the drowzy Guest steal on me take Advantage heavy Eyes of this kind Slumber Not to behold this vile and shamefull Lodging Sleeps Enter Edgar Edg. I heard my self proclaim'd And by the friendly Hollow of a Tree Escapt the Hunt no Port is free no place Where Guards and most unusual Vigilance Do not attend to take me how easie now 'T were to defeat the malice of my Trale And leave my Griefs on my Sword 's reeking point But Love detains me from Death's peacefull Cell Still whispering me Cordelia's in distress Unkinde as she is I cannot see her wretched But must be neer to wait upon her Fortune Who knows but the white minute yet may come When Edgar may do service to Cordelia That charming Hope still ties me to the Oar Of painfull Life and makes me too submit To th' humblest shifts to keep that Life a foot My Face I will besmear and knit my Locks The Country gives me proof and president Of Bedlam Beggars who with roaring Voices Strike in their numm'd and mortify'd bare Arms Pins Iron-spikes Thorns sprigs of Rosemary And thus from Sheep-coats Villages and Mills Sometimes with Prayers sometimes with Lunatick Banns Enforce their Charity poor Tyrligod poor Tom That 's something yet Edgar I am no more Exit Kent in the Stocks still Enter Lear attended Lear. 'T is strange that they shou'd so depart from home And not send back our Messenger Kent Hail noble Master Lear. How mak'st thou this Shame thy Pastime What 's he that has so much mistook thy Place To set thee here Kent It is both He and She Sir your Son and Daughter Lear. No. Kent Yes Lear No I say Kent I say yea Lear. By Jupiter I swear no. Kent By Juno I swear I swear I. Lear. They durst not do 't They cou'd not wou'd not do 't 't is worse then Murder To doe upon Respect such violent out-rage Resolve me with all modest haste which way Thou mayst deserve or they impose this usage Kent My Lord when at their Home I did commend your Highness Letters to them E'er I was Ris'n arriv'd another Post Steer'd in his haste breathless and panting forth From Gonerill his Mistress Salutations Whose Message being deliver'd they took Horse Commanding me to follow and attend The leisure of their Answer which I did But meeting that other Messenger Whose welcome I perceiv'd had poison'd mine Being the very Fellow that of late Had shew'n such rudeness to your Highness I Having more Man than Wit about me Drew On which he rais'd the House with Coward cries This was the Trespass which your Son and Daughter Thought worth the shame you see it suffer here Lear. Oh! how this Spleen swells upward to my Heart And heaves for passage down thou climing Rage Thy Element's below where is this Daughter Kent Within Sir at a Masque Enter Gloster Lear. Now Gloster ha Deny to speak with me th' are sick th' are weary They have travell'd hard to Night meer fetches Bring me a better Answer Glost. My dear Lord You know the fiery Quality of the Duke Lear. Vengeance Death Plague Confusion Fiery what Quality why Gloster Gloster I 'd speak with the Duke of Cornwal and his Wife Glost. I have inform'd 'em so Lear. Inform'd ' em dost thou understand me Man I tell thee Gloster Glost. I my good Lord. Lear. The King wou'd speak with Cornwal the dear Father Wou'd with his Daughter speak commands her Service Are they inform'd of this my Breath and Blood Fiery the fiery Duke tell the hot Duke No but not yet may be he is not well Infirmity do's still neglect all Office I beg his Pardon and I 'll chide my Rashness That took the indispos'd and sickly Fit For the sound Man but wherefore sits he there Death on my State this Act convinces me That this Retiredness of the Duke and her Is plain Contempt give me my Servant forth Go tell the Duke and 's Wife I 'd speak with ' em Now
T' inform me where she 's Lodg'd I 'll be disguis'd too Whilst they are poching for me I 'll to the Duke With these Dispatches then to th'Field Where like the vig'rous Jove I will enjoy This Semele in a Storm 't will deaf her Cries Like Drums in Battle lest her Groans shou'd pierce My pittying Ear and make the amorous Fight less fierce Exit Storm still The Field Scene Enter Lear and Kent Kent Here is the place my Lord good my Lord enter The Tyranny of this open Night 's too rough For Nature to endure Lear. Let me alone Kent Good my Lord enter Lear. Wilt break my Heart Kent Beseech you Sir Lear. Thou think'st 't is much that this contentious Storm Invades us to the Skin so 't is to thee But where the greater Malady is fixt The lesser is scarce felt the Tempest in my Mind Do's from my Senses take all feeling else Save what beats there Filial Ingratitude Is it not as this Mouth shou'd tear this Hand For lifting Food to 't but I 'll punish home No I will weep no more in such a Night To shut me out pour on I will endure In such a Night as this O Regan Gonerill Your old kind Father whose frank heart gave All O that way madness lies let me shun that No more of that Kent See my Lord here 's the Entrance Lear. Well I 'll go in And pass it all I 'll pray and then I 'll sleep Poor naked Wretches wheresoe're you are That ' bide the pelting of this pittiless Storm How shall your houseless Heads and unfed Sides Sustain this Shock your raggedness defend you From Seasons such as These O I have ta'ne too little Care of this Take Physick Pomp Expose thy self to feel what Wretches feel That thou may'st cast the superflux to them And shew the Heav'ns more Just. Edgar in the Hovell Five Fathom and a half poor Tom. Kent What art thou that dost grumble there i' th' Straw Come forth Edg. Away The foul Fiend follows me through the sharp Haw-thorn blows the cold Wind Mum Go to thy Bed and warm Thee ha what do I see by all my Griefs the poor old King beheaded Aside And drencht in this fow Storm professing Syren Are all your Protestations come to this Lear. Tell me Fellow dist thou give all to thy Daughters Edg. Who gives any thing to poor Tom whom the foul Fiend has led through Fire and through Flame through Bushes and Boggs that has laid Knives under his Pillow and Halters in his Pue that has made him proud of Heart to ride on a Baytrotting Horse over four inch'd Bridges to course his own Shadow for a Traytor bless thy five Wits Tom's a cold Shivers bless thee from Whirlwinds Star-blasting and Taking do poor Tom some Charity whom the foul Fiend vexes Sa sa there I could have him now and there and there agen Lear. Have his Daughters brought him to this pass Cou'dst thou save Nothing didst thou give 'em All Kent He has no Daughters Sir Lear. Death Traytor nothing cou'd have subdu'd Nature To such a Lowness but his unkind Daughters Edg. Pillicock sat upon Pillicock Hill Hallo hallo hallo Lear. Is it the fashion that discarded Fathers Should have such little Mercy on their Flesh Iudicious punishment 't was this Flesh begot Those Pelican Daughters Edg. Take heed of the fow Fiend obey thy Parents keep thy Word justly Swear not commit not with Man's sworn Spouse set not thy sweet Heart on proud Array Tom's a Cold. Lear. What hast thou been Edg. A Serving-man proud of Heart that curl'd my Hair us'd Perfume and Washes that serv'd the Lust of my Mistresses Heart and did the Act of Darkness with her Swore as many Oaths as I spoke Words and broke 'em all in the sweet Face of Heaven Let not the Paint nor the Patch nor the rushing of Silks betray thy poor Heart to Woman keep thy Foot out of Brothels thy Hand out of Plackets thy Pen from Creditors Books and defie the foul Fiend still through the Hawthorn blows the cold Wind Sess Suum Mun Nonny Dolphin my Boy hist the Boy Sesey soft let him Trot by Lear. Death thou wert better in thy Grave than thus to answer with thy uncover'd Body this Extremity of the Sky And yet consider him well and Man's no more than This Thou art indebted to the Worm for no Silk to the Beast for no Hide to the Cat for no Perfume ha here 's Two of us are Sophisticated Thou art the Thing it self unaccommated Man is no more than such a poor bare forkt Animal as thou art Off Off ye vain Disguises empty Lendings I 'll be my Original Self quick quick Uncase me Kent Defend his Wits good Heaven Lear. One point I had forgot what 's your Name Edg. Poor Tom that eats the swimming Frog the Wall-nut and the Water-nut that in the fury of his Heart when the foul Fiend rages eats Cow-dung for Sallets swallows the old Rat and the Ditch-dog that drinks the green Mantle of the standing Pool that 's whipt from Tithing to Tithing that has Three Suits to his Back Six Shirts to his Body Horse to Ride and Weapon to wear But Rats and Mice and such small Deer Have been Tom's Food for Seven long Year Beware my Follower Peace Smulkin Peace thou foul Fiend Lear. One word more but be sure true Councel tell me is a Madman a Gentleman or a Yeoman Kent I fear'd 't wou'd come to This his Wits are gone Edg. Fraterreto calls me and tells me Nero is an Angler in the Lake of Darkness Pray Innocent and beware the foul Fiend Lear. Right ha ha was it not pleasant to have a Thousand with red hot Spits come hizzing in upon ' em Edg. My Tears begin to take his part so much They marr my Counterfeiting Lear. The little Dogs and all Trey Blanch and Sweet-heart see they Bark at me Edg. Tom will throw his Head at 'em Avaunt ye Curs Be thy Mouth or black or white Tooth that poysons if it bite Mastiff Grey-hound Mungrill Grim Hound or Spanniel Brach or Hym Bob-tail Tight or Trundle-tail Tom will make 'em weep and wail For with throwing thus my Head Dogs leap the Hatch and All are fled Ud de de de Se se se. Come march to Wakes and Fairs and Market-Towns Poor Tom thy Horn is dry Lear. You Sir I entertain you for One of my Hundred only I do not like the fashion of your Garments you 'll say they 're Persian but no matter let 'em be chang'd Enter Gloster Edg. This is the foul Flibertigibet he begins at Curfew and walks at first Cock he gives the Web and the Pin knits the Elflock squints the Eye and makes the Hair-lip mildews the white Wheat and hurts the poor Creature of the Earth Swithin footed Thrice the Cold He met the Night-mare and her Nine-fold 'T was there he did appoint her He bid her alight and her Troth plight And arroynt the Witch
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
Day 's our own Their Ranks are broke down down with Albany Who holds my Hands O thou deceiving Sleep I was this very Minute on the Chace And now a Prisoner here What mean the Slaves You will not Murder me Cord. Help Earth and Heaven For your Souls sake's dear Sirs and for the Gods Offic. No Tears good Lady no pleading against Gold and Preferment Come Sirs make ready your Câ—â—ds Cord. You Sir I 'll seize You have a humane Form and if no Pray'rs Can touch your Soul to spare a poor King's Life If there be any Thing that you hold dear By That I beg you to dispatch me First Capt. Comply with her Request dispatch her First Lear. Off Hell-hounds by the Gods I charge you spare her 'T is my Cordelia my true pious Daughter No Pity Nay then take an old Man's Vengeance Snatches a Partizan and strikes down two of them the rest quit Cordelia and turn upon him Enter Edgar and Albany Edg. Death Hell Ye Vultures hold your impious Hands Or take a speedier Death than you wou'd give Capt. By whose Command Edg. Behold the Duke your Lord. Alb. Guards seize those Instruments of Cruelty Cord. My Edgar Oh! Edg. My dear Cordelia Lucky was the Minute Of our Approach the Gods have weigh'd our Suffrings W' are past the Fire and now must shine to Ages Gent. Look here my Lord see where the generous King Has slain Two of 'em Lear. Did I not Fellow I 've seen the Day with my good biting Faulchion I cou'd have made 'em skip I am Old now And these vile Crosses spoil me Out of Breath Fie Oh! quite out of Breath and spent Alb. Bring in old Kent and Edgar guide you hither Your Father whom you said was near Ex. Edgar He may be an Ear-witness at the least Of our Proceedings Kent brought in here Lear. Who are you My Eyes are none o'th'best I 'll tell you streight Oh Albany Well Sir we are your Captives And you are come to see Death pass upon us Why this Delay or is' t your Highness pleasure To give us first the Torture Say ye so Why here 's old Kent and I as tough a Pair As e'er bore Tyrant's Stroke but my Cordelia My poor Cordelia here O pitty Alb. Take off their Chains Thou injur'd Majesty The Wheel of Fortune now has made her Circle And Blessings yet stand 'twixt thy Grave and Thee Lear. Com'st Thou inhumane Lord to sooth us back To a Fool 's Paradise of Hope to make Our Doom more wretched go too we are too well Acquainted with Misfortune to be gull'd With Lying Hope No we will hope no more Alb. I have a Tale t' unfold so full of Wonder As cannot meet an easy Faith But by that Royal injur'd Head 't is True Kent What wou'd your Highness Alb. Know the noble Edgar Impeacht Lord Edmund since the Fight of Treason And dar'd him for the Proof to single Combat In which the Gods confirm'd his Charge by Conquest I left ev'n now the Traytor wounded Mortally Lear. And whither tends this Story Alb. E'er they fought Lord Edgar gave into my Hands this Paper A blacker Scrowl of Treason and of Lust Than can be found in the Records of Hell There Sacred Sir behold the Character Of Gonerill the worst of Daughters but More Vicious Wife Cord. Cou'd there be yet Addition to their Guilt What will not They that wrong a Father doe Alb. Since then my Injuries Lear fall in with Thine I have resolv'd the same Redress for Both. Kent What says my Lord Cord. Speak for me thought I heard The charming Voice of a descending God Alb. The Troops by Edmnnd rais'd I have disbanded Those that remain are under my Command What Comfort may be brought to cheer your Age And heal your savage Wrongs shall be apply'd For to your Majesty we do Refign Your Kingdom save what Part your Self conferr'd On Us in Marriage Kent Hear you that my Liege Cord. Then there are Gods and Vertue is their Care Lear. Is' t Possible Let the Spheres stop their Course the Sun make Hault The Winds be husht the Seas and Fountains Rest All Nature pause and listen to the Change Where is my Kent my Cajus Kent Here my Liege Lear. Why I have News that will recall thy Youth Ha! Didst Thou hear 't or did th' inspiring Gods Whisper to me Alone Old Lear shall be A King again Kent The Prince that like a God has Pow'r has said it Lear. Cordelia then shall be a Queen mark that Cordelia shall be Queen Winds catch the Sound And bear it on your rosie Wings to Heav'n Cordelia is a Queen Re-enter Edgar with Gloster Alb. Look Sir where pious Edgar comes Leading his Eye-less Father O my Liege His wondrous Story will deserve your Leisure What He has done and suffer'd for your Sake What for the Fair Cordelia's Glost. Where is my Liege Conduct me to his Knees to hail His second Birth of Empire my dear Edgar Has with himself reveal'd the King's blest Restauration Lear. My poor dark Gloster Glost. O let me kiss that once more sceptred Hand Lear. Hold Thou mistak'st the Majesty kneel here Cordelia has our Pow'r Cordelia's Queen Speak is not that the noble Suffring Edgar Glost. My pious Son more dear than my lost Eyes Lear. I wrong'd Him too but here 's the fair Amends Edg. Your leave my Liege for an unwelcome Message Edmund but that 's a Triflle is expir'd What more will touch you your imperious Daughters Gonerill and haughty Regan both are Dead Each by the other poison'd at a Banquet This Dying they confest Cord. O fatal Period of ill-govern'd Life Lear. Ingratefull as they were my Heart feels yet A Pang of Nature for their wretched Fall But Edgar I defer thy Joys too long Thou serv'dst distrest Cordelia take her Crown'd Th' imperial Grace fresh Blooming on her Brow Nay Gloster Thou hast here a Father's Right Thv helping Hand t'heap Blessings on their Head Kent Old Kent throws in his hearty Wishes too Edg. The Gods and You too largely recompence What I have done the Gift strikes Merit Dumb. Cord. Nor do I blush to own my Self o'er paid For all my Suffrings past Glost. Now gentle Gods give Gloster his Discharge Lear. No Gloster Thou hast Business yet for Life Thou Kent and I retir'd to some cool Cell Will gently pass our short reserves of Time In calm Reflections on our Fortunes past Cheer'd with relation of the prosperous Reign Of this celestial Pair Thus our Remains Shall in an even Course of Thought be past Enjoy the present Hour nor fear the Last Edg. Our drooping Country now erects her Head Peace spreads her balmy Wings and Plenty Blooms Divine Cordelia all the Gods can witness How much thy Love to Empire I prefer Thy bright Example shall convince the World Whatever Storms of Fortune are decreed That Truth and Vertue shall at last succeed Ex. Omnes FINIS EPILOGUE Spoken by Mrs. BARRY INconstancy the reigning Sin o' th' Age Will scarce endure true Lovers on the Stage You hardly ev'n in Plays with such dispense And Poëts kill 'em in their own Defence Yet One bold Proof I was resolv'd to give That I cou'd three Hours Constancy Out-live You fear perhaps whilst on the Stage w' are made Such Saints we shall indeed take up the Trade Sometimes we Threaten but our Vertue may For Truth I fear with your Pit-Valour weigh For not to flatter either I much doubt When We are off the Stage and You are out We are not quite so Coy nor You so Stout We talk of Nunn'ries but to be sincere Whoever lives to see us Cloyster'd There May hope to meet our Critiques at Tangier For shame give over this inglorious Trade Of worrying Poëts and go maule th' Alcade Well since y' are All for blustring in the Pit This Play 's Reviver humbly do's admit Your abs'lute Pow'r to damn his Part of it But still so many Master-Touches shine Of that vast Hand that first laid this Design That in great Shakespear's Right He 's bold to say If you like nothing you have seen to Day The Play your Judgment damns not you the Play Mr. Dryd Pref. to the Span. Fryar