would beget opinion of my more fierce indeuour I haue seene drunckards doe more then this in sport father father stop stop no helpe Enter Glost. Glost. Now Edmund where is the villaine Bast. Here stood he in the darke his sharpe sword out warbling of wicked charms coniuring the Moone to stand 's auspicious Mistris Glost. But where is he Bast. Looke sir I bleed Glost. Where is the villaine Edmund Bast. Fled this way sir when by no meanes he could Glost. Pursue him go after by no meanes what Bast. Perswade me to the murder of your Lordship but that I told him the reuengiue Gods gainst Paracides did all their thunders bend spoke with how many fould and strong a bond the child was bound to the father sir in a fine seeing how loathly opposite I stood to his vnnaturall purpose with fell motion with his prepared sword hee charges home my vnprouided body lancht mine arme but when he saw my best alarumd spirits bould in the quarrels rights rousd to the encounter or whether gasted by the noyse I made but sodainly he fled Glost. Let him flie farre not in this land shall hee remaine vncaught and found dispatch the noble Duke my maister my worthy Arch and Patron comes to night by his authoritie I will proclaime it that he which finds him shall deserue our thankes bringing the murderous caytife to the stake hee that conceals him death Bast. When I disswaded him from his intent and found him pight to doe it with curst speech I threatned to discouer him he replyed thou vnpossessing Bastard dost thou thinke if I would stand against thee could the reposure of any trust vertue or worth in thee make thy words fayth'd no. what I should denie as this I would I though thou didst produce my very character I d'e turne it all to thy suggestion plot and damned pretence and thou must make a dullard of the world if they not thought the profits of my death were very pregnant and potentiall spurres to make thee seeke it Glost. Strong and fastned villaine would he denie his letter I neuer got him harke the Dukes trumpets I know not why he comes all Ports I le barre the villaine shall not scape the Duke must grant mee that besides his picture I will send farre and neere that all the kingdome may haue note of him and of my land loyall and naturall boy I le worke the meanes to make thee capable Enter the Duke of Cornwall Corn. How now my noble friend since I came hether which I can call but now I haue heard strange newes Reg. If it be true all vengeance comes too short which can pursue the offender how dost my Lord Glost. Madam my old heart is crackt is crackt Reg. What did my fathers godson seeke your life he whom my father named your Edgar Glost. I Ladie Ladie shame would haue it hid Reg. Was he not companion with the ryotous knights that tends vpon my father Glost. I know not Madam t is too bad too bad Bast. Yes Madam he was Reg. No maruaile then though he were ill affected T is they haue put him on the old mans death To haue these and wast of this his reuenues I haue this present euening from my sister Beene well inform'd of them and with such cautions That if they come to soiourne at my house I le not be there Duke Nor I assure thee Regan Edmund I heard that you haue shewen your father a child-like office Bast. T was my dutie Sir Glost. He did betray his practise and receiued This hurt you see striuing to apprehend him Duke Is he pursued Glost. I my good Lord. Duke If he be taken he shall neuer more be feard of doing harme make your own purpose how in my strength you please for you Edmund whose vertue and obedience doth this instant so much commend it selfe you shall bee ours natures of such deepe trust wee shall much need you we first seaze on Bast. I shall serue you truly how euer else Glost. For him I thanke your grace Duke You know not why we came to visit you Regan Thus out of season threatning darke ey'd night Ocasions noble Gloster of some prise Wherein we must haue vse of your aduise Our Father he hath writ so hath our sister Of desences which I best thought it fit To answer from our hand the seuerall messengers From hence attend dispatch our good old friend Lay comforts to your bosome bestow your needfull councell To our busines which craues the instant vse Exeunt Glost. I serue you Madam your Graces are right welcome Enter Kent and Steward Steward Good euen to thee friend art of the house Kent I. Stew. Where may we set our horses Kent It 'h mire Stew. Prethee if thou loue me tell me Kent I loue thee not Stew. Why then I care not for thee Kent If I had thee in Lipsburie pinfold I would make thee care for mee Stew. Why dost thou vse me thus I know thee not Kent Fellow I know thee Stew What dost thou know me for Kent A knaue a rascall an eater of broken meates a base proud shallow beggerly three shewted hundred pound filthy worsted-stocken knaue a lilly lyuer'd action taking knaue a whorson glassegazing superfinicall rogue one truncke inheriting slaue one that would'st bee a baud in way of good seruice and art nothing but the composition of a knaue begger coward pander and the sonne and heire of a mungrell bitch whom I will beat into clamorous whyning if thou denie the least sillable of the addition Stew. What a monstrous fellow art thou thus to raile on one that 's neither knowne of thee nor knowes thee Kent What a brazen fac't varlet art thou to deny thou knowest mee is it two dayes agoe since I beat thee and tript vp thy heeles before the King draw you rogue for though it be night the Moone shines I le make a sop of the moone-shine a you draw you whorson cullyonly barber-munger draw Stew. Away I haue nothing to doe with thee Kent Draw you rascall you bring letters against the King and take Vanitie the puppets part against the royaltie of her father draw you rogue or I le so carbonado your shankes draw you rascall come your wayes Stew. Helpe ho murther helpe Kent Strike you slaue stand rogue stand you neate slaue strike Stew. Helpe ho murther helpe Enter Edmund with his rapter drawne Gloster the Duke and Dutchesse Bast. How now what 's the matter Kent With you goodman boy and you please come I le fleash you come on yong maister Glost. Weapons armes what 's the matter here Duke Keepe peace vpon your liues hee dies that strikes againe what 's the matter Reg. The messengers from our sister and the King Duke What 's your difference speake Stew. I am scarse in breath my Lord. Kent No maruaile you haue so bestir'd your valour you cowardly rascall nature disclaimes in thee a Tayler made thee Duke Thou art a strange fellow
a Taylor make a man Kent I a Tayler sir a Stone-cutter or a Painter could not haue made him so ill though hee had beene but two houres at the trade Glost. Speake yet how grew your quarrell Stew. This ancient ruffen sir whose life I haue spar'd at sute of his gray-beard Kent Thou whorson Zedd thou vnnecessarie letter my Lord if you 'l giue mee leaue I will tread this vnboulted villaine into morter and daube the walles of a iaques with him spare my gray beard you wagtayle Duke Peace sir you beastly Knaue you haue no reuerence Kent Yes sir but anger has a priuiledge Duke Why art thou angry Kent That such a slaue as this should weare a sword That weares no honesty such smiling roges as these Like Rats oft bite those cordes in twaine Which are to intrench to inloose smooth euery passion That in the natures of their Lords rebell Bring oyle to stir snow to their colder-moods Reneag affirme and turne their halcion beakes With euery gale and varie of their maisters Knowing nought like dayes but following a plague vpon your epeliptick Visage smoyle you my speeches as I were a foole Goose and I had you vpon Sarum plaine I d'e send you cackling home to Camulet Duke What art thou mad old fellow Glost. How fell you out say that Kent No contraries hold more antipathy Then I and such a knaue Duke Why dost thou call him knaue what 's his offence Kent His countenance likes me not Duke No more perchance does mine or his or hers Kent Sir t is my occupation to be plaine I haue seene better faces in my time That stands on any shoulder that I see Before me at this instant Duke This is a fellow who hauing beene praysd For bluntnes doth affect a sawcy ruffines And constraines the garb quite from his nature He cannot flatter he he must be plaine He must speake truth and they will tak 't so If not he 's plaine these kind of knaues I know Which in this plainnes harbour more craft And more corrupter ends then twentie silly ducking Obseruants that stretch their duties nisely Kent Sir in good sooth or in sincere veritie Vnder the allowance of your graund aspect Whose influence like the wreath of radient fire In flitkering Phoebus front Duke What mean'st thou by this Kent To goe out of my dialogue which you discommend so much I know sir I am no flatterer he that beguild you in a plain accent was a plaine knaue which for my part I will not bee though I should win your displeasure to intreat mee too 't Duke What 's the offence you gaue him Stew. I neuer gaue him any it pleas'd the King his maister Very late to strike at me vpon his misconstruction When he coniunct and flattering his displeasure Tript me behind being downe insulted rayld And put vpon him such a deale of man that That worthied him got prayses of the King For him attempting who was selfe subdued And in the flechuent of this dread exploit Drew on me here againe Kent None of these roges cowards but A'Iax is their foole Duke Bring sorth the stockes ho You stubburne miscreant knaue you reuerent bragart Wee le teach you Kent I am too old to learne call not your stockes for me I serue the King on whose imployments I was sent to you You should doe small respect shew too bold malice Against the Grace and person of my maister Stopping his messenger Duke Fetch forth the stockes as I haue life and honour There shall he sit till noone Reg. Till noone till night my Lord and all night too Kent Why Madam if I were your fathers dogge you could not vse me so Reg. Sir being his knaue I will Duke This is a fellow of the selfe same nature Our sister speake of come bring away the stockes Glost. Let me beseech your Grace not to doe so His fault is much and the good King his maister VVill check him for 't your purpost low correction Is such as basest and temnest wretches for pilfrings And most common trespasses are punisht with The King must take it ill that hee 's so slightly valued In his messenger should haue him thus restrained Duke I le answer that Reg. My sister may receiue it much more worse To haue her Gentlemen abus'd assalted For following her affaires put in his legges Come my good Lord away Glost. I am sory for thee friend t is the Dukes pleasure VVhose disposition all the world well knowes VVill not be rubd nor stopt I le intreat for thee Kent Pray you doe not sir I haue watcht and trauaild hard Sometime I shal sleepe out the rest I le whistle A good mans fortune may grow out at heeles Giue you good morrow Glost. The Dukes to blame in this t will be ill tooke Kent Good King that must approue the cōmon saw Thou out of heauens benediction comest To the warme Sunne Approach thou beacon to this vnder gloabe That by thy comfortable beames I may Peruse this letter nothing almost sees my wracke But miserie I know t is from Cordelia VVho hath most fortunately bin informed Of my obscured course and shall find time From this enormious state seeking to giue Losles their remedies all wearie and ouerwatch Take vantage heauie eyes not to behold This shamefull lodging Fortune goodnight Smile once more turne thy wheele sleepes Enter Edgar Edg. I heare my selfe proclaim'd And by the happie hollow of a tree Escapt the hunt no Port is free no place That guard and most vnusuall vigilence Dost not attend my taking while I may scape I will preserue my selfe and am bethought To take the basest and most poorest shape That euer penury in contempt of man Brought neare to beast my face I le grime with filth Blanket my loynes else all my haire with knots And with presented nakednes outface The wind and persecution of the skie The Countrie giues me proofe and president Of Bedlam beggers who with roring voyces Strike in their numb'd and mortified bare armes Pins wodden prickes nayles sprigs of rosemary And with this horrible obiect from low seruice Poore pelting villages sheep-coates and milles Sometime with lunaticke bans sometime with prayers Enforce their charitie poore Turlygod poore Tom That 's something yet Edgar I nothing am Exit Enter King Lear. T is strange that they should so depart from hence And not send backe my messenger Knight As I learn'd the night before there was No purpose of his remoue Kent Hayle to thee noble maister Lear. How mak'st thou this shame thy pastime Foole. Ha ha looke he weares crewell garters Horses are tide by the heeles dogges and beares by t'h necke munkies bit'h loynes and men by t'h legges when a mans ouer lusty at legs Then he weares wooden neatherstockes Lear. What 's he that hath so much thy place mistooke to set thee here Kent It is both he and shee your sonne daugter Lear. No. Kent Yes Lear. No I say Kent I say
I did euer hate thee or thy father Edg. Worthy Prince I know 't Alb. Where haue you hid your selfe How haue you knowne the miseries of your father Edg. By nursing them my Lord List a briefe tale and when t is told O that my heart would burst the bloudy proclamation To escape that followed me so neere O our liues sweetnes that with the paine of death Would hourly die rather then die at once Taught me to shift into a mad-mans rags To assume a semblance that very dogges disdain'd And in this habit met I my father with his bleeding rings The precious stones new lost became his guide Led him beg'd for him sau'd him from dispaire Neuer O Father reueald my selfe vnto him Vntill some halfe houre past when I was armed Not sure though hoping of this good successe I askt his blessing and from first to last Told him my pilgrimage but his flawd heart Alacke too weake the conflict to support Twixt two extreames of passion ioy and griefe Burst smillingly Bast. This speech of yours hath moued me And shall perchance do good but speake you on You looke as you had something more to say Alb. If there be more more wofull hold it in For I am almost ready to dissolue hearing of this Edg. This would haue seemd a periode to such As loue not sorow but another to amplifie too much Would make much more and top extreamitie Whil'st I was big in clamor came there in a man Who hauing seene me in my worst estate Shund my abhord society but then finding Who t was that so indur'd with his strong armes He fastened on my necke and bellowed out As hee 'd burst heauen threw me on my father Told the most pitious tale of Lear and him That euer eare receiued which in recounting His griefe grew puissant and the strings of life Began to cracke twice then the trumpets sounded And there I left him traunst Alb. But who was this Ed. Kent sir the banisht Kent who in diguise Followed his enemie king and did him seruice Improper for a slaue Enter one with a bloudie knife Gent. Helpe helpe Alb. What kind of helpe what meanes that bloudy knife Gent. It s hot it smokes it came euen from the heart of Alb. Who man speake Gent. Your Lady sir your Lady and her sister By her is poysoned she hath confest it Bast. I was contracted to them both all three Now marie in an instant Alb. Produce their bodies be they aliue or dead This Iustice of the heauens that makes vs tremble Touches vs not with pity Edg. Here comes Kent sir. Alb. O t is he the time will not allow Enter Kent The complement that very manners vrges Kent I am come to bid my King and maister ay good night Is he not here Duke Great thing of vs forgot Speake Edmund wher 's the king and wher 's Cordelia Seest thou this obiect Kent The bodies of Gonorill and Regan are brought in Kent Alack why thus Bast. Yet Edmund was beloued The one the other poysoned for my sake And after slue her selfe Duke Euen so couer their faces Bast. I pant for life some good I meane to do Despight of my owne nature quickly send Be briefe in t toth ' castle for my writ Is on the life of Lear and on Cordelia Nay send in time Duke Runne runne O runne Edg. To who my Lord who hath the office send Thy token of repreeue Bast. Well thought on take my sword the Captaine Giue it the Captaine Duke Hast thee for thy life Bast. He hath Commission from thy wife and me To hang Cordelia in the prison and to lay The blame vpon her owne despaire That she fordid her selfe Duke The Gods defend her beare him hence a while Enter Lear with Cordelia in his armes Lear. Howle howle howle howle O you are men of stones Had I your tongues and eyes I would vse them so That heauens vault should cracke shee s gone for euer I know when one is dead and when one liues Shee s dead as earth lend me a looking glasse If that her breath will mist or staine the stone Why then she liues Kent Is this the promist end Edg. Or image of that horror Duke Fall and cease Lear. This feather stirs she liues if it be so It is a chance which do's redeeme all sorowes That euer I haue felt Kent A my good maister Lear. Prethe away Edg. T is noble Kent your friend Lear. A plague vpon your murderous traytors all I might haue saued her now shee s gone for euer Cordelia Cordelia stay a little ha What i st thou sayest her voyce was euer soft Gentle and low an excellent thing in women I kild the slaue that was a hanging thee Cap. T is true my Lords he did Lear. Did I not fellow I haue seene the day With my good biting Fauchon I would Haue made them skippe I am old now And these same crosses spoyle me who are you Mine eyes are not othe best I le tell you straight Kent If Fortune bragd of two she loued or hated One of them we behold Lear. Are not you Kent Kent The same your seruant Kent where is your seruant Caius Lear. Hee s a good fellow I can tell that Hee le strike and quickly too hee s dead and rotten Kent No my good Lord I am the very man Lear. I le see that straight Kent That from your life of difference and decay Haue followed your sad steps Lear. You 'r welcome hither Kent Nor no man else al 's chearles darke and deadly Your eldest daughters haue foredoome themselues And desperatly are dead Lear. So thinke I to Duke He knowes not what he sees and vaine it is That we present vs to him Edg. Very bootlesse Enter Captaine Capt. Edmund is dead my Lord. Duke That 's but a trifle heere you Lords and noble friends Know our intent what comfort to this decay may come shall be applied for vs we wil resigne during the life of this old maiesty to him our absolute power you to your rights with boote and such addition as your honor haue more then merited all friends shall tast the wages of their vertue and al foes the cup of their deseruings O see see Lear. And my poore foole is hangd no no life why should a dog a horse a rat of life and thou no breath at all O thou wilt come no more neuer neuer neuer pray you vndo this button thanke you sir O o o o. Edg. He faints my Lord my Lord. Lear. Breake hart I prethe breake Edgar Look vp my Lord. Kent Vex not his ghost O let him passe He hates him that would vpon the wracke Of this tough world stretch him out longer Edg. O he is gone indeed Kent The wonder is he hath endured so long He but vsurpt his life Duke Beare them from hence our present busines Is to generall woe friends of my soule you twaine Rule in this kingdome and the goard state sustaine Kent I haue a iourney sir shortly to go My maister cals and I must not say no. Duke The waight of this sad time we must obey Speake what we feele not what we ought to say The oldest haue borne most we that are yong Shall neuer see so much nor liue so long FINIS