. 8 Had not concluded. Ah! he wakes j fpeak to him.
Phyf. Madam, do you, 'tis fitted.
Cor. How does my royal lord? how fares your
Majefty ?
Lear. You do me wrong to take me out o'th' grave ;
Thou art a foul in biifs, but I am bound
Upon a wheel of fire ^ that mine own tears
7 Tit watch poor Perdue :
With Ms thin helm? ] It ought to be read and pointed
thus,
To watch, poor Perdu !
With this thin Helm ?
The allufion is to the forlorn-hope in an army, which are put upon
defperate adventures, and called inFrcr.cb, cnfans perdus; fhe there-
fore calls her father poor Per da-, Perdue, which is the common read-
ing, being the feminine. Thefe enfant perdui being always flight!/
and badly armed, is the reafon fhe adds,
With this thin Helm i. e. bareheaded.
8 Had net concluded ALL] All what? we fhould read and
point it thus,
Had not concluded. Ah !
An exclamation on perceiving her father wake
Do
King LEAR. i 25
Do fcald like molten lead.
Cor. Sir, do you know me?
Lear. You are a fpiric, I know ; when did you die ?
Cor. Still, ftill, far wide
Phyf. He's fcarce awake, let him alone a while.
Lear. Where have I been ? where am 1? fair day-
light ?
I'm mightily abus'd ; I fliould even die with Pity,
To fee another thus. I know not what to fay ;
I will not fwear, thefe are my hands : let's fee,
I feel this pin prick : 'would I were affur'd
Of my condition.
Cor. O look upon me, Sir,
And hold your hand in benediction o'er me.
No, Sir, you muft not kneel.
Lear. Pray, do not mock me ;
I am a very foolifh fond old man,
Fourfcore and upward ; and, to deal plainly,
I fear, I am not in my perfect mind.
Methinks, I mould know you, and know this man ;
Yet I am doubtful: For I'm mainly ignorant,
What place this is ; and all the skill I have,
Remembers not thefe garments ; nay, I know not
Where I did lodge laft night. Do not laugh at me,
For, as I am a man, I think, this lady
To be my child Cordelia.
Cor. And fo I am , I am.
Lear. Be your tears wet ? yes, faith ; I pray you,
weep not.
If you have poifon for me, I will drink it ;
I know, you do not love me ; for your fillers
Have, as I do remember, done me wrong.
You have fome caufe, they have not.
Cor. No caufe, no caule.
Lear. Am I in France ?
Kent. In your own kingdom, Sir. (.
Lear, Do not abufe me.
Pbyf.
2 6 King LEAR.
Pbyf. Be comforted, good Madam ; the great Rage,
You fee, is cur'd in him: and, yet, 'twere danger
9 To make him even o'er the Time, h'as loft.
Defire him to go in ; trouble him no more,
'Till further fettling.
Cor. Will't pleafe your Highnefs walk ?
Lear. You muft bear with me ;
Pray you now, forget and forgive ;
I am old and toolifh.
[Exeunt Lear, Cord. Phyf. and attendants,
Manent Kent and Gentleman.
Gent. Holds it true, Sir, that the Duke of Cornwall
was fo (lain ?
Kent. Moft certain, Sir.
Gent. Who is Conductor of his people?
Kent. As 'tis faid, the Baftard Son of Gtffter.
Gent. They fay, Edgar ^ his baniflit Son, is with the
Earl of Kent in Germany.
Kent. Report is changeable: 'Tis time to look
about : the Powers of the Kingdom approach apace.
Gent. The Arbitrement is like to be bloody. t -
Fare you well, Sir. [Exit Gent.
Kent. My Point and Period will be throughly
wrought,
Or well, or ill, as this day's Battle's fought.
[Exit Kent.
, 9 To make him even oir t-be %in:e, ] /. e. to reconcile it to
his apprchenfion.
ACT
King LEAR. 127
ACTV. SCENE I.
A CAMP.
Enter Edmund, Regan, Gentleman and Soldiers.
EDMUND.
NO W of the Duke, if his laft purpofe hold 5
Or whether fince he is advis'd by aught,
To change the cosrfe? he's full of Alteration,
And felf-reproving : bring his conftant pleafure.
Reg. Our fitter's man is certainly mifcarry'd.
Edm. 'Tis to be doubted, Madam.
Reg. Now, fweet lord,
You know the goodnefs I intend upon you:
Tell me but truly, but then fpeak the truth,
Do you not love my fifter ?
Edm. In honour'd love.
Reg. But have you never found my brother's way
To the fore- fended place ?
Edm. No, by mine honour, Madam.
Reg. I never lhall endure her ; dear my lord,
Be not familiar with her.
Edm. Fear not ; Ihe, and the Duke her husband *
Enter Albany, Gonerill, and Soldiers.
Gon. I'd rather lofe the Battle, than that Sifter
Should Joofen him and Me."
Alb. Our very loving fifter, well be met:
1 Sir, this I hear, the King is come to his daughter,
With
i Sir, tt>is Hear, to make oppofe, ] This is a very plain
fpeech, and the meaning is, The King and others whom we have
oppofed, are come to Cordelia. I could never be valiant but in a
jutt quarrel. We muft diftinguifli; it is juft in one fer.fe and unjuft
in another. As Frame inrtdes our la^)d I am concerned to repel
128 Jftfl LEAR.
With others, whom the rigour of our ftate
Forc'd to cry out. * Where I could not be honeft,
1 never yet was valiant : for this bufmefs,
It toucheth us, as France invades our Land,
Not holds the King, with others, whom, I fear,
Moft juft and heavy caufes make oppofe,
Edm. Sir, you fpeak nobly.
Reg. Why is this reafon'd ?
Gon. Combine together 'gainft the enemy :
For thefe domeftick and particular broils
Are not the queftion here.
Edm. I mall attend you prefently at your Tent.
Alb. Let's then determine with th* Antient of war
On our proceeding.
Reg. Sifter, you'll go with us ?
Gon. No.
him, but as he holds, entertains and fupports the King, and other*
rjjhom Ifc*r manyyz^# and heavy caufes make, or compel, as it were,
to eppofe us, I efteem it unjuft to engage againft them. This fpeech,
thus interpreted according to the common reading, is likewife very
neceflary ; for otherwife, Albany, who is charadleris'd as a man of
honour and obferver of juftice, gives no reafon for going to war
with thofe, whom he owns had been much injured under the coun-
tenance of his power. Notwithftanding this, Mr. Theobald, by an
unaccountable turn of thought, reads the fourth line thus,
1 never yet was <valiant: 'fore this bujineft, &c.
"puts the two laft lines in a parenthefis, and then paraphrafes the
whole in this manner. Sir, if concerns me (the? not the King and
the difcontented p&rty) to quejlion about your inter eft in ourjifter, and
the event of the war. What he means by this I am not able to
find out ; but he gives a reafon why his reading and fenfe fliould be
^preferred. And Regan and Gonerill in their replies feem both ap-
prehen/tve that this fubjel was coming into debate. Now all that
we can colled from their replies, is that they were apprehenfive
he was going to blame their cruelty to Lear, Glower, and others;
which it is plain, from the common reading and the fenfe of the laft
line, he was.
Mtftjufl and heavy caufes mait oppofe,
2 - Where I could not be honejt, &c.] The four next lines are
added from the old Edition. Mr. Pope.
Reg.
King LEAR. 129
Reg. *Tis moft convenient, pray you, go with us.
Gon. Oh ho, I know the riddle, I will go.
SCENE II.
As they are going out, Enter Edgar difguis'd.
Edg. If e'er your Grace had fpeech with man fo
poor,
Hear me one word.
Alb. 1*11 overtake you : fpeak.
[Exeunt Edm. Reg. Gon. and Attendants.
Edg. Before you fight the battle, ope this letter.
If you have vid'ry, let the trumpet found
For him that brought it: wretched though I feem,
1 can produce a Champion, that will prove
What is avouched there. If you mifcarry,
Your bufinefs of the world hath fo an end,
And machination ceafes. Fortune love you!
Alb. Stay 'till I've read the letter.
Edg. \ was forbid it.
When time mail ferve, let but the herald cry,
And I'll appear again. [Exit.
Alb. Why, fare thee well ; I willo'erlook thy paper.
Re-enter Edmund.
Edm. The Enemy's in view, draw up your Powers.
Hard is the guefs of their true ftrength and forces,
By diligent difcovery ; but your hafte
Is now urg'd on you.
Alb. We will greet the time. [Exit.
SCENE III.
Edm. To both thefe fitters have I fworn my love:
Each jealous of the other, as the flung
Are of the adder. Which of them mail I take ?
VOL, VI. K Both
130 King LEAR.
Both ? one ? or neither ? neither can be en joy*d,
If both remain alive: to take the widow,
Exafperates, makes mad her fitter Gonerill;
And hardly mail I carry out my fide,
Her husband being alive. Now then, we'll ufe
His countenance for the battle ; which being done,
Let her, who would be rid of him, devife
His fpeedy taking off. As for the mercy
Which he intends to Lear and to Cordelia^
The battle done, and they within our power,
Shall never fee his pardon : for my ftate
Stands on me to defend, not to debate. [Exit.
S ,C E N E IV.
Another open Field.
dlarum within. Enter with drum and colours^ Lear,
Cordelia, and foldiers over the ft age ^ and exeunt.
Enter Edgar and Glo'fter.
ERE, father, take the fhadow of this tree
For your good Hoft ; pray, that the right
may thrive :
If ever I return to you again,
I'll bring you comfort.
Glo. Grace be with you, Sir! [Exit Edgar.
[Alarum* and retreat, within.
Re- enter Edgar.
Edg. Away, old man ; give me thy hand, away j
King Lear hath loft, h- and his daughter ta'en,
Give me thy hand. Come on.
Glo. No further, Sir ; a man may rot even here.
Edg. What, in ill thoughts again ? men muft endure
Their going hence, ev'n as their coming hither:
Ripenefs is all ; come on.
Glq. And that's true too. [Exeunt.
SCENE
TT
JTl
King LEAR.
SCENE V.
Enter in Conqueft, with Drum and Colours, Edmund ;
Lear and Cordelia, asprifoners ; Soldiers, Captain.
Edm. Some Officers take them away ; good guard,
Until their greater pleafures firft be known,
That are to cenfure them.
Cor. We're not the firft,
Who with beft meaning have incurred the worft:
For thee, oppreffed King, am I caft down ;
Myfelf could elfe out- frown falfe fortune's frown.
Shall we not ice thefe daughters and thefe fitters?
Lear. No, no, no, no; come, let's aw^y toprifons
We two alone will fing, like birds i' th'cage:
When thou doft ask me Bleffing, I'll kneel down,
And ask of thee Forgivenefs : fo we'll live,
And pray, and fing, " and tell old tales, and laugh
* At gilded butterflies; and hear poor rogues
*' Talk of Court-news, and we'll talk with them too,
" Who lofes and who wins ; who's in, who's out:
" 3 And take upon's the myftery of things,
" As if we were God's fpies. And we'll wear out,
" In a wall'd prifon, packs and fefts of Great ones,
" That ebb and flow by th' moon."
Edm. Take them away.
Lear. u * Upon fuch facrifices, my Cordelia,
" The
3 And take upon's the myftery of things,
As if we were GoeTs fpies. ] This whole fpeech is exqui-
fitely fine, and an admirable defcription of the idle life of a coffee-
houfe politician. The meaning of thCi- two lines, which are a little
ambiguous, is this. We will take upon ns to interpret and jadge of
the defigns of Providence in the various fortunes and revolutions of
men and governments, as if we were placed for fpies over God Al-
mighty, to watch his motions : GocTs Jpies fignifying either fpies em-
ployed by him or fet upon him, is the occallon of the obfcurity.
4 Upon fuch facrijices, my Cordelia,
TheGodsthemJelves throw incenfe. ] The thought is extremely
ncble.aUd exprcffed in afublime of imag'ry that Seneca fell fhort of on
K 2 the
LEAR.
" The Gods themfelves throw incenfe." Have I
caught thee?
He that parts us, (hall bring a brand from heav'n,
And fire us hence, like foxes; wipe thine eye,
The (a) goujeres fhall devour them, flelh and fell,
Ere they fhall make us weep ; we'll fee them ftarv'd firft.
Come. [Exeunt Lear and Cordelia guarded.
Edm. Come hither, Captain, hark.
Take thou this note; go, follow them to prifon.
One ftep I have advanc'd thee j if thou doft
As this inftru&s thee, thou doft make thy way
To noble fortunes : know thou this, that men
Are as the time is ; to be tender-minded
Do's not become a fword ; 5 thy great Employment
Will not bear queftion; either fay, thou'lt do'tj
Or thrive by other means.
Capt. I'll do't, my lord.
Edm. About it, and write happy, when thou'lt done.
Mark, I fay, inftantly ; and carry it fo,
As I have fet it down. [Exit Captain.
the like occafion. Ecce jpectaculum dignum ad quod refptciat, inten-
tus operi fuo Deus: Ecce par Deo dignum, -virfortif cum mala for tuna
campojttus.
5 thy great Employment
Will not bear quejllon ; ] Mr. Theobald could not let this alone,
but would alter it to
My great Employment,
Becaufe (he fays) the perfon fpoken to was of no higher degree than a.
captain. But he miftakes the meaning of the words. By great Em-
ployment was meant the commijjlon given him for the murder; and
this, the Baflard tells us afterwards, was figned byGatierill&nd him-
felf. Which was fufficient to make this Captain unaccauntablt lor
the execution.
[() gwjtrts. (Trench pox.] Oxford Editor Vulg. gooajnt ]
SCENE
King LEAR. 133
SCENE VI.
Flourijh. Enter Albany, Gonerill, Regan, and
Soldiers.
Alb. Sir, you have fhew'd to day your valiant drain,
And fortune led you well : you have the Captives,
Who were the oppofites of this day's ftrife :
We do require them of you, fo to ufe them,
As we mall find their merits and our fafety
May equally determine.
Edm. Sir, I thought it fit
To fend the old and miferable King
To fomc retention, and appointed guard ;
Whofe age has charms in it, whofe title more,
To pluck the common bofoms on his fide ;
And turn our impreft launces in our eyes,
Which do command them. With him I fent the
Queen ;
My reafon all the fame; and they are ready
To morrow, or at further fpace, t'appear
Where you {hall hold your Seflion. At this time,
We fweat and bleed ; the Friend hath loft his Friend i
And the beft Quarrels, in the Heat, are curfl
By thofe that feel their Sharpnefs.
The Queftion of Cordelia, and her Father,
Requires a fitter Place.
Alb. Sir, by your patience,
I hold you but a Subject of this war,
Not as a Brother.
Reg. That's as we lift to grace him,
Methinks, our pleafure might have been demanded,
Ere you had fpoke fo far. He led our Pow'rs ;
* Bore the Commifiion of my Place and Perfon 5
6 Bore the Commiffion of ] Commi/ion, for authority.
K 3 The
134 %* n & LEAR.
7 The which immediacy may well ftand up,
And call itfelf your brother.
Gon. Not fo hot :
In his own grace he doth exalt himfelf,
More than in your advancement.
Reg. In my Right,
By me invefted, he compeers the beft.
Alb. That were the moft, if he fhould husband you.
Reg. Jefters do oft prove Prophets.
Gon. Holla, Holla!
That eye, that told you fo, look'd but a-fquint.
Reg. Lady, I am not well, elfe I mould anfwer
From a full-flowing ftomach. General,
Take thou my foldiers, prifoners, patrimony,
Difpofe of them, of me; s the walls are thine:
Witnefs the World, that 1 create thee here
My lord and matter.
Gon. Mean you to enjoy him ?
Alb. The Lett alone lyes not in your good Will.
dm. Nor in thine, lord.
Alb. Half-blooded fellow, yes.
Reg. Let the drum ftrike, and prove my Title thine.
Alb. Stay yet ; hear reafon : Edmund^ I arreft thee
On capital treafon ; and, in thy Arreft,
This gilded Serpent ; for your claim, fair fitter,
I bar it in the intereft of my wife ;
'Tis me is fab-contracted to this lord,
And I her husband, contradict your banes.
If you will marry, make your loves to me,
My lady is befpoke.
Gon. An enterlude!
Alb. Thou art arm'd, Glo'fter-, let the trumpet
found :
7 The ivbicb immediacy ] Immediacy, for reprefentation.
8 the ivalh are tbine:] A metaphorical pferafe taken from
the camp, and fignifying, to furrender at dijcretion. But the Oxford
Editor, for a plain reafon, alters it to,
they all art tbine*
King LEAR. 135
If none appear to prove upon thy perfon
Thy heinous, manifeft, and many treafons,
There is my Pledge : I'll prove it on thy heart,
Ere I tafte bread, thou art in nothing lefs
Than I have here proclaimed thee.
Reg. Sick, O fick
Gon. If not, I'll ' ne'er truft poifon. [Afide.
Edm. There's my exchange ; what in the world he is,
That names me Traitor, villain-like he lies ;
Call by thy trumpet : he that dares approach,
On him, on you, (who not?) I will maintain
My truth and honour firmly.
Alb. A herald, ho!
Enter a Herald.
Truft to thy fingle virtue ; for thy foldiers,
All levied in my name, have in my name
Took their difcharge.
Reg. This iicknefs grows upon me.
Alb. She is not well, convey her to my Tent.
[Exit Regan, ltd.
SCENE VII.
Come hither, herald, let the trumpet found,
And read out this. [A trumpet founds.
Herald reads.
IF any man of Quality , or Degree, within the lifts of
the army, will maintain upon Edmund fttppofed Earl
of Glo'fter, that he is a manifold traitor, let him ap-
pear by the third found of the trumpet : be is bold in bis
defence. I trumpet.
Her. Again. 2 trumpet.
Her. Again. 3 trumpet.
[Trumpet anfaers, within.
K 4 Enter
136 King LEAR.
Enter Edgar, armed.
Alb. Ask him his purpofes, why he appears
Upon this Call o'th' trumpet.
Her. What are you ?
Your name, your quality, and why you anfwer
This prefent fummons ?
Edg, Know, my name is loft ;
By treafon's tooth bare-gnawn, and canker-bit j
Yet am I noble, as the Adverfary
I come to cope.
Alb. Which is that Adverfary ?
Edg. What's he, that fpeaks for Edmund Earl of
Gb'fter ?
Edm. Himfelf; what fay'ft thou to him?
Edg. Draw thy fword,
That if my fpeech offend a noble heart,
Thy arm may do thee juftice ; here is mine:
9 Behold, it is the privilege of mine Honours,
My Oath, and my Profefllon. I proteft,
JMaugre thy ftrength, place, youth, and eminence,
Spite of thy vidor- fword, and fire-new fortune,
Thy valour, and thy heart, thou art a traitor ;
Falfe to thy Gods, thy brother, and thy father j
Confpirant 'gainft this high illuftrious Prince,
And from th' extreameft upward of thy head,
To the defcent and duft below thy foot,
g Behold, it is the privilege of mine Honour?,
My Oath, and my Proteffion. ] The charge he is here going
to bring againft the Baftard, he calls tie privilege ', Sic. To underftand
which phrafeology, we muft confider that the old Rites of Knight-
hood are here alluded to ; whofe oath and profeflion required him
to difcover all treafons, and whofe privilege it was to have his chal-
lenge accepted, or otherwife to have his charge taken pro confe/o.
For if one who was no Knight accufed another who was, that other
was under no obligation to accept the challenge. On this account
it was neceflary as Edgar came difguifed, to tell the Baftard he
was a Knight,
A
King LEAR. 137
A moft toad-fpotted traitor. Say thou, no-,
This fword, this arm, and my beft fpirits are bent
To prove upon thy hearr, whereto I fpeak,
Thou lieft.
Edm. In wifdom I mould ask thy name;
But fince thy out-fide looks fo fair and warlike,
1 And that thy tongue fome 'Say of Breeding breathes;
What fafe and nicely I might well delay
By rule of Knight-hood, I difdain and fpurn:
Back do I tofs thefe treafons to thy head.
With the hell-hated lie o'erwhelm thy heart;
Which (for they yet glance by, and fcarcely bruife)
This fword of mine (hall give them inftant way,
Where thou malt reft for ever. Trumpets, fpeak.
[Alarm. Fight.
Gon. O, fave him, fave him 5 This is Practice,
GWJlcr:
By th f law of war, thou waft not bound to anfwer
An unknown oppofite ; thou art not vanquifh'd,
But cozen'd and beguil'd.
Alb. Shut your mouth, Dame,
Or with this paper fhall I ftop it;
Thou worfe than any thing, read thine own evil :
No tearing, lady j I perceive, you know it.
Gon. Say, if I do ; the Laws are mine, not thine ;
Who can arraign me for't ?
Alb. Monfter, know'ft thou this paper ?
Gon. Ask me not, what I know [Exif Gon.
Alb. Go after her, fhe's defperate, govern her.
SCENE VIII.
Edm. What you have charg'd me with. That I have
done,
i And that thy tongut fomt 'Say efBrttding breatbtx] 'Say, for
fome ^ ew or probability. Mr. Pope.
And
138 King LEAR.
And more, much more ; the time will bring it out.
'Tis paft, and fo am I : but what art thou,
That haft this fortune on me? If thou'rt noble,
I do forgive thee.
Edg. Let's exchange charity :
I am no Jefs in blood than thou art, Edmund ;
If more, the more thou'll wrong'd me.
My name is Edgar^ and thy father's fon.
" The Gods are juft, and of our pleafant vices
"' Make inftruments to fcourge us :
The dark and vicious place, where thee he got,
Coft him his eyes.
Edm. Thou'ft fpoken right, 'tis true,
The wheel is come full circle ; I am here.
Alb. Methought, thy very gate did prophefie
A royal Noblenefs : I muft embrace thee :
Let Sorrow fplit my heart, rf ever I
Did hate thee, or thy father!
Edg. Worthy Prince, I know't.
Alb. Where have you hid yourfelf ?
How have you known the miferies of your father ?
Edg. By nurfing them, my lord. Lift a brief tale,
And, when 'tis told,O, that my heart would burft!
The bloody Proclamation to efcape
That follow'd me fo near, (O our lives' fweetnefs!
That we the pain of death would hourly bear,
Rather than die at once) " taught me to fhift
*' Into a mad-man's rags ; t'affume a Semblance,
** The very Dogs difdain'd : and in this habit
" Met I my father with his bleeding rings,
" Their precious gems new loft } became his guide,
" Led him, beg'd for him, fav'd him from defpair;
" Never (O fault!) reveal'd myfelf unto him,
<c Until fome half hour paft, when I was arm'd,
" Not fure, though hoping, of this good fuccefs,
' I ask'd his bleffing, and from firft to Jaft
" Told him my pilgrimage. But his flaw'd heart,
Alack,
King LEAR. 139
" Alack, too weak the Conflict to fupport,
ct 'Twixt two extremes of paffion, joy and grief,
" Burft fmilingly.
Edm. This fpeech of yours hath mov'd me,
And (hall, perchance, do good ; but fpeak you on,
You look, as you had fomething more to fay.
Alb. If there be more, more vvoful, hold it in,
For I am almoft ready to diffolve,
Hearing of this.
Edg. a This would have feem'd a Period. But fuch,
As love to amplify another's Sorrow,
To much, would make much more, and top extremity.
" Whilft I was big in Clamour, came there a Man,
** Who having feen me in my worfer State,
" Shun'd my abhorr'd Society ; but now finding
" Who 'twas, had fo endur'd, with his ftrong Arms
<c He faften'd on my Neck ; and bellow'd out,
8 As he'd burft Heaven ; threw him on my Father ;
* Told the moft piteous Tale of Lear and him,
' That ever Ear receiv'd ; which in recounting
' His Grief grew puiflfant, and the Strings of Life
' Began to crack." Twice then the Trumpets
founded,
And there I left him traunc'd.
Alb. But who was this?
2 Tb'n would have feem'd a Period
To fuck as lovi not for row : But ANOTHER,
To amplify TOO much, would, make much mart,
And top extremity ! ] The reader eafily fees that this re-
flexion refers to the Baftard's defiring to hear morej and, to Al~
bany's thinking he had faid enough. But it is corrupted into mi-
ferable nonfenie. We (hould read it thus,
This would ba<ve Jeemd a Period. But fuch
As love to amplify another's Sorrow,
To much, 'would make much more, and top extr unity,
i. e. This to a common humanity would have been thought the
utmoft of my fufferings ; but fuch as love cruelty are always for
adding more to much, till they reach the extremjty of mifery.
140 King LEAR.
Edg. Kent, Sir ; the banim'd Kent^ who in difguife
Follow'd his enemy King, and did him Service
Improper for a Slave.
SCENE IX.
Enter a Gentleman.
Gent. Help, help!
Edg. What kind of help?
Alb. Speak, man.
Edg. What means this bloody knife?
Gent. 'Tis hot, it fmoaks j it came even from the
heart
Of O! fhe'sdead.
Alb. Who's dead ? fpeak, man.
Gent. Your lady, Sir, your lady ; and her filler
By her is poifon'd ; fhe confefles it.
Edm. I was contracted to them both ; all three
Now marry in an inftant.
Edg. Here comes Kent.
Enter Kent.
Alb. Produce the bodies, be they alive or dead.
[Gonerill and Regan'j Bodies brought out.
This Judgment of the heav'ns, that makes us tremble,
Touches us not with pity. O! is this He?
The time will not allow the compliment,
Which very manners urge.
Kent. I am come
To bid my King and Matter aye good night ;
Is he not here ?
Alb. Great thing of us forgot!
Speak, Edmund, whcre's the King? and where's
Cordelia ?
See'ft thou this Object, Kent ?
Kent. Alack, why thus ?
Edm*
King LEAR. 14.1
Edm. Yet Edmund was belov'd :
The one the other poifon'd for my fake,
And after flew herfelf.
All}. Even fo ; cover their faces.
Edm. I pant for life ; fome Good I mean to do,
Defpight of mine own nature. Quickly fend,
(Be brief) into the Caftle j for my Writ