Then kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill!
Enter ⌈two ⌉Gentlemen
⌈FIRST⌉GENTLEMAN
O, here he is. Lay hand upon him. ⌈To Lear⌉Sir,
Your most dear daughter—
LEAR
No rescue? What, a prisoner? I am even
The natural fool of fortune. Use me well.
You shall have ransom. Let me have surgeons;
I am cut to th’ brains.
⌈FIRST⌉GENTLEMAN You shall have anything.
LEAR No seconds? All myself?
Why, this would make a man a man of salt,
To use his eyes for garden water-pots.
I will die bravely, like a smug bridegroom. What,
I will be jovial. Come, come, I am a king.
Masters, know you that?
⌈FIRST⌉GENTLEMAN
You are a royal one, and we obey you.
LEAR Then there’s life in’t. Come, an you get it, you shall get it by running. Sa, sa, sa, sa!
Exit running ⌈pursued by a Gentleman⌉
⌈FIRST⌉GENTLEMAN
A sight most pitiful in the meanest wretch,
Past speaking in a king. Thou hast a daughter
Who redeems nature from the general curse
Which twain have brought her to.
EDGAR Hail, gentle sir.
⌈FIRST⌉GENTLEMAN Sir, speed you. What’s your will?
EDGAR
Do you hear aught, sir, of a battle toward?
⌈FIRST⌉+GENTLEMAN
Most sure and vulgar, everyone hears that
That can distinguish sound.
EDGAR But, by your favour,
How near’s the other army?
⌈FIRST⌉ GENTLEMAN,
Near and on speedy foot. The main descry
Stands in the hourly thought.
EDGAR
I thank you, sir. That’s all.
⌈FIRST⌉GENTLEMAN
Though that the Queen on special cause is here,
Her army is moved on.
EDGAR
I thank you, sir. Exit Gentleman
GLOUCESTER
You ever gentle gods, take my breath from me.
Let not my worser spirit tempt me again
To die before you please.
EDGAR Well pray you, father.
GLOUCESTER Now, good sir, what are you?
EDGAR
A most poor man, made tame to fortune’s blows,
Who by the art of known and feeling sorrows
Am pregnant to good pity. Give me your hand,
I’ll lead you to some biding.
GLOUCESTER ⌈rising⌉
Hearty thanks.
The bounty and the benison of heaven
To boot and boot.
Enter Oswald the steward
OSWALD
A proclaimed prize! Most happy!
That eyeless head of thine was first framed flesh
To raise my fortunes. Thou old unhappy traitor,
Briefly thyself remember. The sword is out
That must destroy thee.
GLOUCESTER
Now let thy friendly hand
Put strength enough to’t.
OSWALD (to Edgar)
Wherefore, bold peasant,
Durst thou support a published traitor? Hence,
Lest that th’infection of his fortune take
Like hold on thee. Let go his arm.
EDGAR ‘Chill not let go, sir, without vurther ’cagion.
OSWALD Let go, slave, or thou diest.
EDGAR Good gentleman, go your gate, and let poor volk pass. An ‘chud ha’ been swaggered out of my life, ’twould not ha’ been so long as ‘tis by a vortnight. Nay, come not near th’old man. Keep out, ‘che vor’ ye, or I’s’ try whether your costard or my baton be the harder; I’ll be plain with you.
OSWALD Out, dunghill!
EDGAR ’Chill pick your teeth, sir. Come, no matter vor your foins.
⌈Edgar knocks him down⌉
OSWALD
Slave, thou hast slain me. Villain, take my purse.
If ever thou wilt thrive, bury my body,
And give the letters which thou find’st about me
To Edmond, Earl of Gloucester. Seek him out
Upon the English party. O untimely death! Death!
He dies
EDGAR
I know thee well—a serviceable villain,
As duteous to the vices of thy mistress
As badness would desire.
GLOUCESTER What, is he dead?
EDGAR Sit you down, father. Rest you.
Gloucester sits
Let’s see these pockets. The letters that he speaks of
May be my friends. He’s dead; I am only sorrow
He had no other deathsman. Let us see.
Leave, gentle wax, and manners; blame us not.
To know our enemies’ minds we rip their hearts;
Their papers is more lawful.
He reads the letter
’Let our reciprocal vows be remembered. You have
many opportunities to cut him off. If your will want
not, time and place will be fruitfully offered. There is
nothing done if he return the conqueror; then am I
the prisoner, and his bed my jail, from the loathed
warmth whereof, deliver me, and supply the place for
your labour.
Your—wife, so I would say,—affectionate
servant, and for you her own for venture,
Goneril.’
O indistinguished space of woman’s will—
A plot upon her virtuous husband’s life,
And the exchange my brother!—Here in the sands
Thee I’ll rake up, the post unsanctified
Of murderous lechers, and in the mature time
With this ungracious paper strike the sight
Of the death-practised Duke. For him ’tis well
That of thy death and business I can tell.
⌈Exit with the body⌉
GLOUCESTER
The King is mad. How stiff is my vile sense,
That I stand up and have ingenious feeling
Of my huge sorrows! Better I were distraught,
So should my thoughts be severed from my griefs, Drum afar off
And woes by wrong imaginations lose
The knowledge of themselves.
⌈Enter Edgar⌉
EDGAR
Give me your hand.
Far off methinks I hear the beaten drum.
Come, father, I’ll bestow you with a friend.
Exit Edgar guiding Gloucester
4.6 Enter Queen Cordelia, the Earl of Kent disguised, and ⌈the First⌉ Gentleman
CORDELIA
O thou good Kent, how shall I live and work
To match thy goodness? My life will be too short,
And every measure fail me.
KENT
To be acknowledged, madam, is o’erpaid.
All my reports go with the modest truth,
Nor more, nor clipped, but so.
CORDELIA
Be better suited.
These weeds are memories of those worser hours.
I prithee put them off.
KENT Pardon, dear madam.
Yet to be known shortens my made intent.
My boon I make it that you know me not
Till time and I think meet.
CORDELIA
Then be’t so, my good lord.—
How does the King?
⌈FIRST⌉GENTLEMAN Madam, sleeps still.
CORDELIA
O you kind gods,
Cure this great breach in his abused nature;
Th’untuned and jarring senses O wind up
Of this child-changed father!
⌈FIRST⌉GENTLEMAN
So please your majesty
That we may wake the King? He hath slept long.
CORDELIA
Be governed by your knowledge, and proceed
I’th’ sway of your own will. Is he arrayed?
⌈FIRST⌉GENTLEMAN
Ay, madam. In the heaviness of sleep
We put fresh garments on him.
Enter King Lear asleep, in a chair carried by servants
Be by, good madam, when we do awake him.
I doubt not of his temperance.
CORDELIA
O my dear father, restoration hang
Thy medicine on my lips, and let this kiss
Repair those violent harms that my two sisters
Have in thy reverence made!
KENT
Kind and dear princess!
CORDELIA
Had you not been their father, these white flakes
Did challenge pity of them. Was this a face
To be opposed against the warring winds?
Mine enemy’s dog, though he had bit me, should
have stood
That night against my fire. And wast thou fain, poor
father,
To hovel thee with swine and rogues forlorn
In short and musty straw? Alack, alack,
’Tis wonder that thy life and wits at once
Had not concluded all! (To the Gentleman) He wakes.
Speak to him.
⌈FIRST⌉GENTLEMAN Madam, do you; ’tis fittest.
CORDELIA (to Lear)
How does my royal lord? How fares your majesty?
LEAR
You do me wrong to take me out o’th’ grave.
Thou art a soul in bliss, but I am bound
Upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears
Do scald like molten lead.
CORDELIA
Sir, do you know me?
LEAR
You are a spirit, I know. Where did you die?
CORDELIA (to the Gentleman) Still, still far wide!
⌈FIRST GENTLEMAN
He’s scarce awake. Let him alone a while.
LEAR
Where have I been? Where am I? Fair daylight?
I am mightily abused. I should ev’n die with pity
To see another thus. I know not what to say.
I will not swear these are my hands. Let’s see:
I feel this pin prick. Would I were assured
Of my condition.
CORDELIA (kneeling) O look upon me, sir,
And hold your hands in benediction o’er me.
You must not kneel.
LEAR
Pray do not mock.
I am a very foolish, fond old man,
Fourscore and upward,
Not an hour more nor less; and to deal plainly,
I fear I am not in my perfect mind.
Methinks I should know you, and know this man;
Yet I am doubtful, for I am mainly ignorant
What place this is; and all the skill I have
Remembers not these garments; nor I know not
Where I did lodge last night. Do not laugh at me,
For as I am a man, I think this lady
To be my child, Cordelia.
CORDELIA
And so I am, I am.
LEAR
Be your tears wet? Yes, faith. I pray, weep not.
If you have poison for me, I will drink it.
I know you do not love me; for your sisters
Have, as I do remember, done me wrong.
You have some cause; they have not.
CORDELIA
No cause, no cause.
LEAR Am I in France?
KENT In your own kingdom, sir.
LEAR Do not abuse me.
⌈FIRST⌉GENTLEMAN
Be comforted, good madam. The great rage
You see is killed in him. Desire him to go in.
Trouble him no more till further settling.
CORDELIA (to Lear) Will’t please your highness walk?
LEAR
You must bear with me. Pray you now, forget
And forgive. I am old and foolish.
Exeunt
5.1 Enter with a drummer and colours Edmond, Regan, Gentlemen, and soldiers
EDMOND
Know of the Duke if his last purpose hold,
Or whether since he is advised by aught
To change the course. He’s full of abdication
And self-reproving. Bring his constant pleasure.
Exit one or more
REGAN
Our sister’s man is certainly miscarried.
EDMOND
’Tis to be doubted, madam.
REGAN
Now, sweet lord,
You know the goodness I intend upon you.
Tell me but truly—but then speak the truth-
Do you not love my sister?
EDMOND
In honoured love.
REGAN
But have you never found my brother’s way
To the forfended place?
EDMOND
No, by mine honour, madam.
REGAN
I never shall endure her. Dear my lord,
Be not familiar with her.
EDMOND Fear me not.
She and the Duke her husband—
Enter with a drummer and colours the Duke of Albany, Goneril, and soldiers
ALBANY (to Regan)
Our very loving sister, well bemet.
(To Edmond) Sir, this I heard: the King is come to his
daughter,
With others whom the rigour of our state
Forced to cry out.
REGAN
Why is this reasoned?
GONERIL
Combine together ’gainst the enemy;
For these domestic and particular broils
Are not the question here.
ALBANY
Let’s then determine with th’ensign of war
On our proceeding.
REGAN
Sister, you’ll go with us?
GONERIL No.
REGAN
’Tis most convenient. Pray go with us.
GONERIL (aside)
O ho, I know the riddle! (To Regan) I will go.
Enter Edgar disguised as a peasant
EDGAR (to Albany)
If e’er your grace had speech with man so poor,
Hear me one word.
ALBANY (to the others) I’ll overtake you.
Exeunt both the armies
Speak.
EDGAR
Before you fight the battle, ope this letter.
If you have victory, let the trumpet sound
For him that brought it. Wretched though I seem,
I can produce a champion that will prove
What is avouchèd there. If you miscarry,
Your business of the world hath so an end,
And machination ceases. Fortune love you.
ALBANY
Stay till I have read the letter.
EDGAR
I was forbid it.
When time shall serve, let but the herald cry,
And I’ll appear again.
ALBANY Why, fare thee well.
I will o’erlook thy paper.
Exit Edgar
Enter Edmond
EDMOND
The enemy’s in view; draw up your powers.
He ⌈offers⌉Albany a paper
Here is the guess of their true strength and forces
By diligent discovery; but your haste
Is now urged on you.
ALBANY
We will greet the time.
Exit
EDMOND
To both these sisters have I sworn my love,
Each jealous of the other as the stung
Are of the adder. Which of them shall I take?—
Both?—one?—or neither? Neither can be enjoyed
If both remain alive. To take the widow
Exasperates, makes mad, her sister Goneril,
And hardly shall I carry out my side,
&n
bsp; Her husband being alive. Now then, we’ll use
His countenance for the battle, which being done,
Let her who would be rid of him devise
His speedy taking off. As for the mercy
Which he intends to Lear and to Cordelia,
The battle done, and they within our power,
Shall never see his pardon; for my state
Stands on me to defend, not to debate.
Exit
5.2 Alarum within. Enter with a drummer and colours King Lear, Queen Cordelia, and soldiers over the stage; and exeunt. Enter Edgar disguised as a peasant, guiding the blind Duke of Gloucester
EDGAR
Here, father, take 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.
GLOUCESTER
Grace go with you, sir.
Exit Edgar
Alarum and retreat within. Enter Edgar
EDGAR
Away, old man. Give me thy hand. Away.
King Lear hath lost, he and his daughter ta’en.
Give me thy hand. Come on.
GLOUCESTER
No further, sir. A man may rot even here.
EDGAR
What, in ill thoughts again? Men must endure
Their going hence even as their coming hither.
Ripeness is all. Come on.
GLOUCESTER
And that’s true, too.
Exit Edgar guiding Gloucester
5.3 Enter in conquest with a drummer and colours Edmond; King Lear and Queen Cordelia as prisoners; soldiers; a Captain
EDMOND
Some officers take them away. Good guard
Until their greater pleasures first be known
That are to censure them.
CORDELIA (to Lear)
We are not the first
Who with best meaning have incurred the worst.
For thee, oppressed King, I am cast down,
Myself could else outfrown false fortune’s frown.
Shall we not see these daughters and these sisters?
LEAR
No, no, no, no. Come, let’s away to prison.
We two alone will sing like birds i’th’ cage.
When thou dost ask me blessing, I’ll kneel down
And ask of thee forgiveness; so we’ll live,
And pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and laugh
At gilded butterflies, and hear poor rogues
Talk of court news, and we’ll talk with them too—
The Oxford Shakespeare: The Complete Works Page 379
