Masters of the Theatre
Page 44
And every measure fail me. 5
Kent. To be acknowledg’d, madam, is o’erpaid.
All my reports go with the modest truth,
Nor more nor clipp’d, but so.
Cor. Be better suited:
These weeds are memories of those worser hours: 10
I prithee, put them off.
Kent. Pardon me, 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. 15
Cor. Then be ‘t so, my good lord. — [To the Doctor.] How does the king?
Doc. Madam, sleeps still.
Cor. O you kind gods,
Cure this great breach in his abused nature!
The untun’d and jarring senses, O! wind up 20
Of this child-changed father!
Doc. So please your majesty
That we may wake the king? he hath slept long.
Cor. Be govern’d by your knowledge, and proceed
I’ the sway of your own will. Is he array’d? 25
Enter LEAR in his chair, carried by Servants.
Gent. Ay, madam; in the heaviness of sleep,
We put fresh garments on him.
Doc. Be by, good madam, when we do awake him;
I doubt not of his temperance. 30
Cor. Very well. [Music.
Doc. Please you, draw near. Louder the music there.
Cor. O my dear father! Restoration, hang
Thy medicine on my lips, and let this kiss
Repair those violent harms that my two sisters 35
Have in thy reverence made!
Kent. Kind and dear princess!
Cor. Had you not been their father, these white flakes
Had challeng’d pity of them. Was this a face
To be expos’d against the warring winds? 40
To stand against the deep dread-bolted thunder?
In the most terrible and nimble stroke
Of quick cross lightning? to watch — poor perdu! —
With this thin helm? Mine enemy’s dog,
Though he had bit me, should have stood that night 45
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. He wakes; speak to him. 50
Doc. Madam, do you; ’tis fittest.
Cor. How does my royal lord? How fares your majesty?
Lear. You do me wrong to take me out o’ the grave;
Thou art a soul in bliss; but I am bound
Upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears 55
Do scald like molten lead.
Cor. Sir, do you know me?
Lear. You are a spirit, I know; when did you die?
Cor. Still, still, far wide.
Doc. He’s scarce awake; let him alone a-while. 60
Lear. Where have I been? Where am I? Fair day-light?
I am mightily abus’d. I should even 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 assur’d 65
Of my condition!
Cor. O! look upon me, sir,
And hold your hands in benediction o’er me.
No, sir, you must not kneel.
Lear. Pray, do not mock me: 70
I am a very foolish fond old man,
Fourscore and upward, not an hour more or less;
And, to deal plainly,
I fear I am not in my perfect mind.
Methinks I should know you and know this man; 75
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 80
To be my child Cordelia.
Cor. 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 85
Have, as I do remember, done me wrong:
You have some cause, they have not.
Cor. No cause, no cause.
Lear. Am I in France?
Kent. In your own kingdom, sir. 90
Lear. Do not abuse me.
Doc. Be comforted, good madam; the great rage,
You see, is kill’d in him; and yet it is danger
To make him even o’er the time he has lost.
Desire him to go in; trouble him no more 95
Till further settling.
Cor. Will ‘t please your highness walk?
Lear. You must bear with me.
Pray you now, forget and forgive: I am old and foolish. [Exeunt LEAR, CORDELIA, Doctor, and Attendants.
Gent. Holds it true, sir, that the Duke of 100
Cornwall was so slain?
Kent. Most certain, sir.
Gent. Who is conductor of his people?
Kent. As ’tis said, the bastard son of Gloucester.
Gent. They say Edgar, his banished son, is with the Earl of Kent in Germany. 105
Kent. Report is changeable. ’Tis time to look about; the powers of the kingdom approach apace.
Gent. The arbitrement is like to be bloody. Fare you well, sir. [Exit.
Kent. My point and period will be throughly wrought,
Or well or ill, as this day’s battle’s fought. [Exit.
Act V. Scene I.
The British Camp near Dover.
Enter, with drum and colours, EDMUND, REGAN, Officers, Soldiers, and Others.
Edm. Know of the duke if his last purpose hold,
Or whether since he is advis’d by aught
To change the course; he’s full of alteration 5
And self-reproving; bring his constant pleasure. [To an Officer, who goes out.
Reg. Our sister’s man is certainly miscarried.
Edm. ’Tis to be doubted, madam.
Reg. Now, sweet lord,
You know the goodness I intend upon you: 10
Tell me, but truly, but then speak the truth,
Do you not love my sister?
Edm. In honour’d love.
Reg. But have you never found my brother’s way
To the forefended place? 15
Edm. That thought abuses you.
Reg. I am doubtful that you have been conjunct
And bosom’d with her, as far as we call hers.
Edm. No, by mine honour, madam.
Reg. I never shall endure her: dear my lord, 20
Be not familiar with her.
Edm. Fear me not.
She and the duke her husband!
Enter with drums and colours, ALBANY, GONERIL, and Soldiers.
Gon. [Aside.] I had rather lose the battle than that sister 25
Should loosen him and me.
Alb. Our very loving sister, well be-met.
Sir, this I heard, the king is come to his daughter,
With others; whom the rigour of our state
Forc’d to cry out. Where I could not be honest 30
I never yet was valiant: for this business,
It toucheth us, as France invades our land,
Not bolds the king, with others, whom, I fear,
Most just and heavy causes make oppose.
Edm. Sir, you speak nobly. 35
Reg. Why is this reason’d?
Gon. Combine together ‘gainst the enemy;
For these domestic and particular broils
Are not the question here.
Alb. Let’s then determine 40
With the ancient of war on our proceeding.
Edm. I shall attend you presently at your tent.
Gon. No.
Reg. ’Tis most convenient; pray you, go with us. 45
Gon. [Aside.] O, ho! I know the riddle. [Aloud.] I will go.
Enter EDGAR, disguised.
Edg. If e’er your Grace had speech with man so poor,
Hear me one word.
Alb. I’ll overtake you. Speak. [Exeunt EDMUND, REGAN, GONERIL, Officers, Soldiers, and Attendants. 50
Edg. 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 avouched there. If you miscarry, 55
Your business of the world hath so an end,
And machination ceases. Fortune love you!
Alb. Stay till I have read the letter.
Edg. I was forbid it.
When time shall serve, let but the herald cry, 60
And I’ll appear again.
Alb. Why, fare thee well: I will o’erlook thy paper. [Exit EDGAR.
Re-enter EDMUND.
Edm. The enemy’s in view; draw up your powers.
Here is the guess of their true strength and forces 65
By diligent discovery; but your haste
Is now urg’d on you.
Alb. We will greet the time. [Exit.
Edm. To both these sisters have I sworn my love;
Each jealous of the other, as the stung 70
Are of the adder. Which of them shall I take?
Both? one? or neither? Neither can be enjoy’d
If both remain alive: to take the widow
Exasperates, makes mad her sister Goneril;
And hardly shall I carry out my side, 75
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, 80
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.
Act V. Scene II.
A Field between the two Camps.
Alarum within. Enter, with drum and colours, LEAR, CORDELIA, and their Forces; and exeunt. Enter EDGAR and GLOUCESTER.
Edg. 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, 5
I’ll bring you comfort.
Glo. Grace go with you, sir! [Exit EDGAR.
Alarum; afterwards a retreat. Re-enter EDGAR.
Edg. Away, old man! give me thy hand: away!
King Lear hath lost, he and his daughter ta’en. 10
Give me thy hand; come on.
Glo. No further, sir; a man may rot even here.
Edg. What. in ill thoughts again? Men must endure
Their going hence, even as their coming hither:
Ripeness is all. Come on. 15
Glo. And that’s true too. [Exeunt.
Act V. Scene III.
The British Camp, near Dover.
Enter, in conquest, with drum and colours, EDMUND; LEAR and CORDELIA, prisoners; Officers, Soldiers, &c.
Edm. Some officers take them away: good guard,
Until their greater pleasures first be known
That are to censure them. 5
Cor. We are not the first
Who, with best meaning, have incurr’d the worst.
For thee, oppressed king, am I cast down;
Myself could else out-frown false Fortune’s frown.
Shall we not see these daughters and these sisters? 10
Lear. No, no, no, no! Come, let’s away to prison;
We two alone will sing like birds i’ the 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 15
At gilded butterflies, and hear poor rogues
Talk of court news; and we’ll talk with them too,
Who loses and who wins; who’s in, who’s out;
And take upon ‘s the mystery of things,
As if we were God’s spies: and we’ll wear out, 20
In a wall’d prison, packs and sets of great ones
That ebb and flow by the moon.
Edm. Take them away.
Lear. Upon such sacrifices, my Cordelia,
The gods themselves throw incense. Have I caught thee? 25
He that parts us shall bring a brand from heaven,
And fire us hence like foxes. Wipe thine eyes;
The goujeres shall devour them, flesh and fell,
Ere they shall make us weep: we’ll see ’em starve first.
Come. [Exeunt LEAR and CORDELIA, guarded. 30
Edm. Come hither, captain; hark,
Take thou this note; [Giving a paper.] go follow them to prison:
One step I have advanc’d thee; if thou dost
As this instructs thee, thou dost make thy way
To noble fortunes; know thou this, that men 35
Are as the time is; to be tender-minded
Does not become a sword; thy great employment
Will not bear question; either say thou’lt do ‘t,
Or thrive by other means.
Offi. I’ll do ‘t, my lord. 40
Edm. About it; and write happy when thou hast done.
Mark, — I say, instantly, and carry it so
As I have set it down.
Offi. I cannot draw a cart nor eat dried oats;
If it be man’s work I will do it. [Exit. 45
Flourish. Enter ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, Officers, and Attendants.
Alb. Sir, you have show’d to-day your valiant strain,
And fortune led you well; you have the captives
Who were the opposites of this day’s strife;
We do require them of you, so to use them 50
As we shall find their merits and our safety
May equally determine.
Edm. Sir, I thought it fit
To send the old and miserable king
To some retention, and appointed guard; 55
Whose age has charms in it, whose title more,
To pluck the common bosom on his side,
And turn our impress’d lances in our eyes
Which do command them. With him I sent the queen;
My reason all the same; and they are ready 60
To-morrow, or at further space, to appear
Where you shall hold your session. At this time
We sweat and bleed; the friend hath lost his friend,
And the best quarrels, in the heat, are curs’d
By those that feel their sharpness; 65
The question 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. 70
Reg. That’s as we list to grace him:
Methinks our pleasure might have been demanded,
Ere you had spoke so far. He led our powers,
Bore the commission of my place and person;
The which immediacy may well stand up, 75
And call itself your brother.
Gon. Not so hot;
In his own grace he doth exalt himself
More than in your addition.
Reg. In my rights, 80
By me invested, he compeers the best.
Gon. That were the most, if he should husband you.
Reg. Jesters do oft prove prophets.
Gon. Holla, holla!
That eye that told you so look’d but a-squint. 85
Reg. Lady, I am not well; else I should answer
&n
bsp; From a full-flowing stomach. General,
Take thou my soldiers, prisoners, patrimony;
Dispose of them, of me; the walls are thine;
Witness the world, that I create thee here 90
My lord and master.
Gon. Mean you to enjoy him?
Alb. The let-alone lies not in your good will.
Edm. Nor in thine, lord.
Alb. Half-blooded fellow, yes. 95
Reg. [To EDMUND.] Let the drum strike, and prove my title thine.
Alb. Stay yet; hear reason. Edmund, I arrest thee
On capital treason; and, in thy arrest,
This gilded serpent. [Pointing to GONERIL.] For your claim, fair sister,
I bar it in the interest of my wife; 100
’Tis she is sub-contracted to this lord,
And I, her husband, contradict your bans.
If you will marry, make your love to me,
My lady is bespoke.
Gon. An interlude! 105
Alb. Thou art arm’d, Gloucester; let the trumpet sound:
If none appear to prove upon thy person
Thy heinous, manifest, and many treasons,
There is my pledge; [Throws down a glove.] I’ll prove it on thy heart,
Ere I taste bread, thou art in nothing less 110
Than I have here proclaim’d thee.
Reg. Sick! O sick!
Gon. [Aside.] If not, I’ll ne’er trust medicine.
Edm. There’s my exchange: [Throws down a glove.] what in the world he is
That names me traitor, villain-like he lies. 115
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!
Edm. A herald, ho! a herald! 120
Alb. Trust to thy single virtue; for thy soldiers,
All levied in my name, have in my name
Took their discharge.
Reg. My sickness grows upon me.
Alb. She is not well; convey her to my tent. [Exit REGAN, led. 125
Come hither, herald,
Enter a Herald.
Let the trumpet sound, —
And read out this.
Offi. Sound, trumpet! [A trumpet sounds. 130
Her. If any man of quality or degree within the lists of the army will maintain upon Edmund, supposed Earl of Gloucester, that he is a manifold traitor, let him appear at the third sound of the trumpet. He is bold in his defence.
Edm. Sound! [First Trumpet.
Her. Again! [Second Trumpet.
Her. Again! [Third Trumpet.
[Trumpet answers within.
Enter EDGAR, armed, with a Trumpet before him. 135
Alb. Ask him his purposes, why he appears
Upon this call o’ the trumpet.
Her. What are you?
Your name? your quality? and why you answer