Am pregnant to good pity. Glo. Give me your hand, Hearty thanks: The bounty and the benison of heaven Osw. Enter Oswald. A proclaim'd prize! Most happy! Glo. Now let thy friendly hand [EDGAR interposes. Wherefore, bold peasant, Put strength enough to it. Dar'st thou support a publish'd traitor? Hence; Like hold on thee. Let go his arm. Edg. Chill not let go, zir, without vurther 'casion. Edg. Good gentleman, go your gait, and let poor volk pass. And chud ha' been zwaggered out of my life, 'twould not ha' been zo long as 'tis by a vortnight. Nay, come not near the old man; keep out, che vor ye, or ise try whether your costard or my bat be the harder: chill be plain with you. Osw. Out, dunghill! Edg. Chill pick your teeth, zir: come; no matter vor your foins. [They fight, and EDGAR knocks him down. Osw. 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 Edmund Earl of Gloster; seek him out Glo. What, is he dead? Edg. Sit you down, father; rest you. Let's see these pockets: the letters that he speaks of He had no other death's-man.-Let us see: Leave, gentle wax; and, manners, blame us not: [Dies. [Reads.] 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 gaol; from the loathed warmth whereof deliver me, and supply the place for your labour. Your (wife, so I would say) affectionate servant, O undistinguish'd space of woman's will! And the exchange my brother!-Here, in the sands, Of murderous lechers: and in the mature time [Exit EDGAR, dragging out the body. Edg. Re-enter EDGAR. Give me your hand: [Drum afar off. [Exeunt. Far off, methinks, I hear the beaten drum: SCENE VII.-A Tent in the French Camp. LEAR on a bed asleep, soft music playing; Physician, Gentleman, and others attending. Enter CORDELIA and KENT. Cor. 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 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: 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. Cor. Then be't so, my good lord.-How does the king? Phys. Madam, sleeps still. Cor. O you kind gods, [To the Physician. Cure this great breach in his abused nature! Of this child-changed father! Phys. So please your majesty That we may wake the king: he hath slept long. We put fresh garments on him. Phys. Be by, good madam, when we do awake him; I doubt not of his temperance. Cor. Very well. Phys. Please you, draw near.-Louder the music there! Thy medicine on my lips; and let this kiss 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 oppos'd against the warring winds? To stand against the deep dread-bolted thunder? Of quick, cross lightning? to watch,-poor perdu!- Though he had bit me, should have stood that night Had not concluded all.-He wakes; speak to him. Phys. 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 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! Phys. He's scarce awake: let him alone awhile. Lear. Where have I been? Where am I?-Fair daylight?— I am mightily abus'd.-I should e'en die with pity To see another thus.-I know not what to say.- Cor. O, look upon me, sir, And hold your hands in benediction o'er me.— Lear. Pray, do not mock me: I am a very foolish fond old man, Fourscore and upward, not an hour more nor less; I fear I am not in my perfect mind. Methinks I should know you, and know this man; To be my child Cordelia. Cor. I pray, weep not: And so I am, I am. Cor. Lear. Am I in France? Lear. Do not abuse me. No cause, no cause. In your own kingdom, sir. Phys. Be comforted, good madam: the great rage, To make him even o'er the time he has lost. Till further settling. You must bear with me: Cor. Will't please your highness walk? Lear. Pray you now, forget and forgive: I am old and foolish. [Exeunt LEAR, COR., Phys., and Attendants. Gent. Holds it true, sir, that the Duke of Cornwall was so slain? Kent. Most certain, sir. Gent. Who is conductor of his people? Kent. As 'tis said, the bastard son of Gloster. Gent. They say Edgar, his banished 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. 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 Camp of the British Forces near Dover. Enter, with drum and colours, EDMUND, REGAN, Officers, Soldiers, and others. Edm. Know of the duke if his last purpose hold, To change the course: he's full of alteration [To an Officer, who goes out. Now, sweet lord, Reg. Our sister's man is certainly miscarried. Edm. Edm. Reg. I never shall endure her: dear my lord, She and the duke her husband! Enter, with drum and colours, ALBANY, GONERIL, and Soldiers. Gon. [aside.] I had rather lose the battle than that sister Should loosen him and me. Alb. Our very loving sister, well be-met. |