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
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.

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

With the ancient of war on our proceeding.

Edm. I shall attend you presently at your tent.
Reg. Sister, you'll go with us?

Gon. No.

Reg. 'Tis most convenient; pray you, go with us.
Gon. [aside.] O, ho, I know the riddle.—I will go.

As they are going out, 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 EDM., REG., GON., Officers, Soldiers, and Attendants.

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,
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 ery,
And I'll appear again.

Alb. Why, fare thee well: I will o'erlook thy paper.

Re-enter EDMUND.

[Exit EDGAR.

Edm. The enemy's in view; draw up your powers. Here is the guess of their true strength and forces

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

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,

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.

SCENE II.-A Field between the two Camps.

[Exit.

Alarum within. Enter, with drum and colours, LEAR, CORDELIA, and their Forces; and exeunt.

Enter EDGAR and GLOSTER.

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

I'll bring you comfort.

Glo.

Grace go with you, sir! [Exit EDGAR.

Alarum and Retreat within. Re-enter EDGAR.
Edg. Away, old man,-give me thy hand,-away!
King Lear hath lost, he 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 must endure
Their going hence, even as their coming hither:
Ripeness is all:- -come on.

Glo.

And that's true too.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.-The British Camp near Dover.

Enter, in conquest, with drum and colours, EDMUND; LEAR and CORDELIA prisoners; Officers, Soldiers, d'c.

Edm. Some officers take them away: good guard,
Until their greater pleasures first be known
That are to censure them.

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?
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
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
In a wall'd prison packs and sects 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?
He that parts us shall bring a brand from heaven,
And fire us hence like foxes. Wipe thine eyes;
The good years shall devour them, flesh and fell,

Ere they shall make us weep: we'll see 'em starve first.
Come.

[Exeunt LEAR and COR., guarded.

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
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.

Off.

I'll do't, my lord.

Edm. About it; and write happy when thou hast done. Mark,-I say, instantly; and carry it so

As I have set it down.

Off. I cannot draw a cart nor eat dried oats; If it be man's work I will do 't.

[Exit.

Flourish. Enter ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, Officers,

and Attendants.

Alb. Sir, you have shown 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
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;

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

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 *-

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.

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

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,

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 asquint.

Reg. Lady, I am not well; else I should answer

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

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.

Reg. Let the drum strike, and prove my title thine.

[To EDMUND.

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;

'Tis she is sub-contracted to this lord,

And I, her husband, contradict your bans.
If you will marry, make your loves to me,--
My lady is bespoke.

Gon.

An interlude!

Alb. Thou art arm'd, Gloster :-let the trumpet sound: If none appear to prove upon thy person

Thy heinous, manifest, and many treasons,

There is my pledge [throwing down a glove]; I'll make it on thy heart,

Ere I taste bread, thou art in nothing less
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 [throwing down a glove]:

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!

Edm.

A herald, ho, a herald!

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.

Enter a Herald.

[Exit REGAN led.

Come hither, herald,-Let the trumpet sound,—
And read out this.

Off Sound, trumpet! [A trumpet sounds. Herald. [reads.] If any man of quality or degree within the lists of the army will maintain upon Edmund, supposed Earl of Gloster, that he is a manifold traitor, let him appear by the third sound of the trumpet: he is bold in his defence.