life, it would not have been zo long as 'tis by a vortnight.—Nay, an' thou com'st near th' old man, I'st try whether your costard or my ballow be th' harder. Osw. Out, dunghill!

Edg. Chill pick your teeth, zir: come, no matter vor your foines. [EDGAR knocks him down. Osw. Slave, thou hast slain me; oh! untimely

death!

Edg. I know thee well, a serviceable villain.
As duteous to the vices of thy mistress,
As lust could wish.

Glost. What? Is he dead?

Edg. This is a letter carrier, and may have Some papers of intelligence, that may stand Our party in good stead to know.

[Dies.

-What's here? [Takes a Letter out of his Pocket, and reads it.

To Edmund Earl of Gloster.

Let our mutual loves be remembered: you have many opportunities to cut Albany off. If he return the conqueror, then I am still a prisoner, and his bed my gaol; from the loathed warmth of which deliver me, and supply the place for your labour. GONERIL.

A plot upon the duke her husband's life,
And the exchange my brother!-

In time and place convenient I'll produce
These letters to the sight of th' injur'd duke,
As best shall serve our purpose.

Come, your hand;

[A March at a Distance.

Far off methinks I hear the beaten drum:

Come, sir, I will bestow you with a friend. [Exeunt.

ACT THE FIFTH.

SCENE I.

A Chamber.

KING LEAR asleep on a Couch.

CORDELIA, PHYSICIAN, and Two KNIGHTS standing by him.

Cord. His sleep is sound, and may have good effect To cure his jarring senses, and repair

This breach of nature.

Phys. We have employ'd the utmost pow'r of art, And this deep rest will perfect our design.

Cord. O Regan! Goneril! Inhuman sisters! Had he not been your father, these white hairs Had challeng'd sure some pity! Was this a face To be expos'd against the jarring winds? My enemy's dog, though he had bit me, should Have stood that night against my fire. He wakes; speak to him.

Phys. Madam, do you; 'tis fittest.

Cord. How does my royal lord? How fares your majesty ?

Lear. You do me wrong, to take me out o'th' grave, Cord. Speak to me, sir; who am I?

Lear. You are a soul in bliss; but I am bound Upon a wheel of fire, which my own tears

Do scald like molten lead.

Cord. Sir, do you know me?

Lear. You are a spirit, I know; when did you'die? Cord. Still, still, far wide!

Phys. Madam, he's scarce awake; he'll soon grow more compos'd.

Lear. Where have I been? Where am I? Fair daylight?

I am mightily abus'd; I should even die with pity To see another thus. I will not swear

These are my hands.

Cord. O, look upon me, sir,

And hold your hand in blessing o'er me.-Nay,
You must not kneel.

Lear. Pray, do not mock me;

I am a very foolish, fond, old man,
Fourscore and upward; and, to deal plainly,
I fear I am not in my perfect mind.

Cord. Nay, then farewell to patience? witness for

me,

Ye mighty pow'rs, I ne'er complain'd till now!
Lear. Methinks, I should 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 these garments; nor do I know
Where I did sleep last night.-Pray, do not mock me;
For, as I am a man, I think that lady

To be my child Cordelia.

Cord. O, my dear, dear father!

Lear. Be your tears wet? Yes, 'faith; pray, do not weep.

I know I have given thee cause, and am so humbled With crosses since, that I could ask

Forgiveness of thee, were it possible

That thou couldst grant it;

If thou hast poison for me, I will drink it,

Bless thee, and die.

Cord. O, pity, sir, a bleeding heart, and cease This killing language.

Lear. Tell me, friends, where am I?
Phys. In your own kingdom, sir.
Lear. Do not abuse me.

Phys. Be comforted, good madam; for the violence
Of his distemper's past; we'll lead him in,
Nor trouble him, till he is better settled.

Will it please you, sir, walk into freer air?

Lear. You must bear with me, I am old and foolish.

Forget and forgive.

[The PHYSICIAN leads off KING LEAR, followed by the Two KNIGHTS.

Cord. The gods restore you!- [A distant March. Hark, I hear afar

The beaten drum. Old Kent's a man of's word.
Oh! for an arm

Like the fierce thunderer's, when the earth-born sons
Storm'd heav'n, to fight this injur'd father's battle!
That I could shift my sex, and dye me deep
In his opposer's blood? But, as I may,
With women's weapons, piety and pray'rs,
I'll aid his cause. You never-erring gods,
Fight on his side, and thunder on his foes
Such tempests, as his poor aged head sustain'd!
Your image suffers when a monarch bleeds;
'Tis your own cause; for that your succours bring;
Revenge yourselves, and right an injur'd king.

[Exit CORDELIA.

SCENE II.

A Valley near the Field of Battle.

Enter EDGAR and GLOSTER.

Edg. Here, sir, take you the shadow of this tree For your good host; pray that the right may thrive:

Glost. Thanks, friendly sir;

[Exit EDGAR.

The fortune, your good cause deserves, betide you!
[An Alarm within.
The fight grows hot; the whole war's now at work,
And the gor'd battle bleeds in every vein,
Whilst drums and trumpets drown loud slaughter's

roar.

Where's Gloster now, that us'd to head the onset,
And scour the ranks where deadliest danger lay
Here, like a shepherd, in a lonely shade,
Idle, unarm'd, and list'ning to the fight.

No more of shelter, thou blind worm, but forth
To th' open field; the war may come this way,
And crush thee into rest.-

Ó, dark despair! When, Edgar, wilt thou come
To pardon, and dismiss me to the grave?

[A Retreat sounded. Hark! a retreat; the king, I fear, has lost.

Enter EDGAR.

Edg. Away, old man; give me your hand; away! King Lear has lost; he and his daughter ta'en: And this, ye gods, is all that I can save

Of this most precious wreck. Give me your hand. Glost. No farther, sir; a man may rot even here. Edg. What! in ill thoughts again? Men must en

dure

Their going hence, ev'n as their coming hither.
Glost. And that's true too.

[Exeunt.