ACT V.
Scene I. The British camp near Dover.
Enter, with drum and colours, Edmund, Regan, Gentlemen, and Soldiers.[4541]
Edm. 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 alteration[4542]
And self-reproving: bring his constant pleasure.
[To a Gentleman, who goes out.[4543]
Reg. Our sister's man is certainly miscarried. 5
Edm. 'Tis to be doubted, madam.
Reg. Now, sweet lord,
You know the goodness I intend upon you:
Tell me, but truly, but then speak the truth,[4544]
Do you not love my sister?
Edm. In honour'd love.[4545]
Reg. But have you never found my brother's way[4546] 10
To the forfended place?[4546]
Edm. That thought abuses you.[4546][4547]
Reg. I am doubtful that you have been conjunct[4546][4547][4548]
And bosom'd with her, as far as we call hers.[4546][4547][4548]
Edm. No, by mine honour, madam.[4546][4549]
Reg. I never shall endure her: dear my lord,[4550] 15
Be not familiar with her.[4550]
Edm. Fear me not.—[4551][4552]
She and the duke her husband![4551]
Enter, with drum and colours, Albany, Goneril, and Soldiers.[4553]
Gon. [Aside] I had rather lose the battle than that sister[4554][4555]
Should loosen him and me.[4554][4556]
Alb. Our very loving sister, well be-met.[4557] 20
Sir, this I hear; the king is come to his daughter,[4558]
With others whom the rigour of our state
Forced to cry out. Where I could not be honest,[4559]
I never yet was valiant: for this business,[4559][4560]
It toucheth us, as France invades our land,[4559] 25
Not bolds the king, with others, whom, I fear,[4559][4561]
Most just and heavy causes make oppose.[4559]
Edm. Sir, you speak nobly.[4559][4562]
Reg. Why is this reason'd?
Gon. Combine together 'gainst the enemy;
For these domestic and particular broils[4563] 30
Are not the question here.[4564]
Alb. Let's then determine[4565]
With the ancient of war on our proceedings.[4565][4566]
Edm. I shall attend you presently at your tent.[4567]
Reg. Sister, you'll go with us?
Gon. No. 35
Reg. 'Tis most convenient; pray you, go with us.[4568]
Gon. [Aside] O, ho, I know the riddle.—I will go.
As they are going out, enter Edgar disguised.[4569]
Edg. If e'er your grace had speech with man so poor,[4570]
Hear me one word.
Alb. I'll overtake you. Speak.
[Exeunt all but Albany and Edgar.[4571]
Edg. Before you fight the battle, ope this letter. 40
If you have victory, let the trumpet sound
For him that brought it: wretched though I seem,[4572]
I can produce a champion that will prove
What is avouched there. If you miscarry,
Your business of the world hath so an end, 45
And machination ceases. Fortune love you![4573]
Alb. Stay till I have read the letter.[4574]
Edg. I was forbid it.[4575]
When time shall serve, let but the herald cry,[4575]
And I'll appear again.[4575]
Alb. Why, fare thee well: I will o'erlook thy paper. 50
[Exit Edgar.
Re-enter Edmund.[4576]
Edm. The enemy's in view: draw up your powers.[4577]
Here is the guess of their true strength and forces[4578]
By diligent discovery; but your haste[4579][4580]
Is now urged on you.[4579]
Alb. We will greet the time. [Exit.[4581]
Edm. To both these sisters have I sworn my love;[4582] 55
Each jealous of the other, as the stung[4583][4584]
Are of the adder. Which of them shall I take?[4583]
Both? one? or neither? Neither can be enjoy'd,[4583][4585]
If both remain alive: to take the widow
Exasperates, makes mad her sister Goneril; 60
And hardly shall I carry out my side,[4586]
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[4587]
His speedy taking off. As for the mercy[4588] 65
Which he intends to Lear and to Cordelia,[4589]
The battle done, and they within our power,
Shall never see his pardon; for my state[4590]
Stands on me to defend, not to debate. [Exit.
Scene II. A field between the two camps.
Alarum within. Enter, with drum and colours, Lear, Cordelia, and Soldiers, over the stage; and exeunt.
Enter Edgar and Gloucester.[4591]
Edg. Here, father, take the shadow of this tree[4592]
For your good host; pray that the right may thrive:
If ever I return to you again,[4593]
I'll bring you comfort.[4593]
Glou. Grace go with you, sir! [Exit Edgar.
Alarum and retreat within. Re-enter Edgar.[4594]
Edg. Away, old man; give me thy hand; away! 5
King Lear hath lost, he and his daughter ta'en:
Give me thy hand; come on.
Glou. No farther, sir; a man may rot even here.[4595]
Edg. What, in ill thoughts again? Men must endure[4596]
Their going hence, even as their coming hither: 10
Ripeness is all: come on.
Glou. And that's true too. [Exeunt.[4597]
Scene III. The British camp near Dover.
Enter, in conquest, with drum and colours, Edmund; Lear and Cordelia, as prisoners; Captain, Soldiers, &c.[4598]
Edm. Some officers take them away: good guard,
Until their greater pleasures first be known[4599]
That are to censure them.
Cor. We are not the first[4600][4601]
Who with best meaning have incurr'd the worst.[4600]
For thee, oppressed king, am I cast down;[4600][4602] 5
Myself could else out-frown false fortune's frown.[4603]
Shall we not see these daughters and these sisters?
Lear. No, no, no, no! Come, let's away to prison:[4604]
We two alone will sing like birds i' the cage:
When thou dost ask me blessing, I'll kneel down 10
And ask of thee forgiveness: so we'll live,
And pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and laugh[4605]
At gilded butterflies, and hear poor rogues
Talk of court news; and we'll talk with them too,[4606]
Who loses and who wins, who's in, who's out;[4607] 15
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[4608]
That ebb and flow by the moon.
Edm. Take them away.
Lear. Upon such sacrifices, my Cordelia, 20
The gods themselves throw incense. Have I caught thee?[4609]
He that parts us shall bring a brand from heaven,
And fire us hence like foxes. Wipe thine eyes;[4610]
The good-years shall devour them, flesh and fell,[4611][4612]
Ere they shall make us weep: we'll see 'em starve first.[4612][4613] 25
Come. [Exeunt Lear and Cordelia, guarded.[4613][4614]
Edm. Come hither, captain; hark.[4615]
Take thou this note: go follow them to prison:[4616]
One step I have advanced thee; if thou dost[4617][4618]
As this instructs thee, thou dost make thy way[4618] 30
To noble fortunes: know thou this, that men[4618]
Are as the time is: to be tender-minded[4618][4619]
Does not become a sword: thy great employment[4618][4620]
Will not bear question; either say thou'lt do 't,[4618][4621]
Or thrive by other means.[4618]
Capt. I'll do 't, my lord. 35
Edm. About it; and write happy when thou hast done.[4622]
Mark; I say, instantly, and carry it so[4623]
As I have set it down.
Capt. I cannot draw a cart, nor eat dried oats;[4624]
If it be man's work, I'll do't. [Exit.[4624]40
Flourish. Enter Albany, Goneril, Regan, another Captain, and Soldiers.[4625]
Alb. Sir, you have shown to-day your valiant strain,[4626]
And fortune led you well: you have the captives[4627]
That were the opposites of this day's strife:[4628]
We do require them of you, so to use them[4629]
As we shall find their merits and our safety 45
May equally determine.
Edm. Sir, I thought it fit[4630]
To send the old and miserable king[4631][4632]
To some retention and appointed guard;[4631][4633]
Whose age has charms in it, whose title more,[4634]
To pluck the common bosom on his side,[4635] 50
And turn our impress'd lances in our eyes
Which do command them. With him I sent the queen:[4636]
My reason all the same; and they are ready[4636][4637]
To-morrow or at further space to appear[4637][4638]
Where you shall hold your session. At this time[4637][4639][4640][4641] 55
We sweat and bleed: the friend hath lost his friend;[4640][4641]
And the best quarrels, in the heat, are cursed[4641]
By those that feel their sharpness.[4641][4642]
The question of Cordelia and her father[4641]
Requires a fitter place.[4641]
Alb. Sir, by your patience, 60
I hold you but a subject of this war,[4643]
Not as a brother.[4643]
Reg. That's as we list to grace him.
Methinks our pleasure might have been demanded,[4644]
Ere you had spoke so far. He led our powers,
Bore the commission of my place and person; 65
The which immediacy may well stand up[4645]
And call itself your brother.
Gon. Not so hot:[4646]
In his own grace he doth exalt himself[4646]
More than in your addition.[4646][4647]
Reg. In my rights,[4648][4649]
By me invested, he compeers the best.[4649] 70
Gon. That were the most, if he should husband you.[4650]
Reg. Jesters do oft prove prophets.
Gon. Holla, holla![4651][4652]
That eye that told you so look'd but a-squint.[4652][4653]
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:[4654]
Witness the world, that I create thee here
My lord and master.
Gon. Mean you to enjoy him?[4655]
Alb. The let-alone lies not in your good will.[4656] 80
Edm. Nor in thine, lord.
Alb. Half-blooded fellow, yes.
Reg. [To Edmund] Let the drum strike, and prove my title thine.[4657]
Alb. Stay yet; hear reason. Edmund, I arrest thee[4658]
On capital treason; and in thine attaint[4659]
This gilded serpent [pointing to Gon.]. For your claim, fair sister,[4660]85
I bar it in the interest of my wife;[4661]
'Tis she is sub-contracted to this lord,[4662]
And I, her husband, contradict your bans.[4663]
If you will marry, make your loves to me;[4664]
My lady is bespoke.
Gon. An interlude![4665] 90
Alb. Thou art arm'd, Gloucester: let the trumpet sound:[4665][4666]
If none appear to prove upon thy person[4667]
Thy heinous, manifest, and many treasons,
There is my pledge [throwing down a glove]: I'll prove it on thy heart,[4668][4669]
Ere I taste bread, thou art in nothing less 95
Than I have here proclaim'd thee.
Reg. Sick, O, sick!
Gon. [Aside] If not, I'll ne'er trust medicine.[4670]
Edm. [Throwing down a glove] There's my exchange: what in the world he is[4668][4671]
That names me traitor, villain-like he lies:
Call by thy trumpet: he that dares approach,[4672] 100
On him, on you,—who not?—I will maintain[4673]
My truth and honour firmly.
Alb. A herald, ho!
Edm. A herald, ho, a herald![4674]
Alb. Trust to thy single virtue; for thy soldiers,[4675]
All levied in my name, have in my name[4676] 105
Took their discharge.[4676][4677]
Reg. My sickness grows upon me.
Alb. She is not well; convey her to my tent.
[Exit Regan, led.
Enter a Herald.[4678]
Come hither, herald,—Let the trumpet sound,—[4679][4680]
And read out this.[4679]
Capt. Sound, trumpet! [A trumpet sounds.[4681] 110
Her. [Reads] 'If any man of quality or degree within[4682][4683]
the lists of the army will maintain upon Edmund, supposed[4683]
Earl of Gloucester, that he is a manifold traitor, let him[4684]
appear by the third sound of the trumpet: he is bold in[4685]
his defence.' 115
Edm. Sound! [First trumpet.[4686]
Her. Again! [Second trumpet.[4687]
Her. Again! [Third trumpet.
[Trumpet answers within.
Enter Edgar, at the third sound, armed, with a trumpet before him.[4688]
Alb. Ask him his purposes, why he appears
Upon this call o' the trumpet.
Her. What are you?[4689] 120
Your name, your quality? and why you answer[4689][4690]
This present summons?[4689]
Edg. Know, my name is lost;[4691][4692][4693]
By treason's tooth bare-gnawn and canker-bit:[4692][4693]
Yet am I noble as the adversary[4692][4694]
I come to cope.[4692][4695]
Alb. Which is that adversary? 125
Edg. What's he that speaks for Edmund, Earl of Gloucester?
Edm. Himself: what say'st thou to him?
Edg. Draw thy sword,
That if my speech offend a noble heart,[4696]
Thy arm may do thee justice: here is mine.[4696][4697]
Behold, it is the privilege of mine honours,[4698] 130
My oath, and my profession: I protest,
Maugre thy strength, youth, place and eminence,[4699]
Despite thy victor sword and fire-new fortune,[4700]
Thy valour and thy heart, thou art a traitor,
False to thy gods, thy brother and thy father,[4701] 135
Conspirant 'gainst this high illustrious prince,[4702]
And from the extremest upward of thy head
To the descent and dust below thy foot,[4703]
A most toad-spotted traitor. Say thou 'No,'
This sword, this arm and my best spirits are bent[4704][4705] 140
To prove upon thy heart, whereto I speak,[4704]
Thou liest.[4704]
Edm. In wisdom I should ask thy name,[4706]
But since thy outside looks so fair and warlike
And that thy tongue some say of breeding breathes,[4707]
What safe and nicely I might well delay[4708] 145
By rule of knighthood, I disdain and spurn:[4709]
Back do I toss these treasons to thy head;[4710]
With the hell-hated lie o'erwhelm thy heart;[4711]
Which for they yet glance by and scarcely bruise,[4712]
This sword of mine shall give them instant way, 150
Where they shall rest for ever. Trumpets, speak!
[Alarums. They fight. Edmund falls.[4713]
Alb. Save him, save him![4714]
Gon. This is practice, Gloucester:[4715][4716]
By the law of arms thou wast not bound to answer[4715][4717]
An unknown opposite; thou art not vanquish'd,[4715]
But cozen'd and beguiled.[4715]
Alb. Shut your mouth, dame,[4718][4719] 155
Or with this paper shall I stop it. Hold, sir;[4718][4720]
Thou worse than any name, read thine own evil.[4718][4721]
No tearing, lady; I perceive you know it.[4718][4722]
Gon. Say, if I do, the laws are mine, not thine:[4723]
Who can arraign me for't?[4723][4724]
Alb. Most monstrous![4725] 160
Know'st thou this paper?[4725]
Gon. Ask me not what I know. [Exit.[4726]
Alb. Go after her: she's desperate; govern her.[4727]
Edm. What you have charged me with, that have I done;[4728]
And more, much more; the time will bring it out:
'Tis past, and so am I. But what art thou[4729] 165
That hast this fortune on me? If thou'rt noble,[4729][4730]
I do forgive thee.[4729]
Edg. Let's exchange charity.[4731]
I am no less in blood than thou art, Edmund;
If more, the more thou hast wrong'd me.[4732]
My name is Edgar, and thy father's son. 170
The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices[4733]
Make instruments to plague us:[4734][4735]
The dark and vicious place where thee he got[4734][4736]
Cost him his eyes.[4734]
Edm. Thou hast spoken right, 'tis true;[4737][4738]
The wheel is come full circle; I am here.[4737][4739] 175
Alb. Methought thy very gait did prophesy[4740]
A royal nobleness: I must embrace thee:
Let sorrow split my heart, if ever I[4741]
Did hate thee or thy father![4741]
Edg. Worthy prince, I know't.[4742]
Alb. Where have you hid yourself?[4743] 180
How have you known the miseries of your father?[4743][4744]
Edg. By nursing them, my lord. List a brief tale;[4745]
And when 'tis told, O, that my heart would burst![4745][4746]
The bloody proclamation to escape[4745][4746]
That follow'd me so near,—O, our lives' sweetness![4745][4747] 185
That we the pain of death would hourly die[4745][4748]
Rather than die at once!—taught me to shift[4745]
Into a madman's rags, to assume a semblance[4745]
That very dogs disdain'd: and in this habit[4745][4749]
Met I my father with his bleeding rings,[4745] 190
Their precious stones new lost; became his guide,[4750]
Led him, begg'd for him, saved him from despair;
Never—O fault!—reveal'd myself unto him,[4751]
Until some half-hour past, when I was arm'd;[4752]
Not sure, though hoping, of this good success, 195
I ask'd his blessing, and from first to last
Told him my pilgrimage: but his flaw'd heart,—[4753][4754]
Alack, too weak the conflict to support!—[4754]
'Twixt two extremes of passion, joy and grief,[4754][4755]
Burst smilingly.[4756]
Edm. This speech of yours hath moved me, 200
And shall perchance do good: but speak you on;
You look as you had something more to say.
Alb. If there be more, more woful, hold it in;[4757]
For I am almost ready to dissolve,
Hearing of this.[4758]
Edg. This would have seem'd a period[4759][4760][4761][4762] 205
To such as love not sorrow; but another,[4759][4760][4762][4763][4764]
To amplify too much, would make much more,[4759][4760][4762][4764][4765]
And top extremity.[4759][4760]
Whilst I was big in clamour, came there in a man,[4759][4766]
Who, having seen me in my worst estate,[4759][4767] 210
Shunn'd my abhorr'd society; but then, finding[4759][4768]
Who 'twas that so endured, with his strong arms[4759][4769]
He fasten'd on my neck, and bellow'd out[4759][4770]
As he'ld burst heaven; threw him on my father;[4759][4771]
Told the most piteous tale of Lear and him[4759][4772] 215
That ever ear received: which in recounting[4759]
His grief grew puissant, and the strings of life[4759][4773]
Began to crack: twice then the trumpets sounded,[4759][4774]
And there I left him tranced.[4759]
Alb. But who was this?[4759]
Edg. Kent, sir, the banish'd Kent; who in disguise[4759] 220
Follow'd his enemy king, and did him service[4759][4775]
Improper for a slave.[4759]
Enter a Gentleman, with a bloody knife.[4776]
Gent. Help, help, O, help![4777][4778]
Edg. What kind of help?[4779]
Alb. Speak, man.
Edg. What means this bloody knife?[4779]
Gent. 'Tis hot, it smokes;[4780][4781]
It came even from the heart of—O, she's dead![4781][4782] 225
Alb. Who dead? speak, man.[4783]
Gent. Your lady, sir, your lady: and her sister
By her is poisoned; she hath confess'd it.[4784]
Edm. I was contracted to them both: all three
Now marry in an instant.
Edg. Here comes Kent.[4785] 230
Alb. Produce the bodies, be they alive or dead.
[Exit Gentleman.[4786]
This judgement of the heavens, that makes us tremble,[4787]
Touches us not with pity.
Enter Kent.
O, is this he?[4788][4789]
The time will not allow the compliment[4789][4790]
Which very manners urges.[4789][4791]
Kent. I am come[4792][4793] 235
To bid my king and master aye good night:[4793]
Is he not here?
Alb. Great thing of us forgot![4794][4795][4796]
Speak, Edmund, where's the king? and where's Cordelia?[4795]
See'st thou this object, Kent?[4795]
[The bodies of Goneril and Regan are brought in.[4797]
Kent. Alack, why thus?
Edm. Yet Edmund was beloved:[4798] 240
The one the other poison'd for my sake,[4798][4799]
And after slew herself.[4798][4800]
Alb. Even so. Cover their faces.[4794]
Edm. I pant for life: some good I mean to do,[4801]
Despite of mine own nature. Quickly send,[4801][4802] 245
Be brief in it, to the castle; for my writ[4801][4803]
Is on the life of Lear and on Cordelia:[4801][4804]
Nay, send in time.[4801]
Alb. Run, run, O, run![4794][4805]
Edg. To who, my lord? Who hath the office? send[4806][4807]
Thy token of reprieve.[4806] 250
Edm. Well thought on: take my sword,[4808]
Give it the captain.[4808]
Alb. Haste thee, for thy life. [Exit Edgar.[4794][4809]
Edm. He hath commission from thy wife and me[4810]
To hang Cordelia in the prison, and[4810]
To lay the blame upon her own despair,[4810] 255
That she fordid herself.[4810][4811]
Alb. The gods defend her! Bear him hence awhile.[4794]
[Edmund is borne off.[4812]
Re-enter Lear, with Cordelia dead in his arms; Edgar, Captain, and others following.
Lear. Howl, howl, howl, howl! O, you are men of stones:[4813]
Had I your tongues and eyes, I'ld use them so
That heaven's vault should crack. She's gone for ever![4814] 260
I know when one is dead and when one lives;
She's dead as earth. Lend me a looking-glass;
If that her breath will mist or stain the stone,[4815][4816]
Why, then she lives.[4815][4817]
Kent. Is this the promised end?
Edg. Or image of that horror?
Alb. Fall and cease.[4794][4818] 265
Lear. This feather stirs; she lives. If it be so,[4819]
It is a chance which does redeem all sorrows[4819][4820]
That ever I have felt.[4819]
Kent. [Kneeling] O my good master![4821]
Lear. Prithee, away.
Edg. 'Tis noble Kent, your friend.
Lear. A plague upon you, murderers, traitors all![4822][4823] 270
I might have saved her; now she's gone for ever![4822]
Cordelia, Cordelia! stay a little. Ha![4822][4824]
What is't thou say'st? Her voice was ever soft,[4822][4825]
Gentle and low, an excellent thing in woman.[4822][4826]
I kill'd the slave that was a-hanging thee.[4822] 275
Capt. 'Tis true, my lords, he did.[4827]
Lear. Did I not, fellow?[4828]
I have seen the day, with my good biting falchion[4828][4829]
I would have made them skip: I am old now,[4828][4830]
And these same crosses spoil me. Who are you?[4828]
Mine eyes are not o' the best: I'll tell you straight.[4828][4831] 280
Kent. If fortune brag of two she loved and hated,[4832]
One of them we behold.[4833]
Lear. This is a dull sight. Are you not Kent?[4834]
Kent. The same,[4835]
Your servant Kent. Where is your servant Caius?[4835]
Lear. He's a good fellow, I can tell you that;[4836] 285
He'll strike, and quickly too: he's dead and rotten.[4837]
Kent. No, my good lord; I am the very man—[4838]
Lear. I'll see that straight.
Kent. That from your first of difference and decay[4839]
Have follow'd your sad steps.
Lear. You are welcome hither.[4840] 290
Kent. Nor no man else: all's cheerless, dark and deadly.[4841]
Your eldest daughters have fordone themselves.[4842]
And desperately are dead.
Lear. Ay, so I think.[4843]
Alb. He knows not what he says, and vain is it[4794][4844]
That we present us to him.
Edg. Very bootless. 295
Enter a Captain.[4845]
Capt. Edmund is dead, my lord.[4846]
Alb. That's but a trifle here.[4847][4848]
You lords and noble friends, know our intent.[4847]
What comfort to this great decay may come[4847][4849]
Shall be applied: for us, we will resign,[4847]
During the life of this old majesty,[4847] 300
To him our absolute power: [To Edgar and Kent] you, to your rights;[4847][4850]
With boot, and such addition as your honours[4847][4851]
Have more than merited. All friends shall taste[4847][4852]
The wages of their virtue, and all foes[4852]
The cup of their deservings. O, see, see![4852][4853] 305
Lear. And my poor fool is hang'd! No, no, no life![4854][4855]
Why should a dog, a horse, a rat, have life,[4854][4856]
And thou no breath at all? Thou'lt come no more,[4854][4857]
Never, never, never, never, never![4854][4858]
Pray you, undo this button: thank you, sir.[4854][4859][4860] 310
Do you see this? Look on her, look, her lips,[4860][4861]
Look there, look there! [Dies.[4860]
Edg. He faints. My lord, my lord![4862]
Kent. Break, heart; I prithee, break!
Edg. Look up, my lord.[4863]
Kent. Vex not his ghost: O, let him pass! he hates him[4864][4865]
That would upon the rack of this tough world[4864][4866] 315
Stretch him out longer.[4864]
Edg. He is gone indeed.[4867]
Kent. The wonder is he hath endured so long:
He but usurp'd his life.[4868]
Alb. Bear them from hence. Our present business[4869]
Is general woe. [To Kent and Edgar] Friends of my soul, you twain[4870]320
Rule in this realm and the gored state sustain.[4871]
Kent. I have a journey, sir, shortly to go;[4872]
My master calls me, I must not say no.[4872][4873]
Alb. The weight of this sad time we must obey,[4872][4874]
Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say.[4872] 325
The oldest hath borne most: we that are young[4872][4875]
Shall never see so much, nor live so long.