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]