Sir, this I hear,-The king is come to his 1 SCENE II-A Field between the Two Camps. daughter, With others, whom the rigour of our state Most just and heavy causes make oppose.t Reg. Why is this reason'd? Gon. Combine together 'gainst the enemy: For these domestic and particular broils Art not to question here. Alb. Let us then determine With the ancient of war on our proceedings. Edm. I shall attend you presently at your tent. Edm. The enemy's in view; draw up your powers. (forces Here is the guess of their true strength and By diligent discovery;-but your haste Is now urg'd on you. Alb. We will greet the time.§ [Exit. Let her, who would be rid of him, devise Alarum within.-Enter, with Drum and Colours, LEAR, CORDELIA, and their Forces; and Exeunt. Enter EDGAR and GLOSTER. SCENE III.-The British Camp near Doter. Enter, in Conquest, with Drum and Colours, EDMUND; LEAR and CORDELIA, as Prisoners ; Officers, Soldiers, &c. Edm. Some officers take them away: good Until their greater pleasures first be known guard; That are to censuret them. Cor. We are not the first, [worst. Who, with best meaning, have incurr'd the For thee, oppressed king, am I cast down; Myself could else out-frown false fortune's frown.[sisters? Shall we not see these daughters, and these 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 my blessing, I'll kneel And ask of thee forgiveness: So we'll live, down, 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,[out;Who loses, and who wins; who's in, who's And take upon us the mystery of things, As if we were God's spies: And we'll wear out, [ones, In a wall'd prison, packs and sects of great 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, [eyes; And fire us hence, like foxes. Wipe thine Come. [Exeunt LEAR and CORDELIA, guarded. One step I have advanc'd thee; if thou dost I. e. To be ready prepared, is all. + Pass judgement on them. i The French discase. } Skin. Does not become a sword:-Thy great employ ment Will not bear question;* either say, thou❜lt [do't, Edm. About it; and write happy, when thou hast done. Mark,-1 say, instantly; and carry it so, Off. I cannot draw a cart, nor eat dried oats; If it be man's work, I will do it. [Exit OFFICER. Flourish. Enter ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, OFFICERS, and Attendants." Alb. Sir, you have shown to-day your valiant strain, [tives And fortune led you well: You have the capWho 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 My reason all the same; and they are ready Alb. Sir, by your patience, I hold you but a subject of this war, 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 immediacyt may well stand up, And call itself your brother. Gon. Not so hot: 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, I bar it in the interest of my wife; Gon. An interlude! Alb. She is not well; convey her to my tent. [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 at the third sound of the trumpet: He is bold in his defence. Her. What are you? Your name, your quality? and why you answer By treason's tooth bare-gnawn, and canker- Alb. Which is that adversary? Edm. Himself;-What say'st thou to him? Edg. Draw thy sword; That, if my speech offend a noble heart, Thy arm may do thee justice: here is mine. Behold, it is the privilege of mine honours, My oath and my profession: I protest, 1. e. Valour. nence, Maugre* thy strength, youth, place, and emi- | And, when 'tis told, O, that my heart would Despite thy victor sword, and fire-new fortune, To prove upon thy heart, whereto I speak Thou liest. Edm. In wisdom, I should ask thy name;+ [Alarums.-They fight.-EDMUND falls. Alb. answer An unknown opposite; thou art not van- No tearing, lady; I perceive, you know it. Alb. Most monstrous! Gon. Ask me not what I know. [Exit GONERIL. Alb. Go after her: she's desperate; govern her. [To an OFFICER, who goes out. Edm. What you have charg'd me with, that have I done; [out; And more, much more: the time will bring it Edg. Let's exchange charity. I am no less in blood than thou art, Edmund; The dark and vicious place where thee he got, Edm. Thou hast spoken right, 'tis true; Edg. Worthy prince, I know it well. That with the pain of death we'd hourly die, That very dogs disdain'd: and in this habit (Alack, too weak the conflict to support!) Edm. This speech of yours hath mov'd me, And shall, perchance, do good: but speak He fasten'd on my neck, and bellow'd out Told the most piteous tale of Lear and him, Alb. But who was this? Edg. Kent, Sir, the banish'd Kent; who in Follow'd his enemy king, and did him service Enter a GENTLEMAN hastily, with a bloody Gent. Help! help! O help! Edg. What kind of help? Alb. Speak, man. It came even from the heart of Alb. Who, man? speak. Edg. What means that bloody knife? Gent. Your lady, Sir, your lady: and her By her is poison'd; she confesses it. [sister Edm. I was contracted to them both; all Now marry in an instant. [three Alb. Produce their bodies, be they alive or dead! This judgement of the heavens, that makes us Touches us not with pity. [Exit GENTLEMAN, Edg. Here comes Kent, Sir. Alb. O! it is he. The time will not allow the compliment, Kent. I am come To bid my king and master aye* good night; Alh. Great thing of us forgot!- See'st thou this object, Kent? [The Bodies of GONERIL and REGAN Kent. Alack, why thus? Edm. Yet Edmund was belov'd: Alb. Even so.-Cover their faces. Edm. I pant for life:-Some good I mean to Despite of mine own nature. Quickly send,- Alb. Run, run, O, run— Kent. Nor no man else; all's cheerless, dark, and deadly.[selves, Your eldest daughters have fore-doom'd themAnd desperately are dead. Lear. Ay, so I think. Alb. He knows not what he says; and vain Edg. To who, my lord?-Who has the of- That we present us to him. fice? send Edg. Very bootless." Enter an OFFICER. Off. Edmund is dead, my lord. [it is You lords, and noble friends, know our intent. taste The cup of their deservings.-O, see, see! no life: Why should a dog, a horse, a rat, have life, Stretch him out longer. That would upon the rack of this tough world Edg. O, he is gone, indeed. He but usurp'd his life. Kent. The wonder is, he hath endur'd so [long: Alb. Bear them from hence.-Our present business ROMEO AND JULIET. ESCALUS, Prince of Verona. PERSONS REPRESENTED. PARIS, a young Nobleman, Kinsman to the Prince. MONTAGUE, Heads of two Houses, at vari- An OLD MAN, Uncle to Capulet. BENVOLIO, Nephew to Montague, and Friend to Romeo. TYBALT, Nephew to Lady Capulet. SAMPSON, Servants to Capulet. ABRAM, Servant to Montague. CHORUS.-Boy, Page to Paris.-PETER, an LADY MONTAGUE, Wife to Montague. Citizens of Verona; several Men and Wo men, relations to both Houses; Maskers, Guards, Watchmen, and Attendants. SCENE, during the greater part of the Play, in Verona: once, in the fifth Act, at Mantua. PROLOGUE. Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Gre. To move, is-to stir; and to be valiant, Where civil blood makes civil hands un-is-to stand to it: therefore, if thou art mov'd, clean. thou run'st away. stand: I will take the wall of any man or maid Sam. A dog of that house shall move me to of Montague's. Gre. That shows thee a weak slave; for the weakest to the wall. goes Sam. True; and therefore women, being the weaker vessels, are ever thrust to the walltherefore I will push Montague's men from the wall, and thrust his maids to the wall. Gre. The quarrel is between our masters, and us their men. Sam. 'Tis all one, I will show myself a tyrant: when I have fought with the men, I will be cruel with the maids; I will cut off their heads. Gre. The heads of the maids? Sam. Ay, the heads of the maids, or their maidenbeads; take it in what sense thou wilt. Gre. They must take it in sense, that feel it. Sam. Me they shall feel, while I am able to stand: and, 'tis known, I am a pretty piece of flesh. Gre. 'Tis well, thou art not fish: if thou hadst, thou hadst been poor John. Draw thy tool; here comes two of the house of the Montagues.t * Poor John is hake, dried and salted. |