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Sir, this I hear,-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,
Moft juft and heavy causes make oppose.

Edm. Sir, you speak nobly.

Reg.

Why is this reason'd?

Gon. Combine together, 'gainst the enemy : For these domestick and particular broils

Are not to question here.

Alb.

Let us then determine

With the ancient of war on our proceedings.

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

Gon. No.

Reg. 'Tis moft convenient; pray you, go with us. Gon. O, ho, I know the riddle: [Afide.] I will go.

As they are going out, enter EDGAR disguised.

Edg. If e'er your grace had speech with man fo 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 found
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 fo an end,
And machination ceafes. Fortune love you!

Alb. Stay till I have read the letter.

Edg.

Edg.

I was forbid it.

[Exit.

When time shall serve, let but the herald cry,

And I'll appear again.

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

Re-enter EDMUND.

Edm. The enemy's in view, draw up your powers.
Here is the guess of their true ftrength and forces
By diligent discovery ;-but your haste

Is now urg'd on you.

Alb.

We will greet the time.

Edm. To both these fifters have I fworn my love;
Each jealous of the other, as the stung

Are of the adder. Which of them fhall I take?
Both? one? or neither? Neither can be enjoy'd,
If both remain alive: To take the widow,
Exafperates, makes mad her fister Goneril;
And hardly fhall I carry out my fide,

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 fee his pardon: for my state
Stands on me to defend, not to debate.

SCENE II.

A Field between the two Camps.

[Exit.

[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 hoft; pray that the right may thrive:

If ever I return to you again,
I'll bring you comfort.
Glo.

Grace go with you, fir!

[Exit EDGAR.

Alarums; afterwards a Retreat. Re-enter EDGAR,
Edg. Away, old man, give me thy hand, away;
King Lear hath loft, he and his daughter ta'en:
Give me thy hand, come on.

Glo. No further, fir; 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 conqueft, with drum and colours, EDMUND; LEAR and CORDELIA, as prifoners; Officers, Soldiers, &c.

Edm. Some officers take them away: good guard; Until their greater pleasures first be known

That are to cenfure them.

We are not the first,

Cor. Who, with best meaning, have incurr'd the worst. For thee, oppreffed king, am I caft down; Myself could else out-frown false fortune's frown.Shall we not see these daughters, and these fisters ? Lear. No, no, no, no! Come, let's away to prison : We two alone will fing 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 fing, and tell old tales, and laugh

At

At gilded butterflies, and hear poor rogues

Talk of court news; and we'll talk with them too,-
Who lefes, and who wins; who's in, who's out ;-
And take upon us the mystery of things,

As if we were God's spies: And we'll wear out,
In a wall'd prifon, packs and sects of great ones,
That ebb and flow by the moon.

Edm.

Take them away.

Lear. Upon fuch facrifices, my Cordelia,

The gods themselves throw incenfe. Have I caught thee?
He, that parts us, fhall bring a brand from heaven,
And fire us hence, like foxes. Wipe thine eyes;

The goujeers fhall devour them, flesh and fell,

Ere they shall make us weep: we'll see them starve first. Come. [Exeunt LEAR and CORDELIA, guarded.

Edm. Come hither, captain; hark.

Take thou this note; [giving a paper.] go, follow them to prifon :

One step I have advanc'd thee; if thou doft

As this inftru&ts thee, thou doft make thy way

To noble fortunes: Know thou this, that men
Are as the time is: to be tender-minded

Does not become a fword :-Thy great employment
Will not bear question; either fay, thou'lt do't,
Or thrive by other means.

of.

I'll do't, my lord.

Edm. About it; and write happy, when thou hast done. Mark,-I fay, inftantly; and carry it fo,

As I have fet it down.

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,

And

And fortune led you well: You have the captives
Who were the oppofites of this day's strife :
We do require them of you; fo to use them,
As we fhall find their merits and our fafety
May equally determine.

Edm.

Sir, I thought it fit

To fend the old and miferable king

To fome retention, and appointed guard;

Whofe age has charms in it, whose title more,

To pluck the common bofom on his fide,

And turn our imprefs'd lances in our eyes

Which do command them. With him I fent the queen;
My reafon all the fame; and they are ready
To-morrow, or at further space, to appear

Where you shall hold your feffion. At this time,
We fweat, and bleed: the friend hath loft his friend;
And the best quarrels, in the heat, are curs'd

By thofe that feel their sharpness :

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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 lift to grace him.

Methinks, our pleasure might have been demanded,
Ere you had spoke so far. He led our powers;
Bore the commiffion of my place and perfon;
The which immediacy may well stand up,

And call itself your brother.

Gon.

Not fo hot:

In his own grace he doth exalt himself,
More than in your advancement.

Reg.
By me invefted, he compeers the best.

In my rights,

Gon.

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