Edgar. I was forbid it. [Exit. When time shall serve, let but the herald cry, And I'll appear again. Albany. Why, fare thee well: I will o'erlook thy paper. Re-enter EDMUND. Edmund. The enemy 's in view; draw up your powers. Here is the guess of their true strength and forces By diligent discovery; but your haste Is now urg'd on you. Alb. We will greet the time.2 [Exit. Edm. To both these sisters have I sworn my love; Each jealous of the other, as the stung Are of the adder.3 Which of them shall I take? Both? one? or neither? Neither can be enjoy'd, Her husband being alive. Now then, we 'll use [Exit. to become partners in a game; to pull or pluck down a side was to lose the game. 5. Countenance, patronage, support. 6. Taking off, removal (i. e. by death). 7. i. e. it shall not be in his (Albany's) power to pardon. 4. This is a metaphor from the card- 8. For the position which I occupy table, where to carry out a side meant renders it incumbent on me to defend to carry out a game with your partner and myself by deeds, not to delibersuccessfully. So to set up a side was ate as to what I shall do. SCENE II. A Field between the two Camps. Alarum within. Enter, with Drum and Colours, LEAR, CORDELIA, and their Forces; and exeunt. Enter EDGAR and GLOSTER. Edgar. Here, father, take the shadow of this tree For your good host1; pray that the right may thrive. If ever I return to you again, I'll bring you comfort. Grace go with you, Sir! [Exit EDGAR. Alarum; afterwards a Retreat. Re-enter EDGAR. Glos. No farther, Sir: a man may rot even here. Glos. And that's true too. [Exeunt. SCENE III. The British Camp near Dover. Enter, in Conquest, with Drum and Colours, EDMUND; LEAR and CORDELIA as Prisoners; Captain, Officers, Soldiers, &c. Edmund. Some officers take them away: good guard,3 Until their greater pleasures first be known, That are to censure them. Cordelia. We are not the first, Who, with best meaning, have incurr'd the worst. 1. The tree is hospitably to receive, or entertain, Gloster, and in that sense becomes his good host. 2. i. e. It is not allowed to man to anticipate the time of his death any more than that of his birth: he must await patiently either event till he is ripe, when it will come as a natural consequence. 3. i. e. let them be put under good guard. 4. To censure, to judge, to pass sentence upon. See note 2, page 63. Their greater pleasures means the pleasures, or wills, of those persons of greater rank than himself. For thee, oppressed king, am I cast down; We two alone will sing like birds i' the cage When thou dost ask me blessing, I'll kneel down, And pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and laugh LIBRARY Talk of court news; and we 'll talk with them too, As if we were God's spies: and we 'll wear out, Edmund. Take them away. Lear. Upon such sacrifices, my Cordelia, The gods themselves throw incense. Have I caught thee? The goujeers shall devour them, flesh and fell,1 Ere they shall make us weep: we 'll see them starve first. Edm. Come hither, captain; hark. Take thou this note; [Giving a paper.] go, follow them to One step I have advanc'd thee; if thou dost Does not become a sword. Thy great employment Captain. I'll do 't, my lord. 1. In politics it is usual to say, such and such a party is in or out, as the case may be; or it may be applied to court favour, in or out of favour. 2. And we, being within the walls of a prison, and uninfluenced by outward events, will outlive the intrigues and parties of the great people at court, prison. Edmund. About it; and write happy,2 when thou Mark, I say, instantly; and carry it so,3 As I have set it down. hast done. Captain, I cannot draw a cart, nor eat dried oats;* If it be man's work, I will do it. Flourish. Enter ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, Officers, and Attendants. Albany. Sir, you have shown to-day your valiant strain,5 And fortune-led you well. You have the captives Who were the opposites of this day's strife: 7 We do require them of you, so to use them, Edm. Sir, I thought it fit To send the old and miserable king 8 To some retention, and appointed guard;. Whose age has charms in it, whose title more, And turn our impress'd lances in our eyes, Which do command them. With him I sent the queen; My reason all the same; 10 and they are ready To-morrow, or at farther space, t' appear Where you shall hold your session. At this time We sweat and bleed: the friend hath lost his friend; By those that feel their sharpness. The question 11 of Cordelia, and her father, Albany. Sir, by your patience,1 1. i. e. set about it, go and do it. 2. i. e. call thyself happy, consider that thy fortune is made. 3. To carry, to carry out, to execute. Compare convey, note 2, page 14. 4. i. e. I cannot do the work of a horse. 5. Strain, race, descent. 6. Opposites, opponents. 7. Merits, deserts. 8. Rentention, custody. 9. Whose age has charms in it, and whose title has still more charms, ca 12 pable of winning the hearts of the common people to his side, and turning the lances of the soldiers whom we pressed into our service, against ourselves, who command them. 10. i. e. for the same reason. 11. A judicial trial was formerly called a question; as examination under torture was called, being put to the question. 12. A polite phrase, as we should now say, with your permission. Regan. That's as we list to grace him;1 Goneril. Not so hot: In my rights, In his own grace he doth exalt himself, Reg. By me invested, he compeers the best. Gon. That were the most, if he should husband you. Gon. Holla, holla! That eye that told you so look'd but. a-squint. 5 Reg. Lady, I am not well; else I should answer 6 From a full-flowing stomach. General, Take thou my soldiers, prisoners, patrimony: Gon. Alb. Half-blooded fellow, yes. 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, fair sister,. 10 |