Kent.
Pardon me, dear Madam;
Yet to be known shortens my made intent: 1
My boon I make it, that you know me not,
Till time and I think meet.

Cordelia. Then be 't so, my good lord.

How does the

king? [To the Physician.

Doctor. Madam, sleeps still.

Cor. O, you kind gods,

Cure this great breach in his abused nature!
Th' untun'd and jarring senses, O, wind up 2
Of this child-changed father! 3

Doct.
So please your majesty,
That we may wake the king? he hath slept long.

Cor Be govern'd by your knowledge, and proceed

I' the sway of your own will. Is he array'd?

Gent. Ay, Madam; in the heaviness of his sleep, e put fresh garments on him.

We

Doctor. Be by, good Madam, when we do awake him; I doubt not of his temperance.

Very well.

Cor.
[Music.
Doct. Please you, draw near. Louder the music there.
Cor. O my dear father! Restoration, hang

Thy medicine on my lips; and let this kiss

Repair those violent harms, that my two sisters

Have in thy reverence made!

Kent.

Kind and dear princess!

Cor. Had you not been their father, these white flakes

Had challeng'd pity of them. Was this a face

To be oppos'd against the warring winds?

To stand against the deep dread-bolted thunder?4
In the most terrible and nimble stroke

Of quick, cross lightning? to watch (poor perdu!)
With this thin helm?5 Mine enemy's dog,

Though he had bit me, should have stood that night

1. To be recognized already would frustrate the plan which I have formed. 2. 0, wind up the untuned and jarring senses thinking of the manner in which the strings of a musical instrument are wound up when out of tune and jarring. 3. i. e. Of this father, changed to a child by his years and wrongs; or, changed from what he was, by the conduct of his children.

4. i. e. the deep-toned thunder, armed with dreadful thunder-bolts.

5. The allusion is to the advanced posts of an army, or what are called the forlorn hope, the expression perdu being borrowed from the French. With this thin helm means, with his head covered with nothing but his scanty hair.

Against my fire; and wast thou fain, poor father,
To hovel thee with swine, and rogues forlorn,
In short and musty straw? Alack, alack!
"T is wonder, that thy life and wits at once
Had not concluded all. He wakes; speak to him.
Doctor. Madam, do you; 't is fittest.

1

Cordelia. How does my royal lord? How fares your majesty? Lear. You do me wrong, to take me out o' the grave. Thou art a soul in bliss, but I am bound

Upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears

Do scald like molten lead.

Cor.

Sir, do you know me?

Lear. You are a spirit, I know. When did you die?
Cor. Still, still, far wide. 2

Doct.

He's scarce awake: let him alone awhile.
Lear. Where have I been? Where am I? Fair day-

light?

I am mightily abus'd. I should even die with pity
To see another thus. I know not what to say.
are my hands:
let's see;
Would I were assur'd

I will not swear, these
I feel this pin prick.
Of my condition!
Čor.

O! look upon me, Sir,

And hold your hands in benediction o'er me.
No, Sir, you must not kneel.

Lear.

Pray, do not mock me:

3

I am a very foolish fond old man,
Fourscore and upward, not an hour more nor less;
And, to deal plainly,

I fear, I am not in my perfect mind.

Methinks, I should know you, and know this man;
Yet I am doubtful, for I am mainly ignorant
What place this is; and all the skill I have
Remembers not these garments; nor I know not
Where I did lodge last night. Do not laugh at me,
For, as I am a man, I think this lady
To be my child Cordelia.

:

Cordelia.

And so I am, I am.

Lear. Be your tears wet? Yes, 'faith. I pray, weep not: If you have poison for me, I will drink it.

I know, you do not love me; for your sisters
Have, as I do remember, done me wrong:
You have some cause, they have not.

Cor.

Lear. Am I in France?
Kent.

Lear. Do not abuse me. 1

No cause,

no cause.

In your own kingdom, Sir.

Doctor. Be comforted, good Madam: the great rage,

You see, is kill'd in him; and yet it is danger
To make him even o'er the time he has lost. 2
Desire him to go in: trouble him no more,
Till farther settling.3

Cor. Will 't please your highness walk?
Lear.

You must bear with me:4 Pray you now forget and forgive: I am old and foolish. [Exeunt LEAR, CORDELIA, Doctor, and Attendants. Gentleman. Holds it true, 5 Sir, that the duke of Cornwall was so slain?

Kent. Most certain, Sir.

Gent. Who is conductor of his people?

Kent. As 't is said, the bastard son of Gloster.

Gent. They say Edgar, his banished son, is with the

earl of, Kent in Germany.

Kent. Report is changeable. "T is time to look about; the powers o' the kingdom approach apace.

Gent. The arbitrement is like to be bloody. well, Sir.

Kent. My point and period will be throughly Or well, or ill, as this day's battle 's fought.

6

Fare you

7

[Exit. wrought, [Exit.

1. i. e. Do not deceive me.

2. i. e. it would be dangerous to make clear to his apprehension the time he has lost.

3. i. e. Till his mind is more settled. 4. To bear with, to have patience with.

5. i. e. Is it confirmed.

6. Is like to be, is likely to be, will probably be. In this sense the word like is still popularly used, as, he had like to have been drowned, meaning, he was near being drowned.

7. Now commonly written thoroughly.

ACT V.

SCENE I. - The Camp of the British Forces, near Dover Enter, with Drums and Colours, EDMUND, REGAN, Officers, Soldiers,

and Others.'

Edmund. Know of the duke, if his last purpose hold; Or whether, since, he is advis'd by aught1

To change the course.

He's full of alteration,

And self-reproving: bring his constant pleasure.2

Now, sweet lord,

[To an Officer, who goes out. Regan. Our sister's man is certainly miscarried. Edm. "T is to be doubted, Madam. Reg. You know the goodness I intend upon you: Tell me, - but truly, but then speak the truth, Do you not love my sister? Edm.

In honour'd love.

Reg. But have you never found my brother's way
To the forefended place?
Edm.

That thought abuses you.5 Reg. I am doubtful that you have been conjunct," And bosom'd with her, as far as we call hers. 8

Edm. No, by mine honour, Madam.

9

Reg. I never shall endure her. Dear my lord,

Be not familiar with her.

Enter ALBANY, GONERIL, and Soldiers.

Goneril. I had rather lose the battle, than that sister Should loosen him and me.

Albany. Our very loving sister, well be-met. Sir, this I hear, -the king is come to his daughter, With others, whom the rigour of our state

1. Or whether, since then, anything renders it advisable, in his opinion, &c. 2. i. e. his settled resolution.

3. To doubt, to fear; sometimes also to believe, to doubt not.

4. Forefended, prohibited, forbidden. 5. i. e. That thought imposes on

King Lear.

[Aside.

you; that is a suspicion without foun-
dation. Compare note 1, page 96.
6. See note 3, of this page.

intimately connected. See note 7, page 37.
7. Conjunct, conjoined, united, i. e.
8. i. e. as far as is possible.

9. i. e. I never shall endure her being on terms of such intimacy with you,

7

Forc'd to cry out. 1 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,
Most just and heavy causes make oppose.
Edmund. Sir, you speak nobly. 3

2

Regan. Why is this reason'd? Goneril. Combine together 'gainst the enemy; For these domestic and particular broils

Are not the question here.

4

Albany.
Let us, then, determine
With the ancient of war on our proceedings.
Edm. I shall attend you presently at your tent.
Reg. Sister, you'll go with us?

Gon. No.

5

Reg. "T is most convenient; pray you, go with us.
Gon. O, ho! I know the riddle. [Aside.] I will go.

Enter EDGAR, disguised.

Edgar. If e'er your grace had speech with man so poor, Hear me one word.

Albany.

I'll overtake you.

-

Speak.'
[Exeunt EDMUND, REGAN, GONERIL, Officers, Sol-
diers, and Attendants.

Edg. Before you fight the battle, ope this letter,
If you have victory, let the trumpet sound
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 so an end,
And machination ceases.8 Fortune love you!
Alb. Stay till I have read the letter.

1. Gave cause of complaint.

2. As regards this business (i. e. the pending battle), it concerns me in one particular only, - that France invades our land; not in respect to the king being emboldened to re-assert his title, assisted by others, whom, I fear, most just and heavy causes have driven to oppose us.

4. i. e. experienced generals, men old in war.

5. Presently, immediately. 6. Meaning, she perceives her sister's intention to prevent her being together with Edmund.

7. This last word only is addressed to Edgar.

8. i. e. all designs against your life

3. This is to be understood ironi- will have an end. cally.