Alb. Our very loving fifter, well be met: Forc'd to cry out. Where I could not be honeft, I never yet was valiant: 'fore this bufinefs, (57) It toucheth us, as France invades our land, (Not holds the King, with others, whom, I fear, Moft juft and heavy caufes make oppofe,) Edm. Sir, you fpeak nobly. Reg. Why is this reafon'd? Gon. Combine together 'gainft the enemy: Edm. I fhall attend you prefently at your tent. Reg. 'Tis moft convenient, pray you, go with us. Gon. Oh ho, I know the riddle, I will go. As they are going out, Enter Edgar difguis'd. 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. and Attendants. Edg. Before you fight the battle, ope this letter. If you have vict'ry, let the trumpet found For him that brought it: wretched though I feem, I can produce a champion, that will prove (57) for this business, It touches us, as France invades our land, Not holds the King, with others whom I fear Moft juft and heavy causes make oppofe,] I have made a flight variation in thefe lines, which are added from the old 4to. Albany's fpeech feems interrupted, before finish'd: and this I take to be the purport of what he was going to fay. "Before we fight this battle, Sir, it "concerns me, (tho' not the King, and the difcontented party;) "to queftion about your intereft in our fifter, and the event of the "war."---And. Regan and Gonerill, in their replies, both feem apprehenfive that this fubject was coming into debate. What What is avouched there. If you miscarry, When time fhall ferve, let but the herald cry, And I'll appear again. [Exit. Alb. Why, fare thee well; I will o'erlook thy paper. Re-enter Edmund. Edm. The enemy's in view, draw up your powers. Hard is the guefs of their true ftrength and forces, By diligent difcovery; but your hafte Is now urg'd on you. Alb. We will greet the time. [Exit. Edm. To both these fifters have I fworn my love: Each jealous of the other, as the ftung Are of the adder. Which of them fhall I take? Her husband being alive. Now then, we'll ufe SCENE, another open Field. [Exit. Alarum within. Enter with drum and colours, Lear, Cordelia, and foldiers over the flage, and exeunt. Edg. H Enter Edgar and Glo'fter. Ere, father, take the fhadow of this tree If ever I return to you again, I'll bring you comfort. Glo. Grace be with you, Sir! [Exit Edgar. [Alarum, and retreat, within. 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, Sir; a man may rot even here. Edg. What, in ill thoughts again? men must endure Their going hence, ev'n as their coming hither: Ripeness is all; come on. Glo. And that's true too. [Exeunt. Enter in conqueft, with Drum and Colours, Edmund; Lear and Cordelia, as prifoners; Soldiers, Captain. Edm. Some Officers take them away; good guard, Until their greater pleasures first be known, That are to cenfure them, Cor. We're not the first, Who with beft meaning have incurr'd the worst: As if we were god's fpies. And we'll wear out, Edm. Take them away. Lear. Upon fuch facrifices, my Cordelia, The gods themselves throw incenfe. Have I caught thee? He He that parts us, fhall bring a brand from heav'n, Edm. Come hither, Captain, hark. Take thou this note; go, follow them to prifon. Do's not become a fword; My great employment (58) Capt. I'll do't, my Lord. Edm. About it, and write happy, when thou'ft done. Mark, I fay, inftantly; and carry it fo, As I have fet it down. [Exit Captain. Flourish. Enter Albany, Gonerill, Regan, and Soldiers. Alb. Sir, you have fhew'd to day your valiant ftrain, And fortune led you well you have the captives, Who were the oppofites of this day's ftrife: 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, whofe title more, To pluck the common bofoms on his fide; Which do command them. With him I fent the Queen; (58) -thy great employment Will not bear queftion;] All the copies concur in reading thus; but, without doubt, erroneously. The perfon, whom Edmund is here fpeaking to, was of no higher degree than a captain; and therefore, certainly, accountable to his fuperiors. Edmund, 'tis plain, muft mean; "I leading one of the conquerors' forces, and having em"ploy'd thee in this bufinefs, will be thy fufficient warrant, and "will fecure thee from being queftion'd about it,” My My reafon all the fame; and they are ready At this time, We fweat and bleed; the friend hath loft his friend; And the beft quarrels, in the heat, are curft - By thofe that feel their fharpnefs.- Alb. Sir, by your patience, I hold you but a fubject of this war, Reg. That's as we lift to grace him. Methinks, our pleasure might have been demanded,. He led our pow'rs; Ere you had spoke so far. Bore the commiffion of my place and perfon; And call itself your brother. Gon. Not fo hot: In his own grace he doth exalt himself, Reg. In my right, By me invefted, he compeers the best. Aib. That were the most, if he should hufband you. Reg. Jefters do oft prove prophets. Gon. Holla, holla! That eye, that told you fo, look'd but a fquint. Take thou my foldiers, prifoners, patrimony, Gon. Mean you to enjoy him? We feat and bleed; &c.] Thefe very neceffary lines I have restor'd from the old 4to. and they were, certainly, firft left out by the indifcretion of the players, merely for the fake of fhortning. But with, out them, as Edmund's fpeech is made to end, 'tis plain, he does not pretend to advife, but fubmits the whole procefs to Albany. How abfurdly then does the other reply, that be belds Edmund but a fubject of the war ? Alb. |