ACT V.

SCENE 1.-The Camp of the British Forces, near

Dover.

EDMUND, REGAN, Officers, Soldiers, and others.

Edmund.

NOW of the duke if his last purpose hold.

He's full of alteration
And self-reproving :-bring his constant
pleasure.

[To an Officer, who goes out. Reg.

Now, sweet lord, You know the goodness I intend upon you : Tell me,-but truly,—but then speak the truth, Do you not love my sister?

Edm. No, by mine honour, madam.

Reg. I never shall endure her: dear my lord,
Be not familiar with her.
Edm.

Fear me not :-
She and the duke her husband !

¡Truinpet.

Enter, ALBANY, GONERIL, and Soldiers.

Gon. [Aside.] I had rather lose the battle than

that sister Should loosen him and me.

Alb. 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 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.

Gon. Combine together 'gainst the enemy;
For these domestic and particular broils
Are not the question here.
Alb.

Let us, then, determine With the consent of all on our proceeding.

Edm. I shall attend you presently at your tent.
Reg. Sister, you'll go with us?
Gon. No.
Reg. 'Tis most convenient; pray you, go with us.
Gon. [A side.] O, ho, I know the riddle.—I will

go. As they are going out, enter Edgar disguised. Edg. If e’er your grace had speech with man so

poor, Hear me one word. Alb.

I'll overtake you.--Speak.

[Exeunt all except ALBANY and EDGAR.
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. Fortune love you!

Alb. Stay till I've read the letter.
Edg.

I was forbid it.
When time shall serve, let but the herald cry,
And I'll appear again.

[Exit EDGAR.

Re-enter EDMUND.

Edm. 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. [Exit. Edm. To both these sisters have I sworn my love: Each jealous of the other, as the stung Are of the adder. Which of them shall I take? Both ? one ? or neither? To take the widow Exasperates, makes inad her sister Goneril ; And hardly shall I carry out my side, 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 see his pardon; for my state Stands on me to defend, not to debate. [Exit.

SCENE 2.-The Samne. Enter, in conquest, EDMUND; LEAR and CORDELIA prisoners ; Officers, Soldiers, &c.

Edmund.
HOME officers take them away: good guard,

Until their greater pleasures first be known

That are to censure them. Cor,

We are not the first Who, with best meaning, have incurr'd the worst. For thee, oppressèd king, am I cast down; Myself could else out-frown false fortune's frown.Shall we not see these daughters and these sisters ? 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 me blessing, I'll kneel down, And ask of thee forgiveness : so we'll live, And pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and laugh; And take upon's the mystery of things, As if we were God's spies. Edm.

Take them away.

Lear. Upon such sacrifices, my Cordelia, The God's themselves throw incense. Have I caught

thee ? He that parts us shall bring a brand from heaven, And fire us hence, like foxes. Wipe thine eyes; Ere they shall make us weep, w'ell see 'em starve. Come.

Exeunt LEAR and CORDELIA, guarded.
Edm. Come hither, captain; hark.
Take thou this note (giving a warrant}; go follow them

to prison :
One step I have advanc'd thee; if thou dost
As this instructs thee, thou dost make thy way
To noble fortunes : either say thou'lt do't,
Or thrive by other means.
Off.

I'll do't my lord. Edm. About it; and write happy when thou'st done.

(Exit Officer.

Flourish. Enter ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, Officers,

and Attendants.

Alb. Sir, you have shown to-day your valiant

strain,
And fortune led you well : you have the captives
Who 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
To some retention. With him I sent the queen ;
My reason all the same; and they are ready
To-morrow, or at farther space, t'appear
Where you may hold your session.
Alb.

Sir, by your patience,
I hold you but a subject of this war,
Not as a brother.

Reg. That's as we list to grace him. [To Edmund] Witness the world, that I create thee

here My lord and master. Gon.

Mean you to possess him ? Alb. The let-alone lies not in your good will. Edm. Nor in thine, Lord, Alb.

Half-blooded fellow, yes. Reg. Let the drum strike, and prove my title thine.

[TO EDMUND
Alb. Edmund, I arrest thee.
On capital treason; and, in thy arrest,
This gilded serpent. {Pointing to GONERIL.]
Thou art arm'd, Gloster.-Let the trumpet sound :
If none appear to prove upon thy person
Thy heinous, manifest, and many treasons,
I'll prove it on thy heart.
Reg.

Sick, 0, sick!
Gon. [Aside.] If not, I'll ne'er trust poison.

Edm. What in the world he is
That names me traitor, villain-like he lies.
Call by thy trumpet: he that dares approach,
On him, on you, I will maintain my truth
And honour firmly.
Reg.

My sickness grows upon me. Alb. Convey her to my tent.

[REGAN is led out.

Enter a Herald.

Come hither, herald, let the trumpet sound,
And read out this.

Her. Sound, trumpet! [Trumpet sounds. 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