With this ungracious paper strike288 the sight
Of the death-practised289 duke: for him ’tis well
That of thy death and business I can tell.
GLOUCESTER The king is mad: how stiff291 is my vile sense,
That I stand up and have ingenious292 feeling
Of my huge sorrows. Better I were distract293,
So should my thoughts be severed from my griefs,
Drum afar off
And woes by wrong imaginations295 lose
The knowledge of themselves.
EDGAR Give me your hand:
Far off, methinks, I hear the beaten drum.
Come, father, I’ll bestow you with a friend.
Exeunt
Act 4 Scene 6
running scene 17
Enter Cordelia, Kent and Gentleman
Kent still disguised
CORDELIA O thou good Kent, how shall I live and work
To match thy goodness? My life will be too short,
And every measure fail me3.
KENT To be acknowledged, madam, is o’erpaid4.
All my reports go with the modest truth5,
Nor more nor clipped6, but so.
CORDELIA Be better suited7:
These weeds8 are memories of those worser hours,
I prithee put them off.
KENT Pardon, dear madam,
Yet to be known shortens my made intent11:
My boon I make it, that you know me not12
Till time and I think meet13.
CORDELIA Then be’t so, my good lord.— How does the king?
GENTLEMAN Madam, sleeps still.
CORDELIA O you kind gods,
Cure this great breach in his abusèd nature!
Th’untuned and jarring senses, O, wind up18
Of this child-changèd19 father!
GENTLEMAN So please your majesty
That we may wake the king: he hath slept long.
CORDELIA Be governed by your knowledge, and proceed
I’th’sway of your own will. Is he arrayed23?
Enter Lear in a chair carried by Servants
GENTLEMAN Ay, madam: in the heaviness of sleep
We put fresh garments on him.
Be by, good madam, when we do awake him:
I doubt of his temperance27.
CORDELIA O my dear father! Restoration hang
Kisses him
Thy medicine on my lips and let this kiss
Repair those violent harms that my two sisters
Have in thy reverence31 made!
KENT Kind and dear princess!
CORDELIA Had you not been their father, these white flakes33
Did challenge pity of34 them. Was this a face
To be opposed against the jarring winds?
Mine enemy’s dog though he had bit me
Should have stood that night against my fire,
And wast thou fain38, poor father,
To hovel thee with swine and rogues forlorn39
In short40 and musty straw? Alack, alack!
’Tis wonder that thy life and wits at once41
Had not concluded all42.— He wakes: speak to him.
GENTLEMAN Madam, do you: ’tis fittest.
CORDELIA How does my royal lord? How fares your majesty?
LEAR You do me wrong to take me out o’th’grave:
Thou art a soul in bliss46, but I am bound
Upon a wheel of fire, that47 mine own tears
Do scald like molten lead.
CORDELIA Sir, do you know me?
LEAR You are a spirit, I know: where did you die?
CORDELIA Still, still, far wide51!
GENTLEMAN He’s scarce awake: let him alone awhile.
LEAR Where have I been? Where am I? Fair daylight?
I am mightily abused54. I should ev’n die with pity
To see another thus. I know not what to say.
I will not swear these are my hands. Let’s see:
I feel this pinprick. Would I were assured57
Of my condition!
Kneels?
CORDELIA O, look upon me, sir,
And hold your hand in benediction o’er me:
You must not kneel.
Stops him from kneeling?
LEAR Pray, do not mock me:
I am a very foolish fond63 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.
Weeps
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.
CORDELIA No cause, no cause.
LEAR Am I in France?
KENT In your own kingdom, sir.
LEAR Do not abuse me.
GENTLEMAN Be comforted, good madam: the great rage84,
You see, is killed in him. Desire him to go in:
Trouble him no more till further settling86.
CORDELIA Will’t please your highness walk?
LEAR You must bear with me. Pray you now, forget and forgive:
I am old and foolish.
Exeunt
Act 5 Scene 1
running scene 18
Enter with Drum and Colours Edmund, Regan, Gentlemen and Soldiers
To a Gentleman
EDMUND Know of the duke if his last purpose1 hold,
Or whether since he is advised by aught2
To change the course: he’s full of alteration
And self-reproving: bring his constant pleasure4.
[Exit Gentleman]
REGAN Our sister’s man is certainly miscarried5.
EDMUND ’Tis to be doubted6, madam.
REGAN 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?
EDMUND In honoured11 love.
REGAN But have you never found my brother’s way
To the forfended place13?
EDMUND No, by mine honour, madam.
REGAN I never shall endure her15: dear my lord,
Be not familiar16 with her.
EDMUND Fear not. She and the duke her husband!
Enter with Drum and Colours Albany, Goneril, Soldiers
ALBANY Our very loving sister, well be-met.
Sir, this I heard: the king is come to his daughter,
With others whom the rigour of our state20
Forced to cry out21.
REGAN Why is this reasoned22?
GONERIL Combine together23 gainst the enemy,
For these domestic and particular broils24
Are not the question here.
ALBANY Let’s then determine
With th’ancient of war27 on our proceeding.
REGAN Sister, you’ll go with us?
GONERIL No.
REGAN ’Tis most convenient30: pray, go with us.
Aside
GONERIL O, ho, I know the riddle31.— I will go.
Exeunt both the armies. [Albany remains]
Enter Edgar
Disguised
EDGAR If e’er your grace had speech with man so poor,