Hear me one word.
ALBANY I’ll overtake you34.— Speak.
EDGAR Before you fight the battle, ope this letter35:
Gives a letter
If you have victory, let the trumpet sound36
For him that brought it. Wretched though I seem,
I can produce a champion38 that will prove
What is avouchèd there. If you miscarry39,
Your business of the world hath so an end,
And machination41 ceases. Fortune loves you.
ALBANY Stay till I have read the letter.
EDGAR I was forbid it.
When time shall serve, let but the herald cry44
And I’ll appear again.
Exit
ALBANY Why, fare thee welclass="underline" I will o’erlook46 thy paper.
Enter Edmund
EDMUND The enemy’s in view: draw up your powers47.
Offers a paper
Here is the guess of their true strength and forces
By diligent discovery49, but your haste
Is now urged on you.
ALBANY We will greet the time51.
Exit
EDMUND To both these sisters have I sworn my love,
Each jealous53 of the other, as the stung
Are of the adder. Which of them shall I take?
Both? One? Or neither? Neither can be enjoyed
If both remain alive. To take the widow
Exasperates, makes mad her sister Goneril,
And hardly shall I carry out my side58,
Her husband being alive. Now then, we’ll use
His countenance60 for the battle, which being done,
Let her who would be rid of him devise
His speedy taking off62. 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 state65
Stands on me to defend, not to debate.
Exit
Act 5 Scene 2
running scene 19
Alarum within. Enter, with Drum and Colours, Lear, Cordelia and Soldiers over the stage and exeunt. Enter Edgar and Gloucester
EDGAR Here, father1, take the shadow of this tree
For your good host2. Pray that the right may thrive.
If ever I return to you again,
I’ll bring you comfort.
GLOUCESTER Grace go with you, sir!
Exit [Edgar]
Alarum and retreat within
Enter Edgar
EDGAR Away, old man! Give me thy hand, away!
King Lear hath lost, he and his daughter ta’en7:
Give me thy hand, come on.
GLOUCESTER No further, sir: a man may rot even here.
EDGAR What, in ill thoughts again? Men must endure
Their going hence, even as their coming hither:
Ripeness12 is alclass="underline" come on.
GLOUCESTER And that’s true too.
Exeunt
Act 5 Scene 3
running scene 20
Enter in conquest, with Drum and Colours, Edmund, Lear and Cordelia as prisoners, Soldiers, Captain
EDMUND Some officers take them away: good guard1,
Until their greater pleasures2 first be known
That are to censure3 them.
To Lear
CORDELIA We are not the first
Who with best meaning5 have incurred the worst.
For thee, oppressèd king, I am cast down6:
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’th’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
At gilded butterflies, and hear poor rogues14
Talk of court news, and we’ll talk with them too —
Who loses and who wins, who’s in, who’s out —
And take upon’s the mystery of things17,
As if we were God’s spies: and we’ll wear out18
In a walled prison packs and sects19 of great ones
That ebb and flow by th’moon20.
EDMUND Take them away.
LEAR Upon such sacrifices22, my Cordelia,
The gods themselves throw incense23. Have I caught thee?
He that parts us shall bring a brand from heaven24
And fire us hence like foxes. Wipe thine eyes:
The good years shall devour them, flesh and fell26,
Ere they shall make us weep: We’ll see ’em starved27 first. Come.
Exeunt [Lear and Cordelia, guarded]
EDMUND Come hither, captain, hark.
Gives a paper
Take thou this note, go follow them to prison.
One step I have advanced thee: if thou dost
As this instructs thee, thou dost make thy way
To noble fortunes. Know thou this: that men
Are as the time is; to be tender-minded33
Does not become34 a sword. Thy great employment
Will not bear question35: either say thou’lt do’t
Or thrive by other means.
CAPTAIN I’ll do’t, my lord.
EDMUND About it, and write happy38 when th’hast done.
Mark, I say, instantly, and carry39 it so
As I have set it down.
Exit Captain
Flourish. Enter Albany, Goneril, Regan, Soldiers
ALBANY Sir, you have showed today your valiant strain41,
And fortune led you well. You have the captives
Who were the opposites43 of this day’s strife:
I do require them of you, so to use44 them
As we shall find their merits and our safety
May equally determine.
EDMUND Sir, I thought it fit
To send the old and miserable king to some retention48
Whose age had charms in it, whose title49 more,
To pluck the common bosom50 on his side
And turn our impressed lances in our eyes51
Which do command them. With him I sent the queen52,
My reason all the same, and they are ready
Tomorrow, or at further space, t’appear
Where you shall hold your session55.
ALBANY Sir, by your patience56,
I hold you but a subject of57 this war,
Not as a brother.
REGAN That’s as we list59 to grace him.
Methinks our pleasure might have been demanded60
Ere you had spoke so far. He led our powers,
Bore the commission62 of my place and person,
The which immediacy63 may well stand up
And call itself your brother.
GONERIL Not so hot:
In his own grace66 he doth exalt himself
More than in your addition67.
REGAN In my rights,
By me invested, he compeers69 the best.
ALBANY That were the most70 if he should husband you.
REGAN Jesters do oft prove prophets.
GONERIL Holla72, holla!
That eye that told you so looked but asquint73.
REGAN Lady, I am not well, else I should answer
To Edmund
From a full-flowing stomach75.— General,
Take thou my soldiers, prisoners, patrimony76:
Dispose of them, of me: the walls77 is thine: