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That I stand up, and have ingenious feeling
Of my huge sorrows! Better I were distract;
So should my thoughts be sever'd from my griefs,
And woes, by wrong imaginations, lose
The knowledge of themselves.

Edg.

[Drum afar off.

Give me your hand:

[Exeunt.

Far off, methinks, I hear the beaten drum.
Come, father; I'll bestow you with a friend.

SCENE VII.

A Tent in the French Camp. LEAR on a Bed, asleep; Doctor, Gentleman, and Others, altending: Enter CORDelia and Kent.

Cor, O thou good Kent! how shall I live, and work,

To match thy goodness? My life will be too short,
And every measure fail me.

Kent. To be acknowledg'd, Madam, is o'er-paid.
All my reports go with the modest truth;

Nor more, nor clipp'd, but so.

Cor.

Be better suited:

These weeds are memories of those worser hours.
I pr'ythee, put them off.

Kent.

Pardon me, dear Madam;

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

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

Doct. Madam, sleeps still.

Cor. O, you kind gods,

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How does the king?

[To the Physician.

Cure this great breach in his abused nature!
Th' untun'd and jarring senses, 0, wind
Of this child-changed father!

Doct.

up

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?

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

Kent. Good Madam, be by when we do awake him; I doubt not of his temperance.

Cor.

Very well.

[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 expos'd against the warring winds?

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

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

Though he had bit me, should have stood that night
Against my fire; and wast thou fain, poor father,
To hovel thee with swine, and rogues forlorn,
In short and musty straw? Alack, alack!
'Tis wonder, that thy life and wits at once

Had not concluded all. He wakes; speak to him.
Doct. Madam, do you; 't is fittest.

Cor. 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. Where did you die?

Cor. Still, still, far wide.

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

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To see another thus.

I know not what to say.

let's see;

I will not swear, these are my hands: -
I feel this pin prick. Would I were assur'd
Of my condition!

Cor.

O! look upon me, Sir,

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

Lear.

I am a very foolish fond old man,

Pray, do not mock me:

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.

Cor.

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.

No cause, no cause.

In your own kingdom, Sir.

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

You see, is cur'd in him; and yet it is danger

To make him even o'er the time he has lost.

Desire him to go in: trouble him no more,
Till farther settling.

You must bear with me:

Cor. Will 't please your highness walk? Lear. Pray you now forget and forgive: I am old, and foolish. [Exeunt LEAR, CORDELIA, Doctor, and Attendants.

Gent. Holds it true, Sir, that the duke of Cornwall was so

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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. Fare you well,

Sir.

[Exit.

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

[Exit.

ACT V. SCENE I.

The Camp of the British Forces, near Dover.

Enter, with Drums and Colours, EDMUND, REGAN, Officers, Soldiers, and Others.

Edm. Know of the duke, if his last purpose hold;

Or whether since he is advis'd by aught

To change the course. He's full of alteration,
And self-reproving : — bring his constant pleasure.

[To an Officer, who goes out.

Now, sweet lord,

Reg. Our sister's man is certainly miscarried.
Edm. 'Tis 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.

Reg. I am doubtful that you have been conjunct, And bosom'd with her, as far as we call hers.

Edm. No, by mine honour, Madam.
Reg. I never shall endure her. Dear my lord,

Be not familiar with her.

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Enter ALBANY, Goneril, and Soldiers. Gon. 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,
Not bolds the king, with others, whom, I fear,
Most just and heavy causes make oppose.

Edm. Sir you speak nobly.

Reg.

Why is this reason'd?

Gon. Combine together 'gainst the enemy;

For these domestic and particular broils

Are not the question here.

Alb.

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.

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

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.

[Aside

[Exeunt EDMUND, REGAN, GONERIL, Officers,
diers, and Attendants.

Edg. Before you fight the battle, ope this letter,

If you have victory, let the trumpet sound

Sol

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