'Tis wonder, that thy life and wits at once Had not concluded all.'-He wakes; speak to him. Phys. Madam, do you; 'tis 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.

die ?

Cor.
Sir, do you know me?
Lear. You are a spirit, I know; when did you
Cor. Still, still, far wide!

Phys. He's scarce awake; let him alone awhile.
Lear. Where have I been? Where am I?-Fair

daylight?

I am mightily abused.--I should even 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 pin prick. 'Would I were assured

Of my condition.

Cor.

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

Lear.

O, look upon me, sir,

Pray, do not mock me.

I am a very foolish, fond old man,

3

Fourscore and upward; 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.

1 i. e. had not all ended.

2 I am strangely imposed upon by appearances; I am in a strange mist of uncertainty.

3 The folio here adds the words "not an hour more or less have been regarded as the interpolation of some player.

" which

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.

Phys. Be comforted, good madam. The great rage, You see, is killed 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 further settling.

Cor. Will't please your highness walk?
Lear.

You must bear with me;

'Pray you now, forget and forgive; I am old and foolish. [Exeunt LEAR, CORDELIA, Physician, and

Attendants.

[Gent. Holds it true, sir,

That the duke of Cornwall was so slain?

They say, Edgar,

His banished son, is with the earl of Kent

In Germany.

Kent.

Report is changeable.

"Tis time to look about; the powers o' the kingdom

Approach apace.

Gent. The arbitrement is like to be a bloody. Fare you well, sir.

1 "To make him even o'er the time he has lost,"

[Exit.

is to make the occurrences of it plain or level to his troubled mind. See Baret's Alvearie, 1573, E. 307.

Kent. My point and period will be thoroughly

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 colors, EDMUND, REGAN, Officers, Soldiers, and others.

Edm. Know of the duke, if his last purpose hold; Or, whether since he is advised by aught

To change the course. He's full of alteration,
And self-reproving;-bring his constant pleasure.2

Now, sweet lord,

[To an Officer, who goes out. 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?

In honored love.

Edm. [Reg. But have you never found To the forefended place?

3

found my

my brother's

way

4

Edm.
Reg. I am doubtful that you have been conjunct
And bosomed with her, as far as we call hers.

That thought abuses you.

Edm. No, by mine honor, madam.]

1 What is printed in crotchets here and above, is not in the folio.

2 i. e. his settled resolution.

3 The first and last of these speeches within crotchets are inserted in Hanmer's, Theobald's, and Warburton's editions; the two intermediate ones, which were omitted in all others, are restored from the 4to. 1608. 4 Imposes on you; you are deceived.

Reg. I never shall endure her.

Be not familiar with her.

Edm.

Dear my lord,

Fear me not;

She, and the duke her husband,

Enter ALBANY, GONERIL, and Soldier.

Gon. I had rather lose the battle, than that sister Should loosen him and me. [Aside.

Alb. Our very loving sister, well be met.

Sir, this I hear,--The king is come to his daughter,
With others, whom the rigor of our state
Forced 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,

1

Not bolds the king; with others, whom, I fear,
More just and heavy causes make oppose.
Edm. Sir, you speak nobly.]

Reg.

Why is this reasoned?

2

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

Alb.

Let us then determine

With the ancient of war on our proceedings.

Edm. I shall attend you presently at your tent.3
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.

As they are going out, enter Edgar, disguised. Edg. If e'er your grace had speech with man so poor, Hear me one word.

1 "This business (says Albany) touches us, as France invades our land, not as it emboldens or encourages the king to assert his former title.” There are several examples of this use of the verb bold in old writers. 2 The quartos have it :

"For these domestic doore particulars.”

The folio reads in the subsequent line :

"Are not the question here."

3 This speech, and the lines above in brackets, are wanting in the folio.

Alb.

I'll overtake you.-Speak

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

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. If you miscarry,
Your business of the world hath so an end,
And machination ceases. 1
Fortune love you!

Alb. Stay till I have read the letter.
Edg.

I was forbid it.

When time shall serve, 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: Here is the guess of their true strength and forces but your haste

By diligent discovery; 2-but

Is now urged on you.

3

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? 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 side,4

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

1 i. e. all designs against your life will have an end. These words are not in the quartos.

2 i. e. the conjecture, or what we can gather by diligent espial, of their strength.

3 i. e. be ready to meet the occasion.

4 Hardly shall I be able to make my side (i. e. my party) good; to maintain the game. It was a phrase commonly used at cards.