CORD. look upon me, sir, And hold your hands in benediction o'er me:No, sir,† you must not kneel.

LEAR.

Pray, do not mock me:
I am a very foolish fond 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.
CORD.

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.
CORD.

(*) First folio, hand.

No cause, no cause.

(+) First folio omits, No, sir. "and yet it is danger To make him even o'er the time he has lost.]

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,t-The king is come to his daughter,

With others whom the rigour of our state
Fore'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

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.

If

I'll overtake you.-Speak. [Exeunt EDM. REG. GON. Officers, Soldiers, and Attendants.

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

ALB. Why, fare thee well; I will o'erlook thy paper. [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? Neither can be enjoy'd,
If both remain alive: to take the widow,
Exasperates, makes mad 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.

(*) First folio, loves.

[Exit.

in the game; to pull or pluck down a side, was to lose it. Thus in Ben Jonson's "Silent Woman," Act III. Sc. 2,

"Mavis and she will set up a side."

Thus also in Massinger's "Great Duke of Florence," Act IV. Sc. 1, where Cozimo, declining to do Petronella right in a bowl of wine, says,

"Pray you pause a little;

If I hold your cards, I shall pull down the side: I am not good at the game."