SCENE II. As they are going out, Enter Edgar difguis'd. Edg. IF e'er your Grace had speech with man so poor, Hear me one word. Alb. I'll overtake you : fpeak. [Exeunt Edm. Reg. Gon. and Attendants. Edg. Before you fight the battle, ope this letter. If you have victory, let the trumpet found For him that brought it: wretched though I feem, I can produce a Champion, that will prove What is avouched there. If you mifcarry, 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 fhall ferve, let but the herald And I'll appear again. cry, [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. Hard is the guess of their true ftrength and forces, By diligent discovery; but your hafte Is now urg'd on you. Alb. We will greet the time. SCENE [Exit. III. O both these fifters have I fworn my love: Edm. Each jealous of the other, as the ftung Are of the adder. Which of them fhall I take? F 2 And And hardly fhall I carry out my fide, Her husband being alive. Now then, we'll ufe His countenance for the battle; which being done, Let her, who would be rid of him, devise His fpeedy taking off. As for the mercy Which he intends to Lear and to Cordelia, The battle done, and they within our power, Shall never fee his pardon: for my ftate Stands on me to defend, not to debate. Alarm within. [Exit. Enter with drum and colours, Lear, Cordelia, and foldiers over the flage, and exeunt. Enter Edgar and Glo'fter. Edg. H ERE, father, take the fhadow of this tree For your good Hoft; pray, that the right may thrive: If ever I return to you again, I'll bring you comfort. Glo. Grace be with you, Sir! [Exit Edgar. [Alarm, and retreat, within. Re-enter Edgar. Edg. Away, old man; give me thy hand, away; King Lear hath loft, he and his daughter ta'en, Give me thy hand. Come on. Glo. No further, Sir; a man may rot even here. Edg. what, in ill thoughts again? men must endure There going hence, ev'n as their coming hither: Ripenefs is all; come on. Glo. And that's true too. SCENE [Exeunt. V. Enter in Conqueft, with Drum and Colours, Edmund; Lear and Cordelia, as prifoners; Soldiers, Captain. OME Officers take them away; good guard, Until their greater pleafures firft be known, Edm. That That are to cenfure them. Cor. We're not the first, Who with beft meaning have incurr'd the worft: Myfelf could elle out-frown false fortune's frown. As if we were God's fpies. And we'll wear out, Edm. Take them away. Lear. Upon fuch facrifices, my Cordelia, [thee? Take thou this note; go, follow them to prison. Capt. I'll do't, my lord. Edm. About it, and write happy, when thou'ft done. *Goujeres [French Pox.] Oxford Editor. Vulg. Good-jers. Mark. Mark, I fay, inftantly; and carry it fo, As I have fet it down. SCENE [Exit Captain. VI. Flourish. Enter Albany, Gonerill, Regan, and Soldiers. IR, you have fhew'd to day your valiant ftrain, Alb. SIR, you And fortune led you well: you have the Captives, Edm. Sir, I thought it fit To fend the old and miferable King To fome retention, and appointed guard; 'Where you fhall hold your Seffion. At this time, We fweat and bleed; the Friend hath loft his Friend; And the beft Quarrels, in the Heat, are curft By those that feel their Sharpness. The Queftion of Cordelia, and her Father, Alb. Sir, by your patience, I hold you but a Subject of this war, Reg. That's as we lift to grace him. Methinks, our pleasure might have been demanded, The which immediacy-] Immediacy, for Represention. Gon. Gon, Not fo hot: In his own grace he doth exalt himself, By me invefted, he compeers the best. Alb. That were the most, if he should husband Gon. Holla, Holla! you. That eye, that told you fo, look'd but a-fquint. Gon. Mean you to enjoy him? Alb. The Lett alone lies not in your good Will. Edm. Nor in thine, lord. Alb. Half-blooded fellow, yes. Reg. Let the drum ftrike, and prove my Title thine. Alb. Stay yet; hear reafon: Edmund, I arreft thee On capital treafon; and, in thy Arreft, This gilded Serpent; for your claim, fair fifter, 'Tis fhe is fub-contracted to this lord, My lady is bespoke. Gon. An enterlude! Alb. Thou art arm'd, Glo'fter; let the trumpet found: If none appear to prove upon thy perfon Thy heinous, manifeft, and many treafons, Reg. Sick, O fick Gon. If not, I'll ne'er truft poison. [Afide. Edm |