Page 36
Gon.
Oh,
ho,
I
know
the
Riddle,
I
will
go.
[Exeunt
both
the
Armies.
Enter
Edgar.
Edg.
If
ere
your
Grace
had
speech
with
man
so
poor,
Hear
me
one
word.
Alb.
I’le
overtake
you,
speak.
Edg.
Before
you
fight
the
Battel,
ope
this
Letter:
If
you
have
victory,
let
the
Trumpet
found
For
him
that
brought
it:
wretch
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
loves
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’le
appear
again.
[Exit.
Alb.
Why
fare
thee
well,
I
will
o’re-look
thy
paper.
Enter
Edmund.
Bast.
The
Enemy’s
in
view,
draw
up
your
powers,
Here
is
the
guess
of
their
true
strength
and
forces,
By
diligent
discovery,
but
your
hast
Is
now
urg’d
on
you.
Alb.
We
will
greet
the
time.
[Exit.
Bast.
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
Gonerill,
And
hardly
shall
I
carry
out
my
side,
Her
Husband
being
alive.
Now
then,
we’ll
use
His
countenance
for
the
Battel,
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
Battel
done,
and
they
within
our
power;
Shall
never
see
his
pardon:
for
my
state,
Stands
on
me
to
defend,
not
to
debate.
[Exit.
Scena
Secunda.
Alarum
within.
Enter
with
Drum
and
Colours,
Lear
Cordelia,
and
Souldiers,
over
the
Stage,
&
Exeunt.
Enter
Edgar,
Gloucester.
Edg.
Here
Father,
take
the
shadow
of
this
tree
For
your
good
hoast:
pray
that
the
right
may
thrive:
if
ever
I
return
to
you
again,
I’le
bring
you
comfort.
Glo.
Grace
be
with
you
Sir.
[Exit.
[Alarum
and
Retreat
within.
Enter
Edgar.
Edg.
Away
old
man,
give
me
thy
hand,
away:
King
Lear
hath
lost,
he
and
his
Daughter
tane,
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
Their
going
hence,
even
as
their
coming
hither,
Ripeness
is
all,
come
on.
Glo.
And
that’s
true
too.
[Exeunt.
Scena
Tertia.
Enter
in
conquest
with
Drum
and
Colours,
Edmund,
Lear,
and
Cordelia,
as
prisoners,
Souldiers,
Captain.
Bast.
Some
Officers
take
them
away:
good
guard,
Until
their
greater
pleasures
first
be
known
That
are
to
censure
them.
Cor.
We
are
not
the
first,
Who
with
best
meaning
have
incurr’d
the
worst:
For
thee,
oppressed
King,
I
am
cast
down.
My
self
could
else
out-frown
false
fortunes
frown.
Shall
we
not
see
these
Daughters,
and
these
Sisters?
Lear.
No,
no,
no,
no:
come
lets
away
to
prison:
We
two
alone
will
Sing
like
Birds
i’th’Cage:
When
thou
do’st
ask
me
blessing,
I’le
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
Rogues
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
things,
As
if
we
were
Gods
spies:
And
we’ll
wear
out
In
a
wall’d
prison,
packs
and
sects
of
great
ones
That
ebbe
and
slow
by
th’Moon.
Bast.
Take
them
away.
Lear.
Upon
such
sacrifices,
my
Cordelia,
The
gods
themselves
throw
incense.
Have
I
caught
thee?
He
that
parts
us,
shall
bring
a
Brand
from
heaven,
And
fire
us
hence,
like
Foxes:
wipe
thine
eye,
The
good
years
shall
devour
them,
flesh
and
fell,
E’re
they
shall
make
us
weep?
We’ll
see’em
starv’d
first:
come.
[Exit.
Bast.
Come
hither
Captain,
hark.
Take
thou
this
note,
go
follow
them
to
prison,
One
step
I
have
advanc’d
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
minded
Do’s
not
become
a
Sword,
thy
great
imployment
Will
not
bear
question:
either
lay
thou’st
do’t,
Or
thrive
by
other
means,
Capt.
I'le
do’t
my
Lord.
Bast.
About
it,
and
write
happy,
when
th’ast
done,
Mark
I
say
instantly,
and
carry
it
so
As
I
have
set
it
down.
[Exit
Captain.
Enter
Albany,
Gonerill,
Regan,
Souldiers.
Alba.
Sir,
you
have
shew’d
to
day
your
valiant
strain
And
fortune
led
you
well:
you
have
the
Captives
Who
were
the
opposites
of
this
day’s
strife:
I
do
require
them
of
you
so
to
use
them,
As
we
shall
find
their
merits,
and
our
safety
May
equally
determine.
Bast.
Sir,
I
thought
it
fit,
To
send
the
old
and
miserable
King
to
some
retention,
Whose
Age
had
Charms
in
it,
whose
Title
more,
To
pluck
the
common
bosom
on
this
side,
And
turn
our
imprest
Launces
in
our
eyes
Which
do
command
them.
With
him
I
sent
the
Queen
My
reason
all
the
same,
and
they
are
ready
To
morrow,
or
at
further
space,
t’appear
Where
you
shall
hold
your
Session.
Alba.
Sir,
by
your
patience.
I
hold
you
but
a
subject
of
this
War,
Not
as
a
Brother.
Reg.
That’s
as
we
list
to
grace
him.
Me
thinks
our
pleasure
might
have
been
demanded
Ere
you
had
spoke
so
far.
He
led
our
Powers,
Bore
the
Commission
of
my
place
and
person,
The
108
The
Tragedy
of
King
Lear.