William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (423 page)
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Authors: William Shakespeare
Tags: #Drama, #Literary Criticism, #Shakespeare
BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
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Near and on speedy foot, the main; descriers
Stands on the hourly thoughts.
Stands on the hourly thoughts.
EDGAR I thank you, sir. That’s all.
⌈FIRST⌉ GENTLEMAN
Though that the Queen on special cause is here,
Her army is moved on.
Her army is moved on.
EDGAR I thank you, sir.
Exit Gentleman
Exit Gentleman
GLOUCESTER
You ever gentle gods, take my breath from me.
Let not my worser spirit tempt me again
To die before you please.
Let not my worser spirit tempt me again
To die before you please.
EDGAR Well pray you, father.
GLOUCESTER Now, good sir, what are you?
EDGAR
A most poor man, made lame by fortune’s blows,
Who by the art of known and feeling sorrows
Am pregnant to good pity. Give me your hand,
I’ll lead you to some biding.
Who by the art of known and feeling sorrows
Am pregnant to good pity. Give me your hand,
I’ll lead you to some biding.
GLOUCESTER ⌈
rising
⌉ Hearty thanks.
rising
⌉ Hearty thanks.
The bounty and the benison of heaven
To send thee boot to boot.
To send thee boot to boot.
Enter Oswald the steward
OSWALD A proclaimed prize! Most happy!
That eyeless head of thine was first framed flesh
To raise my fortunes. Thou most unhappy traitor,
Briefly thyself remember. The sword is out
That must destroy thee.
To raise my fortunes. Thou most unhappy traitor,
Briefly thyself remember. The sword is out
That must destroy thee.
GLOUCESTER Now let thy friendly hand
Put strength enough to’t.
OSWALD (
to Edgar
) Wherefore, bold peasant,
to Edgar
) Wherefore, bold peasant,
Durst thou support a published traitor? Hence,
Lest the infection of his fortune take
Like hold on thee. Let go his arm.
Lest the infection of his fortune take
Like hold on thee. Let go his arm.
EDGAR ‘Chill not let go, sir, without ’cagion.
OSWALD Let go, slave, or thou diest.
EDGAR Good gentleman, go your gate. Let poor volk pass. An ‘chud have been swaggered out of my life, it would not have been so long by a vortnight. Nay, come not near the old man. Keep out, ’che vor’ ye, or I’ll try whether your costard or my baton be the harder; I’ll be plain with you.
OSWALD Out, dunghill!
They fight
EDGAR ’Chill pick your teeth, sir. Come, no matter for your foins.
⌈
Edgar knocks him down
⌉
OSWALD
Slave, thou hast slain me. Villain, take my purse.
If ever thou wilt thrive, bury my body,
And give the letters which thou find’st about me
To Edmund, Earl of Gloucester. Seek him out
Upon the British party. O untimely death! Death!
He dies
If ever thou wilt thrive, bury my body,
And give the letters which thou find’st about me
To Edmund, Earl of Gloucester. Seek him out
Upon the British party. O untimely death! Death!
He dies
EDGAR
I know thee well—a serviceable villain,
As duteous to the vices of thy mistress
As badness would desire.
As duteous to the vices of thy mistress
As badness would desire.
GLOUCESTER What, is he dead?
EDGAR Sit you down, father. Rest you.
Gloucester sits
Let’s see his pockets. These letters that he speaks of
May be my friends. He’s dead; I am only sorrow
He had no other deathsman. Let us see.
Leave, gentle wax; and manners, blame us not.
To know our enemies’ minds we’d rip their hearts;
Their papers is more lawful.
May be my friends. He’s dead; I am only sorrow
He had no other deathsman. Let us see.
Leave, gentle wax; and manners, blame us not.
To know our enemies’ minds we’d rip their hearts;
Their papers is more lawful.
He reads a letter
‘Let your reciprocal vows be remembered. You have
many opportunities to cut him off. If your will want
not, time and place will be fruitfully offered. There is
nothing done if he return the conqueror; then am I
the prisoner, and his bed my jail, from the loathed
warmth whereof, deliver me, and supply the place for
your labour.
Your—wife, so I would say—your affectionate
servant, and for you her own for venture,
Gonoril.’
O indistinguished space of woman’s wit—
A plot upon her virtuous husband’s life,
And the exchange my brother!—Here in the sands
Thee I’ll rake up, the post unsanctified
Of murderous lechers, and in the mature time
With this ungracious paper strike the sight
Of the death-practised Duke. For him ’tis well
That of thy death and business I can tell.
many opportunities to cut him off. If your will want
not, time and place will be fruitfully offered. There is
nothing done if he return the conqueror; then am I
the prisoner, and his bed my jail, from the loathed
warmth whereof, deliver me, and supply the place for
your labour.
Your—wife, so I would say—your affectionate
servant, and for you her own for venture,
Gonoril.’
O indistinguished space of woman’s wit—
A plot upon her virtuous husband’s life,
And the exchange my brother!—Here in the sands
Thee I’ll rake up, the post unsanctified
Of murderous lechers, and in the mature time
With this ungracious paper strike the sight
Of the death-practised Duke. For him ’tis well
That of thy death and business I can tell.
[Exit with the body]
GLOUCESTER
The King is mad. How stiff is my vile sense,
That I stand up and have ingenious feeling
Of my huge sorrows! Better I were distraught;
So should my thoughts be fenced from my griefs,
And woes by wrong imaginations lose
The knowledge of themselves.
That I stand up and have ingenious feeling
Of my huge sorrows! Better I were distraught;
So should my thoughts be fenced from my griefs,
And woes by wrong imaginations lose
The knowledge of themselves.
A drum afar off. [Enter Edgar]
EDGAR Give me your hand.
Far off methinks I hear the beaten drum.
Come, father, I’ll bestow you with a friend.
Come, father, I’ll bestow you with a friend.
Exit Edgar guiding Gloucester
Sc. 21⌈
Soft music.
⌉
Enter Queen Cordelia, and the Earl of Kent, disguised
CORDELIA 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.
My life will be too short, and every measure fail me.
KENT
To be acknowledged, madam, is o’erpaid.
All my reports go with the modest truth,
Nor more, nor clipped, but so.
All my reports go with the modest truth,
Nor more, nor clipped, but so.
CORDELIA Be better suited.
These weeds are memories of those worser hours.
I prithee put them off.
I prithee 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.
My boon I make it that you know me not
Till time and I think meet.
CORDELIA Then be’t so, my good lord.
[Enter the Doctor and First Gentleman]
How does the King?
DOCTOR Madam, sleeps still.
CORDELIA O you kind gods,
Cure this great breach in his abused nature;
The untuned and hurrying senses O wind up
Of this child-changed father!
The untuned and hurrying senses O wind up
Of this child-changed father!
DOCTOR So please your majesty
That we may wake the King? He hath slept long.
CORDELIA
Be governed by your knowledge, and proceed
I’th’ sway of your own will. Is he arrayed?
I’th’ sway of your own will. Is he arrayed?
[FIRST GENTLEMAN]
Ay, madam. In the heaviness of his sleep
We put fresh garments on him.
We put fresh garments on him.
[DOCTOR]
Good madam, be by when we do awake him.
I doubt not of his temperance.
I doubt not of his temperance.
CORDELIA Very well.
DOCTOR
Please you draw near. Louder the music there!
King Lear is [discovered] asleep
CORDELIA
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!
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!
CORDELIA
Had you not been their father, these white flakes
Had challenged pity of them. Was this a face
To be exposed 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 injurer’s mean‘st 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! (To the Doctor) He wakes.
Speak to him.
Had challenged pity of them. Was this a face
To be exposed 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 injurer’s mean‘st 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! (To the Doctor) He wakes.
Speak to him.
DOCTOR Madam, do you; ’tis fittest.
CORDELIA
(to Lear
)
(to Lear
)
How does my royal lord? How fares your majesty?
LEAR
You do me wrong to take me out o’th’ 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.
Thou art a soul in bliss, but I am bound
Upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears
Do scald like molten lead.
CORDELIA Sir, know me.
LEAR
You’re a spirit, I know. Where did you die?
CORDELIA (
to the Doctor
) Still, still far wide!
to the Doctor
) Still, still far wide!
DOCTOR
He’s scarce awake. Let him alone a while.
LEAR
Where have I been? Where am I? Fair daylight?
I am mightily abused. I should e’en 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.
I am mightily abused. I should e’en 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.
CORDELIA
(kneeling)
O look upon me, sir,
(kneeling)
O look upon me, sir,
And hold your hands in benediction o’er me.
No, sir, you must not kneel.
No, sir, you must not kneel.
LEAR Pray do not mock.
I am a very foolish, fond old man,
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.
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.
CORDELIA And so 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.
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.
CORDELIA No cause, no cause.
LEAR Am I in France?
KENT In your own kingdom, sir.
LEAR Do not abuse me.
DOCTOR
Be comforted, good madam. The great rage
You see is cured 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.
You see is cured 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.
CORDELIA (to
Lear)
Will’t please your highness walk?
Lear)
Will’t please your highness walk?
LEAR You must bear with me.
Pray now, forget and forgive. I am old
And foolish. Exeunt
all
but Kent
and [First]
Gentleman
And foolish. Exeunt
all
but Kent
and [First]
Gentleman
[FIRST] GENTLEMAN Holds it true, sir, that the Duke Of Cornwall was so slain?
KENT Most certain, sir.
[FIRST] GENTLEMAN
Who is conductor of his people?
KENT As ’tis said,
The bastard son of Gloucester.
[FIRST] GENTLEMAN They say Edgar,
His banished son, is with the Earl of Kent
In Germany.
In Germany.
KENT Report is changeable.
’Tis time to look about. The powers of the kingdom 90
Approach apace.
Approach apace.
[FIRST] GENTLEMAN 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
Sc. 22Or well or ill, as this day’s battle’s fought. Exit
Enter Edmund, Regan, and their powers
EDMUND
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 abdication
And self-reproving. Bring his constant pleasure.
Exit one or more
Or whether since he is advised by aught
To change the course. He’s full of abdication
And self-reproving. Bring his constant pleasure.
Exit one or more
REGAN
Our sister’s man is certainly miscarried.
EDMUND
’Tis to be doubted, madam.
’Tis to be doubted, madam.
REGAN Now, sweet lord,
You know the goodness I intend upon you.
Tell me but truly—but then speak the truth-
Do you not love my sister?
You know the goodness I intend upon you.
Tell me but truly—but then speak the truth-
Do you not love my sister?
EDMUND Ay: honoured love.
REGAN
But have you never found my brother’s way
To the forfended place?
To the forfended place?
EDMUND That thought abuses you.
REGAN I am doubtful
That you have been conjunct and bosomed with her,
As far as we call hers.
As far as we call hers.
EDMUND No, by mine honour, madam.
REGAN
I never shall endure her. Dear my lord,
Be not familiar with her.
Be not familiar with her.
EDMUND Fear me not.
She and the Duke her husband—
Enter the Duke of Albany
and
Gonoril with troops
Enter the Duke of Albany
and
Gonoril with troops
GONORIL (aside)
I had rather lose the battle than that sister
Should loosen him and me.
Should loosen him and me.
ALBANY (to Regan)
Our very loving sister, well bemet,
For this I hear: the King is come to his daughter,
With others whom the rigour of our state
Forced to cry out. Where I could not be honest
I never yet was valiant. For this business,
It touches us as France invades our land;
Yet bold’s the King, with others whom I fear.
Most just and heavy causes make oppose.
For this I hear: the King is come to his daughter,
With others whom the rigour of our state
Forced to cry out. Where I could not be honest
I never yet was valiant. For this business,
It touches us as France invades our land;
Yet bold’s the King, with others whom I fear.
Most just and heavy causes make oppose.
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