The Oxford Shakespeare: The Complete Works

by William Shakespeare

  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.

  EDMUND No, by mine honour, madam.

  REGAN

  I never shall endure her. Dear my lord,

  Be not familiar with her.

  EDMUND Fear me not.

  She and the Duke her husband—

  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.

  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.

  EDMUND

  Sir, you speak nobly.

  REGAN Why is this reasoned? 30

  GONORIL

  Combine together ’gainst the enemy;

  For these domestic poor particulars

  Are not to question here.

  ALBANY

  Let us then determine with the ensign of war

  On our proceedings.

  EDMUND I shall attend you

  Presently at your tent. [Exit with his powers]

  REGAN Sister, you’ll go with us?

  GONORIL No.

  REGAN

  ’Tis most convenient. Pray you go with us.

  GONORIL [aside]

  O ho, I know the riddle! (To Regan) I will go.

  Enter Edgar disguised as a peasant

  EDGAR (to Albany)

  If e’er your grace had speech with man so poor, 40

  Hear me one word.

  ALBANY (to the others) I’ll overtake you.

  Exeunt all but Albany and Edgar

  Speak.

  EDGAR

  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 avouchèd there. If you miscarry,

  Your business of the world hath so an end.

  Fortune love you—

  ALBANY Stay till I have read the letter.

  EDGAR I was forbid it. 50

  When time shall serve, let but the herald cry,

  And I’ll appear again.

  ALBANY Why, fare thee well.

  I will o’erlook the paper. Exit Edgar

  Enter Edmund

  EDMUND

  The enemy’s in view; draw up your powers. 55

  He [offers] Albany a paper

  Here is the guess of their great strength and forces

  By diligent discovery; but your haste

  Is now urged on you.

  ALBANY We will greet the time. Exit

  EDMUND

  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 Gonoril,

  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 that would be rid of him devise

  His speedy taking off. As for his 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. Exit

  Sc. 23 Alarum. The powers of France pass over the stage ⌈led by⌉ Queen Cordelia with her father in her hand. Then enter Edgar disguised as a peasant, guiding the blind Duke of Gloucester

  EDGAR

  Here, father, take the shadow of this bush

  For your good host; pray that the right may thrive.

  If ever I return to you again

  I’ll bring you comfort. Exit

  GLOUCESTER Grace go with you, sir.

  Alarum and retreat. Enter Edgar

  EDGAR

  Away, old man. Give me thy hand. Away.

  King Lear hath lost, he and his daughter ta’en.

  Give me thy hand. Come on.

  GLOUCESTER

  No farther, sir. A man may rot even here.

  EDGAR

  What, in ill thoughts again? Men must endure

  Their going hence even as their coming hither.

  Ripeness is all. Come on. Exit Edgar guiding Gloucester

  Sc. 24 Enter Edmund with King Lear and Queen Cordelia prisoners, a Captain, and soldiers

  EDMUND

  Some officers take them away. Good guard

  Until their greater pleasures best be known

  That are to censure them.

  CORDELIA (to Lear) We are not the first

  Who with best meaning have incurred the worst.

  For thee, oppressed King, am I cast down,

  Myself could else outfrown false fortune’s frown.

  Shall we not see these daughters and these sisters?

  LEAR

  No, no. Come, let’s away to prison.

  We two alone will sing like birds i’th’ cage.

  When thou dost ask me blessing, I’ll 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 God’s spies; and we’ll wear out

  In a walled prison packs and sects of great ones

  That ebb and flow by th’ moon.

  EDMUND (to soldiers) Take them away.

  LEAR (to Cordelia)

  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 eyes.

  The goodyear shall devour ‘em, flesh and fell,

  Ere they shall make us weep. We’ll see ’em starve

  first. Come.

  Exeunt all but Edmund and the Captain

  EDMUND Come hither, captain. Hark.

  Take thou this note. Go follow them to prison.

  One step I have advanced 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

  Does not become a sword. Thy great employment

  Will not bear question. Either say thou’lt do’t,

  Or thrive by other means.

  CAPTAIN I’ll do’t, my lord.

  EDMUND

  About it, and write ‘happy’ when thou hast done.

  Mark, I say, instantly, and carry it so

  As I have set it down.

  CAPTAIN I cannot draw a cart,

  Nor eat dried oats. If it be man’s work, I’ll do’t. Exit Enter the Duke of Albany, the two ladies Gonoril and Regan, [another Captain,] and others

  ALBANY (to Edmund)

  Sir, you have showed today your valiant strain,

  And fortune led you well. You have the captives

  That were the opposites of this day’s strife.

  We do require then of you, so to use them


  As we shall find their merits and our safety

  May equally determine.

  EDMUND Sir, I thought it fit

  To send the old and miserable King

  To some retention and appointed guard,

  Whose age has charms in it, whose title more,

  To pluck the common bosom on his side

  And turn our impressed lances in our eyes

  Which do command them. With him I sent the Queen,

  My reason all the same, and they are ready

  Tomorrow, or at further space, to appear

  Where you shall hold your session. At this time

  We sweat and bleed. The friend hath lost his friend,

  And the best quarrels in the heat are cursed

  By those that feel their sharpness.

  The question of Cordelia and her father

  Requires a fitter place.

  ALBANY Sir, by your patience, I hold you but a subject of this war, Not as a brother.

  REGAN That’s as we list to grace him.

  Methinks our pleasure should have been demanded

  Ere you had spoke so far. He led our powers,

  Bore the commission of my place and person,

  The which immediate may well stand up

  And call itself your brother.

  GONORIL Not so hot.

  In his own grace he doth exalt himself

  More than in your advancement.

  REGAN In my right

  By me invested, he compeers the best.

  GONORIL

  That were the most if he should husband you.

  REGAN

  Jesters do oft prove prophets.

  GONORIL Holla, holla—

  That eye that told you so looked but asquint.

  REGAN

  Lady, I am not well, else I should answer From a full-flowing stomach. (To Edmund) General, Take thou my soldiers, prisoners, patrimony. Witness the world that I create thee here My lord and master.

  GONORIL Mean you to enjoy him, then?

  ALBANY

  The let-alone lies not in your good will.

  EDMUND

  Nor in thine, lord.

  ALBANY Half-blooded fellow, yes.

  EDMUND

  Let the drum strike and prove my title good.

  ALBANY

  Stay yet, hear reason. Edmund, I arrest thee

  On capital treason, and in thine attaint

  This gilded serpent. (To Regan) For your claim, fair

  sister,

  I bar it in the interest of my wife.

  ’Tis she is subcontracted to this lord,

  And I, her husband, contradict the banns.

  If you will marry, make your love to me.

  My lady is bespoke.—Thou art armed, Gloucester.

  If none appear to prove upon thy head

  Thy heinous, manifest, and many treasons,

  [He throws down a glove]

  There is my pledge. I’ll prove it on thy heart,

  Ere I taste bread, thou art in nothing less

  Than I have here proclaimed thee.

  REGAN Sick, O sick!

  GONORIL (aside) If not, I’ll ne’er trust poison.

  EDMUND (to Albany, [throwing down a glove])

  There’s my exchange. What in the world he is

  That names me traitor, villain-like he lies.

  Call by thy trumpet. He that dares, approach;

  On him, on you—who not?—I will maintain

  My truth and honour firmly.

  ALBANY A herald, ho!

  EDMUND A herald, ho, a herald!

  ALBANY

  Trust to thy single virtue, for thy soldiers,

  All levied in my name, have in my name

  Took their discharge.

  REGAN This sickness grows upon me.

  ALBANY

  She is not well. Convey her to my tent.

  Exit one or more with Regan

  [Enter a Herald and a trumpeter]

  Come hither, herald. Let the trumpet sound,

  And read out this.

  SECOND CAPTAIN Sound, trumpet!

  Trumpeter sounds

  HERALD (reads) ‘If any man of quality or degree in the host of the army will maintain upon Edmund, supposed Earl of Gloucester, that he’s a manifold traitor, let him appear at the third sound of the trumpet. He is bold in his defence.’

  EDMUND Sound! (Trumpeter sounds) Again!

  Enter Edgar, armed, at the third sound, a trumpeter before him

  ALBANY (to the Herald)

  Ask him his purposes, why he appears

  Upon this call o’th’ trumpet.

  HERALD (to Edgar) What are you?

  Your name and quality, and why you answer

  This present summons?

  EDGAR O, know my name is lost,

  By treason’s tooth bare-gnawn and canker-bit.

  Yet ere I move’t, where is the adversary

  I come to cope withal?

  ALBANY Which is that adversary?

  EDGAR

  What’s he that speaks for Edmund, Earl of Gloucester?

  EDMUND

  Himself. What sayst thou to him?

  EDGAR Draw thy sword,

  That if my speech offend a noble heart

  Thy arm may do thee justice. Here is mine.

  He draws his sword

  Behold, it is the privilege of my tongue,

  My oath, and my profession. I protest,

  Maugre thy strength, youth, place, and eminence,

  Despite thy victor-sword and fire-new fortune,

  Thy valour and thy heart, thou art a traitor,

  False to thy gods, thy brother, and thy father,

  Conspirant ‘gainst this high illustrious prince,

  And from th’extremest upward of thy head

  To the descent and dust beneath thy feet

  A most toad-spotted traitor. Say thou no,

  This sword, this arm, and my best spirits are bent

  To prove upon thy heart, whereto I speak,

  Thou liest.

  EDMUND In wisdom I should ask thy name,

  But since thy outside looks so fair and warlike,

  And that thy tongue some say of breeding breathes,

  My right of knighthood I disdain and spurn.

  Here do I toss those treasons to thy head,

  With the hell-hated lie o’erturn thy heart,

  Which, for they yet glance by and scarcely bruise,

  This sword of mine shall give them instant way

  Where they shall rest for ever. Trumpets, speak!

  [Flourish.] They fight. Edmund is vanquished

  [ALL]

  Save him, save him!

  GONORIL This is mere practice, Gloucester.

  By the law of arms thou art not bound to answer

  An unknown opposite. Thou art not vanquished,

  But cozened and beguiled.

  ALBANY Stop your mouth, dame,

  Or with this paper shall I stopple it.

  Thou worse than anything, read thine own evil.

  Nay, no tearing, lady. I perceive you know’t.

  GONORIL

  Say if I do, the laws are mine, not thine.

  Who shall arraign me for’t?

  ALBANY Most monstrous!

  Know’st thou this paper?

  GONORIL Ask me not what I know.

  Exit

  ALBANY

  Go after her. She’s desperate. Govern her.

  Exit one or more

  EDMUND

  What you have charged me with, that have I done,

  And more, much more. The time will bring it out.

  ’Tis past, and so am I. (To Edgar) But what art thou,

  That hast this fortune on me? If thou beest noble,

  I do forgive thee.

  EDGAR Let’s exchange charity.

  I am no less in blood than thou art, Edmund.

  If more, the more ignobly thou hast wronged me.

  [He takes off
his helmet]

  My name is Edgar, and thy father’s son.

  The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices

  Make instruments to scourge us.

  The dark and vicious place where thee he got

  Cost him his eyes.

  EDMUND Thou hast spoken truth.

  The wheel is come full circled. I am here.

  ALBANY (to Edgar)

  Methought thy very gait did prophesy

  A royal nobleness. I must embrace thee.

  Let sorrow split my heart if I did ever hate

  Thee or thy father.

  EDGAR Worthy prince, I know’t.

  ALBANY Where have you hid yourself?

  How have you known the miseries of your father?

  EDGAR

  By nursing them, my lord. List a brief tale,

  And when ‘tis told, O that my heart would burst!

  The bloody proclamation to escape

  That followed me so near—O, our lives’ sweetness,

  That with the pain of death would hourly die

  Rather than die at once!—taught me to shift

  Into a madman’s rags, to assume a semblance

  That very dogs disdained; and in this habit

  Met I my father with his bleeding rings,

  The precious stones new-lost; became his guide,

  Led him, begged for him, saved him from despair;

  Never—O father!—revealed myself unto him

  Until some half hour past, when I was armed.

  Not sure, though hoping, of this good success,

  I asked his blessing, and from first to last

  Told him my pilgrimage; but his flawed heart—

  Alack, too weak the conflict to support—

  ’Twixt two extremes of passion, joy and grief,

  Burst smilingly.

  EDMUND This speech of yours hath moved me,

  And shall perchance do good. But speak you on—

  You look as you had something more to say.

  ALBANY

  If there be more, more woeful, hold it in,

  For I am almost ready to dissolve,

  Hearing of this.

  EDGAR This would have seemed a period

  To such as love not sorrow; but another

  To amplify, too much would make much more,

  And top extremity.

  Whilst I was big in clamour came there in a man

  Who, having seen me in my worst estate,

  Shunned my abhorred society; but then, finding

  Who ’twas that so endured, with his strong arms

  He fastened on my neck and bellowed out

  As he’d burst heaven; threw him on my father,

  Told the most piteous tale of Lear and him

  That ever ear received, which in recounting

  His grief grew puissant and the strings of life