Enter a Gentleman, with Attendants. Gent. O, here he is; lay hand upon him.-Sir, Your most dear daughter Lear. No rescue? What, a prisoner? I am even You shall have ransome. Let me have a surgeon, Gent. You shall have any thing. Lear. No seconds? All myself? Why, this would make a man, a man of salt," Ay, and for laying autumn's dust. Gent. Good sir, Lear. I will die bravely, like a bridegroom: What? I will be jovial; come, come; I am a king, My masters, know you that? Gent. You are a royal one, and we obey you. Lear. Then there's life in it. Nay, an you get it, you shall get it by running. Sa, sa, sa, sa. [Exit, running; Attendants follow. Gent. A sight most pitiful in the meanest wretch; Past speaking of in a king-Thou hast one daughter, Who redeems nature from the general curse Which twain have brought her to. Edg. Hail, gentle sir. Gent. Sir, speed you: What's your will? Edg. Do you hear aught, sir, of a battle toward? Gent. Most sure, and vulgar: every one hears that, Which can distinguish sound. Edg. But, by your favour, How near's the other army? Gent. Near, and on speedy foot; the main descry Stands on the hourly thought." Edg. I thank you, sir: that's all. Gent.Though that the queen on special cause is here, Her army is mov'd on. Edg. I thank you, sir. [Exit Gent. Glo. You ever-gentle gods, take my breath from me ; Let not my worser spirit tempt me again To die before you please! Edg. Well pray you, father. Glo. Now, good sir, what are you? [6] A man of salt is a man of tears. STEEVENS. [7] The main body is expected to be descried every hour. The expression is harsh. JOHNSON. Edg. A most poor man, made tame 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. Glo. Hearty thanks : The bounty and the benizon of heaven To boot, and boot ! Enter Steward. Stew. A proclaim'd prize! Most happy! Glo. Now let thy friendly hand Put strength enough to it. Stew. Wherefore, bold peasant, [EDGAR opposes. Dar'st thou support a publish'd traitor? Hence ; Like hold on thee. Let go his arm. Edg. Chill not let go, zir, without vurther 'casion. 9 Edg. Good gentleman, go your gait, and let poor volk pass. And ch'ud ha' been zwagger'd out of my life, 'twould not ha' been zo long as 'tis by a vortnight. Nay, come not near the old man; keep out, che vor'ye, or ise try whether your costard2 or my bat be the harder: Chi'll be plain with you. Stew. Out, dunghill ! Edg. Ch'ill pick your teeth, zir: Come; no matter vor your foins. 3 [They fight; and EDGAR knocks him down. Ste.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, [Dies. [8] Quickly recollect the past offences of thy life, and recommend thyself to heaven. WARBURTON. [9] Gang your gait is a common expression in the North. In the last rebellion, when the Scotch soldiers had finished their exercise, instead of our term of dismission, their phrase was gang your gaits. STEEVENS. [1] Che vor ye-I warn you. Edgar counterfeits the western dialect. JOHNSON. [2] Costard is head. STEEVENS. [3] To foin is to make what we call a thrust in fencing. STEEVENS. As duteous to the vices of thy mistress, Glo. What, is he dead? Edg. Sit you down, father; rest you. Let's see his pockets: these letters, that he speaks of, [Reads.] Let our 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 gaol; from the loathed warmth whereof deliver me, and supply the place for your labour. Your wife, (so I would say,) and your affectionate GONERIL. servant, O undistinguish'd space of woman's will !5— 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 murd'rous lechers: and, in the mature time, With this ungracious paper strike the sight [Exit EDGAR, dragging out the body. Glo. The king is mad: how stiff is my vile sense, That I stand up, and have ingenious feeling Of my huge sorrows! Better were distract: Re-enter EDGAR. Edg. Give me your hand : Far off, methinks, I hear the beaten drum. [Exeunt. [4] Our enemies are put upon the rack, and torn in pieces to extort confession of their secrets; to tear open their letters is more lawful. WARB. [5] O undistinguished licentiousness of a woman's inclination. STEEV. [6] I'll cover thee. In Staffordshire, to rake the fire, is to cover it with fuel for the night. JOHNSON. [7] The duke of Albany, whose death is machinated by practice or treaJOHNSON. SCENE VII. A Tent in the French Camp. LEAR on a bed, asleep; Physician, Gentleman, and others, attending: Enter CORDELIA and KENT. Cor. 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. Kent. To be acknowledg'd, madam, is o'erpaid. All my reports go with the modest truth; Nor more, nor clipp'd, but so. Cor. Be better suited: 8 These weeds are memories of those worser hours; Kent. Pardon me, dear madam ; Yet to be known, shortens my made intent: Till time and I think meet. Cor. Then be it so, my good lord.-How does the king? Phys. Madam, sleeps still. Cor. O you kind gods, [To the Physician. Cure this great breach in his abused nature ! The untun'd and jarring senses, O, wind up Of this child-changed father!9 Phys. So please your majesty, That we may wake the king? he hath slept long. Cor. Be govern'd by your knowledge, and proceed I'the sway of your own will. Is he array'd? Gent. Ay, madam; in the heaviness of his sleep, We put fresh garments on him. Phys. Be by, good madam, when we do awake him; I doubt not of his temperance. Cor. Very well. Phy.Please you, draw near.-Louder the music there. Cor. O my dear father! Restoration, hang Thy medicine on my lips; and let this kiss Repair those violent harms, that my two sisters Kent. Kind and dear princess! Cor. Had you not been their father, these white flakes Had challeng'd pity of them. Was this a face To be expos'd against the warring winds? [8] Be better dressed, put on a better suit of clothes. STEEVENS. [9] Changed by his children. MALONE. To stand against the deep dread-bolted thunder? Of quick, cross lightning? to watch (poor perdu !) Though he had bit me, should have stood that night Had not concluded all. He wakes; speak to him. Cor. How does my royal lord? How fares your majesty? Lear. You do me wrong, to take me out o'the 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. Cor. Sir, do you know me? Lear. You are a spirit, I know; When did you die? Cor. Still, still, far wide! Phys: He's scarce awake; let him alone awhile. Lear. Where have I been? Where am I?-Fair day-light? I am mightily abus'd.2-I should even die with pity, I will not swear, these are my hands :-let's see ; Of my condition. Cor. O, look upon me, sir, And hold your hands in benediction o'er me:- Lear. Pray, do not mock me : 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 ; To be my child Cordelia. [1] The allusion is to the forlorn-hope in an army, which are put upon des perate adventures, and called in French enfans perdus; she therefore calls her father, poor perdu. WARBURTON. [2] I am strangely imposed on by my appearances; I am in a strange mist of uncertainty. JOHNSON. |