Act 4 — Scene VII. A tent in the French camp. Lear on a bed asleep, soft music playing; Gentleman, and others attending.
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Enter Cordelia, Kent, and Doctor.[4462]
Cor. O thou good Kent, how shall I live and work,[4463] To match thy goodness? My life will be too short,[4463][4464] And every measure fail me.[4463] Kent. To be acknowledged, madam, is o'erpaid.[4465] All my reports go with the modest truth, 5 Nor more nor clipp'd, but so. Cor. Be better suited:[4466] These weeds are memories of those worser hours:[4466] I prithee, put them off.[4466] Kent. Pardon me, dear madam;[4467] Yet to be known shortens my made intent:[4468] My boon I make it, that you know me not 10 Till time and I think meet. Cor. Then be't so, my good lord. [To the Doctor] How does the king?[4469] Doct. Madam, sleeps still.[4470][4471] Cor. O you kind gods,[4472][4473] Cure this great breach in his abused nature![4473] 15 The untuned and jarring senses, O, wind up[4474] Of this child-changed father! Doct. So please your majesty[4470][4475][4476] That we may wake the king: he hath slept long.[4476][4477] Cor. Be govern'd by your knowledge, and proceed I' the sway of your own will. Is he array'd?[4478] 20 Gent. Ay, madam; in the heaviness of his sleep[4479] We put fresh garments on him. Doct. Be by, good madam, when we do awake him;[4480] I doubt not of his temperance.[4481] Cor. Very well.[4482] Doct. Please you, draw near. Louder the music there![4482] 25 Cor. O my dear father! Restoration hang[4483][4484] Thy medicine on my lips, and let this kiss[4483][4485] Repair those violent harms that my two sisters[4483] Have in thy reverence made![4483] Kent. Kind and dear princess![4486] Cor. Had you not been their father, these white flakes[4487] 30 Had challenged pity of them. Was this a face[4488] To be opposed against the warring winds?[4489] To stand against the deep dread-bolted thunder?[4490][4491] In the most terrible and nimble stroke[4490] Of quick, cross lightning? to watch—poor perdu!—[4490][4492] 35 With this thin helm? Mine enemy's dog,[4490][4493][4494][4495] Though he had bit me, should have stood that night[4494] Against my fire; and wast thou fain, poor father,[4494] To hovel thee with swine and rogues forlorn, In short and musty straw? Alack, alack![4496] 40 'Tis wonder that thy life and wits at once[4497] Had not concluded all. He wakes; speak to him.[4498] Doct. Madam, do you; 'tis fittest.[4499] Cor. How does my royal lord? How fares your majesty?[4500] Lear. You do me wrong to take me out o' the grave:[4501] 45 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?[4502] Lear. You are a spirit, I know: when did you die?[4503] Cor. Still, still, far wide! 50 Doct. He's scarce awake: let him alone awhile.[4504] Lear. Where have I been? Where am I? Fair daylight?[4504] I am mightily abused. I should e'en die with pity,[4505] To see another thus. I know not what to say.[4506] I will not swear these are my hands: let's see; 55 I feel this pin prick. Would I were assured[4507] Of my condition![4507] Cor. O, look upon me, sir,[4508][4509] And hold your hands in benediction o'er me.[4508][4510] No, sir, you must not kneel.[4508] Lear. Pray, do not mock me:[4511] I am a very foolish fond old man, 60 Fourscore and upward, not an hour more nor less;[4512] And, to deal plainly,[4513] I fear I am not in my perfect mind.[4514] Methinks I should know you and know this man; Yet I am doubtful; for I am mainly ignorant[4515] 65 What place this is, and all the skill I have Remembers not these garments, nor I know not[4516] Where I did lodge last night. Do not laugh at me;[4517] For, as I am a man, I think this lady To be my child Cordelia. Cor. And so I am, I am.[4518] 70 Lear. Be your tears wet? yes, faith. I pray, weep not:[4519] 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:[4520] You have some cause, they have not.[4521] Cor. No cause, no cause. 75 Lear. Am I in France? Kent. In your own kingdom, sir. Lear. Do not abuse me.[4522] Doct. Be comforted, good madam: the great rage,[4523] You see, is kill'd in him: and yet it is danger[4523][4524][4525][4526] To make him even o'er the time he has lost.[4523][4525][4527] 80 Desire him to go in; trouble him no more[4523][4528] Till further settling.[4523] Cor. Will't please your highness walk?[4529] Lear. You must bear with me. Pray you now, forget[4530] and forgive: I am old and foolish.[4530] 85
[Exeunt all but Kent and Gentleman.[4531]
Gent. Holds it true, sir, that the Duke of Cornwall[4532][4533][4534] was so slain?[4532][4533] Kent. Most certain, sir.[4532][4533] Gent. Who is conductor of his people?[4532][4533] Kent. As 'tis said, the bastard son of Gloucester.[4532][4533][4535] 90 Gent. They say Edgar, his banished son, is with the[4532][4533] Earl of Kent in Germany.[4532][4533][4536] Kent. Report is changeable. 'Tis time to look about;[4532][4536][4537] the powers of the kingdom approach apace.[4532][4536][4537] Gent. The arbitrement is like to be bloody. Fare you[4532][4536][4537][4538] 95 well, sir. [Exit.[4532][4536][4537][4539] Kent. My point and period will be throughly wrought,[4532] Or well or ill, as this day's battle's fought. [Exit.[4532][4540]