Act 5 — Scene III. The British camp near Dover.
Reading edition
Enter, in conquest, with drum and colours, Edmund; Lear and Cordelia, as prisoners; Captain, Soldiers, &c.[4598]
Edm. Some officers take them away: good guard, Until their greater pleasures first be known[4599] That are to censure them. Cor. We are not the first[4600][4601] Who with best meaning have incurr'd the worst.[4600] For thee, oppressed king, am I cast down;[4600][4602] 5 Myself could else out-frown false fortune's frown.[4603] Shall we not see these daughters and these sisters? Lear. No, no, no, no! Come, let's away to prison:[4604] We two alone will sing like birds i' the cage: When thou dost ask me blessing, I'll kneel down 10 And ask of thee forgiveness: so we'll live, And pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and laugh[4605] At gilded butterflies, and hear poor rogues Talk of court news; and we'll talk with them too,[4606] Who loses and who wins, who's in, who's out;[4607] 15 And take upon's the mystery of things, As if we were God's spies: and we'll wear out, In a wall'd prison, packs and sects of great ones[4608] That ebb and flow by the moon. Edm. Take them away. Lear. Upon such sacrifices, my Cordelia, 20 The gods themselves throw incense. Have I caught thee?[4609] He that parts us shall bring a brand from heaven, And fire us hence like foxes. Wipe thine eyes;[4610] The good-years shall devour them, flesh and fell,[4611][4612] Ere they shall make us weep: we'll see 'em starve first.[4612][4613] 25 Come. [Exeunt Lear and Cordelia, guarded.[4613][4614] Edm. Come hither, captain; hark.[4615] Take thou this note: go follow them to prison:[4616] One step I have advanced thee; if thou dost[4617][4618] As this instructs thee, thou dost make thy way[4618] 30 To noble fortunes: know thou this, that men[4618] Are as the time is: to be tender-minded[4618][4619] Does not become a sword: thy great employment[4618][4620] Will not bear question; either say thou'lt do 't,[4618][4621] Or thrive by other means.[4618] Capt. I'll do 't, my lord. 35 Edm. About it; and write happy when thou hast done.[4622] Mark; I say, instantly, and carry it so[4623] As I have set it down. Capt. I cannot draw a cart, nor eat dried oats;[4624] If it be man's work, I'll do't. [Exit.[4624]40
Flourish. Enter Albany, Goneril, Regan, another Captain, and Soldiers.[4625]
Alb. Sir, you have shown to-day your valiant strain,[4626] And fortune led you well: you have the captives[4627] That were the opposites of this day's strife:[4628] We do require them of you, so to use them[4629] As we shall find their merits and our safety 45 May equally determine. Edm. Sir, I thought it fit[4630] To send the old and miserable king[4631][4632] To some retention and appointed guard;[4631][4633] Whose age has charms in it, whose title more,[4634] To pluck the common bosom on his side,[4635] 50 And turn our impress'd lances in our eyes Which do command them. With him I sent the queen:[4636] My reason all the same; and they are ready[4636][4637] To-morrow or at further space to appear[4637][4638] Where you shall hold your session. At this time[4637][4639][4640][4641] 55 We sweat and bleed: the friend hath lost his friend;[4640][4641] And the best quarrels, in the heat, are cursed[4641] By those that feel their sharpness.[4641][4642] The question of Cordelia and her father[4641] Requires a fitter place.[4641] Alb. Sir, by your patience, 60 I hold you but a subject of this war,[4643] Not as a brother.[4643] Reg. That's as we list to grace him. Methinks our pleasure might have been demanded,[4644] Ere you had spoke so far. He led our powers, Bore the commission of my place and person; 65 The which immediacy may well stand up[4645] And call itself your brother. Gon. Not so hot:[4646] In his own grace he doth exalt himself[4646] More than in your addition.[4646][4647] Reg. In my rights,[4648][4649] By me invested, he compeers the best.[4649] 70 Gon. That were the most, if he should husband you.[4650] Reg. Jesters do oft prove prophets. Gon. Holla, holla![4651][4652] That eye that told you so look'd but a-squint.[4652][4653] Reg. Lady, I am not well; else I should answer From a full-flowing stomach. General, Take thou my soldiers, prisoners, patrimony; Dispose of them, of me; the walls are thine:[4654] Witness the world, that I create thee here My lord and master. Gon. Mean you to enjoy him?[4655] Alb. The let-alone lies not in your good will.[4656] 80 Edm. Nor in thine, lord. Alb. Half-blooded fellow, yes. Reg. [To Edmund] Let the drum strike, and prove my title thine.[4657] Alb. Stay yet; hear reason. Edmund, I arrest thee[4658] On capital treason; and in thine attaint[4659] This gilded serpent [pointing to Gon.]. For your claim, fair sister,[4660]85 I bar it in the interest of my wife;[4661] 'Tis she is sub-contracted to this lord,[4662] And I, her husband, contradict your bans.[4663] If you will marry, make your loves to me;[4664] My lady is bespoke. Gon. An interlude![4665] 90 Alb. Thou art arm'd, Gloucester: let the trumpet sound:[4665][4666] If none appear to prove upon thy person[4667] Thy heinous, manifest, and many treasons, There is my pledge [throwing down a glove]: I'll prove it on thy heart,[4668][4669] Ere I taste bread, thou art in nothing less 95 Than I have here proclaim'd thee. Reg. Sick, O, sick! Gon. [Aside] If not, I'll ne'er trust medicine.[4670] Edm. [Throwing down a glove] There's my exchange: what in the world he is[4668][4671] That names me traitor, villain-like he lies: Call by thy trumpet: he that dares approach,[4672] 100 On him, on you,—who not?—I will maintain[4673] My truth and honour firmly. Alb. A herald, ho! Edm. A herald, ho, a herald![4674] Alb. Trust to thy single virtue; for thy soldiers,[4675] All levied in my name, have in my name[4676] 105 Took their discharge.[4676][4677] Reg. My sickness grows upon me. Alb. She is not well; convey her to my tent.
[Exit Regan, led.
Enter a Herald.[4678]
Come hither, herald,—Let the trumpet sound,—[4679][4680] And read out this.[4679] Capt. Sound, trumpet! [A trumpet sounds.[4681] 110 Her. [Reads] 'If any man of quality or degree within[4682][4683] the lists of the army will maintain upon Edmund, supposed[4683] Earl of Gloucester, that he is a manifold traitor, let him[4684] appear by the third sound of the trumpet: he is bold in[4685] his defence.' 115 Edm. Sound! [First trumpet.[4686] Her. Again! [Second trumpet.[4687] Her. Again! [Third trumpet.
[Trumpet answers within.
Enter Edgar, at the third sound, armed, with a trumpet before him.[4688]
Alb. Ask him his purposes, why he appears Upon this call o' the trumpet. Her. What are you?[4689] 120 Your name, your quality? and why you answer[4689][4690] This present summons?[4689] Edg. Know, my name is lost;[4691][4692][4693] By treason's tooth bare-gnawn and canker-bit:[4692][4693] Yet am I noble as the adversary[4692][4694] I come to cope.[4692][4695] Alb. Which is that adversary? 125 Edg. What's he that speaks for Edmund, Earl of Gloucester? Edm. Himself: what say'st thou to him? Edg. Draw thy sword, That if my speech offend a noble heart,[4696] Thy arm may do thee justice: here is mine.[4696][4697] Behold, it is the privilege of mine honours,[4698] 130 My oath, and my profession: I protest, Maugre thy strength, youth, place and eminence,[4699] Despite thy victor sword and fire-new fortune,[4700] Thy valour and thy heart, thou art a traitor, False to thy gods, thy brother and thy father,[4701] 135 Conspirant 'gainst this high illustrious prince,[4702] And from the extremest upward of thy head To the descent and dust below thy foot,[4703] A most toad-spotted traitor. Say thou 'No,' This sword, this arm and my best spirits are bent[4704][4705] 140 To prove upon thy heart, whereto I speak,[4704] Thou liest.[4704] Edm. In wisdom I should ask thy name,[4706] But since thy outside looks so fair and warlike And that thy tongue some say of breeding breathes,[4707] What safe and nicely I might well delay[4708] 145 By rule of knighthood, I disdain and spurn:[4709] Back do I toss these treasons to thy head;[4710] With the hell-hated lie o'erwhelm thy heart;[4711] Which for they yet glance by and scarcely bruise,[4712] This sword of mine shall give them instant way, 150 Where they shall rest for ever. Trumpets, speak!
[Alarums. They fight. Edmund falls.[4713]
Alb. Save him, save him![4714] Gon. This is practice, Gloucester:[4715][4716] By the law of arms thou wast not bound to answer[4715][4717] An unknown opposite; thou art not vanquish'd,[4715] But cozen'd and beguiled.[4715] Alb. Shut your mouth, dame,[4718][4719] 155 Or with this paper shall I stop it. Hold, sir;[4718][4720] Thou worse than any name, read thine own evil.[4718][4721] No tearing, lady; I perceive you know it.[4718][4722] Gon. Say, if I do, the laws are mine, not thine:[4723] Who can arraign me for't?[4723][4724] Alb. Most monstrous![4725] 160 Know'st thou this paper?[4725] Gon. Ask me not what I know. [Exit.[4726] Alb. Go after her: she's desperate; govern her.[4727] Edm. What you have charged me with, that have I done;[4728] And more, much more; the time will bring it out: 'Tis past, and so am I. But what art thou[4729] 165 That hast this fortune on me? If thou'rt noble,[4729][4730] I do forgive thee.[4729] Edg. Let's exchange charity.[4731] I am no less in blood than thou art, Edmund; If more, the more thou hast wrong'd me.[4732] My name is Edgar, and thy father's son. 170 The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices[4733] Make instruments to plague us:[4734][4735] The dark and vicious place where thee he got[4734][4736] Cost him his eyes.[4734] Edm. Thou hast spoken right, 'tis true;[4737][4738] The wheel is come full circle; I am here.[4737][4739] 175 Alb. Methought thy very gait did prophesy[4740] A royal nobleness: I must embrace thee: Let sorrow split my heart, if ever I[4741] Did hate thee or thy father![4741] Edg. Worthy prince, I know't.[4742] Alb. Where have you hid yourself?[4743] 180 How have you known the miseries of your father?[4743][4744] Edg. By nursing them, my lord. List a brief tale;[4745] And when 'tis told, O, that my heart would burst![4745][4746] The bloody proclamation to escape[4745][4746] That follow'd me so near,—O, our lives' sweetness![4745][4747] 185 That we the pain of death would hourly die[4745][4748] Rather than die at once!—taught me to shift[4745] Into a madman's rags, to assume a semblance[4745] That very dogs disdain'd: and in this habit[4745][4749] Met I my father with his bleeding rings,[4745] 190 Their precious stones new lost; became his guide,[4750] Led him, begg'd for him, saved him from despair; Never—O fault!—reveal'd myself unto him,[4751] Until some half-hour past, when I was arm'd;[4752] Not sure, though hoping, of this good success, 195 I ask'd his blessing, and from first to last Told him my pilgrimage: but his flaw'd heart,—[4753][4754] Alack, too weak the conflict to support!—[4754] 'Twixt two extremes of passion, joy and grief,[4754][4755] Burst smilingly.[4756] Edm. This speech of yours hath moved me, 200 And shall perchance do good: but speak you on; You look as you had something more to say. Alb. If there be more, more woful, hold it in;[4757] For I am almost ready to dissolve, Hearing of this.[4758] Edg. This would have seem'd a period[4759][4760][4761][4762] 205 To such as love not sorrow; but another,[4759][4760][4762][4763][4764] To amplify too much, would make much more,[4759][4760][4762][4764][4765] And top extremity.[4759][4760] Whilst I was big in clamour, came there in a man,[4759][4766] Who, having seen me in my worst estate,[4759][4767] 210 Shunn'd my abhorr'd society; but then, finding[4759][4768] Who 'twas that so endured, with his strong arms[4759][4769] He fasten'd on my neck, and bellow'd out[4759][4770] As he'ld burst heaven; threw him on my father;[4759][4771] Told the most piteous tale of Lear and him[4759][4772] 215 That ever ear received: which in recounting[4759] His grief grew puissant, and the strings of life[4759][4773] Began to crack: twice then the trumpets sounded,[4759][4774] And there I left him tranced.[4759] Alb. But who was this?[4759] Edg. Kent, sir, the banish'd Kent; who in disguise[4759] 220 Follow'd his enemy king, and did him service[4759][4775] Improper for a slave.[4759]
Enter a Gentleman, with a bloody knife.[4776]
Gent. Help, help, O, help![4777][4778] Edg. What kind of help?[4779] Alb. Speak, man. Edg. What means this bloody knife?[4779] Gent. 'Tis hot, it smokes;[4780][4781] It came even from the heart of—O, she's dead![4781][4782] 225 Alb. Who dead? speak, man.[4783] Gent. Your lady, sir, your lady: and her sister By her is poisoned; she hath confess'd it.[4784] Edm. I was contracted to them both: all three Now marry in an instant. Edg. Here comes Kent.[4785] 230 Alb. Produce the bodies, be they alive or dead.
[Exit Gentleman.[4786]
This judgement of the heavens, that makes us tremble,[4787] Touches us not with pity.
Enter Kent.
O, is this he?[4788][4789] The time will not allow the compliment[4789][4790] Which very manners urges.[4789][4791] Kent. I am come[4792][4793] 235 To bid my king and master aye good night:[4793] Is he not here? Alb. Great thing of us forgot![4794][4795][4796] Speak, Edmund, where's the king? and where's Cordelia?[4795] See'st thou this object, Kent?[4795]
[The bodies of Goneril and Regan are brought in.[4797]
Kent. Alack, why thus? Edm. Yet Edmund was beloved:[4798] 240 The one the other poison'd for my sake,[4798][4799] And after slew herself.[4798][4800] Alb. Even so. Cover their faces.[4794] Edm. I pant for life: some good I mean to do,[4801] Despite of mine own nature. Quickly send,[4801][4802] 245 Be brief in it, to the castle; for my writ[4801][4803] Is on the life of Lear and on Cordelia:[4801][4804] Nay, send in time.[4801] Alb. Run, run, O, run![4794][4805] Edg. To who, my lord? Who hath the office? send[4806][4807] Thy token of reprieve.[4806] 250 Edm. Well thought on: take my sword,[4808] Give it the captain.[4808] Alb. Haste thee, for thy life. [Exit Edgar.[4794][4809] Edm. He hath commission from thy wife and me[4810] To hang Cordelia in the prison, and[4810] To lay the blame upon her own despair,[4810] 255 That she fordid herself.[4810][4811] Alb. The gods defend her! Bear him hence awhile.[4794]
[Edmund is borne off.[4812]
Re-enter Lear, with Cordelia dead in his arms; Edgar, Captain, and others following.
Lear. Howl, howl, howl, howl! O, you are men of stones:[4813] Had I your tongues and eyes, I'ld use them so That heaven's vault should crack. She's gone for ever![4814] 260 I know when one is dead and when one lives; She's dead as earth. Lend me a looking-glass; If that her breath will mist or stain the stone,[4815][4816] Why, then she lives.[4815][4817] Kent. Is this the promised end? Edg. Or image of that horror? Alb. Fall and cease.[4794][4818] 265 Lear. This feather stirs; she lives. If it be so,[4819] It is a chance which does redeem all sorrows[4819][4820] That ever I have felt.[4819] Kent. [Kneeling] O my good master![4821] Lear. Prithee, away. Edg. 'Tis noble Kent, your friend. Lear. A plague upon you, murderers, traitors all![4822][4823] 270 I might have saved her; now she's gone for ever![4822] Cordelia, Cordelia! stay a little. Ha![4822][4824] What is't thou say'st? Her voice was ever soft,[4822][4825] Gentle and low, an excellent thing in woman.[4822][4826] I kill'd the slave that was a-hanging thee.[4822] 275 Capt. 'Tis true, my lords, he did.[4827] Lear. Did I not, fellow?[4828] I have seen the day, with my good biting falchion[4828][4829] I would have made them skip: I am old now,[4828][4830] And these same crosses spoil me. Who are you?[4828] Mine eyes are not o' the best: I'll tell you straight.[4828][4831] 280 Kent. If fortune brag of two she loved and hated,[4832] One of them we behold.[4833] Lear. This is a dull sight. Are you not Kent?[4834] Kent. The same,[4835] Your servant Kent. Where is your servant Caius?[4835] Lear. He's a good fellow, I can tell you that;[4836] 285 He'll strike, and quickly too: he's dead and rotten.[4837] Kent. No, my good lord; I am the very man—[4838] Lear. I'll see that straight. Kent. That from your first of difference and decay[4839] Have follow'd your sad steps. Lear. You are welcome hither.[4840] 290 Kent. Nor no man else: all's cheerless, dark and deadly.[4841] Your eldest daughters have fordone themselves.[4842] And desperately are dead. Lear. Ay, so I think.[4843] Alb. He knows not what he says, and vain is it[4794][4844] That we present us to him. Edg. Very bootless. 295
Enter a Captain.[4845]
Capt. Edmund is dead, my lord.[4846] Alb. That's but a trifle here.[4847][4848] You lords and noble friends, know our intent.[4847] What comfort to this great decay may come[4847][4849] Shall be applied: for us, we will resign,[4847] During the life of this old majesty,[4847] 300 To him our absolute power: [To Edgar and Kent] you, to your rights;[4847][4850] With boot, and such addition as your honours[4847][4851] Have more than merited. All friends shall taste[4847][4852] The wages of their virtue, and all foes[4852] The cup of their deservings. O, see, see![4852][4853] 305 Lear. And my poor fool is hang'd! No, no, no life![4854][4855] Why should a dog, a horse, a rat, have life,[4854][4856] And thou no breath at all? Thou'lt come no more,[4854][4857] Never, never, never, never, never![4854][4858] Pray you, undo this button: thank you, sir.[4854][4859][4860] 310 Do you see this? Look on her, look, her lips,[4860][4861] Look there, look there! [Dies.[4860] Edg. He faints. My lord, my lord![4862] Kent. Break, heart; I prithee, break! Edg. Look up, my lord.[4863] Kent. Vex not his ghost: O, let him pass! he hates him[4864][4865] That would upon the rack of this tough world[4864][4866] 315 Stretch him out longer.[4864] Edg. He is gone indeed.[4867] Kent. The wonder is he hath endured so long: He but usurp'd his life.[4868] Alb. Bear them from hence. Our present business[4869] Is general woe. [To Kent and Edgar] Friends of my soul, you twain[4870]320 Rule in this realm and the gored state sustain.[4871] Kent. I have a journey, sir, shortly to go;[4872] My master calls me, I must not say no.[4872][4873] Alb. The weight of this sad time we must obey,[4872][4874] Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say.[4872] 325 The oldest hath borne most: we that are young[4872][4875] Shall never see so much, nor live so long.