William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (537 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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Exeunt
5.1Enter with a drummer and colours Edmond,
Regan,
Gentlemen, and soldiers
EDMOND
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.
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.
EDMOND
’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?
Tell me but truly—but then speak the truth-
Do you not love my sister?
EDMOND
In honoured love.
REGAN
But have you never found my brother’s way
To the forfended place?
To the forfended place?
EDMOND
No, by mine honour, madam.
REGAN
I never shall endure her. Dear my lord,
Be not familiar with her.
Be not familiar with her.
EDMOND Fear me not.
She and the Duke her husband—
Enter with a drummer and colours the Duke of Albany, Goneril, and soldiers
ALBANY (
to Regan
)
to Regan
)
Our very loving sister, well bemet.
(To Edmond) Sir, this I heard: the King is come to his
daughter,
With others whom the rigour of our state
Forced to cry out.
(To Edmond) Sir, this I heard: the King is come to his
daughter,
With others whom the rigour of our state
Forced to cry out.
REGAN
Why is this reasoned?
GONERIL
Combine together ’gainst the enemy;
For these domestic and particular broils
Are not the question here.
For these domestic and particular broils
Are not the question here.
ALBANY
Let’s then determine with th’ensign of war
On our proceeding.
On our proceeding.
REGAN
Sister, you’ll go with us?
GONERIL No.
REGAN
’Tis most convenient. Pray go with us.
GONERIL (aside)
O ho, I know the riddle! (To Regan) I will go.
Enter Edgar disguised as a peasant
EDGAR (
to Albany)
to Albany)
If e’er your grace had speech with man so poor,
Hear me one word.
Hear me one word.
ALBANY (to the others) I’ll overtake you.
Exeunt both the armies
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,
And machination ceases. Fortune love you.
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,
And machination ceases. Fortune love you.
ALBANY
Stay till I have read the letter.
EDGAR
I was forbid it.
When time shall serve, let but the herald cry,
And I’ll appear again.
And I’ll appear again.
ALBANY Why, fare thee well.
I will o’erlook thy paper.
Exit Edgar
Enter Edmond
EDMOND
The enemy’s in view; draw up your powers.
He ⌈offers⌉Albany a paper
Here is the guess of their true strength and forces
By diligent discovery; but your haste
Is now urged on you.
By diligent discovery; but your haste
Is now urged on you.
ALBANY
We will greet the time.
Exit
EDMOND
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 Goneril,
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 who would be rid of him devise
His speedy taking off. As for the 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.
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 Goneril,
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 who would be rid of him devise
His speedy taking off. As for the 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
5.2Alarum within. Enter with a drummer and colours King Lear, Queen Cordelia, and soldiers over the stage; and exeunt. Enter Edgar disguised as a peasant, guiding the blind Duke of Gloucester
EDGAR
Here, father, take the shadow of this tree
For your good host; pray that the right may thrive.
If ever I return to you again
I’ll bring you comfort.
For your good host; pray that the right may thrive.
If ever I return to you again
I’ll bring you comfort.
GLOUCESTER
Grace go with you, sir.
Exit Edgar
Alarum and retreat within. 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.
King Lear hath lost, he and his daughter ta’en.
Give me thy hand. Come on.
GLOUCESTER
No further, 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.
Their going hence even as their coming hither.
Ripeness is all. Come on.
GLOUCESTER
And that’s true, too.
Exit Edgar guiding Gloucester
5.3Enter in conquest with a drummer and colours Edmond; King Lear and Queen Cordelia as prisoners; soldiers; a Captain
EDMOND
Some officers take them away. Good guard
Until their greater pleasures first be known
That are to censure them.
Until their greater pleasures first be known
That are to censure them.
CORDELIA (
to Lear
)
to Lear
)
We are not the first
Who with best meaning have incurred the worst.
For thee, oppressed King, I am cast down,
Myself could else outfrown false fortune’s frown.
Shall we not see these daughters and these sisters?
For thee, oppressed King, I am cast down,
Myself could else outfrown false fortune’s frown.
Shall we not see these daughters and these sisters?
LEAR
No, no, 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.
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.
EDMOND (to soldiers)
Take them away.
LEAR
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 them, flesh and fell,
Ere they shall make us weep. We’ll see ’em starved
first. Come. Exeunt all but Edmond and the Captain
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 them, flesh and fell,
Ere they shall make us weep. We’ll see ’em starved
first. Come. Exeunt all but Edmond and the Captain
EDMOND 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‘It do’t,
Or thrive by other means.
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‘It do’t,
Or thrive by other means.
CAPTAIN
I’ll do’t, my lord.
EDMOND
About it, and write ‘happy’ when thou’st done.
Mark, I say, instantly, and carry it so
As I have set it down.
Mark, I say, instantly, and carry it so
As I have set it down.
Exit the Captain
Flourish. Enter the Duke of
Albany, Goneril,
Regan,
⌈
drummer
,
trumpeter⌉
and soldiers
ALBANY
Sir, you have showed today your valiant strain,
And fortune led you well. You have the captives
Who were the opposites of this day’s strife.
I do require them of you, so to use them
As we shall find their merits and our safety
May equally determine.
And fortune led you well. You have the captives
Who were the opposites of this day’s strife.
I do require them of you, so to use them
As we shall find their merits and our safety
May equally determine.
EDMOND
Sir, I thought it fit
To send the old and miserable King
To some retention and appointed guard,
Whose age had 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, t’appear
Where you shall hold your session.
To some retention and appointed guard,
Whose age had 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, t’appear
Where you shall hold your session.
ALBANY
Sir, by your patience,
I hold you but a subject of this war,
Not as a brother.
Not as a brother.
REGAN
That’s as we list to grace him.
Methinks our pleasure might have been demanded
Ere you had spoke so far. He led our powers,
Bore the commission of my place and person,
The which immediacy may well stand up
And call itself your brother.
Ere you had spoke so far. He led our powers,
Bore the commission of my place and person,
The which immediacy may well stand up
And call itself your brother.
GONERIL
Not so hot.
In his own grace he doth exalt himself
More than in your addition.
More than in your addition.
REGAN
In my rights
By me invested, he compeers the best.
ALBANY
That were the most if he should husband you.
REGAN
Jesters do oft prove prophets.
GONERIL
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 Edmond) General,
Take thou my soldiers, prisoners, patrimony.
Dispose of them, of me. The walls is thine.
Witness the world that I create thee here
My lord and master.
From a full-flowing stomach. (To Edmond) General,
Take thou my soldiers, prisoners, patrimony.
Dispose of them, of me. The walls is thine.
Witness the world that I create thee here
My lord and master.
GONERIL
Mean you to enjoy him?
ALBANY
The let-alone lies not in your good will.
EDMOND
Nor in thine, lord.
ALBANY
Half-blooded fellow, yes.
REGAN (to Edmond)
Let the drum strike and prove my title thine.
ALBANY
Stay yet, hear reason. Edmond, I arrest thee
On capital treason, and in thy 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 your banns.
If you will marry, make your loves to me.
My lady is bespoke.
On capital treason, and in thy 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 your banns.
If you will marry, make your loves to me.
My lady is bespoke.
GONERIL
An interlude!
ALBANY
Thou art armed, Gloucester. Let the trumpet sound.
If none appear to prove upon thy person
Thy heinous, manifest, and many treasons,
There is my pledge.
If none appear to prove upon thy person
Thy heinous, manifest, and many treasons,
There is my pledge.
⌈
He
throws down a
glove⌉
I’ll make it on thy heart,
Ere I taste bread, thou art in nothing less
Than I have here proclaimed thee.
Than I have here proclaimed thee.
REGAN Sick, O sick!
GONERIL (aside) If not, I’ll ne’er trust medicine.
EDMOND (to Albany, ⌈
throwing
down a
glovel
⌉
throwing
down a
glovel
⌉
There’s my exchange. What in the world he is
That names me traitor, villain-like he lies.
Call by the trumpet. He that dares, approach;
On him, on you,—who not?—I will maintain
My truth and honour firmly.
That names me traitor, villain-like he lies.
Call by the trumpet. He that dares, approach;
On him, on you,—who not?—I will maintain
My truth and honour firmly.
ALBANY
A herald, ho!
Enter a Herald
(To Edmond) Trust to thy single virtue, for thy soldiers,
All levied in my name, have in my name
Took their discharge.
All levied in my name, have in my name
Took their discharge.
REGAN
My sickness grows upon me.
ALBANY
She is not well. Convey her to my tent.
Exit one or more with Regan
Come hither, herald. Let the trumpet sound,
And read out this.
And read out this.
A trumpet sounds
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