COR. We two alone will sing like birds i'the cage: Who loses, and who wins; who's in, who's out;- EDM. a He that parts us shall bring a brand from heaven, And fire us hence like foxes. Wipe thine eyes; The goujeers shall devour them, flesh and fell, Ere they shall make us weep: we'll see 'em starvet first. Comc. [Exeunt LEAR and CORDELIA, guarded. EDM. Come hither, captain; hark. Take thou this note; [Giving a paper.] go, follow them to prison: One step I have advanc'd thee; if thou dost Does not become a sword :-thy great employment OFF. Mark, I say, instantly; and carry it so, b [oats; [Exit. OFF. I cannot draw a cart, nor eat dried If it be man's work, I will do 't. And fortune led you well: you have the captives EDM. Sir, I thought it fit My reason all the same; and they are ready And the best quarrels, in the heat, are curs'd ALB. Sir, by your patience, REG. GON. Not so hot: From a full-flowing stomach.-General, GON. Mean you to enjoy him? ALB. The let-alone lies not in your good will. EDM. Nor in thine, lord. ALB. (*) First folio, I. Half-blooded fellow, yes. (+) First folio omits, and appointed guard. (1) First folio, had. b 1 cannot draw a cart,-] The folio omits this speech. c Where you shall hold your session.] In the folio the speech terminates here. d That were the most, &c.] In the folio this is assigned to Albany. ethe walls are thine:] So the folio; the phrase, Warburton says, signifying, to surrender at discretion. EDM. Sound !* HER. Again. HER. Again. REG. Let the drum strike, and prove my title thine. [TO EDMUND. ALB. Stay yet; hear reason.-Edmund, I arrest thee On capital treason; and, in thine attaint,* I bar it in the interest of my wife; GON. An interlude! ALB. Thou art arm'd,, Gloster: let the trumpet sound: If none appear to prove upon thy person Ere I taste bread, thou art in nothing less REG. That names me traitor, villain-like he lies! ALB. A herald, ho! [After a pause a trumpet answers without. Enter EDGAR, armed, and preceded by a Trumpet. ALB. Ask him his purposes, why he appears Upon this call o' the trumpet. HER. Your name, your quality? and why you answer This present summons? EDG. Know, my name is lost; By treason's tooth bare- gnawn and canker-bit : Yet am I noble as the adversary I come to cope. ALB. What are you? Which is that adversary? EDG. What's he that speaks for Edmund earl of Gloster? EDM. Himself: what say'st thou to him? That, if my speech offend a noble heart, A most toad-spotted traitor! Say thou, No! Thou liest. EDM. 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, What safe and nicely I might well delay This sword of mine shall give them instant way, Where they shall rest for ever.-Trumpets, speak! [Alarums. They fight. EDMUND falls. ALB. Save him, save him! (t) First folio, loves. a EDM. A herald, ho, a herald !] Omitted in the folio. virtue ;] That is, valour. C OFF. Sound, trumpet!] Omitted in the folio. Behold, it is the privilege of mine honours,-] The quartos read, "Behold it is the priviledge of my tongue My oath and profession, &c. The priviledge of mine Honours, some 'say 'say means assay,=sample, or taste. practice,-] Stratagem, machination. Let's exchange charity. I am no less in blood than thou art, Edmund; The dark and vicious place where thee he got, EDM. Thou hast spoken right, 'tis true; The wheel is come full circle, I am here. ALB. Methought thy very gait did prophesy A royal nobleness:-I must embrace thee; Let sorrow split my heart, if ever I Did hate thee or thy father! EDG. Worthy prince, I know 't. ALB. Where have you hid yourself? How have you known the miseries of your father? EDG. By nursing them, my lord.-List a brief tale ; And, when 'tis told, O, that my heart would burst! The bloody proclamation to escape, (*) First folio, O, know'st. a Hearing of this.] The next three speeches are omitted in the folio. This speech of yours hath mov'd me, And shall perchance do good: but speak you on; You look as you had something more to say. ALB. If there be more, more woeful, hold it in ; For I am almost ready to dissolve, Hearing of this." EDG. This would have seem'd a period To such as love not sorrow; but another, Whilst I was big in clamour, came there in a man, Told the most piteous tale of Lear and him, Follow'd his enemy king, and did him service Enter a Gentleman hastily, with a bloody knife. GENT. Help! help! O help! EDG. ALB. What kind of help? Speak, man. EDG. What means that ‡ bloody knife? GENT. 'Tis hot, it smokes ; It came even from the heart of―O, she's dead! ALB. Who dead? speak, man! GENT. Your lady, sir, your lady:*and her sister By her is poison'd; she hath confess'd it.§ Here comes Kent. ALB. Produce their bodies, be they alive or dead; This judgment of the heavens, that makes us tremble, Touches us not with pity. [Exit Gentleman. |