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low them to prison:

Are of the adder. Which of them shall I take? Take thon this note: [Giving a Paper.] go, fol-
Both? one? or neither? Neither can be enjoy'd,
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 nevor see his pardon: for my state
Stands on me to defend, not to debate,

[Exit.

SCENE II. A Field between the two Camps. Alarum within. Enter, with Drum and Colours, LEAR, CORDELIA, and their Forces; and exeunt. Enter EDGAR and GLOSTER.

Edg. Here, father, take the shadow of this tree For your good host: pray that the right may If ever I return to you again, [thrive: I'll bring you comfort. Glo. Grace go with you, sir! [Exit EDGAR. Alarums; afterwards a Retreat. Re-enter EDGAR. Edg. Away, old man, give me thy hand, away: King Lear hath lost, he and his daughter ta'en:| Give me thy hand, come on.

Glo. No further, sir; a man may rot even here. Edg. What, in ill thoughts again? Men must endure

Their going hence, even as their coming hither:
Ripeness is all: Come on.
Glo.

And that's true too. [Exeunt. SCENE III. The British Camp near Dover. Enter, in Conquest, with Drum and Colours, ED MUND; LEAR and CORDELIA, as Prisoners: Offì-| cers, Soldiers, &c.

Edm. Some officers take them away; good guard;

Until their greater pleasures first be known
That are to censure them,

Cor.
We are not the first,
Who, with best meaning, have incurr'd the

worst.

For thee, oppressed king, am I cast down;
Myself could else outfrown false fortune's frown.
Shall we not see these daughters, and these
sisters?
[prison:
Lear. No, no, no, no! Come, let's away to
We two alone will sing like birds i' the 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 courtnews; and we'll talk with them too,
Who loses, and who wins; who's in, who's out;-
And take upon us 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,
That ebb and flow by the moon.
Elm.
Take them away.
Lear. Upon such sacrifices, my Cordelia,
The gods themselves throw incense. Have I
caught thee?
[ven,
He, that parts us, shall bring a brand from hea-
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 them
starve first.

Come. [Exeunt LEAB and CORDELIA, guarded.
Edm. Come hither, captain: hark.

One step I have advanc'd thee; if thon 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 employ-

ment

Will not bear question: either say, thou'lt do't, Or thrive by other means.

off.
I'll do't, my lord.
Edm. About it; and write happy, when thou
hast done.

Mark,-I say instantly; and carry it so,
As I have set it down.

Off I cannot draw a cart, nor eat dried oats: If it be man's work, I will do it! [Exit Officer. Flourish. Enter ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, Officers, and Attendants.

Edm.

Alb. Sir, you have shown to-day your valiant strain, And fortune led you well: You have the captives Who were the opposites of this day's strife: We do require them of you; so to use them, As we shall find their merits and our safety May equally determine. Sir, I thought it fit To send the old and miserable king To some retention, and appointed guard; Whose age has charms in it, whose title more, To pluck the common bosom on his side, And turn our impress'd lances in our eyes Which do command them. With him I sent the queen;

My reason all the same; and they are ready
To-morrow, or at further space, to appear
Where you shall hold your session. At this time
We sweat and bleed: the friend hath lost his
friend:

And the best quarrels, in the heat, are curs'd
By those that feel their sharpness:-
The question of Cordelia, and her father,
Requires a fitter place.

Alb.
Sir, by your patience,
I hold you but a subject of this war,
Not as a brother.

Reg.

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. Gon. Not so hot: In his own grace he doth exalt himself, More than in your advancement. Reg.

In my rights,

By me invested, he compeers the best.
Gon. That were the most, if he should husband
Reg. Jesters do oft prove prophets. [you.
Gon.
Holla, holla!
That eye, that told you so, look'd but a-squint.
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:
Witness the world, that I create thee here
My lord and master,
Gon.
Mean you to enjoy him?
Alb. The let alone lies not in your good will
Edm. Nor in thine, lord.
Alb.
Half-blooded fellow, yes.
Reg. Let the drum strike, and prove my title
thine.
[To EDMUND.

Alb. Stay yet; hear reason:-Edmund, I ar- A most toad-spotted traitor. Say thou, No,

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Alb. Thon art arm'd, Gloster:-Let the trum-
pet sound:

If none appear to prove upon thy person,
Thy heinous, manifest, and many treasons,
There is my pledge: (Throwing down a Glove.]
I'll prove it on thy heart,

Ere I taste bread, thou art in nothing less
Than I have here proclaim'd thee.
Reg.

Sick, O, sick!
Gon. If not, I'll ne'er trust poison. [Aside.
Edm. There's my exchange: [Throwing down
a Glove.] what in the world he is

That names me traitor, villain-like he lies:
Call by thy trumpet: he that dares approach,
Ou him, on you, (who not ?) I will maintain
My truth and honour firmly.

Alb. A herald, ho!
Edm.
A herald, ho, a herald!
Alb. Trust to thy singlevirtue; for thy soldiers,
All levied in my name, have in my name
Took their discharge.

Reg.

This sickness grows upon me.
Enter a Herald.

Alb. She is not well: convey her to my tent.
[Ecit REGAN, led.
Come hither, herald.-Let the trumpet sound,-
And read out this.

Off. Sound, trumpet.

[A Trumpet sounds.

Herald reads. If any man of quality, or degree, within the lists of the army, will maintain upon Edmund, supposed earl of Gloster, that he is a manifold traitor, let him appear at the third sound of the trumpet: he is bold in his defence.

Elm. Sound.

Her. Again.

Her. Again.

This sword, this arm, and my best spirits, are
bent

To prove upon thy heart, whereto I speak,
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
By rule of knighthood, I disdain and spurn:
Back do I toss these treasons to thy head:
With the hell-hated lie o'erwhelm thy heart;
Which, (for they yet glance by, and scarcely
bruise),

This sword of mine shall give them instant way,
Where they shall rest for ever.-Trumpets,
speak. [Alarums. They fight. EDM, jails.
Alb. O save him, save him!

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No tearing, lady; I perceive you know it.
[Gives the letter to EDMUND.
Gon. Say, if I do; the laws are mine, not
Who shall arraign me for't?
[thine:
Alb.
Most monstrous!

Know'st thou this paper?

Gon. Ask me not what I know. [Exit. Alb. Goafter her; she's desperate; govern her. [To an Officer, who goes out, Edm. What you have charg'd me with, that have I done; [out: And more, much more; the time will bring it 'Tis past, and so am I: But what art thou, That hast this fortune on me? If thou art noble, I do forgive thee. Let's exchange charity.

Edg.

Edm, Thou hast spoken right, 'tis true; The wheel is come full circle; I am here.

I am no less in blood than thou art, Edmund; [1 Trumpet. If more, the more thou hast wrong'd me. [2 Trumpet. My name is Edgar, and thy father's son. [3 Trumpet. The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices [Trumpet answers within. Make instruments to scourge us: Enter EDGAR, armed, preceded by a Trumpet. The dark and vicious place where thee he got, Alb, Ask him his purposes, why he appears Cost him his eyes. Upon this call o' the trumpet. Her. What are you? Your name, your quality? and why you answer This present summons? Edy. 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 withal. Alb. Which is that adversary? Edg. What's he, that speaks for Edmund earl of Gloster?

Edm. Himself;-What say'st thou to him?
Edg.
Draw thy sword:
That, if my speech offend a noble heart,
Thy arm may do thee justice: here is mine.
Behold, it is the privilege of mine honours,
My oath, and my profession: I protest,-
Maugre thystrength, youth,place,and eminence,
Despite thy victor sword, and fire-new fortune,
Thy valour, and thy heart.-thou art a traitor:
False to thy gods, thy brother, and thy father,
Conspirant gainst this high illustrious prince;
And, from the extremest upward of thy head,
To the descent and dust beneath thy feet,

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?

[tale:

Edg. By nursing them, my lord.-List a brief And, when 'tis told, O, that my heart would The bloody proclamation to escape, [burst! That follow'd me so near (O our lives' sweetness! That with the pain of death we'd hourly die, Rather than die at once!) taught me to shift Into a madman's rags: to assume a semblance That very dogs disdain'd: and in this habit Met I my father with his bleeding rings, Their precious stones new lost; became his guide, Led him, begg'd for him, sav'd him from despair; Never (O fault!) reveal'd myself unto him, Until some half hour past, when I was arm'd, Not sure, though hoping, of this good success,

I ask'd his blessing, and from first to last Told him my pilgrimage: But his flaw'd heart (Alack, too weak the conflict to support!) "Twixt two extremes of passion, joy and grief, Burst smilingly.

Edm. This speech of yours hath moved 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 woful, hold it in;
For I am almost ready to dissolve,
Hearing of this.
Edg. This would have seemed a period
To such as love not sorrow, but another,
To amplify too much, would make much more,
And top extremity.

Whilst I was big in clamour, came there a man,
Who having seen me in my worst estate,
Shunn'd my abhorr'd society; but then, finding
Who 'twas that so endur'd, with his strong arms
He fasten'd on my neck, and bellow'd out
As he'd burst heaven: threw him on my father;
Told the most pitecus tale of Lear and him,
That ever ear receiv'd: which in recounting
His grief grew puissant, and the strings of life
Began to crack: Twice then the trumpet
And there I left him tranc'd.
[sounded,

Alh.

But who was this? Edg. Kent, sir, the banish'd Kent; who in disguise

Follow'd his enemy king, and did him service
Improper for a slave.
Enter a Gentlemau hastily, with a bloody Knife.
Gent. Help! help! O help!
Edg.

What kind of help?
Alb.
Speak, man.
Edg. What means that bloody knife?
Gent.
'Tis hot, it smokes;
It came even from the heart of--
Alb.
Who, man? speak.
Gent. Your lady, sir, your lady: and her sister
By her is poison'd; she hath confess'd it.

Edm. I was contracted to them both; all three Now marry in an instant.

Alb. Produce their bodies, be they alive or dead! [tremble, This judgment of the heavens, that makes us Touches us not with pity. [Exit Gentleman. Enter KENT.

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To bid my king and master aye good night;
Is he not here?

Alb.
Great thing of us forgot!-
Speak, Edmund, where's the king? and where's
Seest thou this object, Kent? [Cordelia?
[The bodies of GON, and REG. are brought in.
Kent. Alack, why thus?
Edm.

Yet Edmund was belov'd: The one the other poison'd for my sake, And after slew herself.

Alb. Even so.-Cover their faces. Elm. I pant for life :-Some good I mean to do, Despite of mine own nature. Quickly send,— Be brief in it,-to the castle, for my writ Is on the life of Lear, and on Cordelia :Nay, send in time.

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Alb. Haste thee, for thy life. [Exit EDGAR. Edm. He hath commission from thy wife and To hang Cordelia in the prison, and [me To lay the blame upon her own despair, That she forbid herself.

Alb. The gods defend her! Bear him hence awhile. [EDMUND is borne off. Enter LEAR, with CORDELIA dead in his Arms; EDGAR, Officer, and Others.

Lear. Howl, howl, howl, howl!-O, you are men of stones;

Had I your tongues and eyes, I'd use them so That heaven's vault should crack:-0, she is gone for ever!

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, Why, then she lives.

Kent. Is this the promis'd end? Edg. Or image of that horror? Alb. Fall, and cease! Lear. This feather stirs; she lives! if it be so, It is a chance that does redeem all sorrows That ever I have felt.

Kent.

O my good master! [Kneeling. Lear. 'Pr'ythee, away. Edg.

all!

'Tis noble Kent, your friend. Lear. A plague upon you, murderers, traitors [ever!-I might have sav'd her: now she's gone for Cordelia, Cordelia, stay a little. Ha! What is't thou say'st?-Her voice was ever soft, Gentle, and low; an excellent thing in woman: I kill'd the slave that was a hanging thee. Off. 'Tis true, my lords, he did. Lear Did I not, fellow? I have seen the day,with my good biting falchion I would have made them skip: I am old now. And these same crosses spoil me.-Who are you? Mine eyes are none o' the best:-I'll tell you straight.

Kent. If fortune brag of two she lov'd and One of them we behold. [hated, Lear. This is a dull sight: Are you not Kent? Kent.

The same:

Your servant Kent: Where is your servant Cains?

Lear. He's a good fellow, I can tell you that; He'll strike, and quickly too:-He's dead and rotten.

Kent, No, my good lord, I am the very man;-Lear. I'll see that straight.

Kent. That from your first of difference and Have follow'd your sad steps. [decay,

Lear.
You are welcome hither.
Kent. Nor no man else; all's cheerless, dark,
and deadly.-

Your eldest daughters have foredoom'd them-
And desperately are dead.
[selves,

Lear. Ay, so I think. Alb. He knows not what he says; and vain That we present us to him, [it is Edg.

Very bootless.

Enter an Officer. Off. Edmund is dead, my lord. Alb. That's but a trifle here.You lords, and noble friends, know our intent. What comfort to this great decay may come, Shall be applied; for us, we will resign, During the life of this old majesty, To him our absolute power:-You, to your rights; [To EDGAR and KENT. With boot, and such addition as your honours Have more than merited:-All friends shall taste The wages of their virtue, and all foes

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That would upon the rack of this tough world
Stretch him out longer.

Edg.
O, he is gone indeed.
Kent. The wonder is, he hath endur'd so long:
[business
He but usurp'd his life.

Alb. Bear them from thence.-Our present
Is general woe. Friends of my soul, you twain
[To KENT and EDGAR.
Rule in this realm, and the gorg'd state sustain.
Kent. I have a journey, sir, shortly to go;
My master calls, and I must not say, no.

Alb. The weight of this sad time we must obey:
Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say.
The oldest hath borne most; we, that are young,
Shall never see so much, nor live so long.
[Exeunt with a dead March.

Romeo and Juliet.

ESCALUS, Prince of Verona.

Persons Represented.

PARIS, a young Nobleman, Kinsman to the Prince.
MONTAGUE, Heads of Two Houses at variance with
CAPULET, each other.

An old Man, Uncle to Capulet.
ROMEO, Son to Montague.

MERCUTIO, Kinsman to the Prince, and Friend to
Romeo.

BENVOLIO, Nephew to Montague, and Friend to

Romeo.

TYBALT, Nephew to Lady Capulet.
FRIAR LAURENCE, a Franciscan.

FRIAR JOHN, of the same Order.

BALTHAZAR, Servant to Romeo.

SAMPSON, Servant to Capulet.

GREGORY, Servant to Capulet.
ABRAM, Servant to Montague.
An Apothecary.

Three Musicians.

Chorus. Boy. Page to Paris.
PETER. An Officer.

LADY MONTAGUE, Wife to Montague.
LADY CAPULET, Wife to Capulet.
JULIET, Daughter to Capulet.
Nurse to Juliet.

Citizens of Verona; several Men and Women,
Relations to both Houses; Maskers, Guards,
Watchmen, and Attendants.

SCENE-during the greater Part of the Play, in Verona: once, in the Fifth Act, at Mantua.

Prologur.

Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge, break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes

A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;
Whose misadventur'd piteous overthrows
Do, with their death bury their parents 'strife.

Art First.

SCENE I. A public Place. Enter SAMPSON and GREGORY, armed with Swords and Bucklers.

Sam. GREGORY, o' my word, we'll not carry
coals.

Gre. No, for then we should be colliers.
Sam. I mean, an we be in choler, we'll draw.
Gre. Ay, while you live, draw your neck out
of the collar.

Sam. I strike quickly, being moved.
Gre. But thou art not quickly moved to strike.
Sam. A dog of the house of Montague moves

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The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,
And the continuance of their parents' rage,
Which, but their children's end, nought could

remove,

Is now the two hours' traffick of our stage; The which if you with patient ears attend, What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.

stand: I will take the wall of any man or maid of Montague's.

Gre. That shows thee a weak slave; for the weakest goes to the wall.

Sam. True; and therefore women, being the weaker vessels, are ever thrust to the wall:therefore I will push Montague's men from the wall, and thrust his maids to the wall.

Gre. The quarrel is between our masters, and us their men.

Sam. 'Tis all one, I will show myself a tyrant: when I have fought with the men, I will be cruel with the maids: I will cut off their heads.

Gre. The heads of the maids?

Sam. Ay, the heads of the maids, or their maidenheads; take it in what sense thou wilt. Gre. They must take it in sense, that feel it Sam. Me they shall feel, while I am able to stand: and, 'tis known, I am a pretty piece of flesh.

Gre. 'Tis well, thou art not fish; if thou hadst, thou hadst been poor John. Draw thy tool; here comes two of the house of the Montagues. Enter ABRAM and BALTHAZAR.

Sam. My naked weapon is out; quarrel, I will back thee.

Gre. How? turn thy back, and run?
Sam. Fear me not.

Gre. No, marry: I fear thee!

Sam. Let us take the law of our sides; let them begin.

Gre. I will frown, as I pass by; and let them take it as they list.

Sam. Nay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at them; which is a disgrace to them, if they bear it.

Abr. Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?
Sam. I do bite my thumb, sir.

Abr. Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?
Sam. Is the law on our side, if I say-ay?
Gre. No.

Sam. No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you,

sir; but I bite my thumb, sir.

Gre. Do you quarrel, sir?

Abr. Quarrel, sir? no sir.

785

Three civil brawls, bred of an airy word,
By thee, old Capulet and Montague,
Have thrice disturb'd the quiet of our streets;
And made Verona's ancient citizens
Cast by their grave beseeming ornaments,
To wield old partisans, in hands as old,
Canker'd with peace, to part your canker'd hate:
If ever you disturb our streets again,
Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace.
For this time, all the rest depart away:
You, Capulet, shall go along with me;
And, Montague, come you this afternoon,
To know our further pleasure in this case,
To old Free-town, our common judgment-place.
Once more, on pain of death, all men depart.

[Exeunt Prince and Attendants; CAPULET, LA. CAP. TYBALT, Citizens, and Servants. Mon. Who set this ancient quarrel new

abroach?

Speak, nephew, were you by, when it began?
Ben. Here were the servants of your adver-

sary,

And yours, close fighting ere I did approach:
I drew to part them; in the instant came
The fiery Tybalt, with his sword prepar'd;

Sam. If you do, sir, I am for you: I serve as Which, as he breathed defiance to my ears,

good a man as you.

Abr. No better.

Sam. Well, sir.

Enter BENVOLIO at a distance.

Gre. Say-better; here comes one of my master's kinsmen.

Sam. Yes, better, sir.

Abr. You lie.

Sam. Draw, if you be men.-Gregory, remember thy swashing blow. [They fight. Ben. Part, fools; put up your swords; you know not what you do. [Beats down their swords. Enter TYBALT.

Tyb. What, art thou drawn among these
heartless hinds?

Turn thee, Benvolio, look upon thy death.
Ben. I do but keep the peace. put up thy
sword,

Or manage it to part these men with me.
Tyb. What, drawn, and talk of peace? I hate
the word,

As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee:
Have at thee, coward.
[They fight.
Enter several Partisans of both Houses, who join
the Fray; then enter Citizens, with Clubs.
1 Cit. Clubs, bills, and partisans! strike! beat
them down!
[tagues!
Down with the Capulets! down with the Mon-
Enter CAPULET, in his Gown; and LADY CAPULET.
Cap. What noise is this?-Give me my long
sword, ho!
for a sword?
La. Cap. A crutch, a crutch!-Why call you
Cap. My sword, I say!--Old Montague is
And flourishes his blade in spite of me. [come,

Enter MONTAGUE and LADY MONTAGUE.
Mon. Thou villain Capulet,-Hold me not,
let me so.
[a foe.
La. Mon. Thou shalt not stir one foot to seek
Enter Prince, with Attendants.
Prin. Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace,
Profaners of this neighbour-stained steel,-
Will they not hear?-what ho! you men, you
beasts,-

That quench the fire of your pernicious rage
With purple fountains issuing from your veins,
On pain of torture, from those bloody hands
Throw your mistemper'd weapons to the ground,
And hear the sentence of your moved prince.

He swung about his head, and cut the winds,
Who, nothing hurt withal, hiss'd him in scorn;
While we were interchanging thrusts and blows
Came more and more, and fought on part and
part,

Till the prince came, who parted either part.
La. Mon. O, where is Romeo?-saw you him
to-day?

Right glad I am, he was not at this fray.
Ben. Madam, an hour before the worshipp'd

sun

Peer'd forth the golden window of the east,
A troubled mind drave me to walk abroad;
Where, underneath the grove of sycamore,
That westward rooteth from the city's side,
So early walking did I see your son:
Towards him I made; but he was 'ware of me,
And stole into the covert of the wood:
I, measuring his affections by my own,-
That most are busied when they are most
alone,-

Pursu'd my humour, not pursuing his,
And gladly shunn'd who gladly fled from me.
With tears augmenting the fresh morning's
Mon. Many a morning hath he there been seen,
dew,
[sighs:
Adding to clouds more clouds with his deep
But all so soon as the all-cheering sun
The shady curtains from Aurora's bed,
Should in the furthest east begin to draw
Away from light steals home my heavy son,
And private in his chamber pens himself;
Shuts up his windows, locks fair daylight out,
And makes himself an artificial night:
Black and portentous must this humour prove,
Unless good counsel may the cause remove.

Ben. My noble uncle, do you know the cause?
Mon. I neither know it, nor can learn of him.
Ben. Have you importun'd him by any means?
Mon. Both by myself, and many other friends;
But he, his own affection's counsellor,
Is to himself-I will not say, how true-
But to himself so secret and so close,
So far from sounding and discovery,
As is the bud bit with an envious worm,
Ere he can spread his sweet leaves to the air,
Or dedicate his beauty to the sun.
Could we but learn from wheuce his sorrows
[grow,
We would as willingly give cure, as know,

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