Lear. And goes thy heart with this? Cord. So young, my lord, and true. Kent. This is frenzy. Lear. Peace, Kent ! Come not between a dragon and his rage. (Lear goes to Albany and Cornwall, and beckons the Gentlemen who hold the Crown r. H. vance a little towards the King.) My lords of Cornwall and of Albany, Kent. (Kneels.) Royal Lear, Whom I have ever honor'd as my king, Lov'd as my father, as my master follow'd, And, as my patron, thought on in my pray'rs, They ad Lear. Away! the bow is bent, make from the shaft. Kent (Rises.) No, let it fall, and drench within my heart: Be Kent unmannerly when Lear is mad; Lear. On thy life no more. Kent. What wilt thou do, old man? Kent. See better first. Lear. Now by the gods— Kent. Now, by the gods, rash king, thou swear'st in vain. (Lear, attempting to draw his sword, is prevented by Albany, who advances and lays his hand on the King's left arm, and by Gloster, who advances and lays his hand on the King's right arm ) Lear Ha, traitor ! Kent. Do, kill thy physician Lear; Strike thro' my throat; yet with my latest breath And tell thee to thy face that thou dost ill. Lear. Hear me, rash man! on thine allegiance hear me (Lear sheathes his half-drawn sword; Albany and Gloster retire to their places) Since thou hast striven to make us break our vow, (Lear turns from Kent; and beckoning Goneril, Regan, Albany and Cornwall to him, confers with them in the centre of the stage until Kent is gone.) Kent. Why, fare thee well, king: since thou art resolv'd, I take thee at thy word; I will not stay To see thy fall. The gods protect thee, maid, Thus to new climates my old truth I bear; Friendship lives hence, and banishment is here. [Exit, l. H. Affect her as she stands, dow'rless, and lost Lear. Then leave her, sir; for, by a father's rage, (Cordelia throws herself at Lear's feet.) Away! Away! Away! (Flourish of Trumpets, &c.) [Exeunt all but Cordelia, l.h. Enter Edgar, r.h.u.e. Edg. Has heav'n then weigh'd the merit of my love, (Raises Cordelia. Have I thy hand, Cordelia? Do I clasp it? Cord. Some comfort yet, that 'twas no vicious blot Edg. O heav'nly maid! that art thyself thy dow'r, If Edgar's humble fortunes may be grac'd Cord. Talk'd of love. Edg. Then I've offended oft; Cordelia too Has oft permitted me so to offend. Cord. When, Edgar, I permitted your addresses, I was the darling daughter of a King! Nor can I now forget my royal birth, And therefore study to forget your passion, And trouble me upon this theme no more. (Crosses to r h.) Edg. Thus majesty takes most state in distress. How are we tost on Fortune's fickle flood! The wave that with surprising kindness brought Cord. This baseness of the ignoble Burgundy Enter Edmund, hastily, l.H. [Exit, R.H. Edm. Brother, I've found you in a lucky minute; Fly, and be safe: some villain has incens'd Our father against your life. Edg. Distrest Cordelia !—but oh, more cruel! Edm. Hear me, sir; your life, your life's in danger. 'Wake, 'wake, sir. Edg. Say you brother? No tears, good Edmund; if thou bring'st me tidings That present will befit so kind a hand. Edm. Your danger, sir, comes on so fast, That I want time t'inform you; but retire,' Whilst I take care to turn the pressing stream. O Gods for heaven's sake, sir,— Edg. Pardon me, Edmund But you talk'd of danger, ; And wish'd me to retire.—Must all our vows End thus?—Friend, I obey you.—O Cordelia ! [Exit, r.h. Edm. Ha ha! Fond man! Lessens the glory of my artifice; Such credulous honesty His nature is so far from doing wrongs, That he suspects none :—( Takes out a Letter.)—If this letter speed, And pass for Edgar's, as himself would own The counterfeit, but for the foul contents, Then my designs are perfect.- -Here comes Gloster. (Attempts to hide the Letter.) Enter Gloster, l. H. Glost. Stay, Edmund, turn; what paper were you reading? Edm. A trifle, sir. Glost. What needed then that terrible dispatch of it into your pocket? Come, produce it, sir. Edm. A letter from my brother, sir: I had Just broke the seal, but know not the contents: (Gives the Letter to Gloster.) Yet, fearing they might prove to blame, Endeavor'd to conceal it from your sight. Glost. This is Edgar's character. (Reads.)—This policy of father's is intolerable, that keeps our fortunes from us 'till age will not suffer us to enjoy them; I am weary of the tyranny. Come to me, that of this I may speak more. If our father would sleep till I waked him, you should enjoy half his possessions, and live belov'd of your brother. Sleep till I wak'd him, you should enjoy Half his possessions Edgar to write this (Crosses to R.H. 'Gainst his indulgent father! Death and hell! Fly, Edmund, seek him out; wind me into him, (1) His bleeding entrails on my vengeful arm. Edm. Perhaps 'twas writ, my lord, to prove my virtue. Glost. These late eclipses of the sun and moon Can bode no less; love cools, and friendship fails; In cities mutiny, in countries discord; The bond of nature crack'd 'twixt son and father.— And it shall lose thee nothing. [Exit, r.h. Edm. So, now my project's firm, but, to make sure, (1) Do me this. |