Against my fire. And wast thou fain, poor father,

To hovel thee with swine and rogues forlorn

In short and musty straw? Alack, alack,

’Tis wonder that thy life and wits at once

Had not concluded all! (To the Doctor) He wakes.

Speak to him.

DOCTOR Madam, do you; ’tis fittest.

CORDELIA (to Lear)

How does my royal lord? How fares your majesty?

LEAR

You do me wrong to take me out o’th’ grave.

Thou art a soul in bliss, but I am bound

Upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears

Do scald like molten lead.

CORDELIA Sir, know me.

LEAR

You’re a spirit, I know. Where did you die?

CORDELIA (to the Doctor) Still, still far wide!

DOCTOR

He’s scarce awake. Let him alone a while.

LEAR

Where have I been? Where am I? Fair daylight?

I am mightily abused. I should e’en die with pity

To see another thus. I know not what to say.

I will not swear these are my hands. Let’s see:

I feel this pin prick. Would I were assured

Of my condition.

CORDELIA (kneeling) O look upon me, sir,

And hold your hands in benediction o’er me.

No, sir, you must not kneel.

LEAR Pray do not mock.

I am a very foolish, fond old man,

Fourscore and upward, and to deal plainly,

I fear I am not in my perfect mind.

Methinks I should know you, and know this man;

Yet I am doubtful, for I am mainly ignorant

What place this is; and all the skill I have

Remembers not these garments; nor I know not

Where I did lodge last night. Do not laugh at me,

For as I am a man, I think this lady

To be my child, Cordelia.

CORDELIA And so I am.

LEAR

Be your tears wet? Yes, faith. I pray, weep not.

If you have poison for me, I will drink it.

I know you do not love me; for your sisters

Have, as I do remember, done me wrong.

You have some cause; they have not.

CORDELIA No cause, no cause.

LEAR Am I in France?

KENT In your own kingdom, sir.

LEAR Do not abuse me.

DOCTOR

Be comforted, good madam. The great rage

You see is cured in him, and yet it is danger

To make him even o’er the time he has lost.

Desire him to go in; trouble him no more

Till further settling.

CORDELIA (to Lear) Will’t please your highness walk?

LEAR You must bear with me.

Pray now, forget and forgive. I am old

And foolish. Exeunt all but Kent and [First] Gentleman

[FIRST] GENTLEMAN Holds it true, sir, that the Duke Of Cornwall was so slain?

KENT Most certain, sir.

[FIRST] GENTLEMAN

Who is conductor of his people?

KENT As ’tis said,

The bastard son of Gloucester.

[FIRST] GENTLEMAN They say Edgar,

His banished son, is with the Earl of Kent

In Germany.

KENT Report is changeable.

’Tis time to look about. The powers of the kingdom 90

Approach apace.

[FIRST] GENTLEMAN The arbitrement is

Like to be bloody. Fare you well, sir. Exit

KENT

My point and period will be throughly wrought,

Or well or ill, as this day’s battle’s fought. Exit

Sc. 22 Enter Edmund, Regan, and their powers

EDMUND

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.

Exit one or more

REGAN

Our sister’s man is certainly miscarried.

EDMUND

’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?

EDMUND Ay: honoured love.

REGAN

But have you never found my brother’s way

To the forfended place?

EDMUND That thought abuses you.

REGAN I am doubtful

That you have been conjunct and bosomed with her,

As far as we call hers.

EDMUND No, by mine honour, madam.

REGAN

I never shall endure her. Dear my lord,

Be not familiar with her.

EDMUND Fear me not.

She and the Duke her husband—

Enter the Duke of Albany and Gonoril with troops

GONORIL (aside)

I had rather lose the battle than that sister

Should loosen him and me.

ALBANY (to Regan)

Our very loving sister, well bemet,

For this I hear: the King is come to his daughter,

With others whom the rigour of our state

Forced to cry out. Where I could not be honest

I never yet was valiant. For this business,

It touches us as France invades our land;

Yet bold’s the King, with others whom I fear.

Most just and heavy causes make oppose.

EDMUND

Sir, you speak nobly.

REGAN Why is this reasoned? 30

GONORIL

Combine together ’gainst the enemy;

For these domestic poor particulars

Are not to question here.

ALBANY

Let us then determine with the ensign of war

On our proceedings.

EDMUND I shall attend you

Presently at your tent. [Exit with his powers]

REGAN Sister, you’ll go with us?

GONORIL No.

REGAN

’Tis most convenient. Pray you go with us.

GONORIL [aside]

O ho, I know the riddle! (To Regan) I will go.

Enter Edgar disguised as a peasant

EDGAR (to Albany)

If e’er your grace had speech with man so poor, 40

Hear me one word.

ALBANY (to the others) I’ll overtake you.

Exeunt all but Albany and Edgar

Speak.

EDGAR

Before you fight the battle, ope this letter.