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.