If you have victory, let the trumpet sound

For him that brought it. Wretched though I seem,

I can produce a champion that will prove

What is avouchèd there. If you miscarry,

Your business of the world hath so an end.

Fortune love you—

ALBANY Stay till I have read the letter.

EDGAR I was forbid it. 50

When time shall serve, let but the herald cry,

And I’ll appear again.

ALBANY Why, fare thee well.

I will o’erlook the paper. Exit Edgar

Enter Edmund

EDMUND

The enemy’s in view; draw up your powers. 55

He [offers] Albany a paper

Here is the guess of their great strength and forces

By diligent discovery; but your haste

Is now urged on you.

ALBANY We will greet the time. Exit

EDMUND

To both these sisters have I sworn my love,

Each jealous of the other as the stung

Are of the adder. Which of them shall I take?—

Both?—one?—or neither? Neither can be enjoyed

If both remain alive. To take the widow

Exasperates, makes mad, her sister Gonoril,

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 that would be rid of him devise

His speedy taking off. As for his mercy

Which he intends to Lear and to Cordelia,

The battle done, and they within our power,

Shall never see his pardon; for my state

Stands on me to defend, not to debate. Exit

Sc. 23 Alarum. The powers of France pass over the stage ⌈led by⌉ Queen Cordelia with her father in her hand. Then enter Edgar disguised as a peasant, guiding the blind Duke of Gloucester

EDGAR

Here, father, take the shadow of this bush

For your good host; pray that the right may thrive.

If ever I return to you again

I’ll bring you comfort. Exit

GLOUCESTER Grace go with you, sir.

Alarum and retreat. Enter Edgar

EDGAR

Away, old man. Give me thy hand. Away.

King Lear hath lost, he and his daughter ta’en.

Give me thy hand. Come on.

GLOUCESTER

No farther, sir. A man may rot even here.

EDGAR

What, in ill thoughts again? Men must endure

Their going hence even as their coming hither.

Ripeness is all. Come on. Exit Edgar guiding Gloucester

Sc. 24 Enter Edmund with King Lear and Queen Cordelia prisoners, a Captain, and soldiers

EDMUND

Some officers take them away. Good guard

Until their greater pleasures best be known

That are to censure them.

CORDELIA (to Lear) We are not the first

Who with best meaning have incurred 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?

LEAR

No, no. Come, let’s away to prison.

We two alone will sing like birds i’th’ 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 court news, and we’ll talk with them too—

Who loses and who wins, who’s in, who’s out,

And take upon ’s the mystery of things

As if we were God’s spies; and we’ll wear out

In a walled prison packs and sects of great ones

That ebb and flow by th’ moon.

EDMUND (to soldiers) Take them away.

LEAR (to Cordelia)

Upon such sacrifices, my Cordelia,

The gods themselves throw incense. Have I caught

thee?

He that parts us shall bring a brand from heaven

And fire us hence like foxes. Wipe thine eyes.

The goodyear shall devour ‘em, flesh and fell,

Ere they shall make us weep. We’ll see ’em starve

first. Come.

Exeunt all but Edmund and the Captain

EDMUND Come hither, captain. Hark.

Take thou this note. Go follow them to prison.

One step I have advanced thee; if thou 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 employment

Will not bear question. Either say thou’lt do’t,

Or thrive by other means.

CAPTAIN I’ll do’t, my lord.

EDMUND

About it, and write ‘happy’ when thou hast done.

Mark, I say, instantly, and carry it so

As I have set it down.

CAPTAIN I cannot draw a cart,

Nor eat dried oats. If it be man’s work, I’ll do’t. Exit Enter the Duke of Albany, the two ladies Gonoril and Regan, [another Captain,] and others

ALBANY (to Edmund)

Sir, you have showed today your valiant strain,

And fortune led you well. You have the captives

That were the opposites of this day’s strife.

We do require then of you, so to use them

As we shall find their merits and our safety

May equally determine.

EDMUND 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 impressed lances in our eyes