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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 Cordelia,
The battle done, and they within our power,
They shall ne'er see his pardon: for my state
Stands on me to defend, not to debate.

SCENE IV.

[Exit.

[Alarum within.] Enter with Drum and Colours, LEAR, CORDELIA, and Soldiers over the Stage, and Exeunt.

Enter EDGAR and GLO'STER.

Edg. Here, father, take the shadow of this tree For your good host; pray, that the right may thrive. If ever I return to you again,.

I'll bring you comfort.

Glo. Grace be with you, Sir!

[Exit Edgar.

[Alarum and retreat within.

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, ev'n as their coming hither.

Ripeness is all; come on.

Glo. And that's true too.

SCENE V.

[Exeunt.

Enter in Conquest, with Drum and Colours, EDMUND; LEAR, and CORDELIA, as Prisoners; Soldiers, Captain.

Edm. Some officers take them away: good guard Until their greater pleasures first be known, That are to censure them.

Cor. We're 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?

Lear. No, no, 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 wall'd prison, packs and sects of great ones, That ebb and flow by th' moon."

Edm. Take them away.

Lear. Upon such sacrifices, my Cordelia, The gods themselves throw incense. Have I caught thee?

He that parts us shall bring a brand from heav'n,
And fire us hence, like foxes. Wipe thine eye;
The goujeers shall devour them, flesh and fell,
Ere they shall make us weep; we'll see them starv'd
first.

Come.

[Exeunt Lear and Cordelia, guarded. Edm. Come hither, Captain, hark. (78)

[Whispering.

in

(78) Figure 96 gives a view of the Captain employed by Edmund to murder Lear and Cordelia. The north side of the moon being placed uppermost, he may be seen, pale light, near her center, just under the breast of Lear, and with his head in a line parallel to that of Edmund.

Fig. 96.

Take thou this note; go, follow them to prison.
One step I have advanc'd 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 thoult do't,
Or thrive by other means.

Capt. I'll do't, my Lord.

[thou'st done. Edm. About it, and write Happy (79) when Mark I say, instantly; and carry it so

As I have set it down.

[Exit Captain.

SCENE VI.

Flourish. Enter ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN,

and Soldiers.

Alb. Sir, you have shew'd 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.

Edm. Sir, I thought it fit

(79) This most singular expression proves that the prototype of the Captain was correctly pointed out in the last note; for the outlines and other marks within the eld of

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 bosoms on his side;
And turn our impress'd lances in our eyes,
Which do command them. With him I sent the
My reason all the same; and they are ready (Queen;
To-morrow, or at further space,
Where we shall hold our session. At this time
We sweat and bleed; the friend hath lost his friend;
And the best quarrels, in the heat, are curs'd

ť

appear

his person, as above designated in the moon, form the two letters A P, as drawn in

Fig. 97;

Ap

and I conceive it to be a pun upon these letters, which that expression has in view.

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