William Shakespeare King Lear Act V Scene Iii

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• William Shakespeare: King Lear, Act V, Scene III

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Scene IIIThe British camp near DoverEnter, in conquest, with drum and colours, Edmund, King Lear and Cordelia, prisoners; Captain, Soldiers, &cEdmundSome officers take them away: good guard, Until their greater pleasures first be known That are to censure them.CordeliaWe are not the first Who, with best meaning, have incurr’d the worst. For thee, oppressed king, am I cast down; Myself could else out-frown false fortune’s frown. Shall we not see these daughters and these sisters?King LearNo, no, no, no! Come, let’s away to prison: We two alone will sing like birds i’ the 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 the moon.EdmundTake them away.King LearUpon 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 good-years shall devour them, flesh and fell, Ere they shall make us weep: We’ll see ’em starve first. Come.Exeunt King Lear and Cordelia, guardedEdmundCome hither, captain; hark. Take thou this note;Giving a papergo 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.CaptainI’ll do ’t, my lord.EdmundAbout it; and write happy when thou hast done. Mark, I say, instantly; and carry it so As I have set it down.CaptainI cannot draw a cart, nor eat dried oats; If it be man’s work, I’ll do ’t. [Exit]Flourish. Enter Albany, Goneril, Regan, another Captain, and SoldiersAlbanySir, you have shown to-day your valiant strain, And fortune led you well: you have the captives That 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.EdmundSir, 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, An turn our impress’d lances in our eyes Which do command them. With him I sent the queen; My reason all the same; and they are ready To-morrow, or at further space, to appear Where you shall hold your session. At this time We sweat and bleed: the friend hath lost his friend; And the best quarrels, in the heat, are cursed By those that feel their sharpness: The question of Cordelia and her father Requires a fitter place.AlbanySir, by your patience, I hold you but a subject of this war, Not as a brother.ReganThat’s as we list to grace him. Methinks our pleasure might have been demanded, Ere you had spoke so far. He led our powers; Bore the commission of my place and person; The which immediacy may well stand up, And call itself your brother.GonerilNot so hot: In his own grace he doth exalt himself, More than in your addition.ReganIn my rights, By me invested, he compeers the best.GonerilThat were the most, if he should husband you.ReganJesters do oft prove prophets.GonerilHolla, holla! That eye that told you so look’d but a-squint.ReganLady, I am not well; else I should answer From a full-flowing stomach. General, Take thou my soldiers, prisoners, patrimony; Dispose of them, of me; the walls are thine: Witness the world, that I create thee here My lord and master.GonerilMean you to enjoy him?AlbanyThe let-alone lies not in your good will.EdmundNor in thine, lord.AlbanyHalf-blooded fellow, yes.ReganTo EdmundLet the drum strike, and prove my title thine.AlbanyStay yet; hear reason. Edmund, I arrest thee On capital treason; and, in thine attaint, This gilded serpentPointing to GonerilFor your claim, fair sister, I bar it in the interest of my wife: ‘Tis she is sub-contracted to this lord, And I, her husband, contradict your bans. If you will marry, make your loves to me, My lady is bespoke.GonerilAn interlude!AlbanyThou art arm’d, Gloucester: let the trumpet sound: If none appear to prove upon thy head Thy heinous, manifest, and many treasons, There is my pledge;Throwing down a gloveI’ll prove it on thy heart, Ere I taste bread, thou art in nothing less Than I have here proclaim’d thee.ReganSick, O, sick!GonerilAsideIf not, I’ll ne’er trust medicine.EdmundThere’s my exchange:Throwing down a glovewhat in the world he is That names me traitor, villain-like he lies: Call by thy trumpet: he that dares approach, On him, on you, who not? I will maintain My truth and honour firmly.AlbanyA herald, ho!EdmundA herald, ho, a herald!AlbanyTrust to thy single virtue; for thy soldiers, All levied in my name, have in my name Took their discharge.ReganMy sickness grows upon me.AlbanyShe is not well; convey her to my tent. [Exit Regan, led]Enter a HeraldCome hither, herald,—Let the trumpet sound, And read out this.CaptainSound, trumpet!A trumpet soundsHeraldReadsIf any man of quality or degree within the lists of the army will maintain upon Edmund, supposed Earl of Gloucester, that he is a manifold traitor, let him appear by the third sound of the trumpet: he is bold in his defence.EdmundSound! [First trumpet]HeraldAgain! [Second trumpet]HeraldAgain! [Third trumpet]Trumpet answers withinEnter Edgar, at the third sound, armed, with a trumpet before himAlbanyAsk him his purposes, why he appears Upon this call o’ the trumpet.HeraldWhat are you? Your name, your quality? and why you answer This present summons?EdgarKnow, my name is lost; By treason’s tooth bare-gnawn and canker-bit: Yet am I noble as the adversary I come to cope.AlbanyWhich is that adversary?EdgarWhat’s he that speaks for Edmund Earl of Gloucester?EdmundHimself: what say’st thou to him?EdgarDraw thy sword, That, if my speech offend a noble heart, Thy arm may do thee justice: here is mine. Behold, it is the privilege of mine honours, My oath, and my profession: I protest, Maugre thy strength, youth, place, and eminence, Despite thy victor sword and fire-new fortune, Thy valour and thy heart, thou art a traitor; False to thy gods, thy brother, and thy father; Conspirant ‘gainst this high-illustrious prince; And, from the extremest upward of thy head To the descent and dust below thy foot, A most toad-spotted traitor. Say thou ‘No,’ This sword, this arm, and my best spirits, are bent To prove upon thy heart, whereto I speak, Thou liest.EdmundIn wisdom I should ask thy name; But, since thy outside looks so fair and warlike, And that thy tongue some say of breeding breathes, What safe and nicely I might well delay By rule of knighthood, I disdain and spurn: Back do I toss these treasons to thy head; With the hell-hated lie o’erwhelm thy heart; Which, for they yet glance by and scarcely bruise, This sword of mine shall give them instant way, Where they shall rest for ever. Trumpets, speak!Alarums. They fight. Edmund fallsAlbanySave him, save him!GonerilThis is practise, Gloucester: By the law of arms thou wast not bound to answer An unknown opposite; thou art not vanquish’d, But cozen’d and beguiled.AlbanyShut your mouth, dame, Or with this paper shall I stop it: Hold, sir: Thou worse than any name, read thine own evil: No tearing, lady: I perceive you know it.Gives the letter to EdmundGonerilSay, if I do, the laws are mine, not thine: Who can arraign me for’t.AlbanyMost monstrous! oh! Know’st thou this paper?GonerilAsk me not what I know.ExitAlbanyGo after her: she’s desperate; govern her.EdmundWhat you have charged me with, that have I done; And more, much more; the time will bring it out: ‘Tis past, and so am I. But what art thou That hast this fortune on me? If thou’rt noble, I do forgive thee.EdgarLet’s exchange charity. I am no less in blood than thou art, Edmund; If more, the more thou hast wrong’d me. My name is Edgar, and thy father’s son. The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices Make instruments to plague us: The dark and vicious place where thee he got Cost him his eyes.EdmundThou hast spoken right, ’tis true; The wheel is come full circle: I am here.AlbanyMethought thy very gait did prophesy A royal nobleness: I must embrace thee: Let sorrow split my heart, if ever I Did hate thee or thy father!EdgarWorthy prince, I know’t.AlbanyWhere have you hid yourself? How have you known the miseries of your father?EdgarBy nursing them, my lord. List a brief tale; And when ’tis told, O, that my heart would burst! The bloody proclamation to escape, That follow’d me so near,—O, our lives’ sweetness! That we the pain of death would hourly die Rather than die at once!—taught me to shift Into a madman’s rags; to assume a semblance That very dogs disdain’d: and in this habit Met I my father with his bleeding rings, Their precious stones new lost: became his guide, Led him, begg’d for him, saved him from despair; Never,—O fault!—reveal’d myself unto him, Until some half-hour past, when I was arm’d: Not sure, though hoping, of this good success, I ask’d his blessing, and from first to last Told him my pilgrimage: but his flaw’d heart, Alack, too weak the conflict to support! ‘Twixt two extremes of passion, joy and grief, Burst smilingly.EdmundThis speech of yours hath moved me, And shall perchance do good: but speak you on; You look as you had something more to say.AlbanyIf there be more, more woeful, hold it in; For I am almost ready to dissolve, Hearing of this.EdgarThis would have seem’d a period To such as love not sorrow; but another, To amplify too much, would make much more, And top extremity. Whilst I was big in clamour came there in a man, Who, having seen me in my worst estate, Shunn’d my abhorr’d society; but then, finding Who ’twas that so endured, with his strong arms He fastened on my neck, and bellow’d out As he’ld burst heaven; threw him on my father; Told the most piteous tale of Lear and him That ever ear received: which in recounting His grief grew puissant and the strings of life Began to crack: twice then the trumpets sounded, And there I left him tranced.AlbanyBut who was this?EdgarKent, sir, the banish’d Kent; who in disguise Follow’d his enemy king, and did him service Improper for a slave.Enter a Gentleman, with a bloody knifeGentlemanHelp, help, O, help!EdgarWhat kind of help?AlbanySpeak, man.EdgarWhat means that bloody knife?Gentleman’Tis hot, it smokes; It came even from the heart of—O, she’s dead!AlbanyWho dead? speak, man.GentlemanYour lady, sir, your lady: and her sister By her is poisoned; she hath confess’d it.EdmundI was contracted to them both: all three Now marry in an instant.EdgarHere comes Kent.AlbanyProduce their bodies, be they alive or dead: This judgment of the heavens, that makes us tremble, Touches us not with pity. [Exit Gentleman]Enter KentO, is this he? The time will not allow the compliment Which very manners urges.KentI am come To bid my king and master aye good night: Is he not here?AlbanyGreat thing of us forgot! Speak, Edmund, where’s the king? and where’s Cordelia? See’st thou this object, Kent?The bodies of Goneril and Regan are brought inKentAlack, why thus?EdmundYet Edmund was beloved: The one the other poison’d for my sake, And after slew herself.AlbanyEven so. Cover their faces.EdmundI pant for life: some good I mean to do, Despite of mine own nature. Quickly send, Be brief in it, to the castle; for my writ Is on the life of Lear and on Cordelia: Nay, send in time.AlbanyRun, run, O, run!EdgarTo who, my lord? Who hath the office? send Thy token of reprieve.EdmundWell thought on: take my sword, Give it the captain.AlbanyHaste thee, for thy life.Exit EdgarEdmundHe hath commission from thy wife and me To hang Cordelia in the prison, and To lay the blame upon her own despair, That she fordid herself.AlbanyThe gods defend her! Bear him hence awhile.Edmund is borne offRe-enter King Lear, with Cordelia dead in his arms; Edgar, Captain, and others followingKing LearHowl, howl, howl, howl! O, you are men of stones: Had I your tongues and eyes, I’ld use them so That heaven’s vault should crack. She’s gone for ever! I know when one is dead, and when one lives; She’s dead as earth. Lend me a looking-glass; If that her breath will mist or stain the stone, Why, then she lives.KentIs this the promised endEdgarOr image of that horror?AlbanyFall, and cease!King LearThis feather stirs; she lives! if it be so, It is a chance which does redeem all sorrows That ever I have felt.KentKneelingO my good master!King LearPrithee, away.Edgar’Tis noble Kent, your friend.King LearA plague upon you, murderers, traitors all! I might have saved her; now she’s gone for ever! Cordelia, Cordelia! stay a little. Ha! What is’t thou say’st? Her voice was ever soft, Gentle, and low, an excellent thing in woman. I kill’d the slave that was a-hanging thee.Captain’Tis true, my lords, he did.King LearDid I not, fellow? I have seen the day, with my good biting falchion I would have made them skip: I am old now, And these same crosses spoil me. Who are you? Mine eyes are not o’ the best: I’ll tell you straight.KentIf fortune brag of two she loved and hated, One of them we behold.King LearThis is a dull sight. Are you not Kent?KentThe same, Your servant Kent: Where is your servant Caius?King LearHe’s a good fellow, I can tell you that; He’ll strike, and quickly too: he’s dead and rotten.KentNo, my good lord; I am the very man,—King LearI’ll see that straight.KentThat, from your first of difference and decay, Have follow’d your sad steps.King LearYou are welcome hither.KentNor no man else: all’s cheerless, dark, and deadly. Your eldest daughters have fordone them selves, And desperately are dead.King LearAy, so I think.AlbanyHe knows not what he says: and vain it is That we present us to him.EdgarVery bootless.Enter a CaptainCaptainEdmund is dead, my lord.AlbanyThat’s but a trifle here. You lords and noble friends, know our intent. What comfort to this great decay may come Shall be applied: for us we will resign, During the life of this old majesty, To him our absolute power:To Edgar and Kentyou, to your rights: With boot, and such addition as your honours Have more than merited. All friends shall taste The wages of their virtue, and all foes The cup of their deservings. O, see, see!King LearAnd my poor fool is hang’d! No, no, no life! Why should a dog, a horse, a rat, have life, And thou no breath at all? Thou’lt come no more, Never, never, never, never, never! Pray you, undo this button: thank you, sir. Do you see this? Look on her, look, her lips, Look there, look there!DiesEdgarHe faints! My lord, my lord!KentBreak, heart; I prithee, break!EdgarLook up, my lord.KentVex not his ghost: O, let him pass! he hates him much That would upon the rack of this tough world Stretch him out longer.EdgarHe is gone, indeed.KentThe wonder is, he hath endured so long: He but usurp’d his life.AlbanyBear them from hence. Our present business Is general woe.To Kent and EdgarFriends of my soul, you twain Rule in this realm, and the gored state sustain.KentI have a journey, sir, shortly to go; My master calls me, I must not say no.AlbanyThe weight of this sad time we must obey; Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say. The oldest hath borne most: we that are young Shall never see so much, nor live so long.Exeunt, with a dead march

William Shakespeare: King Lear, Act V

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William Shakespeare: King Lear, Act I

• William Shakespeare: King Lear, Act I

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