King Lear — Act 5
ACT V SCENE I.
The Camp of the British Forces near Dover Enter, with drum and colours Edmund, Regan, Officers, Soldiers and others.
EDMUND.
Know of the Duke if his last purpose hold, Or whether since he is advis’d by aught To change the course, he’s full of alteration And self-reproving, bring his constant pleasure.
[_To an Officer, who goes out.
_] 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.
In honour’d 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 bosom’d 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 not, She and the Duke her husband!
Enter with drum and colours Albany, Goneril and Soldiers.
GONERIL.
[_Aside.
_] I had rather lose the battle than that sister Should loosen him and me.
ALBANY.
Our very loving sister, well be-met.
Sir, this I heard: the King is come to his daughter, With others whom the rigour of our state Forc’d to cry out.
Where I could not be honest, I never yet was valiant.
For this business, It toucheth us as France invades our land, Not bolds the King, with others whom I fear Most just and heavy causes make oppose.
EDMUND.
Sir, you speak nobly.
REGAN.
Why is this reason’d?
GONERIL.
Combine together ’gainst the enemy;
For these domestic and particular broils Are not the question here.
ALBANY.
Let’s, then, determine with the ancient of war On our proceeding.
EDMUND.
I shall attend you presently at your tent.
REGAN.
Sister, you’ll go with us?
GONERIL.
No. REGAN.
’Tis most convenient; pray you, go with us.
GONERIL.
[_Aside_.
] O, ho, I know the riddle.
I will go.
[_Exeunt Edmund, Regan, Goneril, Officers, Soldiers and Attendants.
_] As they are going out, enter Edgar disguised.
EDGAR.
If e’er your grace had speech with man so poor, Hear me one word.
ALBANY.
I’ll overtake you.
Speak.
EDGAR.
Before you fight the battle, ope this letter.
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 avouched there.
If you miscarry, Your business of the world hath so an end, And machination ceases.
Fortune love you!
ALBANY.
Stay till I have read the letter.
EDGAR.
I was forbid it.
When time shall serve, let but the herald cry, And I’ll appear again.
ALBANY.
Why, fare thee well.
I will o’erlook thy paper.
[_Exit Edgar.
_] Enter Edmund.
EDMUND.
The enemy’s in view; draw up your powers.
Here is the guess of their true strength and forces By diligent discovery; but your haste Is now urg’d 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 enjoy’d, If both remain alive.
To take the widow Exasperates, makes mad her sister Goneril;
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 who would be rid of him devise His speedy taking off.
As for the 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.
_] SCENE II.
A field between the two Camps Alarum within.
Enter with drum and colours, Lear, Cordelia and their Forces, and exeunt.
Enter Edgar and Gloucester.
EDGAR.
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.
GLOUCESTER.
Grace go with you, sir!
[_Exit Edgar.
_] Alarum and retreat within.
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 further, 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.
GLOUCESTER.
And that’s true too.
[_Exeunt.
_] SCENE III.
The British Camp near Dover Enter in conquest with drum and colours, Edmund, Lear and Cordelia as prisoners; Officers, Soldiers, &c. EDMUND.
Some officers take them away: good guard Until their greater pleasures first be known That are to censure them.
CORDELIA.
We are not the first Who with best meaning have incurr’d the worst.
For thee, oppressed King, I am cast down;
Myself could else out-frown 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’ 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.
EDMUND.
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 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 Lear and Cordelia, guarded.
_] EDMUND.
Come hither, captain, hark.
Take thou this note [_giving a paper_]; 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 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.
_] Flourish.
Enter Albany, Goneril, Regan, Officers and Attendants.
ALBANY.
Sir, you have show’d today your valiant strain, And fortune led you well: you have the captives Who were the opposites of this day’s strife: I do require them 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 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 Tomorrow, 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 curs’d By those that feel their sharpness.
The question of Cordelia and her father Requires a fitter place.
ALBANY.
Sir, by your patience, I hold you but a subject of this war, Not as a brother.
REGAN.
That’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.
GONERIL.
Not so hot: In his own grace he doth exalt himself, More than in your addition.
REGAN.
In my rights, By me invested, he compeers the best.
ALBANY.
That were the most, if he should husband you.
REGAN.
Jesters do oft prove prophets.
GONERIL.
Holla, holla!
That eye that told you so look’d but asquint.
REGAN.
Lady, 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.
GONERIL.
Mean you to enjoy him?
ALBANY.
The let-alone lies not in your good will.
EDMUND.
Nor in thine, lord.
ALBANY.
Half-blooded fellow, yes.
REGAN.
[_To Edmund.
_] Let the drum strike, and prove my title thine.
ALBANY.
Stay yet; hear reason: Edmund, I arrest thee On capital treason; and, in thine arrest, This gilded serpent.
[_pointing to Goneril.
_] For 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.
GONERIL.
An interlude!
ALBANY.
Thou art arm’d, Gloucester.
Let the trumpet sound: If none appear to prove upon thy person Thy heinous, manifest, and many treasons, There is my pledge.
[_Throwing down a glove.
_] I’ll make it on thy heart, Ere I taste bread, thou art in nothing less Than I have here proclaim’d thee.
REGAN.
Sick, O, sick!
GONERIL.
[_Aside.
_] If not, I’ll ne’er trust medicine.
EDMUND.
There’s my exchange.
[_Throwing down a glove.
_] What 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.
ALBANY.
A herald, ho!
Enter a Herald.
Trust to thy single virtue; for thy soldiers, All levied in my name, have in my name Took their discharge.
REGAN.
My sickness grows upon me.
ALBANY.
She is not well.
Convey her to my tent.
[_Exit Regan, led.
_] Come hither, herald.
Let the trumpet sound And read out this.
OFFICER.
Sound, trumpet!
[_A trumpet sounds.
_] HERALD.
[_Reads.
_] ‘If 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.
’ EDMUND.
Sound!
[_First trumpet.
_] HERALD.
Again!
[_Second trumpet.
_] HERALD.
Again!
Third trumpet.
Trumpet answers within.
Enter Edgar, armed, preceded by a trumpet.
ALBANY.
Ask him his purposes, why he appears Upon this call o’ the trumpet.
HERALD.
What are you?
Your name, your quality?
and why you answer This present summons?
EDGAR.
Know my name is lost;
By treason’s tooth bare-gnawn and canker-bit.
Yet am I noble as the adversary I come to cope.
ALBANY.
Which is that adversary?
EDGAR.
What’s he that speaks for Edmund, Earl of Gloucester?
EDMUND.
Himself, what say’st thou to him?
EDGAR.
Draw 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 beneath 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.
EDMUND.
In 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 those 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 falls.
_] ALBANY.
Save him, save him!
GONERIL.
This is mere practice, Gloucester: By the law of arms thou wast not bound to answer An unknown opposite; thou art not vanquish’d, But cozen’d and beguil’d. ALBANY.
Shut 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 Edmund.
_] GONERIL.
Say if I do, the laws are mine, not thine: Who can arraign me for’t?
[_Exit.
_] ALBANY.
