# Shakespeare - First Folio facsimile (1910)/The Tragedy of King Lear/Act 5 Scene 3

Scena Tertia.
Enter in conquest with Drum and Colours, Edmund, Lear, and Cordelia, as prisoners, Souldiers, Captaine.
Bast. Some Oﬃcers take them away: good guard, Vntill their greater pleasures first be knowne That are to censure them.
Cor. We are not the first, Who with best meaning haue incur'd the worst: For thee oppressed King I am cast downe, My selfe could else out‐frowne false Fortunes frowne. 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 aske me blessing, Ile kneele downe And aske of thee forgiuenesse: So wee'l liue, And pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and laugh At gilded Butterflies: and heere (poore Rogues) Talke of Court newes, and wee'l talke with them too, Who looses, and who wins; who's in, who's out; And take vpon's the mystery of things, As if we were Gods spies: And wee'l weare out In a wall'd prison, packs and sects of great ones, That ebbe and flow by th'Moone.
Bast. Take them away.
Lear. Vpon such sacrifices my Cordelia, The Gods themselues throw Incense. Haue I caught thee? He that parts vs, shall bring a Brand from Heauen, And fire vs hence, like Foxes: wipe thine eyes, The good yeares shall deuoure them, flesh and fell,
Ere they shall make vs weepe? Weele see e'm staru'd first: come.Exit.
Bast. Come hither Captaine, hearke. Take thou this note, go follow them to prison, One step I haue aduanc'd thee, if thou do'st 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 Do's not become a Sword, thy great imployment Will not beare question: either say thou'lt do't, Or thriue by other meanes.
Capt. Ile do't my Lord.
Bast. About it, and write happy, when th'hast done, Marke I say instantly, and carry it so As I haue set it downe. Exit Captaine.
Flourish. Enter Albany, Gonerill, Regan, Soldiers.
Alb. Sir, you haue shew'd to day your valiant straine And Fortune led you well: you haue the Captiues Who were the opposites of this dayes strife: I do require them of you so to vse them, As we shall find their merites, and our safety May equally determine.
Bast. Sir, I thought it fit, To send the old and miserable King to some retention, Whose age had Charmes in it, whose Title more, To plucke the common bosome on his side, And turne our imprest Launces in our eies 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, t'appeare Where you shall hold your Session.
Alb. Sir, by your patience, I hold you but a subiect of this Warre, Not as a Brother.
Reg. That's as we list to grace him. Methinkes our pleasure might haue bin demanded Ere you had spoke so farre. He led our Powers, Bore the Commission of my place and person, The which immediacie may well stand vp, And call it selfe your Brother.
Gon. Not so hot: In his owne grace he doth exalt himselfe, More then in your addition.
Reg. In my rights, By me inuested, he compeeres the best.
Alb. That were the most, if he should husband you.
Reg. Iesters do oft proue Prophets.
Gon. Hola, hola, That eye that told you so, look'd but a squint.
Rega. Lady I am not well, else I should answere From a full flowing stomack. Generall, Take thou my Souldiers, prisoners, patrimony, Dispose of them, of me, the walls is thine: Witnesse the world, that I create thee here My Lord, and Master.
Gon. Meane you to enioy him?
Alb. The let alone lies not in your good will.
Bast. Nor in thine Lord.
Alb. Halfe‐blooded fellow, yes.
Reg. Let the Drum strike, and proue my title thine.
Alb. Stay yet, heare reason: Edmund, I arrest thee On capitall Treason; and in thy arrest, This guilded Serpent: for your claime faire Sisters, I bare it in the interest of my wife, 'Tis she is sub‐contracted to this Lord, And I her husband contradict your Banes. If you will marry, make your loues to me, My Lady is bespoke.
Gon. An enterlude.
Alb. Thou art armed Gloster, Let the Trumpet sound: If none appeare to proue vpon thy person, Thy heynous, manifest, and many Treasons, There is my pledge: Ile make it on thy heart Ere I taste bread, thou art in nothing lesse. Then I haue heere proclaim'd thee.
Reg. Sicke, O sicke.
Gon. If not, Ile nere trust medicine.
Bast. There's my exchange, what in the world hes That names me Traitor, villain‐like he lies, Call by the Trumpet: he that dares approach; On him, on you, who not, I will maintaine My truth and honor firmely.
Enter a Herald.
Alb. A Herald, ho. Trust to thy single vertue, for thy Souldiers All leuied in my name, haue in my name Tooke their discharge.
Regan. My sicknesse growes vpon me.
Alb. She is not well, conuey her to my Tent. Come hither Herald, let the Trumpet sound, And read out this. A Trumpet sounds.
Herald reads.
Her.
Againe. 2 Trumpet.
Her.
Againe. 3 Trumpet.
Trumpet answers within.
Enter Edgar armed.
Alb. Aske him his purposes, why he appears Vpon this Call o'th' Trumpet.
Her. What are you? Your name, your quality, and why you answer This present Summons?
Edg. Know my name is lost By Treasons tooth: bare‐gnawne, and Canker‐bit, Yet am I Noble as the Aduersary I come to cope.
Alb. Which is that Aduersary?
Edg. What's he that speakes for Edmund Earle of Gloster?
Bast. Himselfe, what saist thou to him?
Edg. Draw thy Sword, That if my speech offend a Noble heart, Thy arme may do thee Iustice, heere is mine: Behold it is my priuiledge, The priuiledge of mine Honours, My oath, and my profession. I protest, Maugre thy strength, place, youth, and eminence, Despise thy victor‐Sword, and fire new Fortune, Thy valor, and thy heart, thou art a Traitor: False to thy Gods, thy Brother, and thy Father, Conspirant 'gainst this high illustrious Prince, And from th' extremest vpward of thy head, To the discent and dust below thy foote,
A most Toad‐spotted Traitor. Say thou no, This Sword, this arme, and my best spirits are bent To proue vpon thy heart, where to I speake, Thou lyest.
Bast. In wisedome I should aske thy name, But since thy out‐side lookes so faire and Warlike, And that thy tongue (some say) of breeding breathes, What safe, and nicely I might well delay, By rule of Knight‐hood, I disdaine and spurne: Backe do I tosse these Treasons to thy head, With the hell‐hated Lye, ore‐whelme thy heart, Which for they yet glance by, and scarcely bruise, This Sword of mine shall giue them instant way, Where they shall rest for euer. Trumpets speake.
Alb. Saue him, saue him. Alarums. Fights.
Gon. This is practise Gloster, By th'law of Warre, thou wast not bound to answer An vnknowne opposite: thou art not vanquish'd, But cozend, and beguild.
Alb. Shut your mouth Dame, Or with this paper shall I stop it: hold Sir, Thou worse then any name, reade thine owne euill: No tearing Lady, I perceiue you know it.
Gon. Say if I do, the Lawes are mine not thine, Who can araigne me for't?Exit.
Alb. Most monstrous! O, know'st thou this paper?
Bast. Aske me not what I know.
Alb. Go after her, she's desperate, gouerne her.
Bast. What you haue charg'd me with, That haue 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 forgiue thee.
Edg. Let's exchange charity: I am no lesse in blood then thou art Edmond, If more, the more th'hast wrong'd me. My name is Edgar and thy Fathers Sonne, The Gods are iust, and of our pleasant vices Make instruments to plague vs: The darke and vitious place where thee he got, Cost him his eyes.
Bast. Th'hast spoken right, 'tis true, The Wheele is come full circle, I am heere.
Alb. Me thought thy very gate did prophesie A Royall Noblenesse: I must embrace thee, Let sorrow split my heart, if euer I Did hate thee, or thy Father.
Edg. Worthy Prince I know't.
Alb. Where haue you hid your selfe? How haue you knowne the miseries of your Father?
Edg. By nursing them my Lord. List a breefe tale, And when 'tis told, O that my heart would burst. The bloody proclamation to escape That follow'd me so neere, (O our liues sweetnesse, That we the paine of death would hourely dye, Rather then die at once) taught me to shift Into a mad‐mans rags, t'assume a semblance That very Dogges 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, sau'd him from dispaire. Neuer (O fault) reueal'd my selfe vnto him, Vntill some halfe houre past when I was arm'd, Not sure, though hoping of this good successe, I ask'd his blessing, and from first to last Told him our pilgrimage. But his flaw'd heart (Alacke too weake the conflict to support) Twixt two extremes of passion, ioy and greefe, Burst smilingly.
Bast. This speech of yours hath mou'd me, And shall perchance do good, but speake you on, You looke as you had something more to say.
Alb. If there be more, more wofull, hold it in, For I am almost ready to dissolue, Hearing of this.
Enter a Gentleman.
Gen. Helpe, helpe: O helpe.
Edg. What kinde of helpe?
Alb. Speake man.
Edg. What meanes this bloody Knife?
Gen. 'Tis hot, it smoakes, it came euen from the heart of ——— O she's dead.
Alb. Who dead? Speake man.
Gen. Your Lady Sir, your Lady; and her Sister By her is poyson'd: she confesses it.
Bast. I was contracted to them both, all three Now marry in an instant.
Edg. Here comes Kent.
Enter Kent.
Alb. Produce the bodies, be they aliue or dead; Gonerill and Regans bodies brought out. This iudgement of the Heauens that makes vs tremble. Touches vs not with pitty: O, is this he? The time will not allow the complement Which very manners vrges.
Kent. I am come To bid my King and Master aye good night. Is he not here?
Alb. Great thing of vs forgot, Speake Edmund, where's the King? and where's Cordelia? Seest thou this obiect Kent?
Kent. Alacke, why thus?
Bast. Yet Edmund was belou'd: The one the other poison'd for my sake, And after slew herself.
Alb. Euen so: couer their faces.
Bast. I pant for life: some good I meane to do Despight of mine owne Nature. Quickly send, (Be briefe in it) to'th' Castle, for my Writ Is on the life of Lear, and on Cordelia: Nay, send in time.
Alb. Run, run, O run.
Edg. To who my Lord? Who ha's the Office? Send thy token of repreeue. Bast. Well thought on, take my Sword, Giue it the Captaine.
Edg. Hast thee for thy life.
Bast. He hath Commission from thy Wife and me, To hang Cordelia in the prison, and To lay the blame vpon her owne dispaire, That she for‐did her selfe.
Alb. The Gods defend her, beare him hence awhile.
Enter Lear with Cordelia in his armes.
Lear. Howle, howle, howle: O you are men of stones, Had I your tongues and eyes, Il'd vse them so, That Heauens vault should crack: she's gone for euer. I know when one is dead, and when one liues, She's dead as earth: Lend me a Looking‐glasse,
If that her breath will mist or staine the stone, Why then she liues.
Kent. Is this the promis'd end?
Edg. Or image of that horror.
Alb. Fall and cease.
Lear. This feather stirs, she liues: if it be so, It is a chance which do's redeeme all sorrowes That euer I haue felt.
Kent. O my good Master.
Lear. Prythee away.
Edg. 'Tis Noble Kent your Friend.
Lear. A plague vpon you Murderors, Traitors all, I might haue sau'd her, now she's gone for euer: Cordelia, Cordelia, stay a little. Ha: What is't thou saist? Her voice was euer soft, Gentle, and low, an excellent thing in woman. I kill'd the Slaue that was a hanging thee.
Gent. 'Tis true (my Lords) he did.
Lear. Did I not fellow? I haue seene the day, with my good biting Faulchion I would haue made him skip: I am old now, And these same crosses spoile me. Who are you? Mine eyes are not o'th' best, Ile tell you straight.
Kent. If Fortune brag of two, she lou'd and hated, One of them we behold.
Lear. This is a dull sight, are you not Kent?
Kent. The same: your Seruant Kent, Where is your Seruant Caius?
Lear. He's a good fellow, I can tell you that, He'le strike and quickly too, he's dead and rotten.
Kent. No my good Lord, I am the very man.
Lear. Ile see that straight.
Kent. That from your first of difference and decay, Haue follow'd your sad steps.
Lear. You are welcome hither.
Kent. Nor no man else: All's cheerlesse, darke, and deadly, Your eldest Daughters haue fore‐done themselues, And desperately are dead
Lear. I so I thinke.
Alb. He knowes not what he saies, and vaine is it That we present vs to him.
Enter a Messenger.
Edg. Very bootlesse.
Mess. Edmund is dead my Lord.
Alb. That's but a trifle heere: You Lords and Noble Friends, know our intent, What comfort to this great decay may come, Shall be appli'd. For vs we will resigne, During the life of this old Maiesty To him our absolute power, you to your rights, With boote, and such addition as your Honours Haue more then merited. All Friends shall Taste the wages of their vertue, and all Foes The cup of their deseruings: O see, see.
Lear. And my poore Foole is hang'd: no, no, no life? Why should a Dog, a Horse, a Rat haue life, And thou no breath at all? Thou'lt come no more, Neuer, neuer, neuer, neuer, neuer. Pray you vndo this Button. Thanke you Sir, Do you see this? Looke on her? Looke her lips, Looke there, looke there. H edis.
Edg. He faints, my Lord, my Lord.
Kent. Breake heart, I prythee breake.
Edg. Looke vp my Lord.
Kent. Vex not his ghost, O let him passe, he hates him, That would vpon the wracke of this tough world Stretch him out longer.
Edg. He is gon indeed.
Kent. The wonder is, he hath endur'd so long, He but vsurpt his life.
Alb. Beare them from hence, our present businesse Is generall woe: Friends of my soule, you twaine, Rule in this Realme, and the gor'd state sustaine.
Kent. I haue a iourney Sir, shortly to go, My Master calls me, I must not say no.
Edg. The waight of this sad time we must obey, Speake what we feele, not what we ought to say: The oldest hath borne most, we that are yong, Shall neuer see so much, nor liue so long. Exeunt with a dead March.
FINIS.
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