King Lear, William Shakespeare [good book recommendations TXT] 📗

fire; and wast thou fain, poor father,
To hovel thee with swine, and rogues forlorn,
In short and musty straw? Alack, alack!
’Tis wonder that thy life and wits at once
Had not concluded all. He wakes; speak to him. Doctor Madam, do you; ’tis fittest. Cordelia How does my royal lord? How fares your majesty? King Lear

You do me wrong to take me out o’ the grave:
Thou art a soul in bliss; but I am bound
Upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears
Do scald like moulten lead.

Cordelia Sir, do you know me? King Lear You are a spirit, I know: when did you die? Cordelia Still, still, far wide! Doctor He’s scarce awake: let him alone awhile. King Lear

Where have I been? Where am I? Fair daylight?
I am mightily abused. I should e’en die with pity,
To see another thus. I know not what to say.
I will not swear these are my hands: let’s see;
I feel this pin prick. Would I were assured
Of my condition!

Cordelia

O, look upon me, sir,
And hold your hands in benediction o’er me:
No, sir, you must not kneel.

King Lear

Pray, do not mock me:
I am a very foolish fond old man,
Fourscore and upward, not an hour more nor less;
And, to deal plainly,
I fear I am not in my perfect mind.
Methinks I should know you, and know this man;
Yet I am doubtful for I am mainly ignorant
What place this is; and all the skill I have
Remembers not these garments; nor I know not
Where I did lodge last night. Do not laugh at me;
For, as I am a man, I think this lady
To be my child Cordelia.

Cordelia And so I am, I am. King Lear

Be your tears wet? yes, ’faith. I pray, weep not:
If you have poison for me, I will drink it.
I know you do not love me; for your sisters
Have, as I do remember, done me wrong:
You have some cause, they have not.

Cordelia No cause, no cause. King Lear Am I in France? Kent In your own kingdom, sir. King Lear Do not abuse me. Doctor

Be comforted, good madam: the great rage,
You see, is kill’d in him: and yet it is danger
To make him even o’er the time he has lost.
Desire him to go in; trouble him no more
Till further settling.

Cordelia Will’t please your highness walk? King Lear

You must bear with me:
Pray you now, forget and forgive: I am old and foolish. Exeunt all but Kent and Gentleman.

Gentleman Holds it true, sir, that the Duke of Cornwall was so slain? Kent Most certain, sir. Gentleman Who is conductor of his people? Kent As ’tis said, the bastard son of Gloucester. Gentleman They say Edgar, his banished son, is with the Earl of Kent in Germany. Kent Report is changeable. ’Tis time to look about; the powers of the kingdom approach apace. Gentleman The arbitrement is like to be bloody. Fare you well, sir. Exit. Kent

My point and period will be throughly wrought,
Or well or ill, as this day’s battle’s fought. Exit.

Act V Scene I

The British camp, near Dover.

Enter, with drum and colours, Edmund, Regan, Gentlemen, and Soldiers. Edmund

Know of the duke if his last purpose hold,
Or whether since he is advised by aught
To change the course: he’s full of alteration
And self-reproving: bring his constant pleasure. To a Gentleman, 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 me 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 hear; the king is come to his daughter,
With others whom the rigor of our state
Forced 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 proceedings.

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. 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. Exeunt all but Albany and Edgar. 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. Re-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 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 enjoy’d,
If