King Lear Page #13

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How fares your majesty?

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 molten lead.

- Sir...

- Hmm?

Do you know me?

You are a spirit, I know.

Where did you die?

- Still, still far wide!

- He's scarce awake. Let him alone awhile.

Where have I been? Where am I?

Fair daylight?

I am mightily abused.

I know not what to say.

I will not swear these are my hands.

Let's see.

I felt that pin-prick.

I would I were assured of my condition.

O look upon me, sir,

and raise your hands in benediction o'er me.

No, sir, you must not kneel.

I pray you, 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,

but I am doubtful, and I am mainly ignorant

of what place this is.

And all the skill I have

remembers not these garments.

Do not laugh at me,

for, as I am a man,

I think this lady to be my child Cordelia.

And so I am, I am.

Be your tears wet? Yes, faith!

I pray you, weep not.

I know you do not love me,

for your sisters have,

as I remember, done me wrong.

You have some cause. They have none.

No cause, no cause.

- Am I in France?

- In your own kingdom, sir.

- Do not abuse me.

- Be comforted, good madam.

The great rage, you see, is killed in him.

Desire him to go in.

Will't please your highness walk?

You must bear with me.

I pray you now,

forget... and forgive.

I am old and foolish.

'Tis time to look about. The powers

of the kingdom approach apace.

The arbitrement is like to be bloody.

Fare you well, sir.

My point and period will be throughly wrought,

or well or ill, as this day's battle's fought.

Know of the Duke if his last purpose hold?

He's full of alteration and self-reproving.

Bring his constant pleasure.

- Our sister's man is certainly miscarried.

- 'Tis to be doubted, madam.

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?

- In honoured love.

But have you never found my brother's way

to the forfended place?

That thought abuses you.

I am doubtful that you have been conjunct

and bosomed with her,

as far as we call hers.

No, by mine honour, madam.

I never shall endure her.

Dear my lord...

be not familiar with her.

Fear not.

I had rather lose the battle

than that sister should loosen him and me.

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 forced to cry out.

Where I could not be honest,

I never yet was valiant.

For this business, it touches us

as France invades our land,

not bolds the King, with others, whom, I fear,

most just and heavy causes make oppose.

Sir, you speak nobly.

- Why is this reasoned?

- Combine together 'gainst the enemy.

For these domestic and particular broils

are not the question here.

Let's then determine

with the ancient of war on our proceeding.

I shall attend you presently at your tent.

Sister, you'll go with us.

No.

'Tis most convenient. Pray go with us.

I know the riddle.

I will go.

If e'er your grace had speech

with one so poor, hear me one word.

I'll overtake you. Speak.

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 here.

- Fortune love you.

- Stay till I have read the letter.

I was forbid it.

When time shall serve,

let but the herald cry

and I'll appear again.

Why, fare you well.

I will o'erlook thy paper.

- Your haste is urged upon you.

- We will greet the time.

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 enjoyed if both remain alive.

Now, 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.

Here, father,

take the shadow of this tree

for your good host.

If ever I return, I will bring you comfort.

Grace go with you, sir!

Pray that the right may thrive.

Away, old man!

Give me thy hand. Away!

King Lear hath lost,

he and his daughter ta'en.

- Give me thy hand. Come on.

- No farther, sir. A man may rot even here.

What, in ill thoughts again?

Men must endure their going hence...

even as their coming hither.

Ripeness is all.

Give me thy hand, come on!

That's true too.

Good guard, until their greater pleasures

first be known that are to censure them.

We are not the first who with best meaning,

have incurred 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?

No, no, no, no!

Come, let's away to prison.

We two alone shall sing

like birds i' the cage.

And when you ask me blessing

I'll kneel down

and ask of you forgiveness.

And 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 us the mystery of things

as if we were God's spies.

Take them away.

Upon such sacrifices, my Cordelia,

the gods themselves throw incense.

Have I caught thee?

He that parts us,

bring a brand from heaven

and fire us hence like foxes.

Wipe thine eyes.

Come.

Come hither, captain.

Hark. Take thou this note.

Go follow them to the prison.

One step have I advanced thee.

If thou dost as this instructs thee,

thou dost make thy way to noble fortunes.

To be tender-minded

does not become a sword.

I'll do't, my lord.

I cannot draw a cart, nor eat dried oats.

If it be man's work, I'll do't.

Sir, you have shown 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.

I thought it fit to send

the old and miserable King

to some retention and appointed guard.

With him I sent the Queen and they are ready

tomorrow or at further space

to appear where you shall hold your session.

Sir, by your patience,

I hold you but a subject of this war,

not as a brother.

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.

Not so hot!

In his own grace he doth exalt himself

more than in your addition.

In my rights, by me invested,

he compeers the best.

That were the most were he to husband you.

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