The First Web Folio Edition of Shakespeare's Works
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. | 5 |
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? | 10 |
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 | 15 | |
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: | 20 | |
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, | 25 | ||
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, | 30 | ||
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 | 35 | ||
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? | 40 |
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. | 45 |
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, | 50 | ||
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, | 55 | ||
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 | 60 | ||
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? | 65 | ||
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 | 70 | ||
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, | 75 | ||
Shall never see his pardon; for my state | |||
Stands on me to defend, not to debate. | |||
[Exit] |
This edition copyright © 2000 Dana Spradley, Publisher, shakespeare.com. Originally derived from the Complete Moby Shakespeare(tm), which is now in the public domain.
'The First Web Folio Edition' is a trademark of Dana Spradley, Publisher, shakespeare.com. All rights reserved.
If you're not reading this on shakespeare.com, you're in the wrong place.