SCENE IX. Pope.

[4410] _A ... arm._] As in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[4411] _Most_] _this is most_ Hanmer.

_happy!_] _happy;_ Q₁ Q₃. _happy,_ Q₂. _happie_ F₁. _happy:_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

[4412] _first_] Omitted in Q₂ (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. and Bodl. 1, 2).

[4413] _Thou_] om. Pope.

_old_] Ff. _most_ Qq.

[4414] _Now_] om. Pope.

[4415] _to 't_] Qq F₃ F₄. _too 't_ F₁ F₂. _to it_ Johnson.

[Edgar interposes.] Collier. Edgar opposes. Johnson. om. Qq Ff.

[4416] _Darest_] _darst_ Q₁ Q₃. _durst_ Q₂. _Dar'st_ F₁. _Darst_ F₂ F₃

F₄.

[4417] _that_] om. Qq.

[4418] _Chill ... 'casion._] Two lines in Ff. Capell ends line 234

_Ch'ill not._

_zir_] Ff. _sir_ Qq.

_vurther_] om. Qq. _further_ Jennens.

_'casion_] _cagion_ Qq.

[4419] _and_] om. Qq.]

_volk_ F₃ F₄. _volke_ Q₁ F₁ F₂ Q₃. _voke_ Q₂.

[4420] _An_] Capell. _and_ Qq Ff.

_ha'_] Ff. _have_ Qq.

_zwaggered_] _zwaggar'd_ Q₁ Q₃. _swaggar'd_ Q₂. _zwaggerd_ F₁.

_zwagged_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

_'twould_] _it wold_ Q₁. _it would_ Q₂ Q₃.

[4421] _zo_] _so_ Q₂.

_as 'tis_] om. Qq.

_vortnight_] _fortnight_ Q₂ (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. and Bodl. 1, 2).

[4422] _th'_] Ff. _the_ Qq.

_che vor ye_] _che vor 'ye_ Ff. _chevore ye_ Qq.

_I'se_] _ice_ Ff. _ile_ Qq. _iz_ Capell.

_whether_] Qq. _whither_ Ff.

[4423] _costard_] Q₁ Ff Q₃. _coster_ Q₂ (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. and Bodl.

1, 2). _costerd_ Q₂ (Mus. imp.)

_ballow_] Ff. _bat_ Q₁ Q₂ (Mus. imp.) Q₃. _battero_ Q₂ (Cap. Dev. Mus.

per. and Bodl. 1, 2).

_chill_] _ile_ Q₂.

[4424] [They fight.] Qq. om. Ff.

[4425] _zir_] _sir_ Q₂.

_vor_] Ff. _for_ Qq.

[4426] [Oswald falls.] Edd. Edgar knocks him down. Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

[4427] _letters_] _letter_ Rann (Smith conj.)

[4428] _To ... out Upon_] Divided as in Ff. One line in Qq.

[4429] _Upon the British_] Qq. _Upon the English_ Ff. _On th' English_

Hanmer.

[4430] _Upon ... death!_] Capell arranges as two half-lines.

_death! Death!_] Edd. _death! death._ Qq. _death, death._ Ff.

_death,--_ Pope.

[4431] [Dies.] He dyes. Q₁. He dies. Q₂ Q₃. om. Ff.

[4432] _As duteous ... desire._] One line in Q₂.

[4433] _Sit ... not:_] As in Ff. Four lines, ending _pockets, ...

friends, deathsman ... not,_ in Qq.

[4434] _you. Lets_] Ff. _you, lets_ Q₁ Q₂ (Mus. imp.) Q₃. _you lets_

Q₂ (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. and Bodl. 1, 2).

[4435] [seating him at a Distance. Capell.

[4436] _these_] Ff. _his_ Qq.

_the letters_] Ff. _These letters_ Qq. _this letter_ Rann (Smith conj.)

[4437] _of May_] Ff. _of may_ Q₁ Q₂ (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. and Bodl. 1,

2) Q₃. _of, May_ Q₂ (Mus imp.)

[4438] _I am_] _I'm_ Pope.

_sorry_] _sorrow_ Q₂.

[4439] _Leave_] _By your leave_ Rowe.

_manners, blame_] _manners blame_ Qq. _manners: blame_ Ff.

_manners--blame_ Rowe.

[4440] _not: To_] Pope. _not, To_ Q₁ Q₃. _not To_ Q₂ Ff.

[4441] _we'ld_] _wee'd_ Qq. _we_ Ff.

[4442] _is_] Qq F₁. _are_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

[4443] [Reads] Reads the Letter. Ff. A Letter. Q₁ Q₂ (Mus. imp.) Q₃.

om. Q₂ (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. and Bodl. 1, 2).

[4444] _Let ... labour._] Prose in Q₂ Ff. Seven lines in italics in Q₁

Q₃.

[4445] _our_] Ff. _your_ Qq.

[4446] _done, if_] _done, If_ Q₂. _done: If_ Q₁. _done. If_ Ff. _done;

If_ Q₃.

_conqueror: then_] _conqueror. Then_ Pope, _conqueror, then_ Qq Ff.

[4447] _gaol_] F₄. _gaole_ F₁. _goale_ F₂. _goal_ F₃. _Iayle_ Q₁ Q₃.

_gayle_ Q₂.

[4448] _for your_] _of our_ F₃ F₄.

[4449] _--wife ... say--_] Put in parentheses in Ff. _wife (so ... say)

& your_ Q₁ Q₃. _wife (so ... say) your_ Q₂.

_servant,_] _servant and for you her owne for Venter,_ Q₂. _servant and

for you her owne for Ventering_ Anon. MS. See note (V). _servant, and

for you her own foventer_ Becket conj. _servant, and your own for ever_

Mitford conj. (from Q₁).

[4450] _O_] Qq. _Oh_ F₁. _Of_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

_undistinguish'd_] _undistinguisht_ Q₁ Q₃. _Indistinguisht_ Q₂.

_indinguish'd_ F₁ F₂ F₃. _indistinguish'd_ F₄. _unextinguish'd_ Collier

(Collier MS.) _undistinguishable_ Staunton conj.

_undistinguish'd ... will_] _undisguised scope of woman's will or

undisguised scape of woman's wit_ Singer conj.

_space_] _scope_ Theobald conj. _blaze_ Collier (Collier MS.) _sense_

Staunton conj. _maze_ Bailey conj.

_will_ Ff. _wit_ Qq.

[4451] _in the_] _i' th'_ Pope.

[4452] _post_] _most_ Anon. conj. MS.

[4453] _the mature_] _mature_ Pope.

[4454] _death-practised_] Hyphened in Ff.

[4455] _thy_] Ff. _his_ Q₁ Q₃.

[4456] _The king ... sense,_] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

_vile_] F₄. _vilde_ Q₁ F₁ F₂ Q₃ F₃. _vild_ Q₂.

[4457] _sever'd_] Ff. _fenced_ Qq.

[4458] _imaginations_] _imagination_ Johnson.

[4459] [Drum afar off.] A Drumme afarre off. Q₁ Q₃. A drum a farre off.

Q₂. Drum afarre off. Ff (after line 282).

[4460] _Give ... drum:_] One line in Q₂.

[4461] _Come, father_] _Come further_ Johnson.

[Exeunt.] Ff. Exit. Qq.

[4462] SCENE VII.] SCENE VI. Rowe. SCENE X. Pope.

A tent ... camp.] Steevens, after Capell. A Chamber. Rowe.

Lear ... asleep,] Steevens, after Capell.

soft music playing,] Dyce.

Gentleman ...] Edd. (Globe ed.) Physician, Gentleman, ... Capell.

Enter ... and Doctor.] Qq. Enter ... and Gentleman. Ff. Enter Cordelia

and Kent. Capell.

[4463] _O ... me._] Arranged as in Rowe. Three lines, ending _Kent, ...

goodnesse, ... me,_ in Q₁ Q₃. Two lines, the first ending _goodnes,_ in

Q₂. Five lines, ending _Kent, ... worke ... goodnesse?... short, ...

me,_ in Ff.

[4464] _My life_] _Life_ Pope.

[4465] _is_] _'tis_ Eccles conj.

[4466] _Be ... off._] Arranged as in Q₁ Ff Q₃. Two lines, the first

ending _those,_ in Q₂.

[4467] _me_] Qq. om. Ff.

[4468] _made_] _laid_ Warburton. _main_ Collier (Collier MS.)

[4469] _Then ... king?_] One line in Qq. Two in Ff. Pope ends line 11

at _so_.

_be't_] Ff. _beet_ Q₂. _be it_ Q₁ Q₃.

_so, my good lord. How_] _so my good lord: How_ Ff. _so: my lord how_

Q₁ Q₃. _so, my good lord how_ Q₂. _so. My lord, how_ Pope (ed. 1). _so

My lord--how_ Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald).

[To the Doctor] To the Physician. Theobald. om. Qq Ff.

[Going towards the Bed. Capell.

[4470] Doct.] Qq. Gent. Ff.

[4471] _sleeps_] _he sleeps_ Keightley.

[4472] _O you kind_] _Kind_ Capell.

[4473] _O ... nature_] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[4474] _and jarring_] Ff. _and hurrying_ Q₁ Q₂. _hurrying_ Q₃.

[4475] _child-changed_] Hyphen omitted in Q₂.

_So please_] _Please_ Pope.

[4476] _So ... king:_] Divided as in Ff. One line in Qq.

[4477] _That_] om. Q₁ Q₃.

_king: he ... long._] _king, He ... long._ Q₂. _king He ... long._ Q₁

Q₃. _king, he ... long?_ Ff. _king? he ... long._ Hanmer.

[4478] _array'd?_] _arayd,_ Q₂.]

[Soft music. Grant White.

[Enter Lear in a chaire carried by Servants. Ff. om. Qq.

[4479] Gent.] Ff. Doct. Qq.

_his_] Qq. om. Ff.

[4480] Doct.] Edd. (Globe ed.) Phy. Capell. Continued to Phy. by Pope.

Kent. Q₁ Q₃. Gent. Q₂. Continued to Gent. in Ff.

_Be by, good madam_] _Good madam be by_ Qq.

[4481] _not_] Omitted in F₁ F₂.

[4482] Cor. _Very well._ Doct. _Please ... there!_] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[4483] _O ... made!_] Arranged as in Ff. Four lines, ending

_father, ... lippes, ... harmes ... made,_ in Q₁ Q₃. Three lines,

ending _lips, ... sisters ... made,_ in Q₂.

[4484] _father! Restoration_] Pope. _father, Restoration_ Q₁

Q₃. _father restoratiō_ Q₂. _father, restauratian_ F₁. _father,

restauration_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

_Restoration hang_] _Restauration, hang_ Theobald.

[4485] _Thy_] _Her_ Hanmer.

[4486] _dear_] _dearest_ Theobald.

[4487] _you_] _he_ Anon. MS. See note (V).

[4488] _Had challenged_] _Did challenge_ Ff.

_a face_] _face_ F₃ F₄.

[4489] _opposed_] _oppos'd_ Ff. _exposd_ Qq.

_warring_] Qq. _iarring_ F₁. _jarring_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

[4490] _To stand ... helm?_] Omitted in Ff.

[4491] _dread-bolted_] Hyphened by Theobald.

[4492] _lightning? to_] Pointed as in Theobald. _lightning, to_ Q₁ Q₃.

_lightning to_ Q₂.

_watch--poor perdu!--_] _watch, poor perdu!_ Warburton. _watch poore

Per du,_ Qq. _watch poor perdue:_ Theobald. _watch pour perdu_ Pye conj.

[4493] _helm? Mine_] Pointed as in Q₁ Q₃. _helme mine_ Q₂.

[4494] _Mine ... father,_] Arranged as in Qq. Three lines, ending

_me, ... fire, ... father)_ in Ff. Three, ending _shou'd ... fire: ...

father,_ in Pope.

[4495] _Mine enemy's_] _Mine Enemies_ Ff. _Mine iniurious_ Q₁ Q₂. _Mine

injurious_ Q₃. _My very enemy's_ Theobald. _Mine injurer's_ Capell.

_dog_] _dog, even_ Keightley. _furious dog_ Mitford conj.

[4496] _Alack, alack_] _Alack_ Hanmer, ending lines 36-42, _Mine ...

him,_ at _shou'd ... wast ... swine ... straw?... wits, ... wakes, ...

him._

[4497] _thy_] _my_ F₃ F₄.

[4498] _concluded all. He_] Q₁ Ff Q₃. _concluded all, he_ Q₂.

_concluded.--Ah! he_ Warburton.

[4499] Doct.] Qq. Gen. F₁. Gent. F₂ F₃ F₄.

_do you;_] _do you speak,_ Hanmer.

[4500] _How does ... majesty?_] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[4501] _o' the_] _o' th'_ F₁. _oth'_ F₂ F₃ F₄. _a'th_ Q₁ Q₃. _ath_ Q₂.

[4502] _scald_] _scal'd_ F₁.

_do you know me?_] Ff. _know ye me?_ Q₁ Q₃. _know me._ Q₂. _know you

me?_ Anon. MS. See note (V).

[4503] _You are_] Ff. _Y'are_ Q₁ Q₃. _Yar_ Q₂.

_when_] Q₁ Q₃ F₃ F₄. _where_ Q₂ F₁ F₂.

[4504] _He's ... daylight?_] Two lines in Qq. Four in Ff.

[4505] _I am_] _I'm_ Pope.

_mightily_] _much_ Hanmer.

_e'en_] _ene_ Qq. _ev'n_ F₁ F₂. _even_ F₃ F₄.

[4506] _what to say_] _what_ Hanmer.

[4507] _I feel ... condition_] Arranged as in Ff. One line in Qq.

[4508] _O ... kneel._] Arranged as in Q₁ Ff Q₃. Prose in Q₂.

[4509] _upon_] _on_ Hanmer.

[4510] _hands_] Qq. _hand_ Ff.

[4511] _No, sir,_] Omitted in Ff.

_me_] Omitted in Q₂.

[4512] _Fourscore ... less;_] One line in Knight. Two, the first ending

_upward,_ in Ff. Capell ends the lines _upward ... plainly,_ reading

with Ff.

_Fourscore_] _Fourscore years_ Keightley, reading the rest as Qq.

_not ... less;_] Omitted in Qq, which read _Fourscore ... plainly_ as

one line.

[4513] _plainly_] _plainly with you_ Hanmer, reading the rest as Qq.

[4514] _in my perfect_] Q₂ Ff. _perfect in my_ Q₁ Q₃.

[4515] _for I am_] _for I'm_ Pope.

[4516] _nor I_] _nay I_ Pope.

[4517] _not_] Q₂ Ff. _no_ Q₁. _noe_ Q₃.

[4518] _I am, I am_] _I am_ Qq.

[4519] _Be ... not:_] One line in Qq. Two, the first ending _wet?_ in

Ff.

_pray_] _pray you_ Rowe.

[4520] _me_] _we_ F₂.

[4521] _not_] _none_ Hanmer.

[4522] _me._] _me?_ Q₂.

[4523] _Be ... settling._] Arranged as in Theobald. Prose in Qq. Three

lines, ending _rage ... go in, ... setling,_ in Ff.

[4524] _kill'd in him_] Ff. _cured in him_ Qq. _cur'd_ Hanmer. _quell'd

in him_ Collier conj.

[4525] _and yet ... lost._] Omitted in Ff.

[4526] _it is_] Qq. _'tis_ Steevens. _'twere_ Theobald.

[4527] _make him even o'er_] _wake him even, o'er_ Jackson conj.

_even_] _even go_ Keightley.

[4528] _trouble_] _And trouble_ Pope, arranging as Ff.

[4529] _Will't_] Rowe. _Wilt_ Qq Ff.

_your_] _you_ F₂.

[4530] _You ... foolish._] Prose, apparently, in Q₂. Three lines,

ending _me: ... forgive, ... foolish,_ in Q₁ Ff Q₃. Two lines, the

first ending _me:_ in Capell.

[4531] [Exeunt ... Gentleman.] Exeunt. Manet Kent and Gentleman. Q₁.

Exeunt. Manet Kent and Gent. Q₂. Exeunt. Manet Kent and Gentlemen. Q₃.

Exeunt. Ff.

[4532] Gent. _Holds ... fought._ [Exit.] Omitted in Ff.

[4533] _Holds ... Germany._] Prose in Qq. Verse, the lines ending

_sir, ... sir ... said, ... Edgar, ... Kent,_ in Capell.

[4534] _that_] om. Capell.

[4535] _As 'tis_] _'Tis_ Capell.

[4536] _in Germany ... sir._] Prose in Theobald. Four lines, ending

_changeable ... kingdom ... arbitrement ... sir,_ in Capell.

[4537] _Report ... sir._] Three lines, ending _about, ... apace ...

sir,_ in Qq.

[4538] _The_] _And the_ Capell.

_bloody_] _most bloody_ Capell. _a bloody_ Steevens (1793), reading

_The ... a bloody_ as one line.

[4539] [Exit.] Exit Gent. Theobald. om. Qq.

[4540] _battle's_] Theobald. _battels_ Qq.

[Exit.] Exit Kent. Theobald. om. Qq.

ACT V.

SCENE I. _The British camp near Dover._

_Enter, with drum and colours_, EDMUND, REGAN, Gentlemen, _and_

Soldiers.[4541]

_Edm._ 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[4542]

And self-reproving: bring his constant pleasure.

[_To a Gentleman, who goes out._[4543]

_Reg._ Our sister's man is certainly miscarried. 5

_Edm._ 'Tis to be doubted, madam.

_Reg._ Now, sweet lord,

You know the goodness I intend upon you:

Tell me, but truly, but then speak the truth,[4544]

Do you not love my sister?

_Edm._ In honour'd love.[4545]

_Reg._ But have you never found my brother's way[4546] 10

To the forfended place?[4546]

_Edm._ That thought abuses you.[4546][4547]

_Reg._ I am doubtful that you have been conjunct[4546][4547][4548]

And bosom'd with her, as far as we call hers.[4546][4547][4548]

_Edm._ No, by mine honour, madam.[4546][4549]

_Reg._ I never shall endure her: dear my lord,[4550] 15

Be not familiar with her.[4550]

_Edm._ Fear me not.--[4551][4552]

She and the duke her husband![4551]

_Enter, with drum and colours_, ALBANY, GONERIL, _and_

Soldiers.[4553]

_Gon._ [_Aside_] I had rather lose the battle than that sister[4554][4555]

Should loosen him and me.[4554][4556]

_Alb._ Our very loving sister, well be-met.[4557] 20

Sir, this I hear; the king is come to his daughter,[4558]

With others whom the rigour of our state

Forced to cry out. Where I could not be honest,[4559]

I never yet was valiant: for this business,[4559][4560]

It toucheth us, as France invades our land,[4559] 25

Not bolds the king, with others, whom, I fear,[4559][4561]

Most just and heavy causes make oppose.[4559]

_Edm._ Sir, you speak nobly.[4559][4562]

_Reg._ Why is this reason'd?

_Gon._ Combine together 'gainst the enemy;

For these domestic and particular broils[4563] 30

Are not the question here.[4564]

_Alb._ Let's then determine[4565]

With the ancient of war on our proceedings.[4565][4566]

_Edm._ I shall attend you presently at your tent.[4567]

_Reg._ Sister, you'll go with us?

_Gon._ No. 35

_Reg._ 'Tis most convenient; pray you, go with us.[4568]

_Gon._ [_Aside_] O, ho, I know the riddle.--I will go.

_As they are going out, enter_ EDGAR _disguised_.[4569]

_Edg._ If e'er your grace had speech with man so poor,[4570]

Hear me one word.

_Alb._ I'll overtake you. Speak.

[_Exeunt all but Albany and Edgar._[4571]

_Edg._ Before you fight the battle, ope this letter. 40

If you have victory, let the trumpet sound

For him that brought it: wretched though I seem,[4572]

I can produce a champion that will prove

What is avouched there. If you miscarry,

Your business of the world hath so an end, 45

And machination ceases. Fortune love you![4573]

_Alb._ Stay till I have read the letter.[4574]

_Edg._ I was forbid it.[4575]

When time shall serve, let but the herald cry,[4575]

And I'll appear again.[4575]

Alb. Why, fare thee well: I will o'erlook thy paper. 50

[_Exit Edgar._

_Re-enter_ EDMUND.[4576]

_Edm._ The enemy's in view: draw up your powers.[4577]

Here is the guess of their true strength and forces[4578]

By diligent discovery; but your haste[4579][4580]

Is now urged on you.[4579]

_Alb._ We will greet the time. [_Exit._[4581]

_Edm._ To both these sisters have I sworn my love;[4582] 55

Each jealous of the other, as the stung[4583][4584]

Are of the adder. Which of them shall I take?[4583]

Both? one? or neither? Neither can be enjoy'd,[4583][4585]

If both remain alive: to take the widow

Exasperates, makes mad her sister Goneril; 60

And hardly shall I carry out my side,[4586]

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[4587]

His speedy taking off. As for the mercy[4588] 65

Which he intends to Lear and to Cordelia,[4589]

The battle done, and they within our power,

Shall never see his pardon; for my state[4590]

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_

Soldiers, _over the stage; and exeunt_.

_Enter_ EDGAR _and_ GLOUCESTER.[4591]

_Edg._ Here, father, take the shadow of this tree[4592]

For your good host; pray that the right may thrive:

If ever I return to you again,[4593]

I'll bring you comfort.[4593]

_Glou._ Grace go with you, sir! [_Exit Edgar._

_Alarum and retreat within. Re-enter_ EDGAR.[4594]

_Edg._ Away, old man; give me thy hand; away! 5

King Lear hath lost, he and his daughter ta'en:

Give me thy hand; come on.

_Glou._ No farther, sir; a man may rot even here.[4595]

_Edg._ What, in ill thoughts again? Men must endure[4596]

Their going hence, even as their coming hither: 10

Ripeness is all: come on.

_Glou._ And that's true too. [_Exeunt._[4597]

SCENE III. _The British camp near Dover._

_Enter, in conquest, with drum and colours,_ EDMUND; LEAR _and_

CORDELIA, _as prisoners_; Captain, Soldiers, _&c._[4598]

_Edm._ Some officers take them away: good guard,

Until their greater pleasures first be known[4599]

That are to censure them.

_Cor._ We are not the first[4600][4601]

Who with best meaning have incurr'd the worst.[4600]

For thee, oppressed king, am I cast down;[4600][4602] 5

Myself could else out-frown false fortune's frown.[4603]

Shall we not see these daughters and these sisters?

_Lear._ No, no, no, no! Come, let's away to prison:[4604]

We two alone will sing like birds i' the cage:

When thou dost ask me blessing, I'll kneel down 10

And ask of thee forgiveness: so we'll live,

And pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and laugh[4605]

At gilded butterflies, and hear poor rogues

Talk of court news; and we'll talk with them too,[4606]

Who loses and who wins, who's in, who's out;[4607] 15

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[4608]

That ebb and flow by the moon.

_Edm._ Take them away.

_Lear_. Upon such sacrifices, my Cordelia, 20

The gods themselves throw incense. Have I caught thee?[4609]

He that parts us shall bring a brand from heaven,

And fire us hence like foxes. Wipe thine eyes;[4610]

The good-years shall devour them, flesh and fell,[4611][4612]

Ere they shall make us weep: we'll see 'em starve first.[4612][4613] 25

Come. [_Exeunt Lear and Cordelia, guarded._[4613][4614]

_Edm._ Come hither, captain; hark.[4615]

Take thou this note: go follow them to prison:[4616]

One step I have advanced thee; if thou dost[4617][4618]

As this instructs thee, thou dost make thy way[4618] 30

To noble fortunes: know thou this, that men[4618]

Are as the time is: to be tender-minded[4618][4619]

Does not become a sword: thy great employment[4618][4620]

Will not bear question; either say thou'lt do 't,[4618][4621]

Or thrive by other means.[4618]

_Capt._ I'll do 't, my lord. 35

_Edm._ About it; and write happy when thou hast done.[4622]

Mark; I say, instantly, and carry it so[4623]

As I have set it down.

_Capt._ I cannot draw a cart, nor eat dried oats;[4624]

If it be man's work, I'll do't. [_Exit._[4624] 40

_Flourish. Enter_ ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, _another_ Captain, _and_

Soldiers.[4625]

_Alb._ Sir, you have shown to-day your valiant strain,[4626]

And fortune led you well: you have the captives[4627]

That were the opposites of this day's strife:[4628]

We do require them of you, so to use them[4629]

As we shall find their merits and our safety 45

May equally determine.

_Edm._ Sir, I thought it fit[4630]

To send the old and miserable king[4631][4632]

To some retention and appointed guard;[4631][4633]

Whose age has charms in it, whose title more,[4634]

To pluck the common bosom on his side,[4635] 50

And turn our impress'd lances in our eyes

Which do command them. With him I sent the queen:[4636]

My reason all the same; and they are ready[4636][4637]

To-morrow or at further space to appear[4637][4638]

Where you shall hold your session. At this time[4637][4639][4640][4641] 55

We sweat and bleed: the friend hath lost his friend;[4640][4641]

And the best quarrels, in the heat, are cursed[4641]

By those that feel their sharpness.[4641][4642]

The question of Cordelia and her father[4641]

Requires a fitter place.[4641]

_Alb._ Sir, by your patience, 60

I hold you but a subject of this war,[4643]

Not as a brother.[4643]

_Reg._ That's as we list to grace him.

Methinks our pleasure might have been demanded,[4644]

Ere you had spoke so far. He led our powers,

Bore the commission of my place and person; 65

The which immediacy may well stand up[4645]

And call itself your brother.

_Gon._ Not so hot:[4646]

In his own grace he doth exalt himself[4646]

More than in your addition.[4646][4647]

_Reg._ In my rights,[4648][4649]

By me invested, he compeers the best.[4649] 70

_Gon._ That were the most, if he should husband you.[4650]

_Reg._ Jesters do oft prove prophets.

_Gon._ Holla, holla![4651][4652]

That eye that told you so look'd but a-squint.[4652][4653]

_Reg._ 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:[4654]

Witness the world, that I create thee here

My lord and master.

_Gon._ Mean you to enjoy him?[4655]

_Alb._ The let-alone lies not in your good will.[4656] 80

_Edm._ Nor in thine, lord.

_Alb._ Half-blooded fellow, yes.

_Reg. [To Edmund_] Let the drum strike, and prove my title thine.[4657]

_Alb._ Stay yet; hear reason. Edmund, I arrest thee[4658]

On capital treason; and in thine attaint[4659]

This gilded serpent [_pointing to Gon._]. For your claim,

fair sister,[4660] 85

I bar it in the interest of my wife;[4661]

'Tis she is sub-contracted to this lord,[4662]

And I, her husband, contradict your bans.[4663]

If you will marry, make your loves to me;[4664]

My lady is bespoke.

_Gon._ An interlude![4665] 90

_Alb._ Thou art arm'd, Gloucester: let the trumpet sound:[4665][4666]

If none appear to prove upon thy person[4667]

Thy heinous, manifest, and many treasons,

There is my pledge [_throwing down a glove_]: I'll prove it

on thy heart,[4668][4669]

Ere I taste bread, thou art in nothing less 95

Than I have here proclaim'd thee.

_Reg._ Sick, O, sick!

_Gon._ [_Aside_] If not, I'll ne'er trust medicine.[4670]

_Edm._ [_Throwing down a glove_] There's my exchange:

what in the world he is[4668][4671]

That names me traitor, villain-like he lies:

Call by thy trumpet: he that dares approach,[4672] 100

On him, on you,--who not?--I will maintain[4673]

My truth and honour firmly.

_Alb._ A herald, ho!

_Edm._ A herald, ho, a herald![4674]

_Alb._ Trust to thy single virtue; for thy soldiers,[4675]

All levied in my name, have in my name[4676] 105

Took their discharge.[4676][4677]

_Reg._ My sickness grows upon me.

_Alb._ She is not well; convey her to my tent.

[_Exit Regan, led._

_Enter a_ Herald.[4678]

Come hither, herald,--Let the trumpet sound,--[4679][4680]

And read out this.[4679]

_Capt._ Sound, trumpet! [_A trumpet sounds._[4681] 110

_Her._ [_Reads_] 'If any man of quality or degree within[4682][4683]

the lists of the army will maintain upon Edmund, supposed[4683]

Earl of Gloucester, that he is a manifold traitor, let him[4684]

appear by the third sound of the trumpet: he is bold in[4685]

his defence.' 115

_Edm._ Sound! [_First trumpet._[4686]

_Her._ Again! [_Second trumpet._[4687]

_Her._ Again! [_Third trumpet._

[_Trumpet answers within._

_Enter_ EDGAR, _at the third sound, armed, with a trumpet

before him_.[4688]

_Alb._ Ask him his purposes, why he appears

Upon this call o' the trumpet.

_Her._ What are you?[4689] 120

Your name, your quality? and why you answer[4689][4690]

This present summons?[4689]

_Edg._ Know, my name is lost;[4691][4692][4693]

By treason's tooth bare-gnawn and canker-bit:[4692][4693]

Yet am I noble as the adversary[4692][4694]

I come to cope.[4692][4695]

_Alb._ Which is that adversary? 125

_Edg._ What's he that speaks for Edmund, Earl of Gloucester?

_Edm._ Himself: what say'st thou to him?

_Edg._ Draw thy sword,

That if my speech offend a noble heart,[4696]

Thy arm may do thee justice: here is mine.[4696][4697]

Behold, it is the privilege of mine honours,[4698] 130

My oath, and my profession: I protest,

Maugre thy strength, youth, place and eminence,[4699]

Despite thy victor sword and fire-new fortune,[4700]

Thy valour and thy heart, thou art a traitor,

False to thy gods, thy brother and thy father,[4701] 135

Conspirant 'gainst this high illustrious prince,[4702]

And from the extremest upward of thy head

To the descent and dust below thy foot,[4703]

A most toad-spotted traitor. Say thou 'No,'

This sword, this arm and my best spirits are bent[4704][4705] 140

To prove upon thy heart, whereto I speak,[4704]

Thou liest.[4704]

_Edm._ In wisdom I should ask thy name,[4706]

But since thy outside looks so fair and warlike

And that thy tongue some say of breeding breathes,[4707]

What safe and nicely I might well delay[4708] 145

By rule of knighthood, I disdain and spurn:[4709]

Back do I toss these treasons to thy head;[4710]

With the hell-hated lie o'erwhelm thy heart;[4711]

Which for they yet glance by and scarcely bruise,[4712]

This sword of mine shall give them instant way, 150

Where they shall rest for ever. Trumpets, speak!

[_Alarums. They fight. Edmund falls._[4713]

_Alb._ Save him, save him![4714]

_Gon._ This is practice, Gloucester:[4715][4716]

By the law of arms thou wast not bound to answer[4715][4717]

An unknown opposite; thou art not vanquish'd,[4715]

But cozen'd and beguiled.[4715]

_Alb._ Shut your mouth, dame,[4718][4719] 155

Or with this paper shall I stop it. Hold, sir;[4718][4720]

Thou worse than any name, read thine own evil.[4718][4721]

No tearing, lady; I perceive you know it.[4718][4722]

_Gon._ Say, if I do, the laws are mine, not thine:[4723]

Who can arraign me for't?[4723][4724]

_Alb._ Most monstrous![4725] 160

Know'st thou this paper?[4725]

_Gon._ Ask me not what I know. [_Exit._[4726]

_Alb._ Go after her: she's desperate; govern her.[4727]

_Edm._ What you have charged me with, that have I done;[4728]

And more, much more; the time will bring it out:

'Tis past, and so am I. But what art thou[4729] 165

That hast this fortune on me? If thou'rt noble,[4729][4730]

I do forgive thee.[4729]

_Edg._ Let's exchange charity.[4731]

I am no less in blood than thou art, Edmund;

If more, the more thou hast wrong'd me.[4732]

My name is Edgar, and thy father's son. 170

The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices[4733]

Make instruments to plague us:[4734][4735]

The dark and vicious place where thee he got[4734][4736]

Cost him his eyes.[4734]

_Edm._ Thou hast spoken right, 'tis true;[4737][4738]

The wheel is come full circle; I am here.[4737][4739] 175

_Alb._ Methought thy very gait did prophesy[4740]

A royal nobleness: I must embrace thee:

Let sorrow split my heart, if ever I[4741]

Did hate thee or thy father![4741]

_Edg._ Worthy prince, I know't.[4742]

_Alb._ Where have you hid yourself?[4743] 180

How have you known the miseries of your father?[4743][4744]

_Edg._ By nursing them, my lord. List a brief tale;[4745]

And when 'tis told, O, that my heart would burst![4745][4746]

The bloody proclamation to escape[4745][4746]

That follow'd me so near,--O, our lives' sweetness![4745][4747] 185

That we the pain of death would hourly die[4745][4748]

Rather than die at once!--taught me to shift[4745]

Into a madman's rags, to assume a semblance[4745]

That very dogs disdain'd: and in this habit[4745][4749]

Met I my father with his bleeding rings,[4745] 190

Their precious stones new lost; became his guide,[4750]

Led him, begg'd for him, saved him from despair;

Never--O fault!--reveal'd myself unto him,[4751]

Until some half-hour past, when I was arm'd;[4752]

Not sure, though hoping, of this good success, 195

I ask'd his blessing, and from first to last

Told him my pilgrimage: but his flaw'd heart,--[4753][4754]

Alack, too weak the conflict to support!--[4754]

'Twixt two extremes of passion, joy and grief,[4754][4755]

Burst smilingly.[4756]

_Edm._ This speech of yours hath moved me, 200

And shall perchance do good: but speak you on;

You look as you had something more to say.

_Alb._ If there be more, more woful, hold it in;[4757]

For I am almost ready to dissolve,

Hearing of this.[4758]

_Edg._ This would have seem'd a period[4759][4760][4761][4762] 205

To such as love not sorrow; but another,[4759][4760][4762][4763][4764]

To amplify too much, would make much more,[4759][4760][4762][4764][4765]

And top extremity.[4759][4760]

Whilst I was big in clamour, came there in a man,[4759][4766]

Who, having seen me in my worst estate,[4759][4767] 210

Shunn'd my abhorr'd society; but then, finding[4759][4768]

Who 'twas that so endured, with his strong arms[4759][4769]

He fasten'd on my neck, and bellow'd out[4759][4770]

As he'ld burst heaven; threw him on my father;[4759][4771]

Told the most piteous tale of Lear and him[4759][4772] 215

That ever ear received: which in recounting[4759]

His grief grew puissant, and the strings of life[4759][4773]

Began to crack: twice then the trumpets sounded,[4759][4774]

And there I left him tranced.[4759]

_Alb._ But who was this?[4759]

_Edg._ Kent, sir, the banish'd Kent; who in disguise[4759] 220

Follow'd his enemy king, and did him service[4759][4775]

Improper for a slave.[4759]

_Enter a_ Gentleman, _with a bloody knife_.[4776]

_Gent._ Help, help, O, help![4777][4778]

_Edg._ What kind of help?[4779]

_Alb._ Speak, man.

_Edg._ What means this bloody knife?[4779]

_Gent._ 'Tis hot, it smokes;[4780][4781]

It came even from the heart of--O, she's dead![4781][4782] 225

_Alb._ Who dead? speak, man.[4783]

_Gent._ Your lady, sir, your lady: and her sister

By her is poisoned; she hath confess'd it.[4784]

_Edm._ I was contracted to them both: all three

Now marry in an instant.

_Edg._ Here comes Kent.[4785] 230

_Alb._ Produce the bodies, be they alive or dead.

[_Exit Gentleman._[4786]

This judgement of the heavens, that makes us tremble,[4787]

Touches us not with pity.

_Enter_ KENT.

O, is this he?[4788][4789]

The time will not allow the compliment[4789][4790]

Which very manners urges.[4789][4791]

_Kent._ I am come[4792][4793] 235

To bid my king and master aye good night:[4793]

Is he not here?

_Alb._ Great thing of us forgot![4794][4795][4796]

Speak, Edmund, where's the king? and where's Cordelia?[4795]

See'st thou this object, Kent?[4795]

[_The bodies of Goneril and Regan are brought in._[4797]

_Kent._ Alack, why thus?

_Edm._ Yet Edmund was beloved:[4798] 240

The one the other poison'd for my sake,[4798][4799]

And after slew herself.[4798][4800]

_Alb._ Even so. Cover their faces.[4794]

_Edm._ I pant for life: some good I mean to do,[4801]

Despite of mine own nature. Quickly send,[4801][4802] 245

Be brief in it, to the castle; for my writ[4801][4803]

Is on the life of Lear and on Cordelia:[4801][4804]

Nay, send in time.[4801]

_Alb._ Run, run, O, run![4794][4805]

_Edg._ To who, my lord? Who hath the office? send[4806][4807]

Thy token of reprieve.[4806] 250

_Edm._ Well thought on: take my sword,[4808]

Give it the captain.[4808]

_Alb._ Haste thee, for thy life. [_Exit Edgar._[4794][4809]

_Edm._ He hath commission from thy wife and me[4810]

To hang Cordelia in the prison, and[4810]

To lay the blame upon her own despair,[4810] 255

That she fordid herself.[4810][4811]

_Alb._ The gods defend her! Bear him hence awhile.[4794]

[_Edmund is borne off._[4812]

_Re-enter_ LEAR, _with_ CORDELIA _dead in his arms_; EDGAR, Captain,

_and others following_.

_Lear._ Howl, howl, howl, howl! O, you are men of stones:[4813]

Had I your tongues and eyes, I'ld use them so

That heaven's vault should crack. She's gone for ever![4814] 260

I know when one is dead and when one lives;

She's dead as earth. Lend me a looking-glass;

If that her breath will mist or stain the stone,[4815][4816]

Why, then she lives.[4815][4817]

_Kent._ Is this the promised end?

_Edg._ Or image of that horror?

_Alb._ Fall and cease.[4794][4818] 265

_Lear._ This feather stirs; she lives. If it be so,[4819]

It is a chance which does redeem all sorrows[4819][4820]

That ever I have felt.[4819]

_Kent._ [_Kneeling_] O my good master![4821]

_Lear._ Prithee, away.

_Edg._ 'Tis noble Kent, your friend.

_Lear._ A plague upon you, murderers, traitors all![4822][4823] 270

I might have saved her; now she's gone for ever![4822]

Cordelia, Cordelia! stay a little. Ha![4822][4824]

What is't thou say'st? Her voice was ever soft,[4822][4825]

Gentle and low, an excellent thing in woman.[4822][4826]

I kill'd the slave that was a-hanging thee.[4822] 275

_Capt._ 'Tis true, my lords, he did.[4827]

_Lear._ Did I not, fellow?[4828]

I have seen the day, with my good biting falchion[4828][4829]

I would have made them skip: I am old now,[4828][4830]

And these same crosses spoil me. Who are you?[4828]

Mine eyes are not o' the best: I'll tell you straight.[4828][4831] 280

_Kent._ If fortune brag of two she loved and hated,[4832]

One of them we behold.[4833]

_Lear._ This is a dull sight. Are you not Kent?[4834]

_Kent._ The same,[4835]

Your servant Kent. Where is your servant Caius?[4835]

_Lear._ He's a good fellow, I can tell you that;[4836] 285

He'll strike, and quickly too: he's dead and rotten.[4837]

_Kent._ No, my good lord; I am the very man--[4838]

_Lear._ I'll see that straight.

_Kent._ That from your first of difference and decay[4839]

Have follow'd your sad steps.

_Lear._ You are welcome hither.[4840] 290

_Kent._ Nor no man else: all's cheerless, dark and deadly.[4841]

Your eldest daughters have fordone themselves.[4842]

And desperately are dead.

_Lear._ Ay, so I think.[4843]

_Alb._ He knows not what he says, and vain is it[4794][4844]

That we present us to him.

_Edg._ Very bootless. 295

_Enter a_ Captain.[4845]

_Capt._ Edmund is dead, my lord.[4846]

_Alb._ That's but a trifle here.[4847][4848]

You lords and noble friends, know our intent.[4847]

What comfort to this great decay may come[4847][4849]

Shall be applied: for us, we will resign,[4847]

During the life of this old majesty,[4847] 300

To him our absolute power: [_To Edgar and Kent_] you, to

your rights;[4847][4850]

With boot, and such addition as your honours[4847][4851]

Have more than merited. All friends shall taste[4847][4852]

The wages of their virtue, and all foes[4852]

The cup of their deservings. O, see, see![4852][4853] 305

_Lear._ And my poor fool is hang'd! No, no, no life![4854][4855]

Why should a dog, a horse, a rat, have life,[4854][4856]

And thou no breath at all? Thou'lt come no more,[4854][4857]

Never, never, never, never, never![4854][4858]

Pray you, undo this button: thank you, sir.[4854][4859][4860] 310

Do you see this? Look on her, look, her lips,[4860][4861]

Look there, look there! [_Dies._[4860]

_Edg._ He faints. My lord, my lord![4862]

_Kent._ Break, heart; I prithee, break!

_Edg._ Look up, my lord.[4863]

_Kent._ Vex not his ghost: O, let him pass! he hates him[4864][4865]

That would upon the rack of this tough world[4864][4866] 315

Stretch him out longer.[4864]

_Edg._ He is gone indeed.[4867]

_Kent._ The wonder is he hath endured so long:

He but usurp'd his life.[4868]

_Alb._ Bear them from hence. Our present business[4869]

Is general woe. [_To Kent and Edgar_] Friends of my soul,

you twain[4870] 320

Rule in this realm and the gored state sustain.[4871]

_Kent._ I have a journey, sir, shortly to go;[4872]

My master calls me, I must not say no.[4872][4873]

_Alb._ The weight of this sad time we must obey,[4872][4874]

Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say.[4872] 325

The oldest hath borne most: we that are young[4872][4875]

Shall never see so much, nor live so long.

[_Exeunt, with a dead march._[4872][4876]

FOOTNOTES:

[4541] The British......] Camp of the British Forces, near Dover.

Capell. A Camp. Rowe.

Enter ...] Ff. Enter Edmund, Reagan, and their powers. Qq. Enter

Bastard, Regan, Gentlemen, and Soldiers. Rowe. Enter Edmund, Regan,

Gentleman and Soldiers. Warburton.

[4542] _alteration_] Q₁ Q₂ (Mus. imp.) Ff Q₃. _abdication_ Q₂ (Cap.

Dev. Mus. per. and Bodl. 1, 2).

[4543] _self-reproving_] Hyphened in Q₁ Q₃.

_self-reproving: bring_] _self-reproving brings_ Pope.

[To ...] Edd. (Globe ed.) To an Officer; who bows, and goes out.

Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[4544] _me, but truly,_] _me--but truly--_ Johnson, _me but truly,_ Q₂

Ff. _me truly_ Q₁ Q₃.

[4545] _In_] Ff. _I_ Q₁ Q₃. _I,_ Q₂. _Ay, in_ Anon. conj.

[4546] Reg. _But ... madam._] Omitted by Johnson.

[4547] Edm. _That ... hers._] Omitted in Ff.

[4548] _I am ... hers._] As in Q₁ Q₃. Prose in Q₂.

[4549] _madam_] om. Pope.

[4550] _I never ... her._] As in Ff. Two lines, the first ending

_endure her_ in Q₁ Q₃. Prose in Q₂.

[4551] _Fear ... husband!_] As in Capell. One line in Qq Ff.

[4552] _me_] Qq. om. Ff.

[4553] _husband!_] _husband._ Qq Ff. _husband--_ Rowe.

Enter ... and Soldiers.] Enter ... soldiers. Ff. Enter Albany and

Gonorill with troopes. Qq (troupes. Q₂. Troops. Q₃).

[4554] Gon. _I ... me._] Arranged as in Theobald. Two lines, the first

ending _battell,_ in Q₁ Q₃. Prose in Q₂. Omitted in Ff.

[4555] [Aside] First marked by Theobald.

_I had_] _I'd_ Theobald.

_lose_] Theobald, _loose_ Q₁ Q₂. _loos_ Q₃.

[4556] _loosen_] _cosin_ Q₃.

[4557] _be-met_] _be met_ Q₃.

[4558] _Sir, this I hear_] Theobald. _For this I heare_ Q₁ Q₂. _Sir,

this I heard_ Ff. _For this I hear_ Q₃. _'Fore this, I hear,_ Malone

conj.

[4559] _Where ... nobly._] Omitted in Ff.

[4560] _for_] _'fore_ Theobald.

[4561] _Not ... others_] _Not the old king with others,_ or _Not holds

with the king, and others_ or _Upholds the king and others_ Mason conj.

_bolds_] _holds_ Pope. _holds to_ Hanmer. _holds for_ Capell. See note

(XIX).

[4562] Edm. _Sir, ... nobly._] Omitted by Pope, reading the rest as Qq.

_nobly_] _odly_ or _coldly_ Mason conj.

[4563] _and particular broils_] _doore particulars_, Q₁. _dore

particulars_ Q₂. _door particulars,_ Q₃. _in-door particulars,_ Collier

conj. (from Q₁). _poore particulars,_ Mitford conj. (from Q₁).

[4564] _the_] Ff. _to_ Qq.

_Let's_] Ff. _Let us_ Qq.

[4565] _Let's ... proceedings._] Arranged as in Q₁ Q₃. Prose in Q₂. In

Ff the first line ends _warre._

[4566] _the ancient_] _the Ancient_ Q₁ Q₃. _the auntient_ Q₂. _th'

ancient_ Ff. _th' ancients_ Hanmer. _the ancient men_ S. Walker conj.

_the argument_ Anon. conj.

_proceedings_] Qq. _proceeding_ Ff.

[4567] Edm. _I shall ... tent._] Omitted in Ff. Transferred by Theobald

to follow _here,_ line 31.

[4568] _pray you_] Qq. _pray_ Ff.

[4569] _O ... riddle._] First marked as 'Aside' by Capell. Hanmer marks

the whole line as 'Aside.'

As ... disguised.] Theobald. Exit. Enter Edgar. Q₁. Enter Edgar. Q₂.

Exit. Enter Edgare. Q₃. Exeunt both the Armies. Enter Edgar. Ff.

Exeunt. SCENE II. Manet Albany. Enter Edgar. Pope. As they are going

out, and Albany last, Enter Edgar. Capell.

[4570] _had_] _did_ Q₃.

_man_] Q₂ Ff. _one_ Q₁ Q₃.

[4571] [Exeunt ...] Exeunt Edm. Reg. Gon. and Attendants. Theobald. om.

Q₁ Ff Q₃. Exeunt. Q₂ (after _word_).

[4572] _wretched_] Qq F₁. _wretch_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

_though_] _thoughts_ Q₃.

[4573] _And ... ceases._] Omitted in Qq.

_love_] Qq. _loves_ Ff.

[4574] _I have_] _I've_ Pope.

[4575] _I was ... again._] Prose in Q₂.

[4576] _o'erlook_] _looke ore_ Q₁. _look ore_ Q₃.

_thy_] Ff. _the_ Qq.

[Exit Edgar.] Dyce. Exit. Qq Ff (after _again,_ line 49).

Re-enter ...] Theobald. Enter ... Qq Ff.

[4577] _enemy's_] _enemies_ Q₂.

[4578] _Here_] _Hard_ Qq.

_guess_] _quesse_ Q₂. _conquest_ Anon. MS. See note (V). _guise_ Becket

conj.

_true_] _great_ Qq.

[Showing a Paper. Collier (Collier MS.)

[4579] _By ... you._] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[4580] [giving a paper. Jennens.

[4581] [Exit.] om. Q₁ Q₃.

[4582] SCENE III. Pope.

_sisters_] _sister_ Q₂.

[4583] _Each ... enjoyd._] As in Ff. Three lines, ending _adder, ...

one ... enjoyd,_ in Q₁ Q₃. Two lines, the first ending _adder,_ in Q₂.

[4584] _stung_] Ff. _sting_ Qq.

[4585] _Both? one_?] Ff. _both one_ Qq.

[4586] _side_] _suite_ S. Walker conj.

[4587] _who_] Ff. _that_ Qq.

[4588] _the_] Ff. _his_ Qq.

[4589] _intends_] Ff. _entends_ Q₂. _extends_ Q₁ Q₃.

[4590] _Shall never_] _They shall ne'er_ Hanmer. _They shall never_

Keightley.

[4591] SCENE II.] SCENE IV. Pope.

A field ...] Fields between the camps. Capell. A Field. Rowe. Another

open Field. Theobald.

Alarum within. Enter ...] Ff. Alarum. Enter the powers of France over

the stage, Cordelia with her Father in her hand. Qq.

[4592] _tree_] Ff. _bush_ Qq.

[4593] _If ... comfort._] One line in Q₂.

[4594] _go_] _be_ F₃ F₄.

[Exit Edgar.] Pope. Exit. Ff. Exit. Qq (after _comfort_).

Alarum ...] Ff. Alarum and retreat. Qq.

Re-enter ...] Theobald. Enter ... Qq Ff.

[4595] _farther_] Qq. _further_ Ff.

[4596] _What ... endure_] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

_again? Men_] _againe men_ Q₂.

[4597] _all: come_] _all; come_ Rowe (ed. 2). _all, come_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

_all come_ Qq F₁.

Glou. _And ... too._] Omitted in Qq.

[Exeunt.] Ff. Exit. Q₁ Q₃. om. Q₂.

[4598] SCENE III.] SCENE V. Pope. Theobald continues the Scene.

The British ... near ...] Malone. The British ... under ... Capell. A

Camp. Rowe.

Enter ... Captain, Soldiers, &c.] Enter ... Souldiers, Captaine. Ff.

Enter Edmund, with Lear and Cordelia prisoners. Qq.

[4599] _first_] Ff. _best_ Qq.

[4600] _We ... down;_] Two lines, the first ending _incurd,_ in Q₂.

[4601] _We are_] _We're_ Pope.

[4602] _am I_] Q₁ Q₂. _I am_ Ff Q₃.

[4603] _out-frown_] _out-face_ Anon. conj.

[4604] _No, no, no, no_] Ff. _No, no_ Qq.

[4605] _and sing_] Q₂ Ff. om. Q₁ Q₃.

[4606] _talk_] _talk'd_ F₂.

_too_] _to_ Q₂.

[4607] _loses_] F₄. _looses_ The rest.

_who's ... who's_] _whose ... whose_ Qq. _whos ... whos_ F₂.

[4608] _sects_] _sets_ Johnson conj.

[4609] _The ... thee?_] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[4610] _eyes_] Qq F₁. _eye_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

[4611] _good-years_] _good yeares_ F₁. _good yeeres_ F₂. _good years_

F₃ F₄. _good_ Qq. _good-jers_ Theobald. _goujeres_ Hanmer. _gougers_

Bubier conj.

_flesh_] Ff. _fleach_ Qq.

[4612] _fell, Ere ... starve first._] _fell: E'er ... weep, ...

starve._ Seymour conj.

[4613] _Ere ... Come._] as in Pope. One line in Q₂. Two, the first

ending _weepe?_ in Ff.

_weep:_] _weep;_ Pope, _weepe?_ Qq Ff. _weep,_ Rowe (ed. 2).

_'em_] Q₃ F₃ F₄. _em_ Q₁, _vm_ Q₂. _e'm_ F₁ F₂. _them_ Capell.

_starve_] Qq. _starv'd_ Ff.

[4614] _Come._] om. Q₁ Q₃.

[Exeunt ...] Theobald. Exit. Q₁ Ff Q₃. om. Q₂. Ex. Lear and Cordelia.

Pope.

[4615] _Come hither_] _Come thou hither_ Hanmer.

[Whispering. Rowe.

[4616] [Giving a paper. Malone.

[4617] _One_] Q₁ Q₂ (Mus. imp.) Ff Q₃. _And_ Q₂ (Cap. Dev. Mus. per.

and Bodl. 1, 2).

_step I_] _step, I_ Q₂.

[4618] _One ... means._] As in Q₂ Ff. Six lines, ending _thee, ...

fortunes: ... is; ... sword, ... question, ... meanes,_ in Q₁ Q₃.

[4619] _tender-minded_] Hyphened by Rowe (ed. 2).

[4620] _thy_] _my_ Theobald.

[4621] _thou'lt_] Ff. _thout_ Qq.

[4622] _thou hast_] Qq. _th' hast_ F₁ F₂. th'ast F₃ F₄.

[4623] _Mark; I_] _Mark, I_ Rowe. _Marke I_ Qq Ff.

[4624] Capt. _I cannot ... do't._] Omitted in Ff.

[4625] _If ... do't_] _But if it be a man's work, I will do it_

Keightley.

_If it_] _If't_ S. Walker conj.

_I'll_] _I will_ Steevens.

[Exit.] Exit Captaine. Ff. om. Qq.

Flourish.] F₁. om. Qq F₂ F₃ F₄.

Enter....] Enter Albany, Gonerill, Regan, Soldiers. Ff. Enter the Duke,

the two Ladies, and others. Qq (Enter Duke Q₂). Enter Albany, Regan,

Goneril, Officers, and Attendants. Capell.

[4626] SCENE VI. Pope.

_shown_] _shewne_ Q₁. _showne_ Q₃. _shewed_ Q₂. _shew'd_ Ff.

[4627] _the_] _them_ Keightley.

[4628] _That_] Qq. _Who_ Ff.

[4629] _We_] Qq. _I_ Ff.

_require them_] Ff. _require then_ Qq.

[4630] _Sir ... fit_] _I thought fit_ Pope.

[4631] _To send ... retention_] As in Q₁ Q₃. One line in Q₂.

[4632] _send_] _saue_ Q₂.

[4633] _and appointed guard_] Q₁ Q₂ (Mus. imp.) Q₃. Omitted in Q₂ (Cap.

Dev. Mus. per. and Bodl. 1, 2) Ff.

[4634] _has_] Qq. _had_ Ff.

[4635] _common bosom_] F₄. _common bosome_ F₁ F₂ F₃. _common bossome_

Q₂ (Mus. imp.), _common blossomes_ Q₁ Q₃. _coren bossom_ Q₂ (Cap. Dev.

Mus. per. and Bodl. 1, 2). _common bosoms_ Pope.

_on_] Ff. _of_ Qq.

[4636] _queen: My reason all_] _queen My reason, all_ Q₂.

[4637] _My ... session._] Arranged as in Ff. The lines end _to

morrow, ... hold_ in Qq.

[4638] _further_] Q₂ Ff. _a further_ Q₁ Q₃.

[4639] _you ... your_] _we ... our_ Hanmer.

[4640] _session ... time We_] Theobald. _session at this time: we_ Q₁

Q₃. _session at this time, wee_ Q₂ (Mus. imp.) _session at this time,

mee_ Q₂ (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. and Bodl. 1, 2).

[4641] _At ... place._] Arranged as in Theobald. The lines end

_bleed, ... quarrels ... sharpenesse ... father ... place_ in Qq.

Omitted in Ff.

[4642] _sharpness_] _sharpenesse_ Q₁ Q₃. _sharpnes_ Q₂ (Mus. imp.),

_sharpes_ Q₂ (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. and Bodl. 1, 2).

[4643] _I hold ... brother._] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[4644] _might_] Ff. _should_ Qq.

[4645] _immediacy_] F₂ F₃ F₄. _immediacie_ F₁. _immediate_ Qq.

[4646] _Not ... addition._] As in Ff. Two lines, the first ending

_himselfe,_ in Q₁ Q₃. Prose in Q₂.

[4647] _addition_] Ff. _advancement_ Qq.

[4648] _In ... best._] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[4649] _rights_] Ff. _right_ Qq.

[4650] Gon.] Qq. Alb. Ff.

[4651] _Holla, holla_] F₂ F₃ F₄. _Hola, hola_ Qq F₁.

[4652] _Holla ... a-squint._] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[4653] _a-squint_] Rowe. _a squint_ Qq Ff.

[4654] _Dispose ... thine._] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

_the walls are_] F₂ F₃ F₄. _the walls is_ F₁. _they all are_ Hanmer

(Theobald conj.) _thy will is_ Jennens. _the whole is_ Anon. conj. _the

laws are_] Anon. conj.

[4655] _him_] Ff. _him then_ Qq.

[4656] _let-alone_] Hyphened by Capell.

[4657] Reg.] Ff. Bast. Qq.

[To Edmund] Malone. om. Qq Ff. To the Bast. They offer to go out.

Hanmer.

_thine_] Ff. _good_ Qq.

[4658] _Stay yet; hear reason._] _Stay hear my reason:_ Hanmer.

[4659] _thine attaint_] Qq. _thy arrest_ Ff.

[4660] [pointing to Gon.] Johnson.

_sister_] Qq. _sisters_ Ff.

[4661] _bar_] Rowe (ed. 2). _bare_ Qq Ff.

[4662] _this_] Q₂ Ff. _her_ Q₁ Q₃.

[4663] _your bans_] Malone. _your banes_ Ff. _the banes_ Qq.

[4664] _loves_] Ff. _love_ Qq.

[4665] Gon. _An interlude!_ Alb.] Omitted in Qq, which read _My

lady ... Gloster_ as one line.

[4666] _Thou ... sound:_] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

_armd_] Qq. _armed_ Ff.

_let ... sound:_] Omitted in Qq.

[4667] _person_] Ff. _head_ Qq.

[4668] [throwing ...] Malone. om. Qq Ff.

[4669] _prove it_] Qq. _ma ke it_ F₁. _make it_ F₂ F₃ F₄. _mark it_

Anon. conj. _make good_ Collier MS.

[4670] Gon. [Aside] _If ... medicine._] om. Seymour conj.

[Aside] Marked first by Rowe.

_medicine_] Ff. _poyson_ Qq.

[4671] _he is_] _hes_ F₁.

[4672] _thy_] Qq. _the_ Ff.

[4673] _who_] _whom_ Hanmer.

[4674] Edm. _A ... herald!_] Omitted in Ff.

[4675] _virtue_] _vertues_ F₃ F₄.

[4676] _All ... discharge._] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[4677] _My_] Ff. _This_ Qq.

[4678] [Exit Regan, led.] Theobald. om. Qq Ff. Exit Reg. Rowe.

Enter a Herald.] As in Collier. After _firmly,_ line 102, in Ff.

Omitted in Qq. After _ho!_ line 103, in Theobald. After _me,_ line 106,

in Capell. After _herald!_ line 103, in Jennens.

[4679] _Come ... this._] Divided as in Q₂ Ff. One line in Q₁ Q₃.

Pointed as by Capell. _herald, let ... sound_, Qq Ff.

[4680] _trumpet_] _Trumper_ F₁.

[4681] Capt. _Sound, trumpet!_] Omitted in Ff.

[A trumpet sounds.] Ff. om. Qq.

[4682] Her. [Reads] Herald reads. Ff. Her. Qq.

[4683] _within the lists_] Ff. _in the hoast_ Qq.

[4684] _he is_] Ff. _he's_ Qq.

[4685] _by_] Ff. _at_ Qq.

[4686] Edm. _Sound_!] Capell. Bast. _Sound._ Q₁ Q₃. Bast. _Sound?_ Q₂.

Omitted in Ff. Continued to Herald by Jennens.

[First trumpet.] 1 Trumpet. Ff. om. Qq.

[4687] Her. _Again!_] Ff. _Againe._ Q₁ Q₃. _Againe?_ Q₂.

[Second trumpet.] 2 Trumpet. Ff. om. Qq.

[4688] Her. _Again!_] Ff. om. Qq.

[Third trumpet.] 3 Trumpet. Ff. om. Qq.

[Trumpet answers within.] Ff. om. Qq.

Enter ... him.] Enter Edgar at the third sound, with a trumpet before

him. Qq (with om. Q₂). Enter Edgar armed. Ff.

[4689] _What ... summons?_] As in Ff. Two lines, the first ending

_quality?_ in Qq.

[4690] _your quality_] _and quality_ Q₁ Q₃. _and qualitie_ Q₂.

_why you_] _why do you_ Keightley.

[4691] _Know_] Ff. _O know_ Qq.

[4692] _Know ... cope._] As in Ff. Three lines, ending _tooth: ...

canker-bit, ... wilh all?_ in Q₁ Q₃. The lines end _tooth ... mou't ...

with all,_ in Q₂.

[4693] _lost; By ... tooth_] Pointed as in Theobald. _lost by treasons

tooth:_ Q₁ Q₃. _lost by treasons tooth._ Q₂. _lost By treasons tooth:_

Ff.

[4694] _Yet am I noble as_] Ff. _Where is_ Q₁ Q₃. _yet are I mou't

Where is_ Q₂.

[4695] _cope._] Ff. _cope with all?_ Q₁ Q₃. _cope with all._ Q₂.

[4696] _That ... arm_] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[4697] _Thy_] _thine_ Q₃.

_thee_] _the_ Q₃.

[4698] _the ... honours_] Pope. _the priviledge of my tongue_ Qq

(_tougne_ Q₃). _my priviledge, The priviledge of mine honours_ Ff.

[4699] _youth, place_] Qq. _place, youth_ Ff. _skill, youth_ Collier MS.

[4700] _Despite_] _Despight_ Qq. _Despise_ Ff. _Spite of_ Pope.

_victor sword_] Capell. _victor-sword_ Ff. _victor, sword_ Qq.

_fire-new fortune_] Rowe. _fire new fortune_ Ff. _fire new fortun'd_ Qq

(_fier_ Q₃).

[4701] _thy gods_] _the gods_ Q₁ Q₃.

[4702] _Conspirant_] Ff. _Conspicuate_ Qq. _Conspirate_ Capell.

_Conspirator_ Anon. MS. See note (V).

_illustrious_] _illustirous_ F₁.

[4703] _below_] Ff. _beneath_ Qq.

_foot_] F₃ F₄. _foote_ F₁ F₂. _feet_ Qq.

[4704] _This ... liest._] As in Ff. Two lines, the first ending

_spirits,_ in Qq.

[4705] _are_] Ff. _Is_ Q₁ Q₃. _As_ Q₂.

[4706] _should_] _sholud_ Q₂.

[4707] _tongue_] Ff. _being_ Qq.

_some say_] Qq. _(some say)_ Ff. _some 'say_ Pope. _somewhat_ Anon. MS.

See note (V).

[4708] _What ... delay_] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

_well delay_] _claim, delay,_ Eccles conj.

[4709] _By rule_] Ff. _By right_ Qq. _My right_ Anon. MS. See note (V).

[4710] _Back ... head;_] Ff. Omitted in Q₁ Q₃. _Heere do I tosse those

treasons to thy head._ Q₂.

[4711] _With_] _May_ Eccles conj.

_hell-hated lie_] _hell hatedly_ Qq.

_o'erwhelm_] _ore-turn'd_ Q₁ Q₃. _oreturnd_ Q₂.

[4712] _Which ... and scarcely bruise_] _To which ... scarcely

bruising_ Hanmer.

_scarcely_] _scarely_ F₁.

[4713] _they shall_] _thou shalt_ Theobald.

[Alarums. They fight. Edmund falls.] Capell. Alarum. Fight. Bastard

falls. Hanmer. Alarums. Fights. Ff (after _him!_ line 152). Omitted in

Qq.

[4714] Alb.] Amb. (i.e. Both Ladies) or Lad. Theobald conj.

Alb. _Save...._ Gon. _This_] Gon. _O, save him, save him; This_

Theobald. Gon. _Save him, O save him; this_ Hanmer. Gon. _Save him,

save him; this_ Jennens.

[4715] _This ... beguiled._] Arranged as in Ff. Three lines, ending

_armes ... opposite, ... beguil'd,_ in Qq.

[4716] _practice_] Ff. _meere practise_ Qq. _mere practice_ Jennens.

[4717] _arms_] _armes_ Qq. _warre_ Ff.

_wast_] Ff. _art_ Qq.

_answer_] Ff. _answere_ Q₂. _offer_ Q₁ Q₃.

[4718] _Shut ... know it_] As in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[4719] _Shut_] Ff. _Stop_ Qq.

[4720] _stop_] _stople_ Q₂.

_Hold, sir_] Ff. om. Qq. Given to 'Gon.' by Jennens.

[To Edg. Capell MS. and Grant White.

[4721] _name_] Ff. _thing_ Qq.

[4722] _No_] Ff. _Nay, no_ Q₁ Q₃. _nay no_ Q₂.

_No tearing, lady:_] _No tearing.--Lady,_ Johnson.

_know it_] Ff. _know't_ Qq.

[Gives the letter to Edmund. Johnson.

[4723] _Say ... for't?_] As in Ff. One line in Q₂. Prose in Q₁ Q₃.

[4724] _can_] Ff. _shal_ Q₁ Q₂. _shall_ Q₃.

_for't_] _for it_ Q₁ Q₃.

[4725] _Most ... paper?_] As in Capell. One line in Qq Ff.

_Most monstrous! Know'st_] _Most monstrous knowst_ Q₂. _Monster,

knowst_ Q₁ Q₃. _Most monstrous! O, know'st_ Ff.

[4726] Gon.] Qq. Bast. Ff.

_know_] _do know_ Hanmer.

[Exit.] Exit Gonorill. Qq. Exit. Ff (after _for't?_ line 160).

[4727] [To an Officer, who goes out after her. Capell.

[4728] SCENE VIII. Pope.

_What ... done;_] One line in Qq. Two, the first ending _with_, in Ff.

_have I_] _I have_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[4729] _'Tis ... thee._] As in Q₂ Ff. Prose in Q₁ Q₃.

[4730] _thou'rt_] Ff. _thou beest_ Q₁ Q₃. _thou bee'st_ Q₂.

[4731] _Let's_] _Let us_ Capell.

_charity_] _our charity_ Pope.

[4732] _more, the more_] _more than thou, the more then_ Anon. conj.

_thou hast_] Qq. _th' hast_ Ff.

_hast wrong'd_] _then hast wronged_ Grant White conj.

[4733] _vices_] Ff. _vertues_ Q₁ Q₃. _vertues_. Q₂.

[4734] _Make ... eyes._] As in Ff. Two lines, the first ending _place_,

in Q₁ Q₃. Two, the first ending _vitious_, in Q₂.

[4735] _plague us_] Ff. _scourge us_ Qq. _plague and punish us_ Hanmer.

_plague us in their time_ Keightley. _scourge us and to plague us_

Anon. conj.

[4736] _thee he_] Q₂ Ff. _he thee_ Q₁ Q₃.

[4737] _Thou ... here._] Prose in Q₂.

[4738] _Thou hast_] Qq. _Th' hast_ Ff.

_right_] Ff. _truth_ Qq.

_'tis true_] Ff. om. Qq.

[4739] _circle_] Ff. _circkled_ Q₁. _circled_ Q₂. _cirkled_ Q₃.

[4740] [To Edgar. Jennens.

_gait_] Johnson. _gate_ Qq Ff.

[4741] _Let ... father!_] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

_ever I Did_] Ff. _I did ever_ Qq.

[4742] _know't_] _know it_ Q₁ Q₃. _know it well_ Hanmer, ending the

line _prince_.

[4743] _Where ... known_] As one line, S. Walker conj., reading the

previous line with Hanmer.

[4744] _How have you known_] _how known_, S. Walker conj., reading _I

know't ... known_ as one line.

[4745] _By ... rings,_] Arranged as in Ff. The lines end _lord, ...

told ... proclamation ... neere, ... death ... once ... rags, ...

disdaind: ... rings,_ in Qq.

[4746] _burst! The_] _burst. The_ Q₁ Ff Q₃. _burst the_ Q₂.

[4747] _follow'd_] Ff. _followed_ Q₁ Q₂. _followeth_ Q₃.

[4748] _we ... would_] Ff. _with ... Would_ Qq. _with ... wed_ Jennens.

_hourly die_] _hourly bear_ Pope. _hourly fly_ Jervis conj.

[4749] _That_] _The_ Pope.

[4750] _Their_] Ff. _The_ Qq.

_stones_] _gems_ Pope.

_lost; became_] _lost became_ Q₂.

[4751] _O fault!--_] (_O fault_) Ff. (_O father_) Qq.

[4752] _arm'd_] _armed_ Q₂.

[4753] _my_] Qq. _our_ Ff.

_his_] _this_ F₄.

_flaw'd_] _flawed_ Q₂.

[4754] _heart,--Alack ... support!--'Twixt_] _heart, Alack ... support

'Twixt_ S. Walker conj.

[4755] _two_] _too_ Hanmer

[4756] _smilingly_] _smillingly_ Q₂.

[4757] _be more, more_] Q₂ Ff. _any] more more_ Q₁. _any more_ Q₃.

[4758] _Hearing of this_] As in Ff. At the end of line 204 in Q₂.

Omitted in Q₁ Q₃.

[4759] Edg. _This ... slave._] Omitted in Ff.

[4760] _This ... extremity._] Arranged as by Theobald. Three lines,

ending _such ... too much, ... extremity_ in Qq.

[4761] _period_] _pyramid_ Jackson conj.

[4762] _period ... too much,_] _period. But such, As love to amplify

another's sorrow, To much,_ Warburton.

[4763] _but another,_] _but--another,_ Steevens (1773), reading _to

make_ with Capell. _but, another;--_ Steevens (1778).

[4764] _another, To amplify ... more_] _another To amplify, would make

much more too much_ Mitford conj.

[4765] _too_] _to_ Q₃. _truth_ Jackson conj.

_too much_] Hyphened by Capell.

_would make_] _to make_ Capell, putting _To amplify ... extremity_ in

parentheses.

[4766] _came there in_] _came there_ Theobald. _eagerly came in_

Seymour conj., ending line 208 at _big_.

[4767] _worst estate_] _worser state_ Theobald.

[4768] _then_] _now_ Theobald.

[4769] _that_] _had_ Theobald.

[4770] _fasten'd_] Theobald. _fastened_ Qq.

_bellow'd_] _bellowed_ Q₂.

[4771] _threw him_] Theobald. _threw me_ Qq.

[4772] _Told the most_] Q₂. _And told the_ Q₁ Q₃.

[4773] _puissant_] _piersant_ S. Walker conj.

[4774] _crack: twice_] _crack.--Twice_ Theobald. _cracke twice,_ Qq.

_trumpets_] _trumpet_ Johnson.

[4775] _Follow'd_] Theobald. _Followed_ Qq.

[4776] Enter ...] Enter one with a bloody knife. Qq. Enter a Gentleman.

Ff. Re-enter Officer hastily, with a bloody knife. Capell.

[4777] Gent.] Off. Capell.

[4778] SCENE IX. Pope.

_O, help!_] Omitted in Qq.

[4779] Edg. _What kind ... knife?_] Ff. Alb. _What kind of helpe? what

meanes that bloody knife?_ Qq. Edg. _What means that bloody knife?_

Capell.

[4780] _'Tis_] Ff. _Its_ Q₁ Q₂. _It's_ Q₃.

[4781] _'Tis ... dead!_] Arranged as in Capell. One line, ending

_of--_, in Qq. Prose in Ff. Rowe ends the first line _heart._

[4782] _It came_] _it came_ Qq. _came_ Ff.

_O, she's dead!_] Omitted in Qq.

[4783] _Who dead? speak, man._] F₁ F₂ F₃, substantially. _Who man?

speake._ Q₁ Q₃. _Who man, speake?_ Q₂. _Who's dead? Speak man._ F₄.

[4784] _poisoned_] _poysoned_ Q₂. _poyson'd_ Q₁ Ff Q₃.

_hath confess'd_] _hath confest_ Q₂. _has confest_ Q₁ Q₃. _confesses_

Ff.

[4785] Edg. _Here comes Kent._] Ff. Edg. _Here comes Kent sir._ Qq,

after _pity_, line 233.

[4786] _the_] Ff. _their_ Qq.

_alive_] _live_ F₃ F₄.

_dead._] F₃ F₄. _dead;_ Q₁ Q₃. _dead,_ Q₂. _dead;_ F₁. _dead i_ F₂.

[Exit Gentleman.] Edd. To Atten. Capell MS. Exit Gent. Malone, after

_pity_, line 233. om. Qq Ff.

[4787] _judgement_] _iustice_ Qq.

_tremble_,] Qq. _tremble_. Ff.

[4788] _us_] om. Q₁ Q₃.

Enter Kent.] Qq. Enter Kent (after _Kent_, line 230). Ff.

_O, is this he?_] F₁. Alb. _O tis he,_ Qq. _O is this she?_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

_O! it is he._ Steevens (1793).

[4789] _O, ... urges._] As in Ff. Two lines, the first ending _allow_,

in Qq.

[4790] [To Kent. Hanmer.

[4791] _Which_] Ff. _that_ Qq.

_urges_] _urge_ Rowe.

[4792] _I ... night:_] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[4793] _I am_] _Sir, I am_ Hanmer.

[4794] Alb.] Duke. Q₂.

[4795] _Great ... Kent?_] Arranged as in Q₂ Ff. Prose in Q₁ Q₃.

[4796] _thing_] _things_ Q₁ Q₃.

_forgot!_] _forgot._ Q₁ Q₃. _Forgot,_ Q₂ Ff.

[4797] [Pointing to the dead bodies. Hanmer.

[The ... in.] Qq. Transferred by Dyce to follow line 238. Gonerill and

Regans bodies brought out. Ff, after line 231.

[4798] _Yet ... herself._] As in Q₂ Ff. Prose in Q₁ Q₃.

[4799] _poison'd_] _poysoned_ Q₂.

[4800] _after_] om. Q₃.

[4801] _I pant ... time._] As in Q₂ Ff. Prose in Q₁ Q₃.

[4802] _mine_] Ff. _my_ Qq.

[4803] _Be brief in it, to the_] (_Be briefe in it_) _to' th'_ Ff. _bee

briefe, into the_ Q₁ Q₃. _Be briefe, int toth'_ Q₂.

_castle; for my writ_] Theobald. _castle, for my writ_ F₁. _castle for

my writ,_ Qq. (_write_, Q₃). _chastle for my writ_ F₂. _castle for my

writ_ F₃ F₄.

[4804] _Is_] Q₂ Ff. _tis_ Q₁. _ti's_ Q₃. _It's_ Anon. MS. See note (V).

_and on_] _and_ Hanmer.

[4805] _O, run!_] _O run, make haste._ Hanmer.

[4806] Divided as in Q₂. The first line ends _office?_ in Q₁ Ff Q₃.

[4807] _To who_] Qq F₁. _To whom_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

_hath_] Qq. _has_ Ff.

[4808] _Well ... captain._] As in Ff. One line Q₁ Q₃.

_sword, Give_] _sword the captaine, Give_ Q₂. _sword, The

captain--give_ Jennens.

[4809] Alb.] Q₁ Q₃. Duke. Q₂. Edg. Ff.

[Exit Edgar.] Malone. Exeunt Edgar, and Others. Capell. Exit Messenger.

Theobald. om. Qq Ff.

[4810] _He ... herself._] As in Ff. Prose in Q₁ Q₃. Four lines, ending

_me, ... lay ... despaire ... her selfe,_ in Q₂.

[4811] _That ... herself._] Omitted in Q₁ Q₃.

[4812] [Edmund ... off.] Theobald om. Qq Ff.

Re-enter ...] Dyce. Enter ... Qq Ff.

Lear ...] Lear with Cordelia in his armes. Qq Ff (arms. F₄).

dead] Rowe.

Edgar ... following.] Edgar, and the rest, return. Capell. Edgar,

Officer, and Others. Malone.

[4813] SCENE X. Pope.

_Howl,_] Four times in Qq. Thrice in Ff.

_you_] Qq F₃ F₄. _your_ F₁ F₂.

_stones_] _stone_ Pope.

[4814] _She's_] _O, she is_ Q₁ Q₃.

[4815] _If ... lives._] As in Q₂ Ff. One line in Q₁ Q₃.

[4816] _or_] Q₂ Ff. _and_ Q₁ Q₃.

_stone_] _shine_ Collier MS. _same_ Singer conj.

[4817] _Why, then she_] _she then_ Q₁ Q₃.

[4818] Edg. _Or ... cease._] Omitted by Pope.

_Or ... horror?_] Q₁ Q₃. _Or ... horror._ Q₂ Ff. _Or ... horror--_

Johnson. _O ... horror!_ Capell. _O image of true honour!_ Jennens.

_Fall and cease._] _Fair and chaste!_ Jennens.

[4819] _This ... felt._] As in Q₂ Ff. Prose in Q₁ Q₃.

[4820] _which_] _that_ Q₁ Q₃.

[4821] [Kneeling] Theobald.

_O my_] _A my_ Qq. _Ah! my_ Jennens.

[4822] _A plague ... thee._] As in Q₂ Ff. Prose in Q₁ Q₃.

[4823] _you,_] _your_ Q₂.

_murderers,_] _Murderors,_ F₁. _murtherers,_ F₂ F₃ F₄. _murdrous_ Q₁

Q₃. _murderous_ Q₂.

[4824] _Ha!_] om. Q₁ Q₃.

[4825] _say'st_] _sayst_ Q₁ _sayest_ Q₂. _saist_ Ff. _stay_ Q₃.

[4826] _woman_] Ff. _women_ Qq.

[4827] Capt.] Cap. Qq. Gent. Ff. Off. Capell.

[4828] _Did ... straight._] As in Ff. Prose in Q₁ Q₃. The lines end

_day, ... would ... now, ... you?... straight_ in Q₂.

[4829] _I have_] Q₂ Ff. _I ha_ Q₁ Q₃. _I've_ Pope.

_with my good_] Q₂ Ff. _that with my_ Q₁ Q₃.

_falchion_] _fauchion_ Q₁ Q₃. _fauchon_ Q₂. _faulchion_ Ff.

[4830] _them_] Qq. _him_ Ff.

[4831] _not o' the_] _not othe_ Q₂. _not o' th'_ F₁. _none o'th_ Q₁ Q₃.

_o'th_ F₂. _o' th'_ F₃ F₄.

[4832] _brag_] Ff. _bragd_ Qq.

_and_] Ff. _or_ Qq.

[4833] _we_] _you_ Jennens.

[4834] _This is a dull sight_] Ff. Omitted in Qq. _This is a dull

light_ Jennens. _This sight of mine Is a dull sight_ Capell, ending

line 282 at _mine_.

_This is_] _This'_ S. Walker conj., reading lines 282-284 _One ...

servant Kent_ as two lines, the first ending _sight_.

_you not_] Ff. _not you_ Qq.

[4835] _The same, ... Caius?_] Arranged as in Capell. One line in Qq.

Two, the first ending _Kent,_ in Ff.

[4836] _He's a_] _He's_ F₂. _'Twas a_ Theobald.

_you_] om. Qq.

[4837] _He'll_] _He'd_ Theobald.

[4838] _man--_] Pope. _man._ Qq Ff.

[4839] _first_] Ff. _life_ Qq.

[4840] _Have_] _Hane_ F₂.

_follow'd_] Ff. _followed_ Qq.

_steps._] _steps--_ Rowe.

_You are_] _You'r_ Q₂. _You're ne_ Nicholson conj.

_hither_] _hether_ Q₁.

[4841] _Nor_] _'Twas_ Pope.

_Nor ... deadly._] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

_else:_] Qq Ff. _else.--_ Delius, reading _steps--_ in line 290 with

Rowe.

_all's_] _als_ Q₂.

_deadly_] _dead_ Theobald.

[4842] _fordone_] _fore-done_ Ff. _foredoom'd_ Q₁ Q₃. _foredoome_ Q₂.

[4843] _Ay, so I think._] _So I thinke too._ Q₁ Q₃. _So thinke I to._

Q₂.

[4844] _says_] _saies_ F₁. _sayes_ F₂ F₃ F₄. _sees_ Qq.

_is it_] Ff. _it is_ Qq.

[4845] Enter....] Enter Captaine. Qq. Enter a Messenger. Ff (after

_him_). Enter an Officer. Capell.

[4846] Capt.] Q₂. Cap. Q₁ Q₃. Mess. F₁. Mes. F₂ F₃ F₄. Off. Capell.

[4847] _That's ... merited._] As in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[4848] _here_] om. Pope.

[4849] _great_] om. Qq.

[4850] [To Edgar and Kent] Malone. To Edg. Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

_you, to your_] _to you, your_ Pope.

[4851] _honours_] _honor_ Q₂.

[4852] _All ... see!_] Arranged as in Pope. The first line ends _shall_

in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[4853] _O, see, see!_] Given to Lear by Hanmer.

[4854] _And ... sir._] As in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[4855] _poor fool_] _poor soul_ Anon. conj. (Gent. Mag. LX. 402). _pure

soot_ (i.e. _sweet_) Becket conj.

_No, no, no_] Ff. _no, no_ Qq.

[4856] _have_] _of_ Q₂.

[4857] _Thou'lt_] Ff. _O thou wilt_ Qq.

[4858] _Never_] Five times in Ff. Thrice in Qq.

_Never_] _No, never_ Seymour conj.

[4859] _you_] om. Q₁ Q₃.

[4860] _sir. Do ... there!_] _sir, O, o, o, o, o._ Q₁ Q₃. _sir, O, o,

o, o._ Q₂.

[4861] _on her,_] F₂ F₃ F₄. _on her?_ F₁.

_look, her lips,_] Johnson. _Looke her lips,_ F₁. _Looke on her lips,_

F₂. _look on her lips,_ F₃ F₄.

[4862] [Dies.] H e dis. F₁ (Capell's copy). He dyes. F₂. He dies. F₃

F₄. om. Qq.

_My lord, my lord!_] _my lord._ F₄.

[4863] Kent.] Ff. Lear. Qq.

_up,_] _up_ Qq F₁. _to_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

[4864] _Vex ... longer._] As in Ff. The lines end _passe, ...

wracke ... longer_ in Qq.

[4865] _hates him_] Q₂ Ff. _hates him much_ Q₁ Q₃.

[4866] _rack_] F₄. _wracke_ Qq F₁ F₂. _wrack_ F₃.

_tough_] _rough_ Q₃ and Pope. See note (XX).

[4867] _He_] Ff. _O he_ Qq.

[4868] _He ... life._] om. Seymour conj.

[4869] Alb.] Ff. Duke. Qq.

[4870] _Is_] Ff. _Is to_ Qq.

[To Kent and Edgar] Johnson.

[4871] _realm_] _kingdome_ Qq.

_gored state_] _gor'd state_ Ff. _good state_ Q₁. _goard state_ Q₂.

_good_ Q₃.

[4872] Kent. _I ... long._] om. Jennens conj.

[4873] _calls me, I_] _cals, and I_ Qq.

[Dyes. F₂. Dies. F₃ F₄. om. Qq F₁.

[4874] Alb.] Pope. Duke. Qq. Edg. Ff.

[4875] _hath_] Ff. _have_ Qq.

[4876] _nor live_] _live e'er_ Hanmer.

[Exeunt ... march.] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

NOTES.

NOTE I.

ACT I. SCENE 1. The acts and scenes are marked throughout in the

Folios, but not in the Quartos.

NOTE II.

I. 1. 25, 26. There is a curious example of careless printing here in

the third Quarto, which reads:

'_Bast._ No my Lord.

_Glo._ My services to your Lordship.

unrable friend.

_Kent._ I must loue you &c.'

NOTE III.

I. 1. 36. 'and tis our _fast_ intent.' 'This,' says Warburton, 'is

an interpolation of Mr _Lewis Theobald_, for want of knowing the

meaning of the old reading in the Quarto of 1608, and first folio of

1623; where we find it--_and 'tis our_ FIRST _intent_, which is as

_Shakespear_ wrote it.' Warburton's error was corrected by Johnson.

NOTE IV.

I. 1. 80-84. The reading given in the text is that of the Folios,

except as otherwise stated in the foot note. The first Quarto, which is

followed, except in the spelling of a word or two, by the rest, has:

'but now our ioy,

Although the last, not least in our deere loue,

What can you say to win a third, more opulent

Then your sisters.'

Pope reads:

'Now our joy,

Although our last, not least; to whose young love,

The vines of _France_, and milk of _Burgundy_,

Strive to be int'rest: what say you to draw

A third, more opulent than your sisters? speak.'

Capell:

'Now, our joy,

Although the last, not least in our dear love,

What can you say, to win a third more opulent

Than your two sisters?'

Malone first gave the passage exactly as it stands in our text.

NOTE V.

I. 1. 114. This and other anonymous conjectures are found in MS. in

an imperfect copy of the second Quarto of 1608, now in the British

Museum (C. 34. k. 17). Besides those which we have quoted there are

many others made by the MS. corrector which agree either with the other

Quartos or with the Folios.

NOTE VI.

I. 1. 220. Hanmer, adopting Rowe's alteration, reads the whole passage

thus:

'Sure th' offence

Must be of such unnatural degree,

As monsters it; or your fore-voucht affection

Could not fall into taint; which to believe

Of her must be a faith reason without

A miracle should never plant in me.'

The next lines he also alters thus:

'_Cor._ I yet beseech your Majesty, (if so

I want that glib and oily art, to speak

And purpose not, since what I well intend,

I'll do't before I speak) that you make known &c.'

NOTE VII.

I. 4. 225-228. In this passage Rowe followed the Folios. Pope

introduced some of the lines of the Quartos, making verse of them thus:

'_Lear's_ shadow? I would learn, for by the marks

Of sovereignty, of knowledge, and of reason,

I should be false persuaded I had daughters.

Your name, fair gentlewoman?'

Theobald and Hanmer followed Pope. So did Warburton, except that in

the second line he read 'Of sovereignty of knowledge, &c.' Johnson and

Capell followed the Folios. Steevens in his edition of 1773 read as

in the text, but in 1778 recurred to the reading of Pope: except that

he transferred 'Lear's shadow?' to the end of the previous line, and

for 'learn' read 'learn that.' Mr Dyce, in his first edition, arranged

lines 225-228 thus:

'_Lear._ I would learn that; for by the marks of sovereignty,

Knowledge, and reason,

I should be false persuaded I had daughters.'

In his second edition he reads:

'_Lear._ I would learn that; for, by the marks of sovereignty,

Knowledge, and reason, I should be false-persuaded

I had daughters.'

Mr Staunton reads 'I would ... reason' as prose, and the next line

as verse. He suggests that "possibly the meaning may be restored

by simply omitting the comma after _sovereignty_, 'by the marks of

sovereignty knowledge and reason,' _i.e._ of _supreme_ or _sovereign_

knowledge, &c." But his later conjecture is that for 'Of sovereignty,

of knowledge' we should read 'Of sovereignly knowledge.' Mr Keightley,

adopting some of the readings of the Quartos, arranges the whole

passage as follows:

'_Lear._ Does any here know me?--Why, this is not Lear.

Does Lear walk thus? speak thus? Where are his eyes?

Either his notion weakens, or his discernings

Are lethargied.--Sleeping or waking?--Ha!

Sure 'tis not so.--Who is it that can tell me

Who I am?

_Fool._ Lear's shadow,--

_Lear._ I would learn that; for by

The marks of sovereignty, knowledge, and reason,

I should be false persuaded I had daughters.'

Becket proposes:

'Who is it that can tell me who I am?

Lear's shadow? I would learn that; for by the marks

Of sov'reignty, I should be false persuaded.--

Of knowledge and of reason I had daughters.'

NOTE VIII.

I. 4. 338. In the imperfect copy of Q₂ in the British Museum 'attaskt

for' was the original reading, but the first two letters of the word

have been erased. In II. 1. 123, 'lest,' the original reading, has been

altered to 'best.'

NOTE IX.

II. 1. 76. We take this opportunity of stating that we have not thought

it worth while, either in this play or in Hamlet, to notice the few

inaccuracies which occur in Steevens's reprints.

NOTE X.

II. 2. 40. Mr Dyce first suggested that 'Part' was intended as a

stage-direction.

NOTE XI.

II. 2. 136-142. The first Quarto, followed substantially by the others,

reads here:

'His fault is much, and the good King his Master

Will checke him for't; your purposd low correction

Is such, as basest and temnest wretches for pilfrings

And most common trespasses are punisht with,

The King must take it ill, that hee's so slightly valued

In his Messenger, should haue him thus restrained.'

The Folios have only the following lines:

'The King his Master, needs must take it ill

That he so slightly valued in his Messenger,

Should haue him thus restrained.'

In the last line the fourth Folio reads 'this' for 'thus.' Rowe

followed the Folios. Pope first introduced the lines from the Quartos,

and gave the arrangement adopted in our text. In the third and the last

lines he introduced readings which we have given in the foot notes. The

passage was first given in Capell's edition as it actually stands in

our text.

NOTE XII.

II. 2. 163. The first Quarto here reads:

'Of my obscured course, and shall finde time

From this enormious state, seeking to giue

Losses their remedies, all weary &c.'

The other Quartos differ only in spelling. The first Folio, followed

substantially by the rest, has:

'Of my obscured course. And shall finde time

From this enormous State, seeking to giue

Losses their remedies. All weary &c.'

Rowe reads:

'Of my obscured course. I shall find time

For this enormous State, and seek to give

Losses their Remedies. All weary &c.'

Pope followed him, but restored 'From' in the second line, and this

reading was silently adopted by Theobald and Warburton, and by Hanmer

in his margin. Johnson thinks the passage very obscure if not corrupt.

Jennens prints it as follows:

[Sidenote: [_Reading parts of the letter._]

'Of my obscured course--_and shall find time

From this enormous state--seeking to give

Losses their remedies_.--All weary &c.'

Steevens (1773) gives as his own conjecture what Jennens had already

published.

Singer (ed. 1) read thus:

'Of my obscured course; and shall find time

From this enormous state,--seeking,--to give

Losses their remedies:--All weary &c.'

Dr Delius adopts nearly the same punctuation:

'Of my obscured course; and shall find time

From this enormous state,--seeking to give

Losses their remedies--All weary &c.'

He supposes that Kent overcome with drowsiness leaves his sentences

unfinished. Mr Bailey (_On the Received Text of Shakespeare's Dramatic

Writings, &c._ II. 91) proposes to read:

'and shall find balm

For this enormous state, seeking to give

Losses their remedies &c.'

NOTE XIII.

III. 1. 53-55. The first Folio, followed substantially by the rest,

reads thus:

'That when we have found the King, in which your pain

That way, Ile this: He that first lights on him,

Holla the other.'

The Quartos thus:

'That when we have found the King,

Ile this way, you that, he that first lights

On him, hollow the other.'

Pope:

'That, when we have found the King, (in which you take

That way, I this:) he that first lights on him,

Hollow the other.'

Hanmer follows Pope, reading however 'for which' instead of 'in which'

in the first line. Steevens, in his edition of 1773, reads with the

Quartos, adopting the following strange punctuation, and dividing the

lines thus:

'That when we have found the King. I'll this way,

You that: he that first lights on him,

Halloo the other.'

NOTE XIV.

III. 2. 2. Both Capell and Jennens agree in giving 'Your' as the

reading of the Quartos in this line for 'You,' but Capell's own copies

and all others that we have seen read 'You.'

NOTE XV.

III. 4. 112, 113. In the imperfect copy of the second Quarto in the

British Museum, it is impossible to say whether the reading was _&

the pin-queues_ or _the pin-queues_, on account of an erasure by which

it is made _he pin-queues_. Jennens quotes it as _the pin-queues_, and

this is the reading of the copy in the Bodleian Library which we have

called 'Bodl. 1.'

NOTE XVI.

III. 6. 101-114. Every editor from Theobald downwards, except Hanmer,

has reprinted this speech from the Quartos. In deference to this

consensus of authority we have retained it, though, as it seems to us,

internal evidence is conclusive against the supposition that the lines

were written by Shakespeare.

NOTE XVII.

IV. 1. 12. These conjectures of Hanmer's are derived from a letter of

his to Warburton, still unpublished, which is now in the British Museum

(Egerton, 1957).

NOTE XVIII.

IV. 6. 196-200. The first Quarto has in this passage:

'... water-pottes, I and laying Autumnes dust.

_Gent._ Good Sir.

_Lear._ I will dye brauely like a Bridegroome. What, I will bee

iouiall: Come, come, I am a King my masters, know you that?'

The second Quarto omits '_Gent._ Good Sir.'

The first Folio has:

'To vse his eyes for Garden water-pots. I wil die brauely,

Like a smugge Bridegroome. What? I will be Iouiall:

Come, come, I am a King, Masters, know you that?'

The second and following Folios put a full stop at 'King.'

Pope combines the readings of the Folios and second Quarto thus:

'To use his eyes for garden-water-pots,

And laying autumn's dust. I will die bravely,

Like a smug bridegroom. What? I will be jovial:

Come, come, I am a King. My masters know you that?'

He is followed by Theobald, Hanmer, Warburton and Johnson.

Capell altered the last line thus:

'Come, come;

I am a king, my masters; Know you that?'

The arrangement adopted in our text is that which Steevens gave in his

edition of 1778. Jennens, from whom Steevens borrowed as usual without

acknowledgement, had given in 1770 the same arrangement, omitting the

word 'smug.' In his edition of 1793 Steevens reads 'Ay and _for_ laying

autumn's dust,' making 'Ay ... sir' one line.

Mr Collier prints 'I will die bravely;' in a line by itself, adopting

in the former line the arrangement of Steevens, and in what follows

that of the Folios. Keightley reads 'Ay, and laying autumn's dust ...

bravely' as one line.

NOTE XIX.

V. 1. 26. 'Not bolds the king' is usually interpreted as an elliptical

phrase for 'Not as it emboldens the king.' This is however a very harsh

construction, and the word 'bolds' occurs nowhere else in Shakespeare

with this meaning, though we have, according to the most probable

reading, 'dear'd,' for 'endear'd,' in _Antony and Cleopatra_, I. 4.

44. Possibly these words are corrupt and a line has dropped out before

them. Albany ought to say something of this kind: 'I should be ready to

resist any mere invader, but the presence in the invader's camp of the

king and other Britons, who have just cause of enmity to us, dashes my

courage.'

NOTE XX.

V. 3. 315. Capell reads 'rough' in his text, believing that he had the

authority of the first Quarto for it; but in his own copy and that of

the Duke of Devonshire, the reading is plainly 'tough,' though the 't'

is broken.

OTHELLO.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ[D].

DUKE OF VENICE.

BRABANTIO, a senator.

Other Senators.

GRATIANO, brother to Brabantio.

LODOVICO, kinsman to Brabantio.

OTHELLO, a noble Moor in the service of the Venetian state.

CASSIO, his lieutenant.

IAGO, his ancient.

RODERIGO, a Venetian gentleman[E].

MONTANO, Othello's predecessor in the government of Cyprus.

Clown, servant to Othello.

DESDEMONA, daughter to Brabantio and wife to Othello.

EMILIA, wife to Iago.

BIANCA, mistress to Cassio[F].

Sailor, Messenger, Herald, Officers, Gentlemen, Musicians, and

Attendants.

SCENE[G]: _Venice: a seaport in Cyprus_.

[D] DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.] THE NAMES OF THE ACTORS. At the end of the play

in F₁ F₂ F₃ (THE ACTORS NAMES. F₂ F₃). THE ACTORS NAMES. Prefixed to

the play first in F₄.

[E] RODERIGO....] RODORIGO, a gull'd Gentleman. Ff.

[F] mistress to Cassio.] a Curtezan. Ff.

[G] SCENE:] First given by Rowe.

THE TRAGEDY OF

OTHELLO,

THE MOOR OF VENICE.

ACT I.

SCENE I. _Venice. A street._

_Enter_ RODERIGO _and_ IAGO.[4877]

_Rod._ Tush, never tell me; I take it much unkindly[4878]

That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse[4879]

As if the strings were thine, shouldst know of this.[4880]

_Iago._ 'Sblood, but you will not hear me:[4881][4882][4883]

If ever I did dream of such a matter,[4882][4884] 5

Abhor me.[4882][4884][4885]

_Rod._ Thou told'st me thou didst hold him in thy hate.[4886]

_Iago._ Despise me, if I do not. Three great ones of the

city,[4887][4888][4889]

In personal suit to make me his lieutenant,[4888]

Off-capp'd to him: and, by the faith of man,[4888][4890] 10

I know my price, I am worth no worse a place:[4888][4891]

But he, as loving his own pride and purposes,[4888][4892]

Evades them, with a bombast circumstance[4888][4893]

Horribly stuff'd with epithets of war;[4888][4894]

And, in conclusion,[4888][4895][4896] 15

Nonsuits my mediators; for, 'Certes,' says he,[4896][4897]

'I have already chose my officer.'[4896][4898][4899]

And what was he?[4896][4898]

Forsooth, a great arithmetician,[4896]

One Michael Cassio, a Florentine,[4900] 20

A fellow almost damn'd in a fair wife;[4900][4901]

That never set a squadron in the field,

Nor the division of a battle knows

More than a spinster; unless the bookish theoric,[4902]

Wherein the toged consuls can propose[4903] 25

As masterly as he: mere prattle without practice[4904]

Is all his soldiership. But he, sir, had the election:[4905]

And I, of whom his eyes had seen the proof

At Rhodes, at Cyprus and on other grounds[4906]

Christian and heathen, must be be-lee'd and calm'd[4907] 30

By debitor and creditor: this counter-caster,[4908]

He, in good time, must his lieutenant be,

And I--God bless the mark!--his Moorship's ancient.[4909]

_Rod._ By heaven, I rather would have been his hangman.

_Iago._ Why, there's no remedy; 'tis the curse of service,[4910] 35

Preferment goes by letter and affection,[4911]

And not by old gradation, where each second[4912]

Stood heir to the first. Now, sir, be judge yourself[4913]

Whether I in any just term am affined[4914]

To love the Moor.

_Rod._ I would not follow him then. 40

_Iago._ O, sir, content you;

I follow him to serve my turn upon him:

We cannot all be masters, nor all masters

Cannot be truly follow'd. You shall mark[4915]

Many a duteous and knee-crooking knave, 45

That doting on his own obsequious bondage

Wears out his time, much like his master's ass,

For nought but provender, and when he's old, cashier'd:[4916]

Whip me such honest knaves. Others there are[4917]

Who, trimm'd in forms and visages of duty,[4917][4918] 50

Keep yet their hearts attending on themselves,[4917]

And throwing but shows of service on their lords[4917]

Do well thrive by them, and when they have lined their

coats[4919][4920]

Do themselves homage: these fellows have some soul,[4919][4921]

And such a one do I profess myself.[4922] 55

For, sir,[4923]

It is as sure as you are Roderigo,

Were I the Moor, I would not be Iago:

In following him, I follow but myself;

Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty,[4924] 60

But seeming so, for my peculiar end:[4924]

For when my outward action doth demonstrate[4925]

The native act and figure of my heart

In compliment extern, 'tis not long after[4926]

But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve 65

For daws to peck at: I am not what I am.[4927]

_Rod._ What a full fortune does the thick-lips owe,[4928]

If he can carry't thus![4929]

_Iago._ Call up her father,[4930]

Rouse him: make after him, poison his delight,[4930]

Proclaim him in the streets; incense her kinsmen,[4931] 70

And, though he in a fertile climate dwell,[4932]

Plague him with flies: though that his joy be joy,

Yet throw such changes of vexation on't[4933]

As it may lose some colour.

_Rod._ Here is her father's house; I'll call aloud. 75

_Iago._ Do; with like timorous accent and dire yell[4934]

As when, by night and negligence, the fire[4935]

Is spied in populous cities.[4936]

_Rod._ What, ho, Brabantio! Signior Brabantio, ho!

_Iago._ Awake! what, ho, Brabantio! thieves! thieves!

thieves![4937] 80

Look to your house, your daughter and your bags![4938]

Thieves! thieves![4939]

BRABANTIO _appears above, at a window_.[4940]

_Bra._ What is the reason of this terrible summons?[4941]

What is the matter there?[4941]

_Rod._ Signior, is all your family within? 85

_Iago._ Are your doors lock'd?[4942]

_Bra._ Why, wherefore ask you this?

_Iago._ 'Zounds, sir, you're robb'd; for shame, put on your gown;[4943]

Your heart is burst, you have lost half your soul;[4944]

Even now, now, very now, an old black ram[4945]

Is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise; 90

Awake the snorting citizens with the bell,

Or else the devil will make a grandsire of you:[4946]

Arise, I say.[4946][4947]

_Bra._ What, have you lost your wits?

_Rod._ Most reverend signior, do you know my voice?

_Bra._ Not I: what are you? 95

_Rod._ My name is Roderigo.

_Bra._ The worser welcome:[4948]

I have charged thee not to haunt about my doors:[4949]

In honest plainness thou hast heard me say

My daughter is not for thee; and now, in madness,[4950]

Being full of supper and distempering draughts, 100

Upon malicious bravery, dost thou come[4951]

To start my quiet.[4952]

_Rod._ Sir, sir, sir,--[4953]

_Bra._ But thou must needs be sure

My spirit and my place have in them power[4954]

To make this bitter to thee.

_Rod._ Patience, good sir.[4955] 105

_Bra._ What tell'st thou me of robbing? this is Venice;[4956][4957]

My house is not a grange.[4956]

_Rod._ Most grave Brabantio,

In simple and pure soul I come to you.

Iago. 'Zounds, sir, you are one of those that will not[4958]

serve God, if the devil bid you. Because we come to do 110

you service and you think we are ruffians, you'll have your[4959]

daughter covered with a Barbary horse; you'll have your

nephews neigh to you; you'll have coursers for cousins,

and gennets for germans.[4960]

_Bra._ What profane wretch art thou? 115

_Iago._ I am one, sir, that comes to tell you your daughter[4961]

and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs.[4962]

_Bra._ Thou art a villain.

_Iago._ You are--a senator.[4963]

_Bra._ This thou shalt answer; I know thee, Roderigo.[4964]

_Rod._ Sir, I will answer any thing. But, I beseech you,[4965] 120

If't be your pleasure and most wise consent,[4966]

As partly I find it is, that your fair daughter,[4966]

At this odd-even and dull watch o' the night,[4966][4967]

Transported with no worse nor better guard[4966][4968]

But with a knave of common hire, a gondolier,[4966][4969] 125

To the gross clasps of a lascivious Moor,--[4966]

If this be known to you, and your allowance,[4966][4970]

We then have done you bold and saucy wrongs;[4966][4971]

But if you know not this, my manners tell me[4966]

We have your wrong rebuke. Do not believe[4966] 130

That, from the sense of all civility,[4966]

I thus would play and trifle with your reverence:[4966]

Your daughter, if you have not given her leave,[4966]

I say again, hath made a gross revolt,[4966]

Tying her duty, beauty, wit and fortunes,[4966][4972] 135

In an extravagant and wheeling stranger[4966][4972][4973]

Of here and every where. Straight satisfy yourself:[4966][4974]

If she be in her chamber or your house,[4975]

Let loose on me the justice of the state

For thus deluding you.[4976]

_Bra._ Strike on the tinder, ho! 140

Give me a taper! call up all my people!

This accident is not unlike my dream:

Belief of it oppresses me already.

Light, I say! light! [_Exit above._[4977]

_Iago._ Farewell; for I must leave you:

It seems not meet, nor wholesome to my place,[4978] 145

To be produced--as, if I stay, I shall--[4979]

Against the Moor: for I do know, the state,

However this may gall him with some check,[4980]

Cannot with safety cast him; for he's embark'd[4981]

With such loud reason to the Cyprus wars,[4982] 150

Which even now stand in act, that, for their souls,[4983]

Another of his fathom they have none[4984]

To lead their business: in which regard,[4985]

Though I do hate him as I do hell-pains,[4986]

Yet for necessity of present life, 155

I must show out a flag and sign of love,[4987]

Which is indeed but sign. That you shall surely find him,[4987][4988]

Lead to the Sagittary the raised search;[4989]

And there will I be with him. So farewell. [_Exit._

_Enter, below,_ BRABANTIO, _in his night-gown, and_ Servants

_with torches_.

_Bra._ It is too true an evil: gone she is;[4990] 160

And what's to come of my despised time[4991]

Is nought but bitterness. Now, Roderigo,[4992]

Where didst thou see her? O unhappy girl!

With the Moor, say'st thou? Who would be a father![4993]

How didst thou know 'twas she? O, she deceives me[4994] 165

Past thought! What said she to you? Get more tapers.[4995]

Raise all my kindred. Are they married, think you?[4996]

_Rod._ Truly, I think they are.[4997]

_Bra._ O heaven! How got she out? O treason of the blood![4998]

Fathers, from hence trust not your daughters' minds 170

By what you see them act. Is there not charms[4999]

By which the property of youth and maidhood[5000]

May be abused? Have you not read, Roderigo,

Of some such thing?

_Rod._ Yes, sir, I have indeed.[5001]

_Bra._ Call up my brother. O, would you had had her![5002] 175

Some one way, some another. Do you know

Where we may apprehend her and the Moor?

_Rod._ I think I can discover him, if you please

To get good guard and go along with me.

_Bra._ Pray you, lead on. At every house I'll call;[5003] 180

I may command at most. Get weapons, ho!

And raise some special officers of night.[5004]

On, good Roderigo; I'll deserve your pains. [_Exeunt._[5005]

SCENE II. _Another street._

_Enter_ OTHELLO, IAGO, _and_ Attendants _with torches_.[5006]

_Iago._ Though in the trade of war I have slain men,

Yet do I hold it very stuff o' the conscience[5007]

To do no contrived murder: I lack iniquity[5008]

Sometimes to do me service: nine or ten times[5009]

I had thought to have yerk'd him here under the ribs.[5010] 5

_Oth._ 'Tis better as it is.[5011]

_Iago._ Nay, but he prated

And spoke such scurvy and provoking terms[5012]

Against your honour,[8, 9]

That, with the little godliness I have,[5013]

I did full hard forbear him. But I pray you, sir,[5014] 10

Are you fast married? Be assured of this,[5015]

That the magnifico is much beloved,

And hath in his effect a voice potential

As double as the duke's: he will divorce you,[5016]

Or put upon you what restraint and grievance[5017] 15

The law, with all his might to enforce it on,[5018]

Will give him cable.[5019]

_Oth._ Let him do his spite:

My services, which I have done the signiory,[5020]

Shall out-tongue his complaints. 'Tis yet to know--

Which, when I know that boasting is an honour,[5021] 20

I shall promulgate--I fetch my life and being[5022]

From men of royal siege, and my demerits[5023]

May speak unbonneted to as proud a fortune[5024]

As this that I have reach'd: for know, Iago,

But that I love the gentle Desdemona, 25

I would not my unhoused free condition

Put into circumscription and confine

For the sea's worth. But, look! what lights come yond?[5025]

_Iago._ Those are the raised father and his friends:[5026]

You were best go in.

_Oth._ Not I; I must be found: 30

My parts, my title and my perfect soul,[5027]

Shall manifest me rightly. Is it they?[5028]

_Iago._ By Janus, I think no.

_Enter_ CASSIO, _and certain_ Officers _with torches_.[5029]

_Oth._ The servants of the duke, and my lieutenant.[5030]

The goodness of the night upon you, friends![5031] 35

What is the news?[5032]

_Cas._ The duke does greet you, general,

And he requires your haste-post-haste appearance,[5033]

Even on the instant.

_Oth._ What is the matter, think you?[5034]

_Cas._ Something from Cyprus, as I may divine;

It is a business of some heat: the galleys 40

Have sent a dozen sequent messengers[5035]

This very night at one anothers heels;[5036]

And many of the consuls, raised and met,[5037]

Are at the dukes already: you have been hotly call'd for;[5038]

When, being not at your lodging to be found, 45

The senate hath sent about three several quests[5039]

To search you out.

_Oth._ 'Tis well I am found by you.

I will but spend a word here in the house,[5040]

And go with you. [_Exit._[5040][5041]

_Cas._ Ancient, what makes he here?

_Iago._ Faith, he to-night hath boarded a land carack:[5042] 50

If it prove lawful prize, he's made for ever.

_Cas._ I do not understand.

_Iago._ He's married.

_Cas._ To who?

_Re-enter_ OTHELLO.[5043]

_Iago._ Marry, to--Come, captain, will you go?

_Oth._ Have with you.[5044]

_Cas._ Here comes another troop to seek for you.

_Iago._ It is Brabantio: general, be advised;[5045] 55

He comes to bad intent.

_Enter_ BRABANTIO, RODERIGO, _and_ Officers _with torches and

weapons_.

_Oth._ Holla! stand there![5046]

_Rod._ Signior, it is the Moor.

_Bra._ Down with him, thief!

[_They draw on both sides._[5047]

_Iago._ You, Roderigo! come, sir, I am for you.

_Oth._ Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust

them.[5048][5049]

Good signior, you shall more command with years[5048] 60

Than with your weapons.[5048]

_Bra._ O thou foul thief, where hast thou stow'd my daughter?[5050]

Damn'd as thou art, thou hast enchanted her;[5051]

For I'll refer me to all things of sense,[5052]

If she in chains of magic were not bound,[5053] 65

Whether a maid so tender, fair and happy,

So opposite to marriage that she shunn'd

The wealthy curled darlings of our nation,[5054]

Would ever have, to incur a general mock,[5055]

Run from her guardage to the sooty bosom[5056] 70

Of such a thing as thou, to fear, not to delight.[5057]

Judge me the world, if 'tis not gross in sense[5058][5059]

That thou hast practised on her with foul charms,[5058]

Abused her delicate youth with drugs or minerals[5058][5060]

That weaken motion: I'll have 't disputed on;[5058][5061] 75

'Tis probable, and palpable to thinking.[5058][5062]

I therefore apprehend and do attach thee[5058]

For an abuser of the world, a practiser[5063]

Of arts inhibited and out of warrant.[5064]

Lay hold upon him: if he do resist, 80

Subdue him at his peril.

_Oth._ Hold your hands,[5065]

Both you of my inclining and the rest:

Were it my cue to fight, I should have known it[5066]

Without a prompter. Where will you that I go[5067]

To answer this your charge?[5068]

_Bra._ To prison, till fit time[5069] 85

Of law and course of direct session[5069]

Call thee to answer.[5070]

_Oth._ What if I do obey?

How may the duke be therewith satisfied,

Whose messengers are here about my side,

Upon some present business of the state 90

To bring me to him?[5071]

_First Off._ 'Tis true, most worthy signior;

The duke's in council, and your noble self,

I am sure, is sent for.[5072]

_Bra._ How! the duke in council!

In this time of the night! Bring him away:[5073]

Mine's not an idle cause: the duke himself, 95

Or any of my brothers of the state,

Cannot but feel this wrong as 'twere their own;

For if such actions may have passage free,

Bond-slaves and pagans shall our statesmen be. [_Exeunt._[5074]

SCENE III. _A council-chamber._

_The_ Duke _and_ Senators _sitting at a table_; Officers _attending_.[5075]

_Duke._ There is no composition in these news[5076]

That gives them credit.

_First Sen._ Indeed they are disproportion'd;[5077]

My letters say a hundred and seven galleys.[5078]

_Duke._ And mine, a hundred and forty.

_Sec. Sen._ And mine, two hundred:[5079]

But though they jump not on a just account,-- 5

As in these cases, where the aim reports,[5080]

'Tis oft with difference,--yet do they all confirm[5081]

A Turkish fleet, and bearing up to Cyprus.

_Duke._ Nay, it is possible enough to judgement:

I do not so secure me in the error,[5082] 10

But the main article I do approve[5083]

In fearful sense.

_Sailor._ [_Within_] What, ho! what, ho! what, ho![5084]

_First Off._ A messenger from the galleys.

_Enter_ Sailor.[5085]

_Duke._ Now, what's the business?

_Sail._ The Turkish preparation makes for Rhodes;

So was I bid report here to the state[5086] 15

By Signior Angelo.[5086][5087]

_Duke._ How say you by this change?

_First Sen._ This cannot be,[5088]

By no assay of reason: 'tis a pageant[5088]

To keep us in false gaze. When we consider

The importancy of Cyprus to the Turk, 20

And let ourselves again but understand

That as it more concerns the Turk than Rhodes,

So may he with more facile question bear it,[5089]

For that it stands not in such warlike brace,[5090]

But altogether lacks the abilities[5090][5091] 25

That Rhodes is dress'd in: if we make thought of this,[5090][5092]

We must not think the Turk is so unskilful[5090]

To leave that latest which concerns him first,[5090]

Neglecting an attempt of ease and gain,[5090][5093]

To wake and wage a danger profitless.[5090][5093] 30

_Duke._ Nay, in all confidence, he's not for Rhodes.[5094]

_First Off._ Here is more news.

_Enter a_ Messenger.[5095]

_Mess._ The Ottomites, reverend and gracious,

Steering with due course toward the isle of Rhodes,

Have there injointed them with an after fleet.[5096] 35

_First Sen._ Ay, so I thought. How many, as you guess?[5097]

_Mess._ Of thirty sail: and now they do re-stem[5098]

Their backward course, bearing with frank appearance

Their purposes toward Cyprus. Signior Montano,[5099]

Your trusty and most valiant servitor, 40

With his free duty recommends you thus,[5100]

And prays you to believe him.[5101]

_Duke._ 'Tis certain then for Cyprus.

Marcus Luccicos, is not he in town?[5102]

_First Sen._ He's now in Florence. 45

_Duke._ Write from us to him; post-post-haste dispatch.[5103]

_First Sen._ Here comes Brabantio and the valiant Moor.

_Enter_ BRABANTIO, _Othello_, IAGO, RODERIGO, _and_ Officers.[5104]

_Duke._ Valiant Othello, we must straight employ you[5105]

Against the general enemy Ottoman.

[_To Brabantio_] I did not see you; welcome, gentle signior;[5106] 50

We lack'd your counsel and your help to-night.[5107]

_Bra._ So did I yours. Good your grace, pardon me;

Neither my place nor aught I heard of business[5108]

Hath raised me from my bed, nor doth the general care[5109]

Take hold on me; for my particular grief[5110] 55

Is of so flood-gate and o'erbearing nature

That it engluts and swallows other sorrows,[5111]

And it is still itself.[5112]

_Duke._ Why, what's the matter?

_Bra._ My daughter! O, my daughter!

_All._ Dead?

_Bra._ Ay, to me;[5113]

She is abused, stol'n from me and corrupted 60

By spells and medicines bought of mountebanks;

For nature so preposterously to err,[5114]

Being not deficient, blind, or lame of sense,[5115]

Sans witchcraft could not.[5116]

_Duke._ Whoe'er he be that in this foul proceeding 65

Hath thus beguiled your daughter of herself

And you of her, the bloody book of law

You shall yourself read in the bitter letter

After your own sense, yea, though our proper son[5117]

Stood in your action.

_Bra._ Humbly I thank your grace. 70

Here is the man, this Moor; whom now, it seems,

Your special mandate for the state-affairs

Hath hither brought.

_All._ We are very sorry for't.[5118]

_Duke._ [_To Othello_] What in your own part can you say to this?[5119]

_Bra._ Nothing, but this is so. 75

_Oth._ Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors,

My very noble and approved good masters,

That I have ta'en away this old man's daughter,

It is most true; true, I have married her:

The very head and front of my offending 80

Hath this extent, no more. Rude am I in my speech,[5120]

And little blest with the soft phrase of peace;[5121]

For since these arms of mine had seven years' pith,

Till now some nine moons wasted, they have used[5122]

Their dearest action in the tented field; 85

And little of this great world can I speak,

More than pertains to feats of broil and battle;[5123]

And therefore little shall I grace my cause

In speaking for myself. Yet, by your gracious patience,[5124]

I will a round unvarnish'd tale deliver[5125] 90

Of my whole course of love; what drugs, what charms,[5126]

What conjuration and what mighty magic--

For such proceeding I am charged withal--[5127]

I won his daughter.[5128]

_Bra._ A maiden never bold;[5129]

Of spirit so still and quiet that her motion[5129] 95

Blush'd at herself; and she--in spite of nature,[5130]

Of years, of country, credit, every thing--

To fall in love with what she fear'd to look on![5131]

It is a judgement maim'd and most imperfect[5132]

That will confess perfection so could err[5133] 100

Against all rules of nature; and must be driven

To find out practices of cunning hell,

Why this should be. I therefore vouch again,

That with some mixtures powerful o'er the blood,

Or with some dram conjured to this effect, 105

He wrought upon her.

_Duke._ To vouch this, is no proof,[5134]

Without more certain and more overt test[5135]

Than these thin habits and poor likelihoods[5136]

Of modern seeming do prefer against him.[5137]

_First Sen._ But, Othello, speak:[5138] 110

Did you by indirect and forced courses

Subdue and poison this young maid's affections?

Or came it by request, and such fair question

As soul to soul affordeth?

_Oth._ I do beseech you,[5139]

Send for the lady to the Sagittary,[5140] 115

And let her speak of me before her father:

If you do find me foul in her report,

The trust, the office I do hold of you,[5141]

Not only take away, but let your sentence

Even fall upon my life.[5142]

_Duke._ Fetch Desdemona hither. 120

_Oth._ Ancient, conduct them; you best know the place.

[_Exeunt Iago and Attendants._[5143]

And till she come, as truly as to heaven[5144]

I do confess the vices of my blood,[5145]

So justly to your grave ears I'll present

How I did thrive in this fair lady's love 125

And she in mine.

_Duke._ Say it, Othello.

_Oth._ Her father loved me, oft invited me,

Still question'd me the story of my life[5146]

From year to year, the battles, sieges, fortunes,[5147] 130

That I have pass'd.[5148]

I ran it through, even from my boyish days[5149]

To the very moment that he bade me tell it:

Wherein I spake of most disastrous chances,[5150]

Of moving accidents by flood and field,[5151] 135

Of hair-breadth 'scapes i' the imminent deadly breach,[5152]

Of being taken by the insolent foe,

And sold to slavery, of my redemption thence,[5153]

And portance in my travels' history:[5154]

Wherein of antres vast and deserts idle,[5155] 140

Rough quarries, rocks, and hills whose heads touch heaven,[5156]

It was my hint to speak,--such was the process;[5157][5158][5159]

And of the Cannibals that each other eat,[5158][5160]

The Anthropophagi, and men whose heads[5158][5161]

Do grow beneath their shoulders. This to hear[5158][5162] 145

Would Desdemona seriously incline:

But still the house-affairs would draw her thence;[5163]

Which ever as she could with haste dispatch,[5164]

She'ld come again, and with a greedy ear

Devour up my discourse: which I observing, 150

Took once a pliant hour, and found good means

To draw from her a prayer of earnest heart

That I would all my pilgrimage dilate,

Whereof by parcels she had something heard,[5165]

But not intentively: I did consent,[5166] 155

And often did beguile her of her tears

When I did speak of some distressful stroke[5167]

That my youth suffer'd. My story being done,[5168]

She gave me for my pains a world of sighs:[5169]

She swore, in faith, 'twas strange, 'twas passing strange;[5170] 160

'Twas pitiful, 'twas wondrous pitiful:

She wish'd she had not heard it, yet she wish'd

That heaven had made her such a man: she thank'd me,[5171]

And bade me, if I had a friend that loved her,

I should but teach him how to tell my story, 165

And that would woo her. Upon this hint I spake:[5172]

She loved me for the dangers I had pass'd,[5173]

And I loved her that she did pity them.

This only is the witchcraft I have used.

Here comes the lady; let her witness it. 170

_Enter_ DESDEMONA, IAGO, _and_ Attendants.[5174]

_Duke._ I think this tale would win my daughter too.[5175]

Good Brabantio,[5176]

Take up this mangled matter at the best:[5176]

Men do their broken weapons rather use

Than their bare hands.

_Bra._ I pray you, hear her speak: 175

If she confess that she was half the wooer,

Destruction on my head, if my bad blame[5177]

Light on the man! Come hither, gentle mistress:

Do you perceive in all this noble company[5178]

Where most you owe obedience?

_Des._ My noble father,[5179] 180

I do perceive here a divided duty:

To you I am bound for life and education;[5180]

My life and education both do learn me

How to respect you; you are the lord of duty,[5181]

I am hitherto your daughter: but here's my husband,[5180] 185

And so much duty as my mother show'd[5182]

To you, preferring you before her father,

So much I challenge that I may profess[5183]

Due to the Moor my lord.

_Bra._ God be with you! I have done.[5184]

Please it your grace, on to the state-affairs: 190

I had rather to adopt a child than get it.[5185]

Come hither, Moor:

I here do give thee that with all my heart,

Which, but thou hast already, with all my heart[5186]

I would keep from thee. For your sake, jewel,[5187] 195

I am glad at soul I have no other child;[5180][5188]

For thy escape would teach me tyranny,

To hang clogs on them. I have done, my lord.[5189]

_Duke_. Let me speak like yourself, and lay a sentence[5190]

Which, as a grise or step, may help these lovers[5191] 200

Into your favour.[5192]

When remedies are past, the griefs are ended[5193]

By seeing the worst, which late on hopes depended.[5194]

To mourn a mischief that is past and gone

Is the next way to draw new mischief on.[5195] 205

What cannot be preserved when fortune takes,

Patience her injury a mockery makes.[5196]

The robb'd that smiles steals something from the thief;[5197]

He robs himself that spends a bootless grief.

_Bra_. So let the Turk of Cyprus us beguile;[5198] 210

We lose it not so long as we can smile.[5199]

He bears the sentence well, that nothing bears[5200]

But the free comfort which from thence he hears;[5200]

But he bears both the sentence and the sorrow,[5201]

That, to pay grief, must of poor patience borrow. 215

These sentences, to sugar or to gall,

Being strong on both sides, are equivocal:

But words are words; I never yet did hear

That the bruised heart was pierced through the ear.[5202]

I humbly beseech you, proceed to the affairs of state.[5203] 220

_Duke._ The Turk with a most mighty preparation makes[5204]

for Cyprus. Othello, the fortitude of the place is best

known to you; and though we have there a substitute of[5205]

most allowed sufficiency, yet opinion, a sovereign mistress[5206]

of effects, throws a more safer voice on you: you must[5207] 225

therefore be content to slubber the gloss of your new fortunes[5208]

with this more stubborn and boisterous expedition.[5209]

_Oth._ The tyrant custom, most grave senators,[5210]

Hath made the flinty and steel couch of war[5211]

My thrice-driven bed of down: I do agnize 230

A natural and prompt alacrity[5212]

I find in hardness; and do undertake[5213]

These present wars against the Ottomites.[5214]

Most humbly therefore bending to your state,

I crave fit disposition for my wife, 235

Due reference of place and exhibition,[5215]

With such accommodation and besort[5216]

As levels with her breeding.

_Duke._ If you please,[5217]

Be 't at her father's.[5217]

_Bra._ I'll not have it so.[5218]

_Oth._ Nor I.

_Des._ Nor I, I would not there reside,[5219] 240

To put my father in impatient thoughts

By being in his eye. Most gracious duke,

To my unfolding lend your prosperous ear,[5220]

And let me find a charter in your voice[5221]

To assist my simpleness.[5222] 245

_Duke._ What would you, Desdemona?[5223]

_Des._ That I did love the Moor to live with him,[5224]

My downright violence and storm of fortunes[5225]

May trumpet to the world: my heart's subdued[5226]

Even to the very quality of my lord:[5227] 250

I saw Othello's visage in his mind,

And to his honours and his valiant parts

Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate.

So that, dear lords, if I be left behind,[5228]

A moth of peace, and he go to the war, 255

The rites for which I love him are bereft me,[5229]

And I a heavy interim shall support

By his dear absence. Let me go with him.

_Oth._ Let her have your voices.[5230]

Vouch with me, heaven, I therefore beg it not,[5231] 260

To please the palate of my appetite;

Nor to comply with heat--the young affects[5232][5233]

In me defunct--and proper satisfaction;[5232][5234]

But to be free and bounteous to her mind:[5234][5235]

And heaven defend your good souls, that you think[5236] 265

I will your serious and great business scant[5237]

For she is with me. No, when light-wing'd toys[5238]

Of feather'd Cupid seel with wanton dullness[5239]

My speculative and officed instruments,[5240]

That my disports corrupt and taint my business, 270

Let housewives make a skillet of my helm,[5241]

And all indign and base adversities

Make head against my estimation![5242]

_Duke._ Be it as you shall privately determine,

Either for her stay or going: the affair cries haste,[5243] 275

And speed must answer 't; you must hence to-night.[5244]

_Des._ To-night, my lord?[5245]

_Duke._ This night.

_Oth._ With all my heart.

_Duke._ At nine i' the morning here we'll meet again.[5246]

Othello, leave some officer behind,

And he shall our commission bring to you; 280

With such things else of quality and respect[5247]

As doth import you.

_Oth._ So please your grace, my ancient;[5248]

A man he is of honesty and trust:

To his conveyance I assign my wife,

With what else needful your good grace shall think[5249] 285

To be sent after me.

_Duke._ Let it be so.

Good night to every one. [_To Brab._] And, noble signior,[5250]

If virtue no delighted beauty lack,[5251]

Your son-in-law is far more fair than black.

_First Sen._ Adieu, brave Moor; use Desdemona well.[5252] 290

_Bra._ Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see:[5253]

She has deceived her father, and may thee.

[_Exeunt Duke, Senators, Officers, &c._[5254]

_Oth._ My life upon her faith! Honest Iago,

My Desdemona must I leave to thee:

I prithee, let thy wife attend on her; 295

And bring them after in the best advantage.[5255]

Come, Desdemona; I have but an hour

Of love, of worldly matters and direction,[5256]

To spend with thee: we must obey the time.

[_Exeunt Othello and Desdemona._[5257]

_Rod._ Iago![5258] 300

_Iago._ What say'st thou, noble heart?

_Rod._ What will I do, thinkest thou?[5259]

_Iago._ Why, go to bed and sleep.

_Rod._ I will incontinently drown myself.

_Iago._ If thou dost, I shall never love thee after. Why,[5260] 305

thou silly gentleman![5261]

_Rod._ It is silliness to live when to live is torment; and[5262]

then have we a prescription to die when death is our physician.[5263]

_Iago._ O villanous! I have looked upon the world for[5264] 310

four times seven years; and since I could distinguish betwixt[5265]

a benefit and an injury, I never found man that knew[5266]

how to love himself. Ere I would say I would drown myself

for the love of a guinea-hen, I would change my humanity[5267]

with a baboon. 315

_Rod._ What should I do? I confess it is my shame to

be so fond; but it is not in my virtue to amend it.

_Iago._ Virtue! a fig! 'tis in ourselves that we are thus

or thus. Our bodies are gardens; to the which our wills[5268]

are gardeners: so that if we will plant nettles or sow lettuce, 320

set hyssop and weed up thyme, supply it with one[5269]

gender of herbs or distract it with many, either to have[5270]

it sterile with idleness or manured with industry, why, the

power and corrigible authority of this lies in our wills. If[5271]

the balance of our lives had not one scale of reason to poise[5272] 325

another of sensuality, the blood and baseness of our natures

would conduct us to most preposterous conclusions: but we

have reason to cool our raging motions, our carnal stings,[5273]

our unbitted lusts; whereof I take this, that you call love,[5274]

to be a sect or scion.[5275] 330

_Rod._ It cannot be.

_Iago._ It is merely a lust of the blood and a permission[5276]

of the will. Come, be a man: drown thyself! drown cats

and blind puppies. I have professed me thy friend, and I[5277]

confess me knit to thy deserving with cables of perdurable 335

toughness: I could never better stead thee than now. Put[5278]

money in thy purse; follow thou the wars; defeat thy favour[5279]

with an usurped beard; I say, put money in thy purse.

It cannot be that Desdemona should long continue her love[5280]

to the Moor--put money in thy purse--nor he his to her: it[5281] 340

was a violent commencement, and thou shalt see an[5282][5283]

answerable sequestration; put but money in thy purse. These[5283][5284]

Moors are changeable in their wills:--fill thy purse with

money. The food that to him now is as luscious as locusts,[5285]

shall be to him shortly as bitter as coloquintida. She[5286][5287] 345

must change for youth: when she is sated with his body,[5287]

she will find the error of her choice: she must have change,[5288][5289]

she must: therefore put money in thy purse. If thou wilt[5289]

needs damn thyself, do it a more delicate way than drowning.

Make all the money thou canst: if sanctimony and a 350

frail vow betwixt an erring barbarian and a supersubtle[5290]

Venetian be not too hard for my wits and all the tribe of

hell, thou shalt enjoy her; therefore make money. A pox

of drowning thyself! it is clean out of the way: seek thou[5291]

rather to be hanged in compassing thy joy than to be 355

drowned and go without her.

_Rod._ Wilt thou be fast to my hopes, if I depend on[5292]

the issue?[5292]

_Iago._ Thou art sure of me: go, make money: I have

told thee often, and I re-tell thee again and again, I hate[5293] 360

the Moor: my cause is hearted; thine hath no less reason.[5294]

Let us be conjunctive in our revenge against him: if thou[5295]

canst cuckold him, thou dost thyself a pleasure, me a sport.[5296]

There are many events in the womb of time, which will be

delivered. Traverse; go; provide thy money. We will 365

have more of this to-morrow. Adieu.

_Rod._ Where shall we meet i' the morning?

_Iago._ At my lodging.

_Rod._ I'll be with thee betimes.

_Iago._ Go to; farewell. Do you hear, Roderigo?[5297][5298] 370

_Rod._ What say you?[5297]

_Iago._ No more of drowning, do you hear?[5297]

_Rod._ I am changed: I'll go sell all my land. [_Exit._[5297][5299]