Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616. King Lear (1623 First Folio Edition)
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Scene vii
2744: Scaena Septima.
2745: [ Enter Cordelia, Kent, and Gentleman.]
2746:
Cor.
O thou good Kent,
2747: How shall I liue and worke
2748: To match thy goodnesse?
2749: My life will be too short,
2750: And euery measure faile me.
2751:
Kent.
To be acknowledg'd Madam is ore-pai'd,
2752: All my reports go with the modest truth,
2753: Nor more, nor clipt, but so.
2754:
Cor.
Be better suited,
2755: These weedes are memories of those worser houres:
2756: I prythee put them off.
2757:
Kent.
Pardon deere Madam,
2758: Yet to be knowne shortens my made intent,
2759: My boone I make it, that you know me not,
2760: Till time, and I, thinke meet.
2761:
Cor.
Then be't so my good Lord:
2762: How do's the King?
2763:
Gent.
Madam sleepes still.
2764:
Cor.
O you kind Gods!
2765: Cure this great breach in his abused Nature,
2766: Th' vntun'd and iarring senses, O winde vp,
2767: Of this childe-changed Father.
2768:
Gent.
So please your Maiesty,
2769: That we may wake the King, he hath slept long?
2770:
Cor.
Be gouern'd by your knowledge, and proceede
2771: I'th' sway of your owne will: is he array'd?
2772: [ Enter Lear in a chaire carried by Seruants]
2773:
Gent.
I Madam: in the heauinesse of sleepe,
2774: We put fresh garments on him.
2775: Be by good Madam when we do awake him,
2776: I doubt of his Temperance.
2777:
Cor.
O my deere Father, restauratian hang
2778: Thy medicine on my lippes, and let this kisse
2779: Repaire those violent harmes, that my two Sisters
2780: Haue in thy Reuerence made.
2781:
Kent.
Kind and deere Princesse.
2782:
Cor.
Had you not bin their Father, these white flakes
2783: Did challenge pitty of them. Was this a face
2784: To be oppos'd against the iarring windes?
2785: Mine Enemies dogge, though he had bit me,
2786: Should haue stood that night against my fire,
2787: And was't thou faine (poore Father)
2788: To houell thee with Swine and Rogues forlorne,
2789: In short, and musty straw? Alacke, alacke,
2790: 'Tis wonder that thy life and wits, at once
2791: Had not concluded all. He wakes, speake to him.
2792:
Gen.
Madam do you, 'tis fittest.
2793:
Cor.
How does my Royall Lord?
2794: How fares your Maiesty?
2795:
Lear.
You do me wrong to take me out o'th' graue,
2796: Thou art a Soule in blisse, but I am bound
2797: Vpon a wheele of fire, that mine owne teares
2798: Do scal'd, like molten Lead.
2799:
Cor.
Sir, do you know me?
2800:
Lear.
You are a spirit I know, where did you dye?
2801:
Cor.
Still, still, farre wide.
2802:
Gen.
He's scarse awake,
2803: Let him alone a while.
2804:
Lear.
Where haue I bin?
2805: Where am I? Faire day light?
2806: I am mightily abus'd; I should eu'n dye with pitty
2807: To see another thus. I know not what to say:
2808: I will not sweare these are my hands: let's see,
2809: I feele this pin pricke, would I were assur'd
2810: Of my condition.
2811:
Cor.
O looke vpon me Sir,
2812: And hold your hand in benediction o're me,
2813: You must not kneele.
2813:
Lear.
Pray do not mocke me:
2815: I am a very foolish fond old man,
2816: Fourescore and vpward,
2817: Not an houre more, nor lesse:
2818: And to deale plainely,
2819: I feare I am not in my perfect mind.
2820: Me thinkes I should know you, and know this man,
2821: Yet I am doubtfull: For I am mainely ignorant
2822: What place this is: and all the skill I haue
2823: Remembers not these garments: nor I know not
2824: Where I did lodge last night. Do not laugh at me,
2825: For (as I am a man) I thinke this Lady
2826: To be my childe Cordelia.
2827:
Cor.
And so I am: I am.
2828:
Lear.
Be your teares wet?
2829: Yes faith: I pray weepe not,
2830: If you haue poyson for me, I will drinke it:
2831: I know you do not loue me, for your Sisters
2832: Haue (as I do remember) done me wrong.
2833: You haue some cause, they haue not.
2834:
Cor.
No cause, no cause.
2835:
Lear.
Am I in France?
2836:
Kent.
In your owne kingdome Sir.
2837:
Lear.
Do not abuse me.
2838:
Gent.
Be comforted good Madam, the great rage
2839: You see is kill'd in him: desire him to go in,
2840: Trouble him no more till further setling.
2841:
Cor.
Wilt please your Highnesse walke?
2842:
Lear.
You must beare with me:
2843: Pray you now forget, and forgiue,
2844: I am old and foolish. [ Exeunt]
Act V