Kent. Of Albany's and Cornwall's powers you

heard not? Gent. "Tis so; they are afoot.

Kent. Well, sir, I'll bring you to our master Lear, And leave you to attend him: some dear cause Will in concealment wrap me up awbile; When I am known aright, you shall not grieve Lending me this acquaintance. I pray you, go Along with me.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.-The same.

A tent.

Enter CORDELIA, Physician, and Soldiers.

Cor. Alack, 'tis he; why, he was met even now As mad as the vex'd sea : singing aloud; Crown'd with rank fumiter, and furrow weeds, With barlocks, hemlock, nettles, cuckoo-flowers, Darnel, and all the idle weeds, that grow In our sustaining corn.—A century send forth ; Search every acre in the high-grown field, And bring him to our eye. [Exit an Officer.] What

can man's wisdom do,
In the restoring his bereaved sense ?
He, that helps him, take all my outward worth.

Phy. There is means, madam:
Our foster-nurse of nature is repose,
The which he lacks; that to provoke in him,
Are many simples operative, whose power
Will close the eye of anguish.

Cor. All bless'd secrets,
All you unpublish'd virtues of the earth,
Spring with my tears! be aidant, and remediate,
In the good man's distress!-Seek, seek for him.;
Lest his ungovern'd rage dissolve the life
That wants the means to lead it.

Enter a Messenger.
Mess. Madam, news;
The British powers are marching hitherward.

Cor. 'Tis known before; our preparation stands
In expectation of them.-0 dear father,
It is thy business that I go about;
Therefore great France
My mourning, and important tears, hath pitied.
No blown ambition doth our arms incite,
But love, dear love, and our ag'd father's right:
Soon may I hear, and see him!

(Exeunt.

Reg. But are my brother's powers set forth ?
Stew. Ay, madam.

Reg. Himself
In person there?

Stew. Madam, with much ado: Your sister is the better soldier. Reg. Lord Edmund spake not with your lord at

home? Stew. No, madam. Reg. What might import my sister's letter to him? Stew. I know not, lady.

Reg. 'Faith, he is posted hence on serious matter.. It was great ignorance, Gloster's eyes being out, To let him live; where he arrives, he moves All hearts against us: Edmund, I think, is gone, In pity of his misery, to despatch His pighted life; moreover, to descry The strength o’the enemy. Stew. I must needs after him, madam, with my

Reg. Our troops set forth to-morrow; stay with

us ;

The ways are dangerous.

Stew. I may not, madam;
My lady charg'd my duty in this business.

Reg. Why should she write to Edmund; Might

not you

Transport her purposes by word? Belike,
Something I know not what :-I'll love thee much,
Let me unseal the letter.

Stew. Madam, I had rather

Reg. I know, your lady does not love her husband;
I am sure of that: and, at her late being here,
She gave strange ciliads, and most speaking looks
To noble Edmund : I know, you are of her bosomn.

Stew. I, madam?
Reg. I speak in understanding; you are, I know

it :

Therefore, I do advise you, take this note:
My lord is dead; Edmund and I have talk'd;
And more convenient is he for my hand,
Than for your lady's:-You may gather more.
If you do find him, pray you, give him this;
And when your mistress hears thus much from you,
I
pray,

desire her call her wisdom to her.
So, fare you well.
If
you

do chance to hear of that blind traitor, Preferment falls on him, that cuts him off. Stew. 'Would I could meet him, madam! I would

show What party I do follow. Reg. Fare thee well.

[Exeunt. SCENE VI.--The country near Dover. Enter Gloster, and EDGAR, dressed like a peasant. Glo. When shall we come to the top of that same

hill?
Edg. You do climb up it now; look, how we la-

bour.
Glo. Methinks, the ground is even.

Edg. Horrible steep :
Hark, do you hear the sea?

Glo. No, truly

Edg. Why, then your other senses grow imperfect By your eyes' anguish.

Glo. So may it be, indeed: Methinks, thy voice is alter'd; and thou speak'st In better phrase, and matter, than thou didst. Edg. You are much deceiv'd; in. nothing am I

chang’d,
But in my garments.

Glo. Methinks, you are better spoken.
Edg. Come on, sir; here's the place:-stand still.

-How fearful
And dizzy 'tis, to cast one's eyes so low!
The crows, and choughs, that wing the midway air,
Show searce so gross as beetles: half way down,
Hangs one that gathers samphire; dreadful trade!
Methinks, he seems no bigger than his head :
The fishermen, that walk upon the beach,
Appear like mice; and yon' tall anchoring bark,
Diminish'd to her cock; her cock, a buoy.
Almost too small for sight: The murmuring surge,
That on the unnumber'd idle pebbles chafes,
Cannot be heard so high :-I'll look no more;
Lest
my

brain turn, and the deficient sight Topple down headlong.

Glo. Set me where you stand.
Edg. Give me your hand : You are now within a

foot
Of the extreme verge: for all beneath the moon
Would I not leap upright.

Glo. Let go my hand. Here, friend, is another purse; in it, a jewel Well worth a poor man's taking: Fairies and gods, Prosper it with thee! Go thou further off; Bid me farewell, and let me hear thee going.

Edg. Now fare you well, good sir. [Seems to go. Glo. With all my heart.

Edg. Why I do trifle thus with his despair,
Is done to cure it.

Glo. O you mighty gods!
This world I do renounce; and, in your sights,
Shake patiently, my great affliction off:
If I could bear it longer, and not fall
To quarrel with your great opposeless wills,
My snuff, and loathed part of nature, should
Burn itself out. If Edgar live, O, bless him! -
Now, fellow, fare thee well.

[He leaps and falls along. Edg. Gone, sir? farewell. And yet I know not bow conceit may

rob The treasury of life, when life itself Yields to the theft: Had he been where he thought, By this, had thought been past. --Alive, or dead? Ho, you sir! friend !-Hear you, sir ?—speak!

! Thus might he pass indeed :-Yet he revives : What are you, sir?

Glo. Away, and let me die.
Edg. Had'st thou been aught but gossomer, fea:

thers, air, So many fathom down precipitating, Thou had'st shiver'd like an egg: but thou dost