Hamlet, King Lear

The British camp near Dover.Enter, in conquest, with drum and colours, Edmund; Lear and Cordelia, prisoners; Captain, Soldiers, &c. Edmund. Some officers take them away: good guard,Until their greater pleasures first be knownThat are to censure them.Cordelia. We are not the firstWho, with best meaning, have incurr’d the worst.For thee, oppressed king, am I cast […]

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. Edgar. Here, father, take the shadow of this treeFor your good host; pray that the right may thrive:If ever I return to you again,I’ll bring you comfort.Gloucester. Grace go with

The British camp, near Dover.Enter, with drum and colours, Edmund, Regan,Gentlemen, and Soldiers. Edmund. Know of the duke if his last purpose hold,Or whether since he is advised by aughtTo change the course: he’s full of alterationAnd self-reproving: bring his constant pleasure.[To a Gentleman, who goes out.Regan. Our sister’s man is certainly miscarried.Edmund. ’Tis to

A tent in the French camp. Lear on a bed asleep, soft music playing; Gentleman, and others attending. Enter Cordelia, Kent and Doctor.Cordelia. O thou good Kent, how shall I live and work,To match thy goodness? My life will be too short,And every measure fail me.Kent. To be acknowledged, madam, is o’erpaid.All my reports go

Fields near Dover.Enter Gloucester, and Edgar, dressed like a peasant. Gloucester. When shall we come to the top of that same hill?Edgar. You do climb up it now: look, how we labour.Gloucester. Methinks the ground is even.Edgar. Horrible steep. Hark, do you hear the sea?Gloucester. No, truly.Edgar. Why, then, your other senses grow imperfectBy your

Gloucester’s castle.Enter Regan and Oswald. Regan. But are my brother’s powers set forth?Oswald. Ay, madam.Regan. Himself in person there?Oswald. Madam, with much ado:Your sister is the better soldier.Regan. Lord Edmund spake not with your lord at home?Oswald. No, madam.Regan. What might import my sister’s letter to him?Oswald. I know not, lady.Regan. ’Faith, he is posted

The same. A tent.Enter, with drum and colours, Cordelia, Doctor, and Soldiers.Cordelia. 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 bur-docks, hemlock, nettles, cuckoo-flowers,Darnel, and all the idle weeds that growIn our sustaining corn. A century send forth;Search every acre in

The French camp near Dover.Enter Kent and a Gentleman. Kent. Why the King of France is so suddenly gone back know you the reason?Gentleman. Something he left imperfect in the state, which since his coming forth is thought of; which imports to the kingdom so much fear and danger, that his personal return was most

Before the Duke of Albany’s palace.Enter Goneril and Edmund. Goneril. Welcome, my lord: I marvel our mild husbandNot met us on the way.Enter Oswald.Now, where’s your master?Oswald. Madam, within; but never man so changed.I told him of the army that was landed;He smiled at it: I told him you were coming;His answer was ‘The worse:’

The heath.Enter Edgar. Edgar. Yet better thus, and known to be contemn’d,Than still contemn’d and flatter’d. To be worst,The lowest and most dejected thing of fortune,Stands still in esperance, lives not in fear:The lamentable change is from the best;The worst returns to laughter. Welcome, then,Thou unsubstantial air that I embrace!The wretch that thou hast blown

Gloucester’s castle.Enter Cornwall, Regan, Goneril, Edmund, and Servants. Cornwall. Post speedily to my lord your husband; show him this letter: the army of France is landed. Seek out the villain Gloucester. [Exeunt some of the Servants.Regan. Hang him instantly.Goneril. Pluck out his eyes.Cornwall. Leave him to my displeasure. Edmund, keep you our sister company: the

A chamber in a farmhouse adjoining the castle.Enter Gloucester, Lear, Kent, Fool, and Edgar. Gloucester. Here is better than the open air; take it thankfully. I will piece out the comfort with what addition I can: I will not be long from you.Kent. All the power of his wits have given way to his impatience:

Gloucester’s castle.Enter Cornwall and Edmund. Cornwall. I will have my revenge ere I depart his house.Edmund. How, my lord, I may be censured, that nature thus gives way to loyalty, something fears me to think of.Cornwall. I now perceive, it was not altogether your brother’s evil disposition made him seek his death; but a provoking

The heath. Before a hovel.Enter Lear, Kent, and Fool. Kent. Here is the place, my lord; good my lord, enter:The tyranny of the open night’s too roughFor nature to endure. [Storm still.Lear. Let me alone.Kent. Good my lord, enter here.Lear. Wilt break my heart?Kent. I had rather break mine own. Good my lord, enter.Lear. Thou

Gloucester’s castle.Enter Gloucester and Edmund. Gloucester. Alack, alack, Edmund, I like not this unnatural dealing. When I desired their leave that I might pity him, they took from me the use of mine own house; charged me, on pain of their perpetual displeasure, neither to speak of him, entreat for him, nor any way sustain