William Shakespeare: The Tragedy of King Lear

ACT IV. 7. Scene VII. A Tent in the French Camp. Lear on a bed, asleep, soft music playing; Physician, Gentleman, and others attending. (continued)

Cor.
And so I am. I am.

Lear.
Be your tears wet? yes, faith. I pray, weep not:
If you have poison for me, I will drink it.
I know you do not love me; for your sisters
Have, as I do remember, done me wrong:
You have some cause, they have not.

Cor.
No cause, no cause.

Lear.
Am I in France?

Kent.
In your own kingdom, sir.

Lear.
Do not abuse me.

Phys.
Be comforted, good madam: the great rage,
You see, is kill'd in him: and yet it is danger
To make him even o'er the time he has lost.
Desire him to go in; trouble him no more
Till further settling.

Cor.
Will't please your highness walk?

Lear.
You must bear with me:
Pray you now, forget and forgive: I am old and foolish.

[Exeunt Lear, Cordelia, Physician, and Attendants.]

Gent.
Holds it true, sir, that the Duke of Cornwall was so slain?

Kent.
Most certain, sir.

Gent.
Who is conductor of his people?

Kent.
As 'tis said, the bastard son of Gloster.

Gent.
They say Edgar, his banished son, is with the Earl of Kent
in Germany.

Kent.
Report is changeable. 'Tis time to look about; the powers of
the kingdom approach apace.

Gent.
The arbitrement is like to be bloody.
Fare you well, sir.

[Exit.]

Kent.
My point and period will be throughly wrought,
Or well or ill, as this day's battle's fought.

[Exit.]