Page 1915 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

No, no, no, no! Come, let’s away to prison;
We two alone will sing like birds i’th’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
At gilded butterflies, and hear poor rogues
Talk of court news; and we’ll talk with them too,
Who loses and who wins; who’s in, who’s out; [15]

And take upon’s the mystery of things,
As if we were Gods’ spies: and we’ll wear out,
In a wall’d prison, packs and sects of great ones
That ebb and flow by th’moon.

EDMUND
Take them away.

LEAR
Upon such sacrifices, my Cordelia, [20]
The Gods themselves throw incense. Have I caught thee?
He that parts us shall bring a brand from heaven,
And fire us hence like foxes. Wipe thine eyes;

The good years shall devour them, flesh and fell,
Ere they shall make us weep: we’ll see ’em starv’d first. [25]
Come.
(Exeunt Lear and Cordelia, guarded.)

EDMUND
Come hither, captain; hark.

Take thou this note;
(Giving a paper.)
go follow them to prison.

One step I have advanc’d thee; if thou dost
As this instructs thee, thou dost make thy way [30]
To noble fortunes; know thou this, that men
Are as the time is; to be tender-minded
Does not become a sword; thy great employment

Will not bear question; either say thou’lt do’t,
Or thrive by other means.