Page:King Lear (1917) Yale.djvu/134

118

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 starve first,

Come.

Edm. 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

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.

Capt. I'll do 't, my lord.

Edm. About it; and write happy when thou hast done.

Mark,—I say, instantly, and carry it so

As I have set it down.

[Capt. I cannot draw a cart nor eat dried oats;

If it be man's work I will do it.]

Alb. Sir, you have show'd to-day your valiant strain,

And fortune led you well; you have the captives

Who were the opposites of this day's strife;

We do require them of you, so to use them

As we shall find their merits and our safety

May equally determine.

Edm. Sir, I thought it fit

To send the old and miserable king

 24 good years; cf. n.

fell: skin

36 write happy: call yourself lucky

