The bloody proclamation to escape, That follow'd me so near, (O our lives' sweetness! Edm. This speech of yours hath mov'd me, And shall, perchance, do good: but speak you on; You look as you had something more to say. Alb. If there be more, more woful, hold it in; For I am almost ready to dissolve, Hearing of this. Edg. This would have seem'd a period To such as love not sorrow; but another, Whilst I was big in clamour, came there a man, Shunn'd my abhorr'd society; but then, finding Alb. Edg. Kent, sir, the banish'd Kent; who in dis guise Follow'd his enemy king, and did him service Enter a Gentleman hastily, with a bloody knife. Gent. Help! help! O help! Edg. What kind of help? Speak, man. Edg. What means that bloody knife? 'Tis hot, it smokes ; It came even from the heart of Alb. Who, man? speak. Gent. Your lady, sir, your lady: and her sister By her is poison'd; she confesses it. Edm. I was contracted to them both; all three Now marry in an instant. Alb. Produce their bodies, be they alive or dead! This judgment of the heavens, that makes us tremble, Touches us not with pity. [Exit Gentleman. Enter Kent. Edg. Here comes Kent, sir. Alb. O! it is he. The time will not allow the compliment, Kent. I am come To bid my king and master ayel good night; Alb. Great thing of us forgot!Speak, Edmund, where's the king? and where's Cordelia? See'st thou this object, Kent? [The bodies of Gon. and Reg. are brought in. Kent. Alack, why thus? Edm. Yet Edmund was belov'd: The one the other poison'd for my sake, (1) For ever. And after slew herself. Alb. Even so.-Cover their faces. Edm. I pant for life :-Some good I mean to do, Despite of mine own nature. Quickly send,— Be brief in it,-to the castle; for my writ Is on the life of Lear, and on Cordelia : Nay, send in time. Alb. Run, run, O, run Edg. To who, my lord?-Who has the office? send Thy token of reprieve. Edm. Well thought on; take my sword, Give it the captain. Alb. Haste thee, for thy life. [Exit Edgar. Edm. He hath commission from thy wife and me To hang Cordelia in the prison, and To lay the blame upon her own despair, That she fordid1 herself. Alb. The gods defend her! Bear him hence a while. [Edmund is borne off. Enter Lear, with Cordelia dead in his arms; Edgar, Officer, and others. Lear. Howl, howl, howl, howl!-O, you are men of stones; Had I your tongues and eyes, I'd use them so That heaven's vault should crack :-O, she is gone for ever! I know when one is dead, and when one lives; She's dead as earth:-Lend me a looking-glass; If that her breath will mist or stain the stone, Why, then she lives. Kent. Is this the promis'd end?2 Edg. Or image of that horror? (1) Destroyed herself. Fall, and cease !3 (2) The end of the world, or the horrible circumstances preceding it. (3) i. e. Die; Albany speaks to Lear. Lear. This feather stirs; she lives! if it be so, It is a chance that does redeem all sorrows That ever I have felt. Kent. O my good master! [Kneeling. Lear. Pr'ythee, away. Edg. 'Tis noble Kent, your friend. Lear. A plague upon you, murderers, traitors all! might have sav'd her; now she's gone for ever!— Cordelia, Cordelia, stay a little. Ha! I What is't thou say'st?-Her voice was ever soft, Gentle, and low; an excellent thing in woman :I kill'd the slave that was a hanging thee. Off. 'Tis true, my lords, he did. Lear. Did I not, fellow? I have seen the day, with my good biting faulchion I would have made them skip: I am old now, And these same crosses spoil me.-Who are you? Mine eyes are none o'the best :-I'll tell you straight. Kent. If fortune brag of two she lov'd and hated, One of them we behold. Lear. This is a dull sight: Are you not Kent? Kent. The same; Your servant Kent: Where is your servant Caius? Lear. He's a good fellow, I can tell He'll strike, and quickly too:-He's dead and you that; rotten. Kent. No, my good lord; I am the very man ;Lear. I'll see that straight. Kent. That, from your first of difference and decay, Have follow'd Lear. your sad steps. You are welcome hither. Kent. Nor no man else; all's cheerless, dark, and deadly. Your eldest daughters have fore-doom'd themselves, And desperately are dead. Lear. Ay, so I think. Alb. He knows not what he says; and vain it is That we present us to him. Edg. Very bootless, Enter an Officer. Off. Edmund is dead, my lord. Alb. That's but a trifle here.You lords, and noble friends, know our intent. What comfort to this great decay? may come, Shall be applied: Far us, we will resign, During the life of this old majesty, To him our absolute power :-You, to your rights; [To Edgar and Kent. With boot, and such addition4 as your honours Have more than merited.-All friends shall taste The wages of their virtue, and all foes The cup of their deservings.-O, see, see! Lear. And my poor fools is hang'd! No, no, no life: Why should a dog, a horse, a rat, have life, And thou no breath at all? O, thou wilt come no more, Never, never, never, never, never! Pray you, undo this button: Thank you, sir.- [He dies. Edg. Look up, my lord. Kent. Vex not his ghost:-O, let him pass !6 hé hates him, That would upon the rack of this tough world Edg O, he is gone, indeed. Kent. The wonder is, he hath endur'd so long: He but usurp'd his life. (1) Useless. (4) Titles. (5) Poor fool in the time of Shakspeare, was an expression of endearment. (6) Die. |