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, To amplify too much, would make much more, Whilst I was big in clamour, came there in a man, Shunn'd my abhorr'd society; but then, finding ALB. But who was this? EDG. Kent, sir, the banish'd Kent; who in disguise Follow'd his enemy king, and did him service Improper for a slave. Enter a Gentleman hastily, with a bloody knife. GENT. Help! help! O help! EDG. ALB. What kind of help? Speak, man. "T is hot, it smokes ; EDG. What means this bloody knife? It came even from the heart of-O she's dead. ALB. Who dead? speak, man. 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. EDG. Here comes Kent. ALB. Produce the bodies, be they alive or dead!This judgment of the heavens that makes us tremble, Touches us not with pity. [Exit Gentleman. Enter KENT. O, is this he? The time will not allow the compliment, Which very manners urges. KENT. I am come To bid my king and master aye 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 GONERIL and REGAN are brought in. KENT. Alack, why thus ? EDM. Yet Edmund was belov'd: The one the other poison'd for my sake, And after slew herself. ALB. Even so.-Cover their faces. EDM. I pant for life: some good I mean to do, 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 fordid herself. ALB. The gods defend her! Bear him hence awhile. [EDMUND is borne off. Enter LEAR, with CORDELIA dead in his arms: EDGAR, LEAR. 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 :-She's gone for ever!— KENT. Is this the promis'd end? Fall, and cease! LEAR. This feather stirs; she lives! if it be so, It is a chance which does redeem all sorrows That ever I have felt. KENT. LEAR. Prithee, away. O my good master ! [Kneeling. EDG. What is 't thou say'st ?-Her voice was ever soft, OFF. 'T is true, my lords, he did. LEAR. Are you not Kent ? LEAR. This is a dull sight. KENT. The same; Your servant Kent: Where is your servant Caius ? LEAR. He's a good fellow, I can tell you that; He'll strike, and quickly too: He's dead and 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 your sad steps. LEAR. You are welcome hither. KENT. Nor no man else; all's cheerless, dark, and deadly. Your eldest daughters have fore-done 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. That 's but a trifle here. OFF. Edmund is dead, my lord. You lords, and noble friends, know our intent. To him our absolute power :-You, to your rights; [To EDGAR and KENT. With boot, and such addition as your honours Have more than merited. All friends shall taste LEAR. And my poor fool is hang'd! No, no, no life: Why should a dog, a horse, a rat, have life, Pray you undo this button: Thank you, sir. Do you see this? Look on her,-look,―her lips,— EDG. [He dies. He faints! My lord, my lord, KENT. Break, heart; I prithee, break! Look up, my lord. KENT. Vex not his ghost: O, let him pass! he hates him That would upon the rack of this rough world Stretch him out longer. EDG. He is gone, indeed. KENT. The wonder is he hath endur'd so long: He but usurp'd his life. ALB. Bear them from hence.-Our present business Is general woe. Friends of my soul, you twain [To KENT and EDGAR. Rule in this realm, and the gor'd state sustain. ALB. The weight of this sad time we must obey; [Exeunt with a dead march. |