That follow'd me so near,-O our lives' sweetness! 'Twixt two extremes of passion, joy and grief, EDM. 190 195 200 This speech of yours hath moved 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, 205 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, And top extremity. Whilst I was big in clamour, came there in a man, 210 215 Began to crack: twice then the trumpet sounded, ALB. But who was this? EDG. Kent, sir, the banished Kent; who in disguise Followed his enemy king, and did him service Improper for a slave. Enter a Gentleman hastily, with a bloody knife. 220 EDG. ALB. GENT. Help! help! O help! What kind of help? Speak, man 'Tis hot, it smokes ; 225 EDG. What means that 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 poisoned; she hath confess'd 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. 230 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; Is he not here? ALB. Great thing of us forgot! Speak, Edmund, where's the king? and where's Cordelia? [The bodies of GONERIL and REGAN are brought in. 235 240 KENT. Alack, why thus ? EDM. Yet Edmund was beloved : The one the other poisoned for my sake, 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. 245 Thy token of reprieve. Run, run, O, run! EDG. To who, my lord? Who has the office? send 250 EDM. Well thought on; take my sword, Haste thee, for thy life. [Exit EDGAR. 255 Give it the captain. ALB. EDм. 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, 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 260 That heaven's vault should crack. She's gone for ever! LEAR. This feather stirs; she lives. If it be so, KENT. [Kneeling.] O my good master! LEAR. Prithee, away. EDG. 'Tis noble Kent, your friend. LEAR. A plague upon you, murderers, traitors all! What is't thou say'st? Her voice was ever soft, I killed the slave that was a-hanging thee. LEAR. 270 275 Did I not, fellow? 280 I have seen the day, with my good biting falchion LEAR. This is a dull sight; are you not Kent? Your servant Kent. The same; 285 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. That, from your first of difference and decay, You are welcome hither. LEAR. And desperately are dead. 290 LEAR. Ay, so I think. 295 |