Lear. Charge, charge, upon the flank, the left Pufh, push the battle, and the day's our own. And now a pris'ner here!-What mean the You will not murder me? Card. Help, earth and heaven! For your fouls fake, dear firs, and for the gods! Come, firs, make ready your cords. Cord. You, fir, I'll seize, You have a human form, and if no prayers Capt. Comply with her requeft; dispatch her firft. Lear. Off hell-hounds, by the gods I charge you spare her; 'Tis my Cordelia, my true pious daughter; No pity?-Nay, then take an old man's vengeance. Snatches a Sword, and kills two of them, the reft quit Cordelia, and turn upon him. Enter Edgar, Albany, and Guards. Edg. Death! hell! ye vultures, hold your impious hands, Or take a speedier death than you wou'd give. Has flain two of 'em. Lear. Did I not, Fellow? I've feen the day, with my good biting faulchion Alb Alb. Bring in old Kent; and, Edgar, guide you hither Your father, whom you faid was near; [Ex. Edgar. He may be an ear-witness at the least Of our proceedings. Lear. Who are you? [Kent brought in. My eyes are none o'th' beft, I'll tell you straight: Alb. Thou injur'd Majefty, The wheel of fortune now has made her circle, And bleffings yet stand 'twixt the grave and thee, Lear. Com'ft thou, inhuman lord, to footh us back To a fool's paradife of hope, to make Our doom more wretched? Go to, we are too well Impeach'd lord Edmund, fince the fight, of treason, I left ev'n now the traitor wounded mortally. Lord Edgar gave into my hands this paper; Cor. Cou'd there be yet addition to their guilt! What will not they that wrong a father do? 6 Alb. Alb. Since then my injuries, Lear, fall in with thine, I have refolv'd the fame redress for both. Kent. What fays my lord? Cor. Speak, for methought I heard The charming voice of a defcending god. Alb. The troops, by Edmund rais'd, I have difbanded; Those that remain are under my command. What comfort may be brought to chear your age, And heal your favage wrongs, fhall be apply'd; For to your majefty, we do refign Your kingdom, fave what part yourself conferr'd On us in marriage. Kent. Hear you that, my liege? Cor. Then there are gods, and virtue is their care. Lear. Is't poffible? Let the fpheres ftop their course, the fun make halt, Kent. Here, my liege. Lear. Why I have news that will recall thy youth: Ha! didft thou hear't, or did th' infpiring gods Whifper to me alone? old Lear shall be A king again. Alb. Thy captive daughter too, the wife of Unranfom'd we enlarge, and fhall, with speed, : Lear. Cordelia then is Queen again. Mark that! Winds, catch the found, And bear it on your rofy wings to heav'n: Re-enter Edgar with Glocefter. Alb. Look, fir, where pious Edgar comes, Leading his eyelefs Father. Gle. Glo. Where's my liege? conduct me to his knees, to hail His fecond birth of empire: my dear Edgar Glo. O let me kifs that once more scepter'd hand! Edmund (but that's a trifle) is expir'd. What more will touch you, your imperious daughters, Cord. O fatal period of ill-govern'd life! Glo. Now, gentle gods, give Glo'fter his discharge. Lear. No, Glo'fter, thou haft bufinefs yet for life; Thou, Kent, and I, in fweet tranquillity Will gently pass the evening of our days; Thus will we talk, and tell old tales, and laugh At gilded butterflies: and our remains Shall in an even course of thoughts be pafs'd. My child, Cordelia, all the gods can witness How much thy truth to empire I prefer! Thy bright example fhall convince the world. (Whatever ftorms of fortune are decreed) That Truth and Virtue fhall at last fucceed. [Exeunt Omnes. |