Edm. Thou'ft fpoken right, 'tis true, The wheel is come full circle; I am here. Alb. Methought thy very gait did prophefy [To Edg. A royal nobleness: I mult embrace thee. Let forrow fplit my heart, if ever I Did hate thee, or thy father! Edg. Worthy Prince, I know't. How have you known the miseries of your father? Lift a brief tale, And, when 'tis told, O, that my heart would burst !— That follow'd me fo near, (O our lives' fweetnefs! Edm. This fpeech of your's hath mov'd me, Alb. If there be more, more woful, hold it in ; For I am almoft ready to diffolve, Hearing of this. Edg. This would have feem'd a period. But fuch To much, would make much more, and top extremity. "As "As he'd burft heaven; threw him on my father; "Told the most piteous tale of Lear and him "That ever ear receiv'd; which in recounting "His grief grew puiffant, and the ftrings of life Began to crack.". Twice then the trumpets And there I left him traunc'd. Alb. But who was this? 1 [founded, Edg. Kent, Sir; the banish'd Kent, who in difguife Follow'd his enemy King, and did him fervice .. SCENE IX. Enter a Gentleman. Improper for a flave. Alb. Speak, man. Edg. What means this bloody knife? Gent. 'Tis hot, it fmokes; it came even from the OfO! fhe's dead. Alb. Who's dead? fpeak, man, [heart Gent. Your Lady, Sir, your Lady, and her fifter By her is poifon'd; fhe confeffes it. Edm. I was contracted to them both; all three Now marry in an instant. Edg. Here comes Kent. Enter Kent. Alb. Produce the bodies, be they alive or dead. [Gonerill and Regan's bodies brought out. This judgment of the heav'ns, that makes us tremble, Touches us not with pity.O! is this he? Which very manners urge. Kent. I am come To bid my King and mafter aye good night. Is he not here? Alb. Great thing of us forgot! [To Kent. [delia? Speak, Edmund, where's the King? and where's Cor See'ft thou this object, Kent? [Pointing to the dead bodies. Kent. Alack, why thus? Edm. Yet Edmund was belov'd: The one the other poison'd for my fake, And after flew herself. Alb. Alb. Even fo; eover their faces. Edm. I pant for life: fome good I mean to do, Defpight of mine own nature. Quickly fend (Be brief) into the caftle; for my writ Is on the life of Lear and Cordelia. Nay, fend in time. Alb. Run, run, O run Edg. To whom, my Lord? who has the office? Send Thy token of reprieve. Edm. Well thought on, take my fword, Give it the Captain Edg. Hafte thee for thy life. [Exit Melenger. Edm. He hath commiffion from thy wife and me To hang Cordelia in the prifon, and To lay the blame upon her own despair. Alb. The gods defend her! bear him hence a while. SCENE X. Edmund is borne off. Enter Lear, with Cordelia dead in his arms. Lear. Howl, howl, howl, howl,-O, you are men of ftone; for ever! Had I your tongues and eyes, I'd ufe them fo, Kent. Is this the promis'd end? Lear. This feather ftirs, fhe lives; if it be fo, It is a chance which does redeem all forrows, That ever I have felt. Kent. O my good master ! Lear. Pr'ythee, away Edg. 'Tis noble, Kent, your friend. [Kneeling. Lear. A plague upon you, murth❜rous traitors all! What is't thou fay'ft? her voice was ever foft, Kent Kent. 'Tis true, my Lords, he did. Lear. Did I not, fellow ? I've seen the day, with my good biting faulchion I would have made them skip: I am old now, Kent. If fortune brag of two fhe lov'd and hated, One of them we behold. Lear. Are you not Kent? Kent. The fame; your fervant Kent. Where is your fervant Caius ? Lear. 'Twas a good fellow, I can tell you that, He'd strike, and quickly too :-he's dead and rotten. Kent. No, my good Lord, I am the very man.—Lear. I'll fee that ftraight.. Kent. That, from your firft of difference and decayt, Have follow'd your fad fteps Lear. You're welcome hither. Kent. 'Twas no man elfe.-All's cheerlefs, dark, and dead: Your eldest daughters have foredone themfelves,, Lear. Ay, fo I think. Alb. He knows not what he fays; and vain is it That we present us to him.. Edg. Very bootless. Enter a Messenger. Me. Edmund is dead, my Lord. Alb. That's but a trifle. You Lords and noble friends, know our intent; To him our abfolute power: to you, your rights, [To Edgar. With boot, and fuch addition as your honours Lear. Lear. And my poor fool is hang'd; no, no, no life. Why should a dog, a horse, a rat, have life, And thou no breath at all? thou'lt come no more, Never, never, never, never, never Pray you, undo this button. Thank you, Sir; Edg. He faints, my Lord' Kent. Break, heart, I pr'ythee break! Kent. Vex not his ghoft. [He dies. O, let him pafs! 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 fo long: Alb. Bear them from hence; our prefent bufinefs Is general woe. you twain Rule in this realm, and the gor'd state fuftain. Kent. I have a journey, Sir, fhortly to go; My mafter calls me, I muft not fay No. Alb. The weight of this fad time we must obey, Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say. The oldeft hath borne moft; we that are young, Shall never fee fo much, live e'er fo long. [Dies [Exeunt, with a dead march. TIMON. |