Alb. Produce the bodies, be they alive or dead : [Exit Gentleman. This judgment of the heavens, that makes us tremble, 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 [The bodies of GONERIL and REGAN are brought in. Seest thou this object, Kent? 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, 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 : Edg. To whom, 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 a while. [EDMUND is borne off. Re-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.-She's gone for ever!- I know when one is dead, and when one lives; Kent. Is this the promis'd end? Edg. Or image of that horror? Alb. 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. [Kneeling.] Lear. Pr'ythee, away. Edg. O, my good master! '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 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 Lear. This is a dull sight:-are you not Kent? Your servant Kent. Where is your servant Caius? Lear. He's a good fellow, I can tell you that; The same, He'll strike, and quickly too :—he's dead and rotten. 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 fordone themselves, And desperately are dead. Lear. Ay, so I think. Alb. He knows not what he says; and vain is it, 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, During the life of this old majesty, To him our absolute power:--[To EDGAR and KENT.] you, to your rights; With boot, and such addition 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 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.— Do you see this? Look on her,-look,-her lips, Kent. Vex not his ghost: O, let him pass! he hates him, That would upon the rack of this tough 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.-[To KENT and EDGAR.] Friends of my soul, Rule in this realm, and the gor'd state sustain. Kent. I have a journey, Sir, shortly to go; My master calls me,-I must not say no. Alb. The weight of this sad time we must obey; Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say. Shall never see so much, nor live so long. [Exeunt with a dead march. |