The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices The dark and vicious place where thee he got, Edm. Thou hast spoken right, 'tis true; Did hate thee, or thy father! Edg. Worthy prince, I know it well. Alb. Where have you hid yourself? How have you known the miseries of your father? That follow'd me so near, (O our lives' sweetness! "Twixt two extremes of passion, joy and grief, Burst smilingly. Edm. This speech of yours hath mov'd me, Edg. This would have seem'd a period To amplify too-much, would make much more, Whilst I was big in clamour, came there a man, 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. What kind of help? Alb. Speak, man. Edg. What means that bloody knife? It came even from the heart of Alb. Who, man? speak. 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. Alb. Produce their bodies, be they alive or dead!— This judgment of the heavens, that makes us tremble, Touches us not with pity. [Exit Gentleman. Enter KENT. Edg. Here comes Kent, sir. Alb. O! it is 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 Corde lia? 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, 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 :- Alb. Run, run! O, run! 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, 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:-O, she is gone for ever! I know when one is dead, and when one lives; Kent. Is this the promised end? Alb. Fall, and cease! Lear. This feather stirs; she lives! if it be so, It is a chance that does redeem all sorrows 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, murderers, traitors all! What is't thou say'st?—Her voice was ever soft, 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? Kent. That, from the 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 dead ly. |