Edm.

In wisdom, I should ask thy name;

But, since thy outside looks so fair and warlike,
And that thy tongue some 'say of breeding breathes,
What safe and nicely I might well delay,
By rule of knighthood, I disdain and spurn.
Back do I toss these treasons to thy head;
With the hell-hated lie o'erwhelm thy heart;
Which, for they yet glance by, and scarcely bruise,
This sword of mine shall give them instant way
Where they shall rest forever.-Trumpets speak!

[Flourish. Edgar and Edmund fight. Edmund
falls R., and is caught and supported by two
officers.

Edm.

What you have charged me with, that have I done;
And more, much more; the time will bring it out:

'T is past, and so am I: but what art thou,

That hast this fortune on me?

I do forgive thee.

Let's exchange charity.

If thou 'rt noble,

Edgar.

I am no less in blood than thou art, Edmund:
My name is Edgar, and thy father's son.
The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices
Make instruments to plague us.

Edm.

Thou hast spoken right; 't is true;

The wheel is come full circle; I am here;

But, O, 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.

Take my sword;

Give it the captain.

Edm.

[Edgar picks up sword and goes out.

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.

[To Albany.

[Edmund is borne off R. Albany in R. corner. Enter Lear, with Cordelia, dead, in his arms. Edgar, Officer, Curan, and Kent follow him.

Lear.

Howl, howl, howl, howl!-O! you are men of stone!
Had I your tongues and eyes, I'd use them so
That heaven's vault should crack:-she's gone forever!
I know when one is dead, and when one lives;
She's dead as earth :-lend me a looking-glass;
If that her breath will mist or stain the stone,
Why, then she lives.

Is this the promised end?

Kent.

Edgar.

Or image of that horror?

Alb.

Fall and cease.

Lear.

[Takes feather from Kent's hat and holds it to Cordelia's lips.

This feather stirs : she lives!

If it be so,

It is a chance which does redeem all sorrows

That ever I have felt.

A plague upon you, murderers, traitors, all!
I might have saved her: now, she's gone forever!
Cordelia, Cordelia, stay a little! ha!

What is 't thou say'st? Her voice was ever soft,
Gentle and low-an excellent thing in woman.—
I killed the slave that was a-hanging thee.

Curan.

'Tis true, my lords, he did.

Did I not, fellow?

Lear.

I have seen the day with my good biting faulchion
I would have made them skip: I am old now,
And these same crosses spoil me.- Who are you?

[To all.

[To Kent. Mine eyes are not of the best:- I'll tell you straight.

Kent.

If fortune brag of two she loved and hated,

One of them we behold.

Lear.

This is a dull sight.

Are you not Kent ?

Kent.

The same.

Your servant Kent: 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.

No, my good lord, I am the very man

Lear.

I'll see that straight.

Kent.

That from your first of difference and decay
Have followed 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.

Ay, so I think.

Lear.

Alb.

He knows not what he says, and vain it is,

That we present us to him.

Edgar.

Very bootless. O! see! see!

Lear.

And my poor fool is hanged. 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.— Look there! Look there!

Kent.

Break heart; I pray thee, break!

My lord! My lord!

Vex not his ghost!

Edgar.

Kent.

Lear dies.

[Music very soft and mournful, to end of the scene.

O, let him pass; he hates him,

That would upon the rack of this tough world

Stretch him out longer.