Enter Edgar armed. Alb. Ask him his purposes, why he appears Upon this call o'th' trumpet. Her. What are you? Your name, your quality, and why you answer Edg. Know, my name is loft By treafon's tooth, bare-gnawn and canker-bit; I come to cope. Alb. Which is that adverfary? Edg.. What's he that fpeaks for Edmund Earl of Baft. Himself, what fay'ft thou to him? That if my fpeech offend a noble heart, Baft. In wifdom I fhould ask thy name, By rule of Knight-hood, I difdain and fpurn: Which (for they yet glance by, and scarcely bruife) 'fay for effay, fome fhew or probability. This This fword of mine fhall give them inftant way, Alb. Save him, fave him. Gon. This is practice, Glo'fter: [Alarum. Fight! By th' law of war, thou waft not bound to answer An unknown oppofite; thou art not vanquish'd, But cozen'd and beguil❜d. Alb. Shut your mouth, dame, Or with this paper fhall I ftop it; Thou worse than any thing, read thine own evil: Gon. Say if I do, the laws are mine, not thine,' Alb. Monfter, know'st thou this paper? SCENE VIII. Baft. What you have charg'd me with, that I have done, And more, much more; the time will bring it out. That haft this fortune on me? If thou'rt noble, Edg. Let's exchange our charity: I am no lefs in blood than thou art, Edmund The dark and vitious place, where thee he got, Baft. Thou'ft fpoken right, 'tis true, The wheel is come full circle, I am here. Edg Edg. Worthy Prince, I know't. Alb. Where have you hid your felf? How have you known the miferies of your father? That follow'd me fo near, (O our lives fweetnefs! Baft. This fpeech of yours hath mov'd me, Hearing of this. of SCENE XI. Enter a Gentleman. Gent. Help, help! Edg. What kind of help? Alb. Speak man. Edg. What means this bloody knife? Gent. 'Tis hot, it fmoaks, it came even from the heart O fhe's dead. Alb Alb. Who's dead? speak man. Gent. Your lady, Sir, your lady; and her fifter By her is poifon'd; fhe confeffes it. Baft. 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 live or dead. Kent. I am come To bid my King and Mafter aye good night, Alb. Great thing of us forgot! Speak Edmund, where's the King? and where's Cor delia? See'st thou this object, Kent? Kent, Alack, why thus?" Baft. Yet Edmund was belov'd: The one the other poifon'd for my fake, Alb. Even fo; cover their faces. Baft. I pant for life; fome good I mean to do Is on the life of Lear and on Cordelia: Alb. Run, run, O run Edg. To whom, my lord? who has the office? Send thy token of reprieve. Baft. Well thought on, take my fword, Give it the captain Edg. Hafte thee for thy life. Baft. He hath commiffion from thy wife and me, To hang Cordelia in the prifon, and To To lay the blame upon her own defpair. Alb. The gods defend her, bear him hence a while! SCENE X. Enter Lear with Cordelia dead in his arms. Lear. Howl, howl, howl, howl, O you are men of stone, Had I your tongues and eyes, I'd use them fo, That heaven's vault fhould crack; she's gone for ever! I know when one is dead, and when one lives; Kent. Is this the promis'd end?" Lear. This feather stirs, she lives; if it be fo It is a chance which do's redeem all forrows That ever I have felt. Kent. O my good mafter! Lear. Pr'ythee away Edg. 'Tis noble Kent your friend. Lear. A plague upon you murth'rers, traitors all, I might have fav'd her, now fhe's gone for ever! Cordelia, Cordelia, ftay a little. Ha! What is't thou fay'ft her voice was ever soft, I've feen the day, with my good biting faulchion And these fame croffes fpoil me. am old now, Who are you? I'll tell you ftrait.. Kent. If fortune brag of two fhe lov'd and hated, Mine eyes are none o'th' beft. One of them we behold. Lear. Are you not Kent? Kent. The fame; your fervant. Kent ; Where is your fervant Caius ? Lear |