This fword of mine fhall give them instant way, [Alarums. They fight. EDMUND falls. Alb. O fave him, fave him! Gon.. This is mere practice, Glofter; By the law of arms, thou waft not bound to answer Shut your mouth, dame, Alb. : [Gives the letter to Edmund. Gon. Say, if I do; the laws are mine, not thine : Who fhall arraign me for't? Alb. Go after her: fhe's defperate: govern her. [To an Officer, who goes out. Edm. What you have charg'd me with, that have I done; And more, much more: the time will bring it out; That haft this fortune on me? If thou art noble, Edg. Let's exchange charity. I am no less in blood than thou art, Edmund; If more, the more thou hast wrong'd me. My name is Edgar, and thy father's fon. The dark and vicious place where thee he got, Edm. Edm. Thou haft spoken right, 'tis true; The wheel is come full circle; I am here. Did hate thee, or thy father! Edg. I know it well. Worthy prince, Alb. Where have you hid yourself? How have you known the miseries of your father? That follow'd me fo near, (O our lives' sweetness! Edm. This fpeech of yours hath mov'd me, Alb. If there be more, more woful, hold it in, For I am almost ready to diffolve, Hearing of this. Edg. This would have feem'd a period To fuch as love not forrow; but another, Whilft I was big in clamour, came there a man, Shunn'd my abhorr'd fociety; but then, finding As he'd burft heaven; threw him on my father: Alb. But who was this? Edg. Kent, fir, the banish'd Kent; who in disguise Followed his enemy king, and did him service Improper for a slave. Enter a Gentleman haftily, with a bloody knife. Gent. Help! help! O help! Edg. Alb. Edg. What means that bloody knife? Gent. What kind of help? Speak, man. 'Tis hot, it smokes; Who, man? speak. It came even from the heart of Alb. Gent. Your lady, fir, 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. Alb. Produce their bodies, be they alive or dead!— This judgement of the heavens, that makes us tremble, Touches us not with pity. 9 [Exit Gent. Enter Edg. Alb. O it is he. Enter KENT. Here comes Kent, fir. The time will not allow the compliment, Which very manners urges. 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 Cordelia ?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 fake, And after flew herself. Alb. Even fo.-Cover their faces. Edm. I pant for life :-Some good I mean to do, Alb. Run, run, O, run Edg. To who, my lord?-Who has the office? fend Thy token of reprieve. Edm. Well thought on; take my fword, Give it the captain. Alb. Haste thee, for thy life. [Exit EDGAR. Edm. He hath commiffion from thy wife and me To hang Cordelia in the prison, and To lay the blame upon her own despair, That the 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 ftones; Had I your tongues and eyes, I'd use them fo That heaven's vault fhould crack:-O, the is 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 ftirs; fhe lives! if it be so, It is a chance that does redeem all forrows That ever I have felt. Edg. [kneeling. 'Tis noble Kent, your friend. Lear. A plague upon you, murderers, traitors all! What is't thou fay'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 And |