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[Edmund is borne off.]
Enter Lear, with Cordelia [dead] in his arms, [Edgar, Captain, and others following].
Lear. Howl, howl, howl, howl! O, you are men of stone.
Had I your tongues and eyes, I'ld use them so That heaven's vault should crack. She's gone for ever!
I know when one is dead, and when one lives.
She's dead as earth. Lend me a looking gla.s.s.
If that her breath will mist or stain the stone, Why, then she 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. O my good master!
Lear. Prithee away!
Edg. 'Tis n.o.ble Kent, your friend.
Lear. A plague upon you, murderers, traitors all!
I might have sav'd her; now she's gone for ever!
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 kill'd the slave that was a-hanging thee.
Capt. 'Tis true, my lords, he did.
Lear. Did I not, fellow?
I have seen the day, with my good biting falchion I would have made them skip. I am old now, And these same crosses spoil me. Who are you?
Mine eyes are not o' th' best. I'll tell you straight.
Kent. If fortune brag of two she lov'd and hated, One of them we behold.
Lear. This' 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're 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 a Captain.
Capt. Edmund is dead, my lord.
Alb. That's but a trifle here.
You lords and n.o.ble friends, know our intent.
What comfort to this great decay may come Shall be applied. For us, we will resign, 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 b.u.t.ton. Thank you, sir.
Do you see this? Look on her! look! her lips!
Look there, look there! He dies.
Edg. He faints! My lord, my lord!
Kent. Break, heart; I prithee break!
Edg. Look up, my lord.
Kent. Vex not his ghost. O, let him pa.s.s! 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, you twain 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.
The oldest have borne most; we that are young Shall never see so much, nor live so long.
Exeunt with a dead march.
THE END
1595 LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST by William Shakespeare Dramatis Personae. FERDINAND, King of Navarre BEROWNE, lord attending on the King LONGAVILLE, " " " " " DUMAIN, " " " " " BOYET, lord attending on the Princess of France MARCADE, " " " " " " " DON ADRIANO DE ARMADO, fantastical Spaniard SIR NATHANIEL, a curate HOLOFERNES, a schoolmaster DULL, a constable COSTARD, a clown MOTH, page to Armado A FORESTER THE PRINCESS OF FRANCE ROSALINE, lady attending on the Princess MARIA, " " " " " KATHARINE, lady attending on the Princess JAQUENETTA, a country wench Lords, Attendants, etc.
