Glove.] what in the world he is

That names me traitor, villain-like he lies: Call by thy trumpet: he that dares approach, On him, on you, (who not?) I will maintain My truth and honour firmly.

Alb. A herald, ho! Edm.

A herald, ho, a herald!

Alb. Trust to thy single virtue3; for thy soldiers, All levied in my name, have in my name

Took their discharge.

Which is that adversary?

Edg. What's he, that speaks for Edmund earl of Gloster? Edm. Himself; What say'st thou to him? Edg. Draw thy sword! That, if my speech offend a noble heart, Thy arm may do thee justice: here is mine. Behold, it is the privilege of mine honours, My oath, and my profession: I protest, Maugre thy strength, youth, place, and eminence, Despite thy victor sword, and fire-new fortune, Thy valour, and thy heart, thou art a traitor: False to thy gods, thy brother, and thy father; Conspirant 'gainst this high illustrious prince; And, from the extremest upward of thy head, To the descent and dust beneath thy feet, A most toad-spotted traitor. Say thou, No, This sword, this arm, and my best spirits, are bent To prove upon thy heart, whereto I speak, Thou liest.

This sword of mine shall give them instant way, Where they shall rest for ever. Trumpets, speak. [Alarums. They fight.

Alb. O save him, save him!

EDMUND falls.

Gon. This is mere practice 6, Gloster: By the law of arms, thou wast not bound to answer An unknown opposite; thou art not vanquish'd, But cozen'd and beguil'd.

Alb.

Shut your mouth, dame, Or with this paper shall I stop it: - Hold, sir: Thou worse than any name, read thine own evil: No tearing, lady: I perceive you know it.

[Gives the Letter to EDMUND Gon. Say, if I do; the laws are mine, not thine: Who shall arraign me for't?

Alb.

Know'st thou this paper? Gon.

Most monstrous!

Ask me not what I know. [Exit GONERIL. Alb. Go after her: she's desperate; 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;
'Tis past, and so am I: But what art thou,
That hast this fortune on me? If thou art noble,
I do forgive thee.

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 son.
The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices
Make instruments to scourge us:

The dark and vicious place where thee he got,
Cost him his eyes.

Edm.
Thou hast spoken right, 'tis true;
The wheel has come full circle; I am here.
Alb. Methought, thy very gait did prophesy
A royal nobleness: - I must embrace thee;
Let sorrow split my heart, if ever I
Did hate thee, or thy father!
Edg.

And, when 'tis told, O, that my heart would burst!--
The bloody proclamation to escape,
That follow'd me so near, (O, our lives' sweetness!
That with the pain of death we'd hourly die,
Rather than die at once!) taught me to shift
Into a mad-man's rags; to assume a semblance
That very dogs disdain'd: and in this habit
Met I my father with his bleeding rings,
Their precious stones new lost; became his guide,
Led him, begg'd for him, sav'd him from despair;
Never (O fault!) reveal'd myself unto him,
Until some half hour past, when I was arm'd
Not sure, though hoping, of this good success,
I ask'd his blessing, and from first to last
Told him my pilgrimage: but his flaw'd heart,
(Alack, too weak the conflict to support!)
Twixt two extremes of passion, joy and grief,
Burst smilingly.

Edm. This speech of yours hath mov'd me,
And shall, perchance, do good: but speak you on;
You look as you had something more to say.
6 Stratagem.

7 Hear.

Alb. If there be more, more woful, hold it in; For I am almost ready to dissolve, Hearing of this. Edg.

This would have seem'd a period
To such as love not sorrow; but another,
To amplify too much, would make much more,
And top extremity.

Whilst I was big in clamour, came there a man,
Who having seen me in my worst estate,
Shunn'd my abhorr'd society; but then, finding
Who 't was that so endur'd, with his strong arms
He fasten'd on my neck, and bellow'd out
As he'd burst heaven; threw him on my father;
Told the most piteous tale of Lear and him,
That ever ear receiv'd: which in recounting,
His grief grew puissant, and the strings of life
Began to crack: Twice then the trumpet sounded,
And there I left him tranc'd.
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? Gent. 'Tis hot, it smokes ;

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.

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 9 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, ye 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; She's dead as earth: - Lend me a looking glass; 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 that does redeem all sorrows That ever I have felt.

Kent.

O my good master! [Kneeling. Lear. Pry'thee, away.

Edg. 'Tis noble 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. Off. 'Tis true, my lords, he did.

Lear.

Did I not, fellow? 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? Mine eyes are none o' the best:-I'll tell you straight. Kent. If fortune brag of two she lov'd 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

Who has the office?

Off. Edmund is dead, my lord.

Alb. That's but a trifle here You lords and noble friends, know our intent, What comfort to this great decay may come,

Kent. Vex not his ghost: O, let him pass! be hates him,

That would upon the rack of this tough world
Stretch him out longer.
Edg.
O, 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. Friends of my soul, you twain
[To KENT and EDGAR
Rule in this realm, and the gor'd state sustain.
Kent. I have a journey, sir, shortly to go;
My master calls, and 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 hath borne most: we, that are young, Shall never see so much, nor live so long.

[Exeunt, with a dead March.