3222If that her breath will mist or staine the stone,

3223Why then she liues.

3224Kent. Is this the promis'd end?

3225Edg. Or image of that horror.

3226Alb. Fall and cease.

3227Lear. This feather stirs , she liues: if it be so,

3228It is a chance which do's redeeme all sorrowes

3229That euer I haue felt.

3230Kent. O my good Master.

3231Lear. Prythee away.

3232Edg. 'Tis Noble Kent your Friend.

3233Lear. A plague vpon you Murderors, Traitors all,

3234I might haue sau'd her, now she's gone for euer:

3235Cordelia, Cordelia, stay a little. Ha:

3236What is't thou saist? Her voice was euer soft,

3237Gentle, and low, an excellent thing in woman.

3238I kill'd the Slaue that was a hanging thee.

3239Gent. 'Tis true (my Lords) he did.

3240Lear. Did I not fellow?

3241I haue seene the day, with my good biting Faulchion

3242I would haue made him skip: I am old now,

3243And these same crosses spoile me. Who are you?

3244Mine eyes are not o'th'best, Ile tell you straight.

3245Kent. If Fortune brag of two, she lou'd and hated,

3246One of them we behold.

3247Lear. This is a dull sight, are you not Kent?

3248Kent. The same: your Seruant Kent,

3249Where is your Seruant Caius?

3250Lear. He's a good fellow, I can tell you that,

3251He'le strike and quickly too, he's dead and rotten.

3252Kent. No my good Lord, I am the very man.

3253Lear. Ile see that straight.

3254Kent. That from your first of difference and decay,

3255Haue follow'd your sad steps.

3256Lear. Your are welcome hither.

3257Kent. Nor no man else:

3258All's cheerlesse, darke, and deadly,

3259Your eldest Daughters haue fore-done themselues,

3260And desperately are dead

3261Lear. I so I thinke.

3262Alb. He knowes not what he saies, and vaine is it

3263That we present vs to him.

3265Edg. Very bootlesse.

3266Mess. Edmund is dead my Lord.

3267Alb. That's but a trifle heere:

3268You Lords and Noble Friends, know our intent,

3269What comfort to this great decay may come,

3270Shall be appli'd. For vs we will resigne,

3271During the life of this old Maiesty

3272To him our absolute power, you to your rights,

3273With boote, and such addition as your Honours

3274Haue more then merited. All Friends shall

3275Taste the wages of their vertue, and all Foes

3276The cup of their deseruings: O see, see.

3277Lear. And my poore Foole is hang'd: no, no, no life?

3278Why should a Dog, a Horse, a Rat haue life,

3279And thou no breath at all? Thou'lt come no more,

3280Neuer, neuer, neuer, neuer, neuer.

3281Pray you vndo this Button. Thanke you Sir,

3282Do you see this? Looke on her? Looke her lips,

3283Looke there, looke there. He dies.

3284Edg. He faints, my Lord, my Lord.

3285Kent. Breake heart, I prythee breake.

3286Edg. Looke vp my Lord.

3287Kent. Vex not his ghost, O let him passe, he hates him,

3288That would vpon the wracke of this tough world

3289Stretch him out longer.

3290Edg. He is gon indeed.

3291Kent. The wonder is, he hath endur'd so long,

3292He but vsurpt his life.

3293Alb. Beare them from hence, our present businesse

3294Is generall woe : Friends of my soule, you twaine,

3295Rule in this Realme, and the gor'd state sustaine.

3296Kent. I haue a iourney Sir, shortly to go,

3297My Master calls me, I must not say no.

3298Edg. The waight of this sad time we must obey,

3299Speake what we feele, not what we ought to say:

3300The oldest hath borne most, we that are yong,

3301Shall neuer see so much, nor liue so long.