The bodies of GONERIL and REGAN are brought in KENT Alack,why thus?EDMUND Yet Edmund was beloved:
The one the other poison'd for my sake,And after slew herself.ALBANY Even so.Cover their faces.EDMUND I pant for life:some good I mean to do,Despite of mine own nature.Quickly send,Be brief in it,to the castle;for my writ Is on the life of Lear and on Cordelia:
Nay,send in time.ALBANY Run,run,O,run!EDGAR To who,my lord?Who hath the office?
Send Thy token of reprieve.EDMUND Well thought on:take my sword,Give it the captain.ALBANY Haste thee,for thy life.
Exit EDGAR EDMUND 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 herself.ALBANY The gods defend her!Bear him hence awhile.
EDMUND is borne off Re-enter KING LEAR,with CORDELIA dead in his arms;EDGAR,Captain,and others following KING LEAR Howl,howl,howl,howl!O,you are men of stones:
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-glass;If that her breath will mist or stain the stone,Why,then she lives.KENT Is this the promised end EDGAR Or image of that horror?ALBANY Fall,and cease!KING 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 [Kneeling]O my good master!KING LEAR Prithee,away.EDGAR 'Tis noble Kent,your friend.KING LEAR A plague upon you,murderers,traitors all!