That heaven's vault should crack. gone for ever!— She's [lives; 260 I know when one is dead, and when one She's dead as earth.-Lend me a looking glass; If that her breath will mist or stain the stone, Kent. Is this the promis'd end? Fall and cease! Lear. This feather stirs; she lives! if it be so, It is a chance which does redeem all sorrows Kent. Lear. Pr'ythee, away. Edg. O my good master! [Kneeling. 'Tis noble Kent, your friend. Lear. A plague upon you, murderers, trai tors all! [ever! 270 I might have saved her; now she's gone for Cordelia, Cordelia, stay a little. Ha! [soft, What is't thou say'st?-Her voice was ever Gentle, and low; an excellent thing in wo man: I kill'd the slave that was a-hanging thee. falchion [now, I would have made them skip: I am old you? 280 290 Mine eyes are not o' the best:-I'll tell you straight. Kent. If fortune brag of two she loved and hated, One of them we behold: Lear. This is a dull light. Are you not Lear. He's a good fellow, I can tell you that; [rotten. He'll strike, and quickly too: he's dead and 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 follow'd your sad steps. Lear. You are welcome hither. Kent. Nor no man else; all's cheerless, dark, and deadly.— [selves, Your eldest daughters have fordone themAnd desperately are dead. Lear. Ay, so I think. Alb. He knows not what he says; and You lords, and noble friends, know our intent. What comfort to this great decay may come With boot, and such addition as your honors The wages of their virtue, and all foes Why should a dog, a horse, a rat have life, no more. Never, never, never, never, never! 300 Pray you undo this button: thank you, sir.- 310 Do you see this? Look on her,-look,-her lips, Look there, look there!— Edg. [He dies. He faints-My lord, my lord,- Look up, my lord. That would upon the rack of this tough world Edg. He is gone, indeed. Kent. The wonder is he hath endured 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 [tain. 320 Rule in this realm, and the gored state susKent. 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; [say. Speak what we feel, not what we ought to The oldest hath borne most: we that are young Shall never see so much, nor live so long. [Exeunt with a dead march. NOTES. The following contractions are employed in the notes: ClI. P. S. Clarendon Press Series; Co. S. Collins's Series; Abbott Dr. Abbott's Shakespearian Grammar; Cf. confer (compare), Cogs. cognates; Gr. = Greek; Lat. = Latin; N. Fr. = Norman-French; O. E. Old English; O. Fr. Old French. Notes without name appended are Prof. Meiklejohn's. ACT FIRST. SCENE 1. King Lear had at first intended to divide his kingdom equally among his children. 1. Affected, used in the literal Latin sense of affectare, the primary meaning of which is to aim at, the second to be inclined to. 5. Equalities, equal, or what may prove to be equal, good points. Weighed, balanced against each other. Curiosity, in its original Latin sense of careful or scrupulous investigation. In much the same sense Shakespeare employs the adjective curious. 6. Moiety, from Low Lat medietas, half, through the Fr. moitié. It is just as frequently used by Shakespeare in the vague sense of share. 14. Sue, try. From Low Lat. sequere, to follow, which gave the Fr. suivre. Cogs. are, Suit, suite; pursue, ensue, etc. 15. Deserving to deserve your esteem. 16. Out abroad. 20. Darker purpose, design which we have kept secret or in the dark till now. Lear's general intentions were known, but not his specific purposes. Lear's love of mystery is part of the weakness of his character. |