Gent.
Help, help!

Edg.
What kind of help?

Alb.
Speak man.

Edg.
What means this bloody knife?

Gent.
'Tis hot, it smoaks, it came even from the heart
Of—O she's dead.

Alb.
Who's dead? speak man.

Gent.
Your lady, Sir, your lady; and her sister
By her is poison'd; she confesses it.

Bast.
I was contracted to them both, all three
Now marry in an instant.

Edg.
Here comes Kent. Enter Kent.

Alb.
Produce the bodies, be they live or dead. [Gonerill and Regan's Bodies brought out.
This judgment of the heav'ns, that makes us tremble,
Touches us not with pity. O! is this she?
The time will not allow the compliment
Which very manners urge.

Kent.
I am come
To bid my King and Master aye good night,
Is he not here?

Alb.
Great thing of us forgot!

Speak Edmund, where's the King? and where's Cordelia?
See'st thou this object, Kent?

Kent.
Alack, why thus?

Bast.
Yet Edmund was belov'd:
The one the other poison'd for my sake,
And after slew her self.

Alb.
Even so; cover their faces.

Bast.
I pant for life; some good I mean to do
Despight of mine own nature. Quickly send,
(Be brief) into the castle, for my writ
Is on the life of Lear and on Cordelia:
Nay, send in time.

Alb.
Run, run, O run—

Edg.
To whom, my lord? who has the office?
Send thy token of reprieve.

Bast.
Well thought on, take my sword,
Give it the captain—

Edg.
Haste thee for thy life.

Bast.
He hath commission from thy wife and me,
To hang Cordelia in the prison, and
To lay the blame upon her own despair.

Alb.
The gods defend her, bear him hence a while.

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