Page:King Lear (1917) Yale.djvu/141

King Lear, V. iii

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.

Alb. If there be more, more woeful, 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 'twas 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.]

Gent. Help, help! O help!

 209 top extremity: exceed the limit of endurance

