Greetings folks,
I wonder if any kind person can help with a passage from King Lear (Act 5, scene 3):
Howl, howl, howl, howl! O, you are men of stone. *
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.
The "stone" in the first line* is clear, but not the second mention**. "stain the stone"? What stone?
Thanks very much in advance for any help in the matter.
best regards to all.