Which the most precious square of sense possesses; In your dear highness' love. Then poor Cordelia! Lear. To thee and thine hereditary ever Strive to be interess'd; what can you say to draw Lear. Nothing! Cor. Nothing. Lear. Nothing will come of nothing: speak again. My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty According to my bond; nor more nor less. Lear. How, how, Cordelia! mend your speech a little, Lest you may mar your fortunes. Cor. That lord whose hand must take my plight shall carry Sure I shall never marry like my sisters, To love my father all. Lear. But goes thy heart with this? Lear. So young and so untender? Cor. So young, my lord, and true. Ay, good my lord. Lear. Let it be so,-thy truth, then, be thy dower: For by the sacred radiance of the sun, The mysteries of Hecate, and the night; By all the operation of the orbs, From whom we do exist and cease to be; Hold thee, from this for ever. The barbarous Scythian, Or he that makes his generation messes Kent. Lear. Peace, Kent! Good my liege,— Come not between the dragon and his wrath. I lov'd her most, and thought to set my rest On her kind nursery.-Hence, and avoid my sight! So be my grave my peace, as here I give [TO CORDELIA. Her father's heart from her!-Call France;-who stirs? Call Burgundy.-Cornwall and Albany, With my two daughters' dowers digest the third: Pre-eminence, and all the large effects That troop with majesty.-Ourself, by monthly course, By you to be sustain'd, shall our abode Make with you by due turns. Only we still retain The name, and all the additions to a king; The sway, Revenue, execution of the rest, Beloved sons, be yours: which to confirm, [Giving the crown. Kent. Royal Lear, Whom I have ever honour'd as my king, Lov'd as my father, as my master follow'd, As my great patron thought on in my prayers, Lear. The bow is bent and drawn, make from the shaft. Kent. Let it fall rather, though the fork invade The region of my heart: be Kent unmannerly When Lear is mad. What wouldst thou do, old man? Think'st thou that duty shall have dread to speak When power to flattery bows? To plainness honour's bound When majesty falls to folly. Reserve thy state; And in thy best consideration check This hideous rashness: answer my life my judgment, Lear. Kent, on thy life, no more. Kent. My life I never held but as a pawn Lear. Out of my sight! Kent. See better, Lear; and let me still remain Now, by Apollo, king, Thou swear'st thy gods in vain. O, vassal! miscreant! [Laying his hand on his sword. Alb. and Corn. Dear sir, forbear. Kill thy physician, and the fee bestow Lear. Hear me, recreant! Since thou hast sought to make us break our vow, Upon our kingdom: if, on the tenth day following, This shall not be revok'd. [TO COR. Kent. Fare thee well, king: sith thus thou wilt appear, Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here.— The gods to their dear shelter take thee, maid, That justly think'st, and hast most rightly said! And your large speeches may your deeds approve, [To REGAN and GONERIL. That good effects may spring from words of love.— Thus Kent, O princes, bids you all adieu; He'll shape his old course in a country new. [Exit. Flourish. Re-enter GLOSTER, with FRANCE, BURGUNDY, and Attendants. Glo. Here's France and Burgundy, my noble lord. We first address toward you, who with this king Bur. Most royal majesty, I crave no more than hath your highness offer'd, Lear. Bur. I know no answer. Lear. Will you, with those infirmities she owes, Unfriended, new-adopted to our hate, Dower'd with our curse, and stranger'd with our oath, Bur. Pardon me, royal sir; Election makes not up on such conditions. Lear. Then leave her, sir; for, by the power that made me, I tell you all her wealth.-For you, great king, [TO FRANCE. I would not from your love make such a stray, To match you where I hate; therefore beseech you To avert your liking a more worthier way Than on a wretch whom nature is asham'd Almost to acknowledge hers. This is most strange, France. The argument of your praise, balm of your age, Most best, most dearest, should in this trice of time Must be of such unnatural degree That monsters it, or your fore-vouch'd affection Fall into taint: which to believe of her Must be a faith that reason without miracle Could never plant in me. Cor. I yet beseech your majesty, If for I want that glib and oily art To speak and purpose not; since what I well intend, It is no vicious blot, murder, or foulness, No unchaste action or dishonour'd step, That hath depriv'd me of your grace and favour; That I am glad I have not, though not to have it Lear. Better thou Hadst not been born than not to have pleas'd me better. Bur. Royal king, Give but that portion which yourself propos'd, Duchess of Burgundy. Lear. Nothing: I have sworn; I am firm. Bur. I am sorry, then, you have so lost a father That you must lose a husband. Cor. Peace be with Burgundy! Since that respects of fortune are his love I shall not be his wife. France. Fairest Cordelia, that art most rich, being poor; Most choice, forsaken; and most lov'd, despis'd! Thee and thy virtues here I seize upon : Be it lawful, I take up what 's cast away. Gods, gods! 'tis strange that from their cold'st neglect Thy dowerless daughter, king, thrown to my chance, Not all the dukes of waterish Burgundy Can buy this unpriz'd precious maid of me.- Thou losest here, a better where to find. Lear. Thou hast her, France: let her be thine; for we Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see That face of hers again.-Therefore be gone Without our grace, our love, our benison. Come, noble Burgundy. [Flourish. Exeunt LEAR, BURGUNDY, CORNWALL, ALBANY, GLOSTER, and Attendants. France. Bid farewell to your sisters. Cor. Ye jewels of our father, with wash'd eyes Cordelia leaves you: I know you what you are; And, like a sister, am most loth to call Your faults as they are nam'd. Love well our father: |