KING LEAR. Edm. Thou, Nature, art my goddess; to thy law I've practised yet on both their easy natures.- And heighten'd by such lucky accidents, That now the slightest circumstance confirms him, And base-born Edmund, spite of law, inherits. Enter KENT and GLOSTER. Glos. Nay, good my lord, your charity O'ershoots itself, to plead in his behalf; The sting of disobedience from a son feel First-born and best-beloved.-O, villain Edgar! Glost. Plead with the seas, and reason down the winds, Yet shalt thou ne'er convince me: I have seen here Inverted nature, Gloster's shame and glory: Whilst Edgar, begg'd of Heaven, and born in honour, My lord, you wait the king, who comes resolved His realms amongst his daughters. Heav'n succeed it! Kent. I grieve to see him With such wild starts of passion hourly seized, As render majesty beneath itself. Glost. Alas! 'tis the infirmity of his age: Yet has his temper ever been unfixt, Chol'ric, and sudden, Hark, they approach. [Flourish of trumpets. [Exeunt GLOSTER, Kent, and EDMUND. Enter CORDELIA and EDGAR. Edg. Cordelia, royal fair, turn yet, once more And, ere successful Burgundy receive! Who, in obedience to a father's will, Flies from her Edgar's arms to Burgundy's? SCENE II. [Exeunt A Room of State in the Palace. Flourish of Trumpets--Drums. KING LEAR upon his Throne. ALBANY, CORNwall, Burgundy, Kent, Gloster, GoNERIL, REGAN, CORDELIA, CAPTAIN of the GUARD, Knights, PAGES, GENTLEMAN with the Map, GENTLEMAN with the Crown, LORDS, LADIES, &c. &c. discovered. Lear. Attend my lords of Albany and Cornwall, With princely Burgundy? Alb. We do, my liege. Lear. Give me the map. divided Know, lords, we have In three our kingdom, having now resolved Long in our court have made your amorous sojourn, And now are to be answer'd.-Tell me, my daughters, Gon. Sir, I do love you more than words can utter, Beyond what can be valued rich or rare; Nor liberty, nor sight, health, fame, or beauty, Lear. Of all these bounds, e'en from this line to With shady forests, and wide-skirted meads, Reg. My sister, sir, in part, exprest my love; I have my all in my dear liege's love. Lear. Therefore, to thee and thine hereditary, Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom. Cord. Now comes my trial.-How am I distrest, That must with cold speech tempt the chol'ric king, Rather to leave me dowerless, than condemn me To Burgundy's embraces! Lear. Speak now our last, not least in our dear So ends my task of state,-Cordelia, speak; Than what thy sisters gain'd? Cord. Now must my love in words, fall short of theirs, As much as it exceeds in truth.-Nothing, my lord. Lear. Nothing? Cord. Nothing. Lear. Nothing can come of nothing; speak again. Sir, as I ought, I love your majesty, No more, nor less. Lear. Take heed, Cordelia; Thy fortunes are at stake; think better on't, Cord. O my liege! You gave me being, bred me, dearly love me, Obey you, love you, and most honour you. Lear. And goes thy heart with this? Cord. So young, my lord, and true. Kent. This is phrenzy. Consider, good my liege Lear. Peace, Kent; Come not between a dragon and his rage. |