As much as child e'er lov'd, or father found; A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable; Cor. [aside] What shall Cordelia do? Love, and be Lear. Of all these bounds, even from this line to this, With shadowy forests and with champains rich'd, With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads, We make thee lady: to thine and Albany's issue Be this perpetual.-What says our second daughter, Our dearest Regan, wife to Cornwall? Speak. (4) Reg. Sir,(5) I'm made of that self metal as my sister, And prize me at her worth. In my true heart Only she comes too short,-that I profess Which the most precious square of sense possesses;(6) In your dear highness' love. Cor. [aside] Then poor Cordelia! And yet not so; since, I am sure, my love's Lear. To thee and thine hereditary ever Lear. Nothing! Cor. Nothing. Lear. Nothing will come of nothing: speak again. Cor. Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave 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 it may mar your fortunes. Cor. Good my lord, You have begot me, bred me, lov'd me: I Lear. But goes thy heart with this? Lear. So young, and so untender? Cor. So young, my lord, and true. Ay, good my lord.(8) Lear. Let it be so,-thy truth, then, be thy dower: For, by the sacred radiance of the sun, The mysteries(9) of Hecate, and the night; By all the operation of the orbs From whom we do exist, and cease to be; And as a stranger to my heart and me Hold thee, from this, for ever. The barbarous Scythian, Or he that makes his generation messes To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom Be as well neighbour'd, pitied, and reliev’d, 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!—(10) So be my grave my peace, as here I give Her father's heart from her!-Call France ;-who stirs? Call Burgundy.-Cornwall and Albany, With my two daughters' dowers digest this third: Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry her. Pre-eminence, and all the large effects That troop with majesty.-Ourself, by monthly course, With reservation of an hundred knights, Make with you by due turns. Only we still retain The sway, Revenue, execution of the rest, Beloved sons, be yours: which to confirm, Kent. [Giving the crown. 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. The region of my heart: be Kent unmannerly, When power to flattery bows? To plainness honour's bound, 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 To wage against thine enemies; nor fear to lose it, Lear. Out of my sight! Kent. See better, Lear; Now, by Apollo, king, O, vassal! miscreant! [Laying his hand on his sword. Alb. Corn. Dear sir, forbear. Kill thy physician, and the fee bestow Upon the foul disease. Revoke thy gift; Or, whilst I can vent clamour from my throat, Lear. Hear me, On thine allegiance, hear me ! recreant! Since thou hast sought to make us break our vow,— This shall not be revok'd. Kent. Fare thee well, king: sith thus thou wilt appear, Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here. [To Cordelia] The gods to their dear shelter take thee, maid, That justly think'st, and hast most rightly said!— [To Regan and Goneril] And your large speeches may your deeds approve, That good effects may spring from words of love.— 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 towards you, who with this king Or cease your quest of love? Bur. Most royal majesty, I crave no more than hath your highness offer'd, Nor will you tender less. Lear. Right noble Burgundy, If aught within that little seeming(14) substance, And nothing more, may fitly like your grace, 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, Take her, or leave her? 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.-[To France] For you, great king, To match you where I hate; therefore beseech you way Than on a wretch whom nature is asham'd Almost t' acknowledge hers. France. This is most strange, That she, who even but now was your best object,(15) So many folds of favour. Sure, her offence That monsters it, or your fore-vouch'd affection Must be a faith that reason without miracle Should 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,(17) I'll do't before I speak,-that you make known It is no vicious blot, murder, or foulness, (18) No unchaste action, or dishonour'd step, That hath depriv'd me of your grace and favour; |