Lear. O, vassal! miscreant! [Laying his Hand on his Sword. Alb. Corn. Dear sir, forbear. Kent. Do; Kill thy physician, and the fee bestow Lear. Hear me, recreant! On thine allegiance hear me ! Since thou hast sought to make us break our vow, 27 As you have with unreasonable pride come between our sentence and our power to execute it; that power shall be made good by rewarding thy contumacy with a sentence of banishment.' In Othello we have nearly the same language: My spirit and my place have in them power To make this better to thee.' One of the quartos reads, make good.' 28 Thus the quartos. The folio reads, disasters. By the diseases of the world are the uneasinesses, inconveniences, and slighter troubles or distresses of the world. So in King Henry VI. Part I. Act ii. Sc. 5:— 'And in that ease I'll tell thee my disease.' The provision that Kent could make in five days might in some measure guard against such diseases of the world, but could not shield him from its disasters. Kent. Fare thee well, king: since thus thou wilt appear, Freedom 29 lives hence, and banishment is here.— The gods to their dear shelter take thee, maid, [TO CORDELIA. 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.— 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 30? Bur. Most royal majesty, I crave no more than hath your highness offer'd, Nor will you tender less. Right noble Burgundy, When she was dear to us, we did hold her so; But now her price is fall'n: Sir, there she stands ; If aught within that little, seeming 31 substance, Or all of it, with our displeasure piec'd, 29 The quartos read, Friendship.' And in the next line, instead of dear shelter,' 'protection.' 30 That is, your amorous pursuit.' A quest is a seeking or pursuit: the expedition in which a knight was engaged is often so named in the Faerie Queene. 31 Seeming here means specious. Thus in The Merry Wives of Windsor: Pluck the borrowed veil of modesty from the so seeming mistress Page.' And nothing more, may fitly like your grace, Bur. Lear. Sir, Will you, I know no answer. with those infirmities she owes 32, 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` 33 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. France. This is most strange ! That she, that even but now was your best object, That monsters it 34, or your fore-vouch'd affection 32 i. e. owns, is possessed of. 33 That is, Election is not accomplished upon such conditions,' I cannot decide to take her upon such terms. 34 Such unnatural degree That monsters it.' In the phraseology of Shakspeare's age that and as were convertible words. So in Coriolanus: 'But with such words that are but rooted in See Julius Cæsar, Act i. Sc. 2, p. 283, note 15. The uncommon verb to monster occurs again in Coriolanus, Act ii. Sc. 2:- To hear my nothings monster'd. Fall into taint 35: which to believe of her, Cor. I yet beseech your majesty (If for 36 I want that glib and oily art, To speak and purpose not; since what I well intend, 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. France. Is it but this? a tardiness in nature, Which often leaves the history unspoke, That it intends to do?-My lord of Burgundy, What say you to the lady? Love is not love, When it is mingled with respects 38, that stand Aloof from the entire point. Will you have her? She is herself a dowry. Bur. Royal Lear, Duchess of Burgundy. 35 Her offence must be monstrous, or the former affection which you professed for her must fall into taint; that is, become the subject of reproach. Taint is here only an abbreviation of attaint. 36 i.e. If cause I want,' &c. 37 The quartos read, no unclean action,' which in fact carries the same sense. 38 i. e. with cautious and prudential considerations. The folio has regards. The meaning of the passage is, that his love wants something to mark its sincerity : -: 'Who seeks for aught in love but love alone.' 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, 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. My love should kindle to inflam'd respect.- Lear. Thou hast her, France: let her be thine; for we Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see [Flourish. Exeunt LEAR, BURGUNDY, CORN- eyes 'Thou losest 39 Here and where have the power of nouns. this residence, to find a better residence in another place.' So in Churchyard's Farewell to the World, 1592: 'That growes not here, takes roote in other where.' |