Kent. See better, Lear, and let me still remain Kent. Thou swear'st thy gods in vain. 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 Lear. Hear me, recreant! Since thou hast sought to make us break our vow, 2 Five days we do allot thee, for provision And, on the sixth, to turn thy hated back Upon our kingdom. If, on the tenth day following, Thy banished trunk be found in our dominions, The moment is thy death. Away! By Jupiter, Kent. Fare thee well, king; since thus thou wilt appear, Freedom' 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. 1 The blank is the mark at which men shoot. 2 "They to whom I have surrendered my authority, yielding me the ability to dispense it in this instance." Quarto B. reads "make good." 3 Thus the quartos. The folio reads "disasters." By diseases are meant uneasinesses, inconveniences. 4 The quartos read "Friendship;" and in the next line, instead of "dear shelter," "protection." 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. Re-enter GLOSTER, with FRANCE, BURGUNDY, and Attendants. Glo. Here's France and Burgundy, my noble lord. Lear. My lord of Burgundy, We first address towards you, who with this king Hath rivalled for our daughter. What, in the least, Will you require in present dower with her, Or cease your quest of love?1 Bur. Most royal majesty, I crave no more than hath your highness offered, Nor will you tender less. Lear. And nothing more, may fitly like your grace, Bur. Lear. Sir, I know no answer. Will you, with those infirmities she owes,3 Unfriended, new-adopted to our hate, Dowered with our curse, and strangered with our oath, Take her, or leave her? Bur. 4 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. 1 A quest is a seeking or pursuit: the expedition in which a knight was engaged is often so named in the Faerie Queen. Seeming here means specious. 3 i. e. owns. 4 That is, I cannot decide to take her upon such terms; or, such conditions leave me no choice. I would not from your love make such a stray, To match you where I hate; therefore beseech you This is most strange! France. That monsters it,' or your fore-vouched affection Must be a faith, that reason without miracle Cor. 3 I yet beseech your majesty, (If for I want that glib and oily art, To speak and purpose not; since what I well intend, No unchaste action, or dishonored step, That I am glad I have not, though not to have it, Lear. Better thou Hadst not been born, than not to have pleased me better. Which often leaves the history unspoke, 1 In the phraseology of Shakspeare's age, that and as were convertible words. The uncommon verb to monster occurs again in Coriolanus. 2 The former affection which you professed for her must become the subject of reproach. Taint is here an abbreviation of attaint. 3 i. e. "if cause I want," &c. 4 The quartos read, "no unclean action." When it is mingled with respects,1 that stand Bur. Royal Lear, Give but that portion which yourself proposed, Duchess of Burgundy. Lear. Nothing. I have sworn; I am firm. 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 loved, despised! 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, Shall buy this unprized precious maid of me.— 2 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 benizon. Come, noble Burgundy. [Flourish. Exeunt LEAR, BURGUndy, Cornwall, ALBANY, GLOSTER, and Attendants. France. Bid farewell to your sisters. Cor. The jewels of our father, with washed eyes Cordelia leaves you; I know you what you are; 1 i. e. with cautious and prudential considerations.-The folio has regards. 2 Here and where have the power of nouns. And, like a sister, am most loath to call Your faults, as they are named. Use well our father; To your professed1 bosoms I commit him. But yet, alas! stood I within his grace, I would prefer him to a better place. Let your study Gon. Prescribe not us our duties. Reg. Be, to content your lord; who hath received you At fortune's alms. You have obedience scanted, And well are worth the want that you have wanted.2 Cor. Time shall unfold what plaited 3 cunning hides; Who cover faults, at last shame them derides. Well may you prosper! France. Come, my fair Cordelia. 3 [Exeunt FRANCE and CORDELIA. Gon. Sister, it is not a little I have to say, of what most nearly appertains to us both. I think our father will hence to-night. Reg. That's most certain, and with you; next month with us. Gon. You see how full of changes his age is; the observation we have made of it hath not been little. He always loved our sister most; and with what poor judgment he hath now cast her off, appears too grossly. Reg. 'Tis the infirmity of his age; yet he hath ever but slenderly known himself. 1 We have here professed for professing. It has been elsewhere observed that Shakspeare often uses one participle for another. 2 Thus the folio. The quartos read: "And well are worth the worth that you have wanted." The meaning of the passage, as it now stands in the text, is, " You well deserve to want that dower, which you have lost by having failed in your obedience. 3 That is, complicated, intricate, involved, cunning. 4 The quartos read: "Who covers faults, at last shame them derides." The folio has: "Who covers faults, at last with shame derides." Mason proposed to read: "Who covert faults, at last with shame derides." The word who referring to Time. |