indeed, sir, a son for her cradle ere she had a husband for her bed. Do you smell a fault? Kent. I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it being so proper.

Glo. But I have, sir, a son by order of law, some year elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account. Though this knave came somewhat saucily into the world before he was sent for, yet was his mother fair: there was good sport at his making, and the whoreson must be acknowledged. -Do you know this noble gentleman, Edmund? Edm. No, my lord.

Glo. My lord of Kent: remember him hereafter as my honourable friend.

Edm. My services to your lordship.

Kent. I must love you, and sue to know you better.

Edm. Sir, I shall study deserving.

Glo. He hath been out nine years, and away he shall again.-The King is coming.

[Trumpets sound within.

Enter LEAR, CORNWALL, ALBANY, Goneril, REGAN, CORDELIA, and Attendants. Lear. Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloster.

Glo. I shall, my liege.

No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour:

As much as child e'er loved, or father found:
A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable;
Beyond all manner of so much I love you.

Cor. What shall Cordelia do? Love, and be
silent.
[Aside.

Lear. Of all these bounds, even from this line to this,

With shadowy forests and with champains riched, With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads, We make thee lady. To thine and Albany's issue Be this perpetual.-What says our second daugh

ter,

Our dearest Regan, wife to Cornwall? Speak.

Reg. I am made of that self metal as my sister, And prize me at her worth. In my true heart I find she names my very deed of love: Only she comes too short,-that I profess Myself an enemy to all other joys

Which the most precious square of sense possesses, And find I am alone felicitate

In

your dear highness' love.

[Aside.

Cor. Then poor Cordelia!
And yet not so, since I am sure my love's
More richer than my tongue.

Lear. To thee and thine, hereditary ever,
Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom,
No less in space, validity, and pleasure,
Than that confirmed on Goneril.-Now, our joy,
Although the last, not least; to whose young love
The vines of France, and milk of Burgundy,
Strive to be interessed; what can you say, to draw
A third more opulent than your sisters? Speak.
Cor. Nothing, my lord.

Come not between the dragon and his wrath:
I loved her most, and thought to set my rest
On her kind nursery.-Hence, and avoid my sight!
[To CORDELIA.

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.
I do invest you jointly with my power,
Pre-eminence, and all the large effects
That troop with majesty.-Ourself, by monthly

course,

With reservation of an hundred knights,
By you to be sustained, 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 cor firm,
This coronet part between you. [G¡the crown.
Kent. Royal Lear,
Whom I have ever honoured as my king,
Loved as my father, as my master followed,
As my great patron thought on in my prayers,--
Lear. The bow is bent and drawn: make from
the shaft