Burg. Roiall maiefty, I craue no more then what' Your highneffe offered, nor will you tender leffe?

Lear. Right noble Burgundy, when fhe was deare to vs, We did hold her fo, but now her price is fallen; Sir, there fhe ftands, if ought within that little. Seeming fubftance, or all of it with our difpleasure peec'ft, And nothing elfe may fitly like your grace,

Shee's there, and the is yours.

Burg. I know no answer.

Lear. Sir, will you with thofe infirmities fhe owes,
Vnfriended, new adopted to our hate,

Couered with our curfe. and stranger'd with our oath,
Take her or leaue her.

Burg. Pardon me royall fir, election makes not vp,
On fuch conditions.

Lear. Then leave her fir, for by the power that made me, I tell you all her wealth. For you great king,

I would not from your loue make fuch a ftray,

To match you where I hate, therefore befeech you,
To auert your liking a more worthier way,

Then on a wretch whom nature is afham'd
Almost to acknowledge hers.

Fra. This is most strange, that fhe that euen but now
Was your best obiect, the argument of your praise,
Balme of your age, most best, most deerest,

Should in this trice of time commit a thing

So monftrous, to dismantle fo many foulds of fauour,
Sure her offence must be of fuch vnnaturall degree,
That monsters it, or you for voucht affections

Falne into taint, which to beleeue of her
Must be a faith that reafon without miracle
Could neuer plaint in me.

Cord.

Cord. I yet beseech your maiefty,

If for I want that glib and oily art,

To fpeake and purpofe not, fince what I well intend,
Ile do't before I fpeake, that you may know
It is no vicious blot, murder, or fouleneffe,
No vncleane action or dishonoured step

That hath depriu'd me of your grace and fauour,
But euen for want of that, for which I am rich,
A ftill foliciting eye, and fuch a tongue,

As I am glad I haue not, though not to haue it,
Hath loft me in your liking.

Lear. Go to, goe to, better thou hadst not been borne, Then not to haue pleas'd me better.

Fran. Is it no more but this, a tardineffe in nature, That often leaues the history vnfpoke that it intends to do, My lord of Burgundy, what fay you to the lady?

Loue is not loue when it is mingled with refpects that stands
Aloofe from the entire point, will you haue her?
She is her felfe and dower.

Burg. Royall Lear, giue but that portion
Which yourselfe propos'd, and here I take
Cerdelia by the hand, dutcheffe of Burgundy.
Lear. Nothing, I haue fworne.

Burg. I am forry then you haue fo loft a father, That you must lose a husband.

Cord. Peace be with Burgundy, fince that refpects

Of fortune are his loue, I fhall not be his wife.

Fran. Fairest Cordelia, that art moft rich being poore,
Most choise forfaken, and moft loued defpis'd,
Thee and thy vertues heere I feize vpon,

Be it lawfull I take vp what's caft away.

Gods, Gods! tis ftrange, that from their cold't neglect,
My louc fhould kindle to enflam'd refpect,

Thy

Thy dowrelesse daughter king, throwne to thy chance,
Is queene
of vs, of ours, and our faire France:
Not all the dukes in watrish Burgundy,
Shall buy this vnpriz'd precious maid of me.
Bid them farwell Cordelia, though vnkinde
Thou lofeft heere, a better where to finde.

Lear. Thou haft her France, let her be thine,
For we haue no fuch daughter, nor shall euer fee
That face of hers againe, therefore be gone,

Without our grace, our loue, our benizon: come noble Burgundy.

Fran. Bid farwell to your fifters.

Cord. The iewels of our father,

Exit Lear and Burgundy.

With washt eyes Cordelia leaues you, I know you
And like a fifter am most loth to call your faults
As they are named, vfe well our father,
To your professed bosomes I commit him,
But yet alaffe, ftood I within his grace,
I would preferre him to a better place;
So farwell to you both.

Gonorill. Prefcribe not vs our duties.

what you are,

Regan. Let your study be to content your lord, Who hath receiu'd you at fortunes almes,

You haue obedience scanted,

And well are worth the worth that you haue wanted.
Cord. Time fhall vnfold what pleated cunning hides,
Who couers faults, at last shame them derides:

Well may you prosper.

Fran. Come faire Cordelia.

Exit France and Cord.

Gon. Sifter, it is not a little I haue to say, Of what most neerely appertaines to vs both, I thinke our father will hence to night.

VOL. II.

H

Reg.

Reg. That's most certaine, and with you, next month with vs.

Gon. You fee how full of changes his age is, the obferuation we haue made of it hath not beene little; he alwaies loued our fifter most, and with what poore iudgement hee hath now caft her off, appeares too groffe.

Reg. Tis the infirmity of his age, yet he hath euer but flenderly knowne himfelfe.

Gono. The beft and foundeft of his time hath bin but rash, then must we looke to receiue frō his age, not alone the imperfection of long ingrafted condition, but therwithal vnruly waiwardnes, that infirme and cholericke yeares bring

with them.

Reg. Such vnconftant stars are we like to haue from him, as this of Kents banishment.

Gono. There is further complement of leaue taking between France and him, pray lets hit together, if our father cary authority with fuch difpofitions as he beares, this last furrender of his will but offend vs.

Regan. We hall further thinke on't.

Gon. We must do fomething, and it'h heate.

Enter Baftard folus.

Exeunt.

Baft. Thou nature art my goddeffe, to thy law my feruices are bound, wherefore should I ftand in the plague of cuftome, and permit the curiofity of nations to depriue me, for that I am fome 12. or 14. moone-fhines lag of a brother: why baftard wherefore bafe, when my dementions are as well compact, my minde as generous, and my fhape as true as honeft madams iffue, why brand they vs with base, base baftardy who in the lufty stealth of nature, take more compofition and fierce quality, then doth within a stale dull lied bed, goe to the creating of a whole tribe of fops got tweene Пеере

Пleepe and wake; well the legitimate Edgar, I muft haue your land, our fathers loue is to the baftard Edmund, as to the legitimate well my legitimate, if this letter fpeed, and my inuention thriue, Edmund the base shall tooth'legitimate: I grow, I profper, now gods ftand vp for baftards.

Enter Glocefter.

Cleft. Kent banifht thus, and France in choller parted, and the king gone to night, fubfcrib'd his power, confined to exhibition, all this done vpon the gad; Edmund, how now, what newes?

Baft. So please your lordship, none.

Gloft. Why fo earnestly seeke you to put vp that letter?
Baft. I know no newes, my lord.

Glo. What paper were you reading?
Baft. Nothing my lord.

Gloft. No, what needs then that terrible difpatch of it into your pocket, the quality of nothing had not fuch need to hide itfelfe, lets fee, come if it be nothing I fhal not need spectacles.

Baft. I befeech you fir pardon me, it is a letter from my brother, that I haue not all ore read, for fo much as I haue perufed, I finde it not fit for your liking.

Gloft. Giue me the letter fir.

Baft. I fhall offend, either to detaine or giue it, the contents as in part I vnderstand them, are too blame.

Glo. Lets fee, lets fee.

Baft. I hope for my brothers iuftification, he wrote this but as an effay, or tafte of my vertue.

A letter.

Gloft. This policy of age makes the world bitter to the best of our times, keepes our fortunes from vs till our oldneffe cannot rellish them, I begin to finde an idle and fond bondage in the oppreffion of aged tyranny, who fwaies not as it hath