A third, more opulent than your fifters? speak. Cor. Nothing. Lear. Nothing can come of nothing; fpeak again. My heart into my mouth: I love your Majesty Lear. How, how, Cordelia? mend your speech a little, Left you may mar your fortunes. Cor. Good my lord, You have begot me, bred me, lov'd me. I To love my father all. Lear. But goes thy heart with this? Cor. Ay, my good lord. Lear. So young, and fo untender? Cor. So young, my lord, and true. Lear. Let it be fo, thy truth then be thy dower: For by the facred radiance of the fun, The mysteries of Hecate, and the night, By all the operations of the orbs, The barb'rous Scythian, From whom we do exist, and cease to be: Kent. Good my Liege Lear. Peace, Kent! Come not between the dragon and his wrath. I I lov'd her most, and thought to fet my Reft So be my grave my peace, as here I give [To Cor. Her father's heart from her; Call France; who ftirs? With my two daughters dowres, digeft the third. That troop with Majefty. Our felf by monthly course, Beloved fons, be yours; which to confirm, Kent. Royal Lear, [Giving the Crown. Whom I have ever honour'd as my King, Lear. The bow is bent and drawn, make from the fhaft. Reserve thy State; with better judgment check Lear. Kent, on thy life no more. Kent. My life I never held but as a pawn To wage againft thy foes; nor fear to lose it, Thy fafety being the motive. Lear. Out of my fight! Kent. See better, Lear, and let me ftill remain The The true blank of thine eye. Lear. O vaffal! mifcreant ! [Laying his band on his fword. Alb. Corn. Dear Sir, forbear. Kent. Kill thy phyfician, and thy fee bestow Lear. Hear me, recreant! Since thou haft fought to make us break our vow, Kent. Fare thee well, King; fith thus thou wilt appear, Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here; The gods to their dear fhelter take thee, maid, [Exit. Enter Glo'fter, with France and Burgundy, and Atten dants. Glo. Here's France and Burgundy, my noble lord. (2) (2) Cor. Here's France, and Burgundy, my noble Lord.] The Generality of the Editions, antient and modern, ftupidly place this Verfe to Cordelia. But I have, upon the Authority of the old 4to, reftor'd it to the right Owner, Glofter; who was, but a little before, fent by the King to conduct France and Burgundy to him. Lear. Lear. My lord of Burgundy, We first address tow'rd you, who with this King Bur. Moft royal Majefty, I crave no more than what your Highness offer'd, Lear. Right noble Burgundy, When she was dear to us, we held her fo; And nothing more, may fitly like your Grace, Bur. I know no answer. Lear. Will you with those infirmities she owes, Dowr'd with our curfe, and ftranger'd with our oath, Bur. Pardon, royal Sir; Election makes not up on fuch conditions. [me, Lear. Then leave her, Sir; for by the pow'r that made I tell you all her wealth. [To France. I would not from your love make fuch a ftray, To match you where I hate; therefore befeech you, Than on a wretch, whom nature is afham'd France. This is most strange! That she, who ev'n but now was your best object, That monsters it; (3) or your fore-voucht affection' Fal'n (3) As monftrous is,] This bald Reading is a modern Sophistication: the eldest and best Copies read; That Fal'n into taint: which to believe of her, Must be a faith, that reason without miracle Cor. I yet befeech your Majefty, (If, for I want that glib and oily art, To speak and purpofe not; fince what I well intend, That hath depriv'd me of your grace and favour: Lear. Better thou Hadft not been born, than not have pleas'd me better. That it intends to do? my lord of Burgundy, Aloof from th'intire point. Say, will you have her? Bur. Royal King, Give but that portion which your felf propos'd, Dutchefs of Burgundy. Lear. Nothing: I've fworn. Bur. I'm forry then, you have fo lost a father, That you must lofe a husband. That monfters it i. e. that makes a Monster, a Prodigy, of it: And our Poet afes this Verb elsewhere in fuch a Senfe. So Albany, afterwards in this Play, fays to Goneril, his Wife ; Thou chang'd, and felf-converted Thing! for Shame, And fo, in Coriolanus; I'd rather have One fcratch my Head i'th' Sun, To hear my Nothings monster'd. |