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. Cor. Then poor Cordelia! [Aside. And yet not so; since, I am sure, my love's Lear. To thee, and thine, hereditary ever, Lear. Nothing? Cor. Nothing. Lear. Nothing can come of nothing: speak again. My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty Lear. How, how, Cordelia? mend your speech a little, Lest it may mar your fortunes. Cor. Good my lord, You have begot me, bred me, lov'd me: I 7 Comprehension. 8 Made happy. 9 Value: Obey you, love you, and most honour you. Why have my sisters husbands, if they say, They love you, all? Haply,' when I shall wed, Sure, I shall never marry like my sisters, To love my father all. Lear. But goes this with thy heart? Cor. Ay, good my lord. Lear. So young, and so untender? Cor. So young, my lord, and true. Lear. Let it be so,-Thy truth then be thy dower: From whom we do exist, and cease to be; Scythian, The barbarous Or he that makes his generation 4 messes Kent. Lear. Peace, Kent! Good my liege, Come not between the dragon and his wrath : I lov'd her most, and thought to set my rest On her kind nursery.-Hence, and avoid my sight! I Perhaps. VOL. IX. [TO CORDELIA. 2 Kindred. 3 From this time. 4 His children. A A 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: That troop with majesty.-Ourself, by monthly course, By you to be sustain'd, shall our abode Make with you by due turns. Only we still retain The sway, Revenue, execution of the rest,6 Beloved sons, be yours: which to confirm, This coronet part between you. [Giving the Crown. Kent. Let it fall rather, though the fork invade The region of my heart: be Kent unmannerly, When Lear is mad. What would'st thou do, old man? Think'st thou, that duty shall have dread to speak, When power to flattery bows? To plainness honour's bound, When majesty stoops to folly. Reverse thy doom; And, in thy best consideration, check This hideous rashness: answer my life my judgment, Lear. Kent, on thy life, no more. Kent. My life I never held but as a pawn To wage against thine enemies; nor fear to lose it, Thy safety being the motive. Lear. Out of my sight! Kent. See better, Lear; and let me still remain The true blank 8 of thine eye. Lear. Now, by Apollo, Kill thy physician, and the fee bestow Or, whilst I can vent clamour from my throat, Lear. Hear me, recreant! On thine allegiance hear me ! Since thou hast sought to make us break our vow, (Which we durst never yet,) and, with strain'd pride, To come betwixt our sentence and our power; (Which nor our nature nor our place can bear,) Our potency make good, take thy reward. 7 Reverberates. 8 The mark to shoot at. Five days we do allot thee, for provision Upon our kingdom: if, on the tenth day following, Kent. Fare thee well, king: since thus thou wilt appear, Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here.- [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.— 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. We first address towards you, who with this king Or cease your quest of love?1 Bur. Most royal majesty, I crave no more than hath your highness offer'd, Lear. 9 Follow his old mode of life. Right noble Burgundy, ■ Amorous expedition. |