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. Glo. He hath been out nine years, and away he shall again. [Sennet within.]—The king is coming. Enter LEAR, CORNWALL, ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, CORDELIA, and Attendants. Lear. Attend the Lords of France and Burgundy, Gloster. (1) Glo. I shall, my liege. [Exeunt Gloster and Edmund. Lear. Meantime we shall express our darker purpose.— Give me the map there.-Know that we've divided In three our kingdom: and 'tis our fast intent. To shake all cares and business from our age; Conferring them on younger strengths, while we Unburden'd crawl toward death.-Our son of Cornwall, And you, our no less loving son of Albany, We have this hour a constant will to publish Our daughters' several dowers, that future strife May be prevented now. The princes, France and Burgundy, Long in our court have made their amorous sojourn, Since now we will divest us both of rule, Interest of territory, cares of state, Which of you shall we say doth love us most? That we our largest bounty may extend Where nature doth with merit challenge.—Goneril, Our eldest-born, speak first. Gon. Sir, I love you more than words can wield the matter;(2) Beyond what can be valu'd, rich or rare; No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour ; As much as child e'er lov'd, or father found; A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable; Cor. [aside] What shall Cordelia do? Love, and be Lear. Of all these bounds, even from this line to this, With shadowy forests and with champains rich'd, With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads, We make thee lady: to thine and Albany's issue Be this perpetual.-What says our second daughter, Our dearest Regan, wife to Cornwall? Speak. (4) Reg. Sir,(5) I'm made of that self metal as my sister, And prize me at her worth. In my true heart Only she comes too short,-that I profess Which the most precious square of sense possesses;(6) Cor. [aside] 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 Lear. Nothing! Cor. Nothing. Lear. Nothing will come of nothing: speak again. Cor. Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty According to my bond; nor more nor less. 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 Sure, I shall never marry like my sisters, To love my father all. Lear. But goes thy heart with this? Lear. So young, and so untender? Cor. So young, my lord, and true. Ay, good my lord. (8) Lear. Let it be so,-thy truth, then, be thy dower: For, by the sacred radiance of the sun, The mysteries(9) of Hecate, and the night; By all the operation of the orbs From whom we do exist, and cease to be; The barbarous Scythian, Or he that makes his generation 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!-(10) 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. Pre-eminence, and all the large effects That troop with majesty.-Ourself, by monthly course, With reservation of an hundred knights, Make with you by due turns. Only we still retain The sway, Revenue, execution of the rest, Beloved sons, be yours: which to confirm, Kent. [Giving the crown. Royal Lear, Whom I have ever honour'd as my king, Lov'd as my father, as my master follow'd, As my great patron thought on in my prayers, Lear. The bow is bent and drawn, make from the shaft. The region of my heart: be Kent unmannerly, When Lear is mad. What wouldst thou do, old man? When power to flattery bows? To plainness honour's bound, And, in thy best consideration, check This hideous rashness: answer my life my judgment, Nor are those empty-hearted whose low sound Reverbs no hollowness. 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, Lear. Kent. See better, Lear; The true blank of thine eye. Lear. Now, by Apollo,Kent. Out of my sight! 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 Upon the foul disease. Revoke thy gift; 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,- Kent. Fare thee well, king: sith thus thou wilt appear, Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here.— [To Cordelia] The gods to their dear shelter take thee, maid, That justly think'st, and hast most rightly said!— [To Regan and Goneril] And your large speeches may your deeds approve, That good effects may spring from words of love.— He'll shape his old course in a country new. [Exit. Flourish. 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? Bur. Most royal majesty, I crave no more than hath your highness offer'd, Nor will you tender less. Lear. Right noble Burgundy, When she was dear to us, we did hold her so; |