Pre-eminence, and all the large effects That troop with majesty: ourself, by monthly course, With reservation of a hundred knights, By you to be sustain'd, shall our abode Make with you by due turns: only we still retain The name, and all the additions 1 to a king; The sway, Revenue, execution of the rest, Beloved sons, be yours; which to confirm, This coronet part between you. Kent. [giving the crown. Royal Lear, Whom I have ever honor'd as my king, Loved 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. Kent. Let it fall rather, though the fork invade The region of my heart: be Kent unmannerly, When Lear is mad. What wouldst thou do, old man? Think'st thou, that duty shall have dread to speak, When power to flattery bows? To plainness honor 's bound, When majesty stoops to folly. Reverse thy doom; And, in thy best consideration, check This hideous rashness: answer my life my judg ment, Titles. Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least; 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 of thine eye. Alb. Corn. Dear sir, forbear. Kill thy physician, and the fee bestow Upon the foul disease. Revoke thy gift; 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; 1 For reverberates. 2 The blank is the white or exact mark at which the arrow is shot. |