Enter KENT, GLOSTER, and EDMUND. Kent. I thought the King had more affected the Duke of Albany than Cornwall. Glo. It did always seem so to us: but now, in the division of the kingdom, it appears not which of the dukes he values most; for equalities are so weighed, that curiosity in neither can make choice of either's moiety. Kent. Is not this your son, my lord? Glo. His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge: I have so often blushed to acknowledge him, that now I am brazed to it. Kent. I cannot conceive you. Edm. My services to your lordship. Kent. I must love you, and sue to know you better. Edm. Sir, I shall study deserving. Glo. He hath been out nine years, and away he shall again. The King is coming. [Trumpets sound within. purpose. Glo. Sir, this young fellow's mother could: whereupon she grew round-wombed, and had indeed, Give me the map there. - Know that we have sir, a son for her cradle ere she had a husband for her bed. Do you smell a fault? divided In three, our kingdom; and 't is our fast intent Kent. I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue To shake all cares and business from our age; of it being so proper. Glo. But I have, sir, a son by order of law, some year elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account. Though this knave came somewhat saucily into the world before he was sent for, yet was his mother fair: there was good sport at his making, and the whoreson must be acknowledged. Do you know this noble gentleman, Edmund? Edm. No, my lord. Conferring them on younger strengths, while we And you, our no less loving son of Albany, Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love, Glo. My lord of Kent: remember him hereafter Long in our court have made their amorous as my honorable friend. sojourn, may mar your fortunes. Good my lord, Cor. Half my love with him, half my care and duty : Lear. But goes this with thy heart? Cor. thy truth, then, be thy For, by the sacred radiance of the sun; The mysteries of Hecate and the night; By all the operations of the orbs From whom we do exist, and cease to be, Here I disclaim all my paternal care, Propinquity and property of blood, Which the most precious sphere of sense possesses, And as a stranger to my heart and me That troop with majesty.-Ourself, by monthly Or, whilst I can vent clamor from my throat, course, With reservation of an hundred knights, By you to be sustained, shall our abode Make with you by due turns. Only we still retain The sway, Revénue, execution of the rest, be Belovéd sons, yours which to confirm, Whom I have ever honored as my king, Kent. Let it fall rather, though the fork invade 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. doom; And, in thy best consideration, check To come betwixt our sentence and our power Kent. Fare thee well, King: since thus thou wilt appear, Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here. That justly think'st, and hast most rightly said.- This hideous rashness. Answer my life my judg- Thus Kent, O princes, bids you all adieu : He'll shape his old course in a country new. ment, Kent. See better, Lear; and let me still remain Hath rivaled for our daughter:- What, in the Lear. O, vassal! miscreant ! I crave no more than hath your highness offered, [Laying his hand on his sword. Nor will you tender less. France. Is it but this? a tardiness in nature, When it is mingled with respects that stand Dowered with our curse, and strangered with our She is herself a dowry. That she, that even but now was your best object, Commit a thing so monstrous, to dismantle Cor. I yet beseech your majesty (If for I want that glib and oily art, Give but that portion which yourself proposed, Lear. Nothing I have sworn: I am firm. France. Fairest Cordelia, that art most rich, Most choice, forsaken; and most loved, despised! neglect My love should kindle to inflamed respect. To speak and purpose not; since what I well Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see intend, I'll do 't before I speak), that you make known That face of hers again :- therefore, be gone, [Flourish. Exeunt LEAR, BURGUNDY, CORN- Cordelia leaves you: I know you what you are; To your professéd bosoms I commit him: Gon. Prescribe not us our duties. Reg. Let your study Enter EDMUND, with a letter. Edm. Thou, nature, art my goddess; to thy law For that I am some twelve or fourteen moonshines Be to content your lord; who hath received you wanted. hides: More composition and fierce quality Reg. That's most certain, and with you: next And my invention thrive, Edmund the base month with us. Gon. You see how full of changes his age is: the observation we have made of it hath not been little. He always loved our sister most: and with what poor judgment he hath now cast her off, appears too grossly. Shall top the legitimate. I grow: I prosper. - Enter GLOSTER. Glo. Kent banished thus; and France in choler parted! Reg. "T is the infirmity of his age: yet he hath And the king gone to-night: subscribed his power: ever but slenderly known himself. Confined to exhibition! All this done Gon. The best and soundest of his time hath been but rash: then must we look to receive from his age, not alone the imperfections of long-engrafted condition, but therewithal the unruly waywardness that infirm and choleric years bring with them. Reg. Such unconstant starts are we like to have from him, as this of Kent's banishment. Gon. There is further compliment of leavetaking between France and him. Pray you, let us hit together: if our father carry authority with such dispositions as he bears, this last surrender of his will but offend us. Reg. We shall further think of it. Gon. We must do something, and i' the heat. Upon the gad! - Edmund! how now? what news? [Putting up the letter. Glo. Why so earnestly seek you to put up that letter? Edm. I know no news, my lord. Glo. No? what needed, then, that terrible despatch of it into your pocket? the quality of nothing hath not such need to hide itself. Let's see: come, if it be nothing, I shall not need spectacles. Edm. I beseech you, sir, pardon me. It is a letter from my brother, that I have not all o'erread for so much as I have perused, I find it not fit for your over-looking. |