2

Beyond all manner of so much I love you.
Cor. What shall Cordelia do ? Love, and be
silent.

[aside.
Lear. Of all these bounds, even from this line

to this,
With shadowy forests and with champains 1 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.

Re. I am made of that self metal as my sister,
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 2 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
More richer than my tongue.

Lear. To thee and thine, hereditary ever,
Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom;
No less in space, validity, and pleasure,
Than that confirm’d on Goneril.--Now, our joy,
Although the last, not least; to whose young love
The vines of France, and milk of Burgundy

Strive to be interess’d; -what can you say, to

draw
A third more opulent than your sisters ? Speak.

Cor. Nothing, my lord.
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, loved me: I
Return those duties back as are right fit;
Obey you, love you, and most honor you.
Why have my sisters husbands, if they say,
They love you, all? Haply, when I shall wed,
That lord, whose hand must take my plight, shall

carry
Half my love with him, half my care, and duty.
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 :
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,
And as a stranger to my heart and me
Hold thee, from this, for ever. The barbarous

Scythian,
Or he that makes his generation 1 messes
To
gorge

his appetite, shall to my bosom
Be as well neighbor'd, pitied, and relieved,
As thou my sometime daughter.
Kent.

Good my liege,
Lear. Peace, Kent!
Come not between the dragon and his wrath.
I loved her most, and thought to set my rest
On her kind nursery.--Hence, and avoid my
sight!

[to Cordelia. 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 the third : Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry her. I do invest you jointly with my power,

I His children,