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. Enter LEAR, CORNWALL, ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, CORDELIA, and Attendants. Lear. Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloster. Glo. I shall, my liege. [Exeunt GLOSTER and EDMUND. Lear. Mean time we shall express our darker purpose. Give me the map there.-Know that we have 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, Unburthened, 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, Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love, Long in our court have made their amorous sojourn, And here are to be answered.-Tell me, my daughters, (Since we will now 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 merit doth most challenge it. Our eldest-born, speak first. Gon. Sir, I Goneril, Do love you more than words can wield the matter, Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare; No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honor; A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable; 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 riched, 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. Reg. 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; Which the most precious square of sense possesses; 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, Than that conferred on Goneril.- Now, our joy, Lear. Nothing? Cor. Nothing. Lear. Nothing can come of nothing; speak again. 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. 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? Lear. So young, and so untender? Cor. So young, my lord, and true. Ay, good my lord. 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; Propinquity and property of blood, And as a stranger to my heart and me Hold thee, from this, forever. The barbarous Scythian, Kent. Lear. Peace, Kent! Good my liege, Come not between the dragon and his wrath. I loved her most, and thought to set my rest So be my grave my peace, as here I give [To CORDELIA. 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. That troop with majesty.-Ourself, by monthly course, By you to be sustained, shall our abode Make with you by due turns. Only we still retain The sway, Revenue, execution of the rest, Beloved sons, be yours; which to confirm, This coronet part between you. [Giving the crown. Royal Lear, Kent. Whom I have ever honored as my king, Loved as my father, as my master followed, 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, This hideous rashness. Answer my life my judgment, Nor are those empty-hearted, whose low sound 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. Out of my sight! Kent. See better, Lear, and let me still remain The true blank of thine eye. Kent. 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 Or, whilst I can vent clamor from my throat, Lear. Hear me, recreant! Since thou hast sought to make us break our vow, Upon our kingdom. If, on the tenth day following, Kent. Fare thee well, king; since thus thou wilt appear, [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 Most royal majesty, Bur. Nor will you tender less. Lear. And nothing more, may fitly like your grace, Bur. Lear. Sir, I know no answer. Will you, with those infirmities she owes, Unfriended, new-adopted to our hate, Dowered with our curse, and strangered with our oath, Take her, or leave her? Bur. Pardon me, royal sir; Election makes not up on such conditions. Lear. Then leave her, sir; for, by the power that made me, I tell you all her wealth.-For you, great king, [To FRANCE. I would not from your love make such a stray, France. This is most strange! That she, that even but now was your best object, Most best, most dearest, should in this trice of time. So many folds of favor! Sure, her offence Must be of such unnatural degree, That monsters it, or your fore-vouched affection Must be a faith, that reason without miracle Cor. I yet beseech your majesty, (If for I want that glib and oily art, To speak and purpose not; since what I well intend, I'll do't before I speak,) that you make known It is no vicious blot, murder, or foulness, |