But merely want of that that makes me rich
In wanting it; a smooth professing tongue.
O sisters! I am loath to call your fault
As it deserves; but use our father well,
And wrong'd Cordelia never shall repine.

Edg. O heav'nly maid! that art thyself thy dow'r, Richer in virtue than the stars in light,

If Edgar's humble fortunes may be grac'd
With thy acceptance, at thy feet he lays 'em.
Ha! my Cordelia, dost thou turn away?

What have I done t'offend thee?

Cord. Talk'd of love.

Edg. Then I've offended oft; Cordelia too Has oft permitted me so to offend.

Cord. When, Edgar, I permitted your addresses,
I was the darling daughter of a king!
Nor can I now forget my royal birth,
And live dependent on my lover's fortune;
I cannot to so low a fate submit ;

And therefore study to forget your passion,
And trouble me upon this theme no more.

[Crosses to R.
Edg. Thus majesty takes most state in distress.
How are we tost on Fortune's fickle flood!
The wave that with surprising kindness brought
The dear wreck to my arms, has snatch'd it back,
And left me mourning on the barren shore.

Cord. This baseness of the ignoble Burgundy
Draws just suspicion on the race of men;
His love was int'rest, so may Edgar's be,
And he but with more compliment dissemble;
If so, I shall oblige him by denying;
But, if his love be fix'd, such constant flame
As warms my breast, if such I find his passion,
My heart as grateful to his truth shall be,
And cold Cordelia provę as kind as he.

Enter EDMUND, hastily, L.

[Exit, R.

Edm. Brother, I've found you in a lucky minute; Fly, and be safe: some villain has incens'd

Our father against your life.

Edg. Distrest Cordelia!-but, oh, more cruel!— Edm. Hear me, sir; your life, your life's in danger. 'Wake, 'wake, sir.

Edg. Say you, brother?

No tears, good Edmund; if thou bring'st me tidings

To strike me dead, for charity delay not;
That present will befit so kind a hand.

Edm. Your danger, sir, comes on so fast,
That I want time t'inform you; but retire,
Whilst I take care to turn the pressing stream.
O Gods! for heaven's sake, sir-

Edg. Pardon me, Edmund;

But you talk'd of danger,

And wish'd me to retire.-Must all our vows

End thus ?- Friend, I obey you.-O, Cordelia !

[Exit, R.

Edm. Ha ha! Fond man! Such credulous ho

nesty

Lessens the glory of my artifice;

His nature is so far from doing wrongs,

That he suspects none: [Takes out a Letter.] If this letter speed,

And pass for Edgar's, as himself would own

The counterfeit, but for the foul contents,

Then my designs are perfect.-Here comes Gloster.

[Attempts to conceal the Letter.

Enter GLOSTter, l.

Glost. Stay, Edmund, turn; what paper were you reading?

Edm. A trifle, sir.

Glost. What needed then that terrible despatch of it Into your pocket? Come, produce it, sir.

Edm. A letter from my brother, sir: I had

Just broke the seal, but know not the contents:

[Gives the Letter to GLOSTER.

Yet, fearing they might prove to blame,
Endeavour'd to conceal it from your sight.
Glost. This is Edgar's character.
[Reads.]" This policy of father's is intolerable,
that keeps our fortunes from us till age will not suffer
us to enjoy them; I am weary of the tyranny. Come
to me, that of this I may speak more. If our father
would sleep till I waked him, you should enjoy half his
possessions, and live belov'd of your brother."

Sleep till I wak'd him, you should enjoy
Half his possessions !-Edgar to write this
'Gainst his indulgent father! Death and hell!

[Crosses to R.

Fly, Edmund, seek him out; wind me into him,

That I may bite the traitor's heart, and fold
His bleeding entrails on my vengeful arm.

Edm. Perhaps 'twas writ, my lord, to prove my virtue.

Glost. These late eclipses of the sun and moon
Can bode no less; love cools, and friendship fails;
In cities mutiny, in countries discord;

The bond of nature crack'd 'twixt son and father.-
Find out the villain! do it carefully,

And it shall lose thee nothing.

[Exit, R. Edm. So, now my project's firm; but, to make sure, I'll throw in one proof more, and that a bold one; I'll place old Gloster where he shall o'er-hear us Confer of this design; whilst, to his thinking, Deluded Edgar shall accuse himself.

Be honesty my int'rest, and I can

Be honest too; and what saint so divine,
That will successful villainy decline.

[Exit, R.

SCENE III.-The Court before the Duke of Albany's

Palace.

Enter KENT, disguised, R.

Kent. Now, banish'd Kent, if thou can'st pay thy
duty,

In this disguise, where thou dost stand condemn'd,
Thy master Lear shall find thee full of labours.

[Retires a little, R.

Enter KING LEAR, attended by his Physician, and three Knights, L.

Lear. (L.) In there, and tell our daughter we are here. [Exit 1st Knight, R. KENT advances, R.

Now, what art thou? Kent. A man, sir. Lear. What dost thou profess, or would'st with us? Kent. I do profess to be no less than I seem, to serve him truly that puts me in trust, to love him that's honest, to converse with him that's wise and speaks little, to fight when I can't choose, and to eat no fish.

Lear. I say, what art thou?

Kent. A very honest-hearted fellow, and as poor as the king.

Lear. If thou art as poor for a subject, as he is for

a king, thou art poor enough.-Dost thou know me, fellow?

Kent. No, sir; but you have that in your countenance, which I would fain call master.

Lear. What's that?

Kent. Authority.

Lear. What services can'st thou do?

Kent. I can keep honest counsel, mar a curious tale in the telling, deliver a plain message bluntly; that which ordinary men are fit for, I am qualified in; and the best of me, is diligence.

Lear. How old art thou?

Kent. Not so young, sir, to love a woman for singing; nor so old, to dote on her for any thing: I have years on my back forty-eight.

Lear. Thy name?

Kent. Caius.

Lear. Follow me; thou shalt serve me.

[KENT goes to R. of 2d Knight.

Enter OSWALD, L. singing, and passing King Lear carelessly.

Now, sir?

Osw. Sir!-Tol de rol, &c. [Exit, singing, R. Lear. What says the fellow? call the clodpole back. [Exeunt KENT and 2d Knight, R. Physic. (L.) My lord, I know not: but, methinks, your highness is entertain'd with slender ceremony. Lear. Say'st thou so? Thou but remember'st me of mine own conception.

Re-enter 2d Knight, R.

Why came not that slave back when I call'd him?

2d Knight. (R.) My lord, he answer'd i' th' surliest manner that he would not. [Goes to his former place. Lear. (L. C.) I hope our daughter did not so instruct him.

OSWALD brought in by KENT.-KENT puts OSWALD next the King.

Now, who am I, sir?

Osw. (c.) My lady's father.

Lear. My lady's father! My lord's knave

Osw. I'll not be struck, my lord.

3

[Strikes him.

Kent. Nortript, neither, you vile civet-box.

[Trips up his heels.

Lear. I thank thee, fellow: thou serv'st me.
Kent. Come, sir, arise, away; I'll teach you differ-

ences.

[Exit OSWALD, crying out, R. U. E.-KENT pursues him with his staff till he is off the Stage, then returns to the Knights, L.

Gon. [Without, R.] By day and night! this is insufferable; I will not bear it.

Enter GONERIL, R. V. E. attended by a Page and two Ladies.

Lear. (c.) Now, daughter, why that frontlet on? Speak, does that frown become our presence? Gon. (R.) Sir, this licentious insolence of your ser

vants

Is most unseemly: hourly they break out
In quarrels. bred by their unbounded riots;
I had fair hope, by making this known to you,
To have had a quick redress; but find too late
That you protect and countenance their outrage;
And therefore, sir, I take this freedom, which
Necessity makes discreet.

Lear. Are you our daughter?

Gon. Come, sir, let me intreat you to make use Of your discretion, and put off betimes

This disposition that of late transforms you

From what you rightly are.

Lear. Does any here know me? Why, this is not Lear!

Does Lear walk thus? Speak thus? Where are his eyes?

Who is it that can tell me who I am?

Your name, fair gentlewoman?

Gon. Come, sir, this admiration's much o'th' savour Of other your new humours; I beseech you

To understand my purposes aright;

As you are old, you should be staid and wise:

Here do you keep an hundred knights and 'squires,
M'en so debauch'd and bold, that this our palace
Shews like a riotous inn, a tavern, brothel :
Be then advis'd by her, that else will take
That which she begs, to lessen your attendants;
Take half away, and see that the remainder

B