The worth that learned charity aye wears. The gods for murder seemed so content
For wicked Cleon and his wife, when fame To punish them; although not done, but meant
Had spread their cursed deed, and honour's So on your patience evermore attending,

New joy wait on you ! Here our play has end Of Pericles, to rage the city turn;

ing. That him and his they in his palace burn.

name

[Erit Gouer.

SCENE I.-A room of state in King LEAR's Kent. I cannot wish the fault undone, the is palace.

sue of it being so proper.

Glo. But I have, sir, a son by order of law, Enter KENT, GLOSTER, and EDMUND.

some year elder than this, who yet is no dearer Kent. I thought, the king had more affected in my account: though this knave came somethe duke of Albany, than Cornwall.

what saucily into the world before he was sent Glo. It did always seem so to us : but now, in for, yet was his mother fair ; there was good the division of the kingdom, it appears not sport at his making, and the whoreson must be which of the dukes he values most; for equali- acknowledged.- Do you know this noble gentles ties are so weighed, that curiosity in neither can man, Edmund ? make choice of either's moiety.

Edm. No, my lord. Kent. Is not this your son, my

lord ?

Glo. My lord of Kent: remember him hereGlo. His brceding, sir, hath been at my, after as my honourable friend. charge : I have so often blushed to acknowledge Edm. My services to your lordship. him, that now I am brazed to it.

Kent. I must love you, and sue to know you Kent. I cannot conceive you.

better. Glo. Sir, this young fellow's mother could: Edm. Sir, I shall study deserving. whereupon she grew round-wombed ; and hail, Glo. He hath been out nine years, and away indeed, sir, a son for her cradle, ere she had a he shall again :- The king is coming. husband for her bed. Do you smell a fault?

[ Trumpets sound within.

Enter LEAR, CORNWALL, ALBANY, GONERIL, More richer than my tongue.

And yet not so; since, I am sure, my love's REGAN, CORDELIA, and Attendants.

Lear. To thee, and thine, hereditary ever, Lear. Attend the lords of France and Bur- Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom; gundy, Gloster.

No less in space, validity, and pleasure, Glo. I shall, my liege.

Than that confirm'd on Goneril.-.Wow, our joy, ČExeunt Gloster and Edmund. Although the last, not least; to whose young love Lear. Mean-tiine we shall express our darker The vines of France, and milk of Burgundy, purpose.

Strive to be interess’d; what can you say, ta Give me the map there.-Know, that we have draw divided,

A third more opulent than your sisters? Speak. In three, our kingdom ; and 'tis our fast intent Cor. Nothing, my lord. To shake all cares and business from our age ; Lear. Nothing ? Conferring them on younger strengths, while we Cor. Nothing. Unburden'd crawl toward death.–Our son of Lear. Nothing can come of nothing: speak Cornwall,

again. And you, our no less loving son of Albany, Cor. Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave We have this hour a constant will to publish My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty Our daughters' several dowers, that future strife According to my bond ; nor more, nor less. May be prevented now. The princes, France Lear. How, how, Cordelia? inend your speech and Burgundy,

a little, Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love, Lest it may mar your fortunes. Long in our court have made their amorous so- Cor. Good my lord, journ,

You have begot me, bred me, lov'd me: I And here are to be answer’d.—Tell me, my Return those duties back as are right fit, daughters,

Obey you, love you, and most honour you. (Since now we will divest us, both of rule, Why have my sisters husbands, it they say, Interest of territory, cares of state,)

They love you, all ? Haply, when I shall wed, Which of you, shall we say, doth love us most? That lord, whose hand must take my plight, That we our largest bounty may extend

shall carry Where merit doth most challenge it.-Goneril, Half my love with him, half my care, and duty: Our eldest-born, speak first.

Sure, I shall never marry like my sisters, Gon. Sir, I

To love my father all. Do love you more than words can wield the Lear. But goes this with thy heart? matter,

Cor. Ay, good my lord. Dearer than eye-sight, space, and liberty;

Lear. So young, and so untender? Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare; Cor. So young, my lord, and true. No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, Lear. Let it be so, -Thy truth then be thy honour:

dower: As much as child e'er lov’d, or father found. For, by the sacred radiance of the sun; A love, that makes breath poor, and speech un- The mysteries of Hecate, and the night; able ;

By all the operations of the orbs, Beyond all manner of so much I love you. From whom we do exist, and ccase to be ; Cor. What shall Cordelia do ? Love, and be Here I disclaim all my paternal care, silent.

(Aside. Propinquity and property of blood, Lear. Of all these bounds, even from this line And as a stranger to my heart and me to this,

Hold thee, from this, for ever. The barbarous With shadowy forests and with champains rich’d, Scythian, With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads, Or he that makes his generation messes We make thee lady: To thine and Alhany's issue To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom Be this perpetual.—What says our second daugh- Be as well neighbour'd, pitied, and relier’d, ter,

As thou, my sometime daughter. Our dearest Regan, wife to Cornwall ? Speak. Kent. Good my liege,

Reg. I am made of that self metal as my sister, Lear. Peace, Kent! And prize me at her worth. in my true heart Come not between the dragon and his wrath: I find, she names my very deed of love ; I lov'd her most, and thought to set my rest Only she comes too short,—that I profess On her kind nursery.--Hence, and avoid my Vyself an enemy to all other joys,

sight! Which the most precious square of sense pos- So be my grave my peace, as here I give sesses;

Her father's heart from her !_Call France, And find, I am alone felicitate

Who stirs ? In your dear highness' love.

Call Burgundy.—Cornwall, and Albany, Cor. Then poor Cordelia !

[Aside. With my two daughters'dowersdigest this third:

[To (urikla.

The sway,

wilt appear,

23

Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry her. (Which nor our nature nor our place can bear,) I do invest you jointly with my power,

Our potency made good, take thy reward. Pre-eminence, and all the large effects,

Five days we do allot thee, for provision That troop with majesty. Ourself, by monthly .To shield thee from diseases of the world ; course,

And, on the sixth, to turn thy hated back With reservation of an hundred knights, Upon our kingdom: if, on the tenth day followBy you to be sustain'd, shall our abode

ing, Blake with you by due turns. Only we still Thy banish'd trunk be found in our dominions, retain

The moment is thy death : Away! By Jupiter, The name, and all the additions to a king; This shall not be revok'd.

Kent. Fare thee well, king : since thus thou Revenue, execution of the rest, Beloved sons, be yours: which to confirm, Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here. This coronet part between you.

The gods to their dear shelter take thee, mail, [Giving the crown.

[To Cordelia. Kent. Royal Lear,

That justly think'st, and hast mostrightly said !Whom I have honour'd as my king,

And your large speeches may your deeds approve, Lov'd as my father, as my master follow'd,

[To Regan and Gorrit. As my great patron thought on in my prayers,- | That good effects may spring from worels of Leur. The bow is bent and drawn, make from

love. the shaft.

Thus Kent, O princes, bids you all adlieu ; Kent. Let it fall rather, though the fork in- I'll shape his old course in a country new. vade

[Exil. The region of my heart: be Kent unmannerly, When Lear is inad. What would'st thou do, Re-enter Gloster, with FRANCE, BURGUNDS, old man?

and Attendants. Think'st thou, that duty shall have dread to Glo. Here's France and Burgundy, my noble speak,

lord. When power to flattery bows ? To plainness ho- Lear. My lord of Burgundy, pour's bound,

We first aildress towards you, who with this king When majesty stoops to folly. Reverse thy Hath rivall’d for our daughter. Whut, in the doom ;

least, And, in thy best consideration, check

Will you require in present dlower with her, This hideous rashness: answer my life my Or cease your quest of love? judgment,

Bur. Most royal majesty, Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least; I crave no more than hath your highness offerd, Nor are thoso empty-hearted, whose low sound Nor will you tender less. Reverbs no hollowness.

Lưur. Right noble Burgundy, Leur. Kent, on thy life, no more.

When she was dear to us, we did hold her so; Kent. My life I never held but as a pawn But now her price is fall'n: Sir, there she stands; Towage against thine enemies; nor fear to lose it, Ifaught within that little, seeming substance, Thy safety being the motive.

Or all of it, with our displeasure piec'd, Lear. Out of my sight!

And nothing more, may fitly like your grace, Kent. See better, Lear; and let me still re- She's there, and she is yours. main

Bur. I know no answer. The true blank of thine eye.

Lear. Sir, Lear. Now, by Apollo,

Will you, with those infirmities she owes, Kent. Now, by Apollo, king,

Unfriended, new-adopted to our hate, Thou swear’st tliy gols in vain.

Dower'd with our curse, and stranger'd with our Lear. O, vassal! miscreant !

oath, [Laying his hand on his sword. Take her, or leave her? Alb. f Corn. Dear sir, forbear.

Bur. Pardlon me, royal sir ; Kent. Do;

Election makes not up on such conditions. Kill thy physician, and the fee bestow

Lear. Then leave her, sir; for, by the power Upon the foul disease. Revoke thy gift;

that made me, Of, whilst I can vent clamour from my throat, I tell you all her wealth.--For you, great hing, I'll tell thee, thou dost evil.

[To Fruiner. Lear. Hear me, recreant !

I would not from your love make such a stray, On thine allegiance hear me !

To match you where I hate ; therefore besueel Since thou hast sought to make us break our vow, you (Which we durst never yet,) and, with strain'. To avert your liking a more worthier way, pride,

Than on a wretch, whom nature is ashain'a To coige betwixt our sentence ånd our power ; Almost to acknowledge hers.

France. This is most strange!

That face of hers again :—Therefore be gone, That she, thateven but now was your best object, Without our grace, our love, our benizonThe argument of your praise, balm of your age, Come, noble Burgundy. Most best, most dearest, should in this trice of [Flourish. Exeunt Lear, Burgundy, Cosztime

wall, Albany, Gloster, and Attendants. Commit a thing so monstrous, to dismantle France. Bid farewell to your sisters. So many folds of favour! Sure, her offence Cor. The jewels of our father, with wash'a Must be of such unnatural degree,

eyes That monsters it, or your fore-vouch'd affection Cordelia leaves you: I know you what you are ; Fall into taint: which to believe of her, And, like a sister, am most loath to call Must be a faith, that reason without miracle Your faults, as they are wam’d. Use well our Could never plant in me.

father: Cor. I yet beseech your majesty,

To your professed bosoms I commit him; (If for I want that glib and oily art,

But yet, alas ! stood I within his grace, To speak and purpose not ; since what I well I would prefer him to a better place. intend,

So farewell to you both. I'll do't before I speak,) that you make known Gon. Prescribe not us our duties. It is no vicious blot, murder, or foulness, Reg. Let your study No unchaste action, or dishonour'd step, Be, to content your lord ; who hath receiv'd you That hath depriv'd me of your grace and favour: At fortune's alms. You have obedience scanted, But even for want of that, for which I am richer ; And well are worth the want that you have A still-soliciting eye, and such a tongue,

wanted. That I am glad I have not, though not to have it, Cor. Time shall unfold what plaited cunning Hath lost me in your liking.

hides ; Lear. Better thou

Who cover faults, at last shame them derides. Hadst not been born, than not to have pleas's Well may you prosper! me better.

France. Come, my fair Cordelia. France. Is it but this ? a tardiness in nature,

[Exeunt France and Cordeli. Which often leaves the history unspoke,

Gon. Sister, it is not a little I have to say, of That it intends to do?-My lord of Burgundy, what most nearly appertains to us both. I think, What say you to the lady? Love is not love, our father will hence to-night. When it is mingled with respects, that stand Reg. That's most certain, and with you; next Aloof from the entire point. Will you have her? month with us. She is herself a dowry.

Gon. You see how full of changes his age is ; Bur. Royal Lear,

the observation we have made of it hath not been Give but that portion which yourself propos'd, little: he always loved our sister most ; and And here I take Cordelia by the hand, with what poor judgment he hath now cast her Duchess of Burgundy:

off, appears too grossly. Lear. Nothing: I have sworn; I am firm. Reg. 'Tis the infirmity of his age: yet he Bur. I am sorry then, you have so lost a fa hath ever but slenderly known himself. ther,

Gon. The best and soundest of his time hath That you must lose a husband.

been but rash; then must we look to receive Cor. Peace be with Burgundy!

from his age, not alone the imperfeetions of longSince that respects of fortune are his love, engrafted condition, but, therewithal, the unI shall not be his wife.

ruly waywardness, that infirm and cholerie years France. Fairest Cordelia, that art most rich, bring with them. being poor;

Reg. Such unconstant starts are we like to Most choice, forsaken ; and most lov’d, despis’d! have from him, as this of Kent's banishment. Thee and thy virtues here I seize upon:

Gon. There is further compliment of leanBe it lawful, I take up what's cast away. taking between France and him. Pray you, kt Gods, gods ! 'tis strange, that from their cold'stus hit together : If our father carry authority neglect

with such dispositions as he bears, this last sure Mly love should kindle to inflam'd respect. render of his will but offend us. Thy dowerless daughter, king, thrown to my Reg. We shall further think of it. chance,

Gon. We must do something, and i'the hal Is queen of us, of ours, and our fair France:

[Emuut
Not all the dukes of wat’rish Burgundy
Shall buy this unpriz'd precious maid of me.- SCENE II.-A hall in the Earl of GLOSTEE's
Bid them farewell, Cordelia, though unkind:

Castle.
Thou losest here, a better where to find.
Lear. Thou hast her, France : let her be

Enter EDMUND, with a letter.
thine ; for we

Edm. Thou, nature, art my goddess; to thy Ilave no such daughter, nor shall ever see

law

a

a