4I thought the King had more affected the

5Duke of Albany, then Cornwall.

6Glou. It did alwayes seeme so to vs: But

7now in the diuision of the Kingdome, it ap-

8peares not which of the Dukes hee valewes

9most, for qualities are so weigh'd, that curiosity in nei-

10ther, can make choise of eithers moity.

11Kent. Is not this your Son, my Lord?

12Glou. His breeding Sir, hath bin at my charge. I haue

13so often blush'd to acknowledge him, that now I am

14braz'd too't.

15Kent. I cannot conceiue you.

16Glou. Sir, this yong Fellowes mother could; where-

17vpon she grew round womb'd, and had indeede (Sir) a

18Sonne for her Cradle, ere she had husband for her bed.

19Do you smell a fault?

20Kent. I cannot wish the fault vndone, the issue of it,

21being so proper.

22Glou. But I haue a Sonne, Sir, by order of Law, some

23yeere elder then this; who, yet is no deerer in my ac-

24count, though this Knaue came somthing sawcily to the

25world before he was sent for: yet was his Mother fayre,

26there was good sport at his making, and the horson must

27be acknowledged. Doe you know this Noble Gentle-

28man, Edmond?

29Edm. No, my Lord.

30Glou. My Lord of Kent:

31Remember him heereafter, as my Honourable Friend.

32Edm. My seruices to your Lordship.

33Kent. I must loue you, and sue to know you better.

34Edm. Sir, I shall study deseruing.

35Glou. He hath bin out nine yeares, and away he shall

36againe. The King is comming.

39Lear. Attend the Lords of France & Burgundy, Gloster.

40Glou. I shall, my Lord. Exit.

41Lear. Meane time we shal expresse our darker purpose.

42Giue me the Map there. Know, that we haue diuided

43In three our Kingdome: and 'tis our fast intent,

44To shake all Cares and Businesse from our Age,

45Conferring them on yonger strengths, while we

46Vnburthen'd crawle toward death. Our son of Cornwal,

47And you our no lesse louing Sonne of Albany,

48We haue this houre a constant will to publish

49Our daughters seuerall Dowers, that future strife

50May be preuented now. The Princes, France & Burgundy,

51Great Riuals in our yongest daughters loue,

52Long in our Court, haue made their amorous soiourne,

53And heere are to be answer'd. Tell me my daughters

54(Since now we will diuest vs both of Rule,

55Interest of Territory, Cares of State)

56Which of you shall we say doth loue vs most,

57That we, our largest bountie may extend

58Where Nature doth with merit challenge. Gonerill,

59Our eldest borne, speake first.

60Gon. Sir, I loue you more then word can weild y^e matter,

61Deerer then eye-sight, space, and libertie,

62Beyond what can be valewed, rich or rare,

63No lesse then life, with grace, health, beauty, honor:

64As much as Childe ere lou'd, or Father found.

65A loue that makes breath poore, and speech vnable,

66Beyond all manner of so much I loue you.

67Cor. What shall Cordelia speake? Loue, and be silent.

68Lear. Of all these bounds euen from this Line, to this,

69With shadowie Forrests, and with Champains rich'd

70With plenteous Riuers, and wide-skirted Meades

71We make thee Lady. To thine and Albanies issues

72Be this perpetuall. What sayes our second Daughter?

73Our deerest Regan, wife of Cornwall?

74Reg. I am made of that selfe-mettle as my Sister,

75And prize me at her worth. In my true heart,

76I finde she names my very deede of loue:

77Onely she comes too short, that I professe

78My selfe an enemy to all other ioyes,

79Which the most precious square of sense professes,

80And finde I am alone felicitate

81In your deere Highnesse loue.

82Cor. Then poore Cordelia,

83And yet not so, since I am sure my loue's

84More ponderous then my tongue.

85Lear. To thee, and thine hereditarie euer,

86Remaine this ample third of our faire Kingdome,

87No lesse in space, validitie, and pleasure

88Then that conferr'd on Gonerill. Now our Ioy,

89Although our last and least; to whose yong loue,

90The Vines of France, and Milke of Burgundie,

91Striue to be interest. What can you say, to draw

92A third, more opilent then your Sisters? speake.

93Cor. Nothing my Lord.

94Lear. Nothing?

95Cor. Nothing.

96Lear. Nothing will come of nothing, speake againe.

97Cor. Vnhappie that I am, I cannot heaue

98My heart into my mouth: I loue your Maiesty

99According to my bond, no more nor lesse.

100Lear. How, how Cordelia? mend your speech a little,

101Least you may marre your Fortunes.

102Cor. Good my Lord,

103You haue begot me, bred me, lou'd me.

104I returne those duties backe as are right fit,

105Obey you, Loue you, and most Honour you.

106Why haue my Sisters Husbands, if they say

107They loue you all? Happily when I shall wed,

108That Lord, whose hand must take my plight, shall carry

109Halfe my loue with him, halfe my Care, and Dutie,

110Sure I shall neuer marry like my Sisters.

111Lear. But goes thy heart with this?

112Cor. I my good Lord.

113Lear. So young, and so vntender?

114Cor. So young my Lord, and true.

115Lear. Let it be so, thy truth then be thy dowre:

116For by the sacred radience of the Sunne,

117The miseries of Heccat and the night:

118By all the operation of the Orbes,

119From whom we do exist, and cease to be,

120Heere I disclaime all my Paternall care,

121Propinquity and property of blood,

122And as a stranger to my heart and me,

123Hold thee from this for euer. The barbarous Scythian,

124Or he that makes his generation messes

125To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosome

126Be as well neighbour'd, pittied, and releeu'd,

127As thou my sometime Daughter.

128Kent. Good my Liege.

129Lear. Peace Kent,

130Come not betweene the Dragon and his wrath,

131I lou'd her most, and thought to set my rest

132On her kind nursery. Hence and avoid my sight:

133So be my graue my peace, as here I giue

134Her Fathers heart from her ; call France, who stirres?

135Call Burgundy, Cornwall, and Albanie,

136With my two Daughters Dowres, digest the third,

137Let pride, which she cals plainnesse, marry her:

138I doe inuest you ioyntly with my power,

139Preheminence, and all the large effects

140That troope with Maiesty. Our selfe by Monthly course,

141With reseruation of an hundred Knights,

142By you to be sustain'd, shall our abode

143Make with you by due turne, onely we shall retaine

144The name, and all th'addition to a King: the Sway,

145Reuennew, Execution of the rest,

146Beloued Sonnes be yours, which to confirme,

147This Coronet part betweene you.

148Kent. Royall Lear,

149Whom I haue euer honor'd as my King,

150Lou'd as my Father, as my Master follow'd,

151As my great Patron thought on in my praiers.

152Le. The bow is bent & drawne, make from the shaft.

153Kent. Let it fall rather, though the forke inuade

154The region of my heart, be Kent vnmannerly,

155When Lear is mad, what wouldest thou do old man?

156Think'st thou that dutie shall haue dread to speake,

157When power to flattery bowes?

158To plainnesse honour's bound,

159When Maiesty falls to folly, reserue thy state,

160And in thy best consideration checke

161This hideous rashnesse, answere my life, my iudgement:

162Thy yongest Daughter do's not loue thee least,

163Nor are those empty hearted, whose low sounds

164Reuerbe no hollownesse.

165Lear. Kent, on thy life no more.

166Kent. My life I neuer held but as pawne

167To wage against thine enemies, nere feare to loose it,

168Thy safety being motiue.

169Lear. Out of my sight.

170Kent. See better Lear, and let me still remaine

171The true blanke of thine eie.

172Kear. Now by Apollo,

173Lent. Now by Apollo, King

174Thou swear.st thy Gods in vaine.

175Lear. O Vassall! Miscreant.

176Alb. Cor. Deare Sir forbeare.

177Kent. Kill thy Physition, and thy fee bestow

178Vpon the foule disease, reuoke thy guift,

179Or whil'st I can vent clamour from my throate,

180Ile tell thee thou dost euill.

181Lea. Heare me recreant, on thine allegeance heare me;

182That thou hast sought to make vs breake our vowes,

183Which we durst neuer yet; and with strain'd pride,

184To come betwixt our sentences, and our power,

185Which, nor our nature, nor our place can beare;

186Our potencie made good, take thy reward.

187Fiue dayes we do allot thee for prouision,

188To shield thee from disasters of the world,

189And on the sixt to turne thy hated backe

190Vpon our kingdome; if on the tenth day following,

191Thy banisht trunke be found in our Dominions,

192The moment is thy death, away. By Iupiter,

193This shall not be reuok'd,

194Kent. Fare thee well King, sith thus thou wilt appeare,

195Freedome liues hence, and banishment is here;

196The Gods to their deere shelter take thee Maid,

197That iustly think'st, and hast most rightly said:

198And your large speeches, may your deeds approue,

199That good effects may spring from words of loue:

200Thus Kent, O Princes, bids you all adew,

201Hee'l shape his old course, in a Country new. Exit.

204Cor. Heere's France and Burgundy, my Noble Lord.

205Lear. My Lord of Bugundie,

206We first addresse toward you, who with this King

207Hath riuald for our Daughter; what in the least

208Will you require in present Dower with her,

209Or cease your quest of Loue?

210Bur. Most Royall Maiesty,

211I craue no more then hath your Highnesse offer'd,

212Nor will you tender lesse?

213Lear. Right Noble Burgundy,

214When she was deare to vs, we did hold her so,

215But now her price is fallen: Sir, there she stands,

216If ought within that little seeming substance,

217Or all of it with our displeasure piec'd,

218And nothing more may fitly like your Grace,

219Shee's there, and she is yours.

220Bur. I know no answer.

221Lear. Will you with those infirmities she owes,

222Vnfriended, new adopted to our hate,

223Dow'rd with our curse, and stranger'd with our oath,

224Take her or, leaue her.

225Bur. Pardon me Royall Sir,

226Election makes not vp in such conditions.

227Le. Then leaue her sir, for by the powre that made me,

228I tell you all her wealth. For you great King,

229I would not from your loue make such a stray,

230To match you where I hate, therefore beseech you

231T'auert your liking a more worthier way,

232Then on a wretch whom Nature is asham'd

233Almost t'acknowledge hers.

234Fra. This is most strange,

235That she whom euen but now, was your obiect,

236The argument of your praise, balme of your age,

237The best, the deerest, sh}ould in this trice of time

238Commit a thing so monstrous, to dismantle

239So many folds of fauour: sure her offence

240Must be of such vnnaturall degree,

241That monsters it: Or your fore-voucht affection

242Fall into taint, which to beleeue of her

243Must be a faith that reason without miracle

244Should neuer plant in me.

245Cor. I yet beseech your Maiesty.

246If for I want that glib and oylie Art,

247To speake and purpose not, since what I will intend,

248Ile do't before I speake, that you make knowne

249It is no vicious blot, murther, or foulenesse,

250No vnchaste action or dishonoured step

251That hath depriu'd me of your Grace and fauour,

252But euen for want of that, for which I am richer,

253A still soliciting eye, and such a tongue,

254That I am glad I haue not, though not to haue it,

255Hath lost me in your liking.

256Lear. Better thou had'st '

257Not beene borne, then not t haue pleas'd me better.

258Fra. Is it but this ? A tardinesse in nature,

259Which often leaues the history vnspoke

260That it intends to do: my Lord of Burgundy,

261What say you to the Lady? Loue's not loue

262When it is mingled with regards, that stands

263Aloofe from th'intire point, will you haue her?

264She is herselfe a Dowrie.

265Bur. Royall King,

266Giue but that portion which your selfe propos'd,

267And here I take Cordelia by the hand,

268Dutchesse of Burgundie.

269Lear. Nothing, I haue sworne, I am firme.

270Bur. I am sorry then you haue so lost a Father,

271That you must loose a husband.

272Cor. Peace be with Burgundie,

273Since that respect and Fortunes are his loue,

274I shall not be his wife.

275Fra. Fairest Cordelia, that art most rich being poore,

276Most choise forsaken, and most lou'd despis'd,

277Thee and thy vertues here I seize vpon,

278Be it lawfull I take vp what's cast away.

279Gods, Gods! 'Tis strange, that from their cold'st neglect

280My Loue should kindle to enflam'd respect.

281Thy dowrelesse Daughter King, throwne to my chance,

282Is Queene of vs, of ours, and our faire France:

283Not all the Dukes of watrish Burgundy,

284Can buy this vnpriz'd precious Maid of me.

285Bid them farewellCordelia, though vnkinde,

286Thou loosest here a better where to finde.

287Lear. Thou hast her France, let her be thine, for we

288Haue no such Daughter, nor shall euer see

289That face of hers againe, therfore be gone,

290Without our Grace, our Loue, our Benizon:

291Come Noble Burgundie. Flourish. Exeunt.

292Fra. Bid farwell to your Sisters.

293Cor. The Iewels of our Father, with wash'd eies

294Cordelia leaues you, I know you what you are,

295And like a Sister am most loth to call

296Your faults as they are named. Loue well our Father:

297To your professed bosomes I commit him,

298But yet alas, stood I within his Grace,

299I would prefer him to a better place,

300So farewell to you both.

301Regn. Prescribe not vs our dutie.

302Gon. Let your study

303Be to content your Lord, who hath receiu'd you

304At Fortunes almes, you haue obedience scanted,

305And well are worth the want that you haue wanted.

306Cor. Time shall vnfold what plighted cunning hides,

307Who couers faults, at last with shame derides:

308Well may you prosper.

309Fra. Come my faire Cordelia. Exit France and Cor.

310Gon. Sister, it is not little I haue to say,

311Of what most neerely appertaines to vs both,

312I thinke our Father will hence to night. (with vs.

313Reg. That's most certaine, and with you: next moneth

314Gon. You see how full of changes his age is, the ob-

315seruation we haue made of it hath beene little; he alwaies

316lou'd our Sister most, and with what poore iudgement he

317hath now cast her off, appeares too grossely.

318Reg. 'Tis the infirmity of his age, yet he hath euer but

319slenderly knowne himselfe.

320Gon. The best and soundest of his time hath bin but

321rash, then must we looke from his age, to receiue not a-

322lone the imperfections of long ingraffed condition, but

323therewithall the vnruly way-wardnesse, that infirme and

324cholericke yeares bring with them.

325Reg. Such vnconstant starts are we like to haue from

326him, as this of Kents banishment.

327Gon. There is further complement of leaue-taking be-

328tweene France and him, pray you let vs sit together, if our

329Father carry authority with such disposition as he beares,

330this last surrender of his will but offend vs.

331Reg. We shall further thinke of it.

332Gon. We must do something, and i'th'heate. Exeunt.