In the dull Road that Cuftom has prescrib'd? Well Well then, legitimate Edgar, to thy Right I've practis'd yet on both their eafy Natures: And heighten'd by fuch lucky Accident, That now the flightest Circumftance confirms him, Gloft. Nay, good my Lord, your Charity Gloft. Plead with the Seas, and reafon down the Winds That I difcard him here from my Poffeffions, Whilft Edgar, beg'd of Heaven, and born in Honour, My Lord, you wait the King, who comes refolv'd His Realms amongst his Daughters. Heaven fucceed it ;- Kent Kent. I grieve to fee him With fuch wild Stars of Paffion hourly feiz'd, Gloft. Alas! 'tis the Infirmity of his Age: Chol'rick and fudden; hark, they approach. [Exeunt Gloft. and Bast. Flourish. Enter Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Burgundy, Edgar, Goneril, Regan, Cordelia, Edgar Speaking to Cordelia at Entrance. Edgar. Cordelia, Royal Fair, turn yet once more, And e'er fuccessful Burgundy receive The Treafure of thy Beauties from the King, E'er happy Burgundy for ever fold Thee, Caft back one pitying Look on wretched Edgar. Cord. Alas! what wou'd the wretched Edgar with The more unfortunate Cordelia, Who in Obedience to a Father's Will Flies from her Edgar's Arms to Burgundy's Lear. Attend my Lords of Albany and Cornwall, With Princely Burgundy. Alb. We do, my Liege. Lear. Give me this Map Know, Lords, we have In Three our Kingdom, having now refolv'd [divided Long in our Court have made your amorous Sojourn, Gon. Sir, I do love you more than Words can utter, Beyond what can be valu'd Rich, or Rare; Nor Liberty, nor Sight, Health, Fame, or Beauty, As much as Child can love the beft of Fathers. Lear. Of all thefe Bounds, e'en from this Line to this, With fhady Forefts, and wide-fkirted Meads, We make thee Lady; to thine and Albany's fue Be this perpetual.What fays our fecond Daughter? Reg Reg. My Sifter, Sir, in Part, expreft my Love; For fuch as hers, is mine, though more extended: Senfe has no other Joy that I can relish, I have my All in my dear Liege's Love. Lear. Therefore to thee and thine Hereditary Remain this ample Third of our fair Kingdom. Cor. Now comes my Trial, how am I diftreft! [Afide That must with cold Speech tempt the Chol'rick King Rather to leave me Dowerlefs, than condemn me To loath'd Embraces. Lear. Speak now our laft, not least in ous dear Love, So ends my Task of State- Cordelia, fpeak. What canft thou say to win a richer Third Than what thy Sifters gain'd? Cord. Now muft my Love in Words, fall fhort of theirs, As much as it exceeds in TruthNothing, my Lord. Lear. Nothing can come of Nothing, fpeak again. Cord. Unhappy am I that I cannot diffemble: Sir, as I ought, I love your Majesty, No more, nor lefs. Lear. Take heed, Cordelia ; Thy Fortunes are at stake, think better on't, Cord. O my Liege ! You gave me Being, bred me, dearly love me, Obey you, love you, and moft honour you; Why have my Sifters Hufbands, if they love you All ; Haply when I fhall wed, the Lord whofe Hand Shall take my Plight, will carry half my Love; To love my Father all. Lear. And goes thy Heart with this ? 'Tis faid that I am Chol'rick. Judge me, Gods, Cord |