Enter Kent, Glofter, and Edmund the Bafnit!.

KENT.

Thougbt the King had more affected the
Duke of Albany, than Cornwall.

Glo. It did always sem fo to us: But now in the Divifion of the Kingdom, it appears not which of the Dukes he values moft; for

qualities are to weigh'd, that curiolity in neither, can make choice of either's moiety.

Kent. Is not this your Son, my Lord?

Glo. His breeding, Sir, hath been at my charge. I have so often blush'd to acknowledge him, that now I am braz'd to't.

Kent. I cannot conceive you.

Glo. Sir, this young Fellow's Mother could; where pon The grew round womb'd, and had indeed, Sir, a Son for her Cradle, e'er she had a Husband for her Bed. Do you imell a Fault?

Kent. I cannot wish the fault undone, the Issue of it be ing to proper.

Glo.

Gla. But I have a Son, Sir, by order of Law, fome Year elder than this; who, yet is no dearer in my Account, though this Knave came somewhat sawcily to the World before he was sent for: Yet was his Mother fair, there was good sport at his making, and the whorson must be acknowledged. Do you know this Nobleman, Edmund?

Baft. No, my Lord.

Glo. My Lord of Kent;
Remember him hereafter, as my honourable Friend.

Baft. My services to your Lordship.
Kent. I must love you, and sue to know you better.
Bast. Sir, I shall study deserving.

Glo. He hath been our nine Years, and away he shall 2. gain. The King is coming. Enter King Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Gonerill, Regan, Cor

delia, and Attendants. Laer. Attend the Lords of France and Burgundy, Gloster. Glo I shall, my Lord.

[Exit. Laer. Mean time we shall express our darker purpose. Give me the Map here. Know, that we have divided Into three, our Kingdom; ard 'is our fast intent, To shake all cares and businefs from our Age, Conferring them on younger strengths, while we Unburthen'd crawl toward Death. Our Sön of Cornwall, And you our no lefs loving Son of Albany, We have this hour a constant will to publish Our Daughters several Dowers, that future strife May be preverted now. The Princes, France and Burgundy, Great Rivals in our younger Daughter's Love, Long in our Court, have made their amorous lojourn, And here are to be answer'd. Tell me, my Daughters, Since now we will 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 Nature doth with merit challenge. Gonerill, Our eldest born, speak first,

Gon, Sir, I love you more than word can wield the matter, Dearer than Eye-light, space, and liberty, Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare, No less than Life, with Grace, Health, Beauty, Honour:

As

As much as Child e'er lov'd, or Father found.
A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable,
Beyond all manner of so much I love you.

Cor. What shall Cordelia speak? Love, and be filent.

Lear. Of all these bounds, even from this Line, to this,
With shadowy Forests, and with Champions rich'd,
With plenteous Rivers, and wide-skirted Meads,
We make thee Lady. To thine and Albany's Issues
Be this perpetual. What says our second Daughter,
Our dearest Regan, Wife of Cornwall ?

Reg. I am made of that self-metal as my sister,
And prize me at her worth. In my true Heart,
I find the names my very deed of love:
Only she comes too short, that I profess
My self an Enemy to all other Joys,

Which the most precious square of sense professes,
& And find I am alone felicitate
In your dear Highness love, .

Cor. Then, poor Cordelia!
And yet not so, since I am sure my Love's
More ponderous than my Tongue.

Laer. To thee, and thine, hereditary ever,
Remain this ample third of our fair Kingdom,
No less in space, validiiy, and pleasure,
Than that confer'd on Gonerill. Now our Joy,
Although our last and least; to whose young love, ,
The Vines of France, and Milk of Burgundy,
Strive to be interest: What can you say, to draw
A third, more opulent than your Sisters? speak.

Cor. Nothing, my Lord.
Lear. Nothing?
Cor. Nothing
Lear. Nothing will come of nothing, speak again.

Cord. Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave
My Heart into my Mouth: I love your Majesty
According to my Bond, no more nor less.

Lear. How, how, Cordelia? Mend your fpesch a little,
Left you may mar your Fortunes, .

Cor. Good, my Lord,
You have begot me, bred me, lov'd me.
I return those Duties back as are right fit,
Obey you, love you, and most honour

you.

Why

Why have my Sisters Husbands, if they say
They love you all? Happily 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 merry like

my

.Sisters.
Lear. But goes thy Heart with this?
Cor. Ay, my gond Lord.
Lear. So young, ard fo untender?
Cor. So young, my Lord, and true.

Lear. Let it be fo, che Truth then be thy dowre:
For by the facred 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,
Here I disclaim all my paternal Care,
Propinquity and property of Blood,
And as a Stranger to my H art and me,
Hold thee from this for ever. The Barbarous Scythian,
Or he that makes his Generation, Meffes
To gorge his Appetite, shall to my Bosom
Be as well neighbour'd, pitied, and reliev'd,
As thou my sometime Daughtır.

Kent. Good my Liege

Lear. Peace, Kent ! Come not between the Dragon and his Wrath; I lov'd her most, and thought to fet my rest On her kind Nursery. Hence, and avoid my fight !---[To Crr. So be my Grave my Peace, as here I give Her Father's Heart from her; call France; who ftirs? Call Burgundy Cornwall, and Albany, With my two Daughters Dowres, digelt the third, Let Pride, which the calls Plainness, marry her: I do invest you jointly with my Power, Preheminence, and all the large Effe&s That troop with Majesly. Our felf by monthly course With reservation of an hundred Knight, By you to be sustain'd, shall our abode Make with you by due turn, only we shall retain The Name, and all th' addition to a King: the Sway, Revenue, Execution of the rest, Beloved Sons, be yours, which to confirm, This Coronet part between you.

Kent.

Kent. Royal Lear,
Whom I have ever honour'd as a King,
Lov'd as my Father, as my Master follow'd,
And as my Patron, thought on in my Prayers-

Lear. The Bow is bent and drawn, make from the Shafc.

Kent. Ler it fall rather, though the fork invade The region of my Heart; be Kent unmannerly, When Leer is mad; what would it thou do, old Man? Think'st thou that Duty shall have dread to speak, When Power to Flattery bows? To plainness Honour's bound, When Majesty falls to Folly ; reserve thy State, And in thy belt confideration, check This hideous rafhveis; answer my Life, my Judgment, Thy youngest Daughter do's not love thee leait, Nor are those empty hearted, whose low founds Reverb no hollowness.

Lear, Kent, on thy Life no more.

Kent. My Life I never held but as a pawn
To wage against thine Enemies, ne'er fear to lose it,
Thy safety being Morive.

Lear. Out of my fight !

Kent. See better, Lear, and let me ftill remain The true Blank of thine Eye.

Lear. Now by Apollo

Kent, Now by Apollo ; King,
Thou sweareft thy Gods in vain.

Laer. O Vaflal! Miscreant !--- [Laying his Hand on his Sword,
Alb. Corn, Dear Sir, forbear.

Kent. Kill thy Physician, and thy Fee bestow
Upon the foul Disease, revoke the Gift,
Or whilft I can vent clamour from my Throat,
I'll tell thee thou doft evil.

Lear. Hear me Recreant, on thine Allegiance hear me ;
That thou hast sought to make us break our Vows,
Which we durft never yet ; and with strain'd Pride,
To come betwixt our Sentence and our Power,
Which, nor our Nature, nor our Place can bear,
Our Potency made good, take thy Reward.
Five days we do allot thee for Provision,
To thield thee from disasters of the World,
VOL. V.

Dd

And