Propinquity and property of blood, And as a stranger to my heart and me Hold thee, from this, for ever. The barbarous Scy thian, Or he that makes his generation' messes To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom Kent. Lear. Peace, Kent! Good my liege,― Come not between the dragon and his wrath: So be my grave my peace, as here I give Her father's heart from her!-Call France; Who stirs ? Call Burgundy.-Cornwall, and Albany, With my two daughters' dowers digest this third: Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry her. That troop with majesty.-Ourself, by monthly course, By you to be sustain'd, shall our abode Make with you by due turns. Only we still retain The name, and all the additions to a king; The sway, Revenue, execution of the rest", Beloved sons, be yours: which to confirm, This coronet part between you. Kent. [Giving the Crown. Royal Lear, Whom I have ever honour'd as my king, 5 6 a king. 7 generation —] i. e. his children. all the additions to a king;] All the titles belonging to execution of the rest,] All the other business. Lov'd as my father, as my master follow'd, As my great patron thought on in my prayers,— Lear. The bow is bent and drawn, make from the shaft. Kent. Let it fall rather, though the fork invade The region of my heart: be Kent unmannerly, When Lear is mad. What would'st 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 stoops to folly. Reverse thy doom; This hideous rashness: answer my life my judgment, Lear. Kent, on thy life, no more. Kent. My life I never held but as a pawn To wage against thine enemies; nor fear to lose it, Thy safety being the motive. Lear. Out of my sight! Kent. See better, Lear; and let me still remain The true blank of thine eye". Lear. Now, by Apollo,— s Reverbs-] This is, perhaps, a word of the poet's own making, meaning the same as reverberates. • The true blank of thine eye.] The blank is the white or exact mark at which the arrow is shot. See better, says Kent, and keep me always in your view. Upon the foul disease. Revoke thy gift; Or, whilst I can vent clamour from my throat, Lear. Hear me, recreant! On thine allegiance hear me ! Since thou hast sought to make us break our vow, Kent. Fare thee well, king: since thus thou wilt appear, Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here. The gods to their dear shelter take thee, maid, [TO CORDELIA. That justly think'st, and hast most rightly said!— 3 He'll shape his old course in a country new. [Exit. 1 (Which nor our nature nor our place can bear,) Our potency made good,] i. e. They to whom I have yielded my power and authority, yielding me the ability to dispense it in this instance, take thy reward. 2 by Jupiter,] Shakspeare makes his Lear too much a mythologist: he had Hecate and Apollo before. Johnson. 3 He'll shape his old course-] He will follow his old maxims; he will continue to act upon the same principles. Re-enter GLOSTER; with FRANCE, BURGUNDY, and Attendants. Glo. Here's France and Burgundy, my noble lord. Lear. My lord of Burgundy, We first address towards you, who with this king Or cease your quest of love*? Bur. Most royal majesty, I crave no more than hath your highness offer'd, Lear. Right noble Burgundy, When she was dear to us, we did hold her so; And nothing more, may fitly like your grace, Bur. Lear. Sir, I know no answer. Will you, with those infirmities she owes, Unfriended, new-adopted to our hate, Dower'd with our curse, and stranger'd with our oath, Take her, or leave her? Bur. Pardon me, royal sir; Election makes not up on such conditions'. Lear. Then leave her, sir; for, by the power that made me, quest of love?] Quest of love is amorous expedition. The term originated from Romance. A quest was the expedition in which a knight was engaged. 5 6 seeming —] is beautiful, or rather, specious. 7 Election makes not up on such conditions.] a decision; in the same sense as when we say, mind on that subject." Election comes not to "I have made up my I tell you all her wealth.-For you, great king, [TO FRANCE. I would not from your love make such a stray, France. This is most strange! That she, that even but now was your best object, That monsters it, or your fore-vouch'd affection Must be a faith, that reason without miracle Cor. 9 I yet beseech your majesty, (If for I want that glib and oily art, To speak and purpose not; since what I well intend, It is no vicious blot, murder, or foulness, No unchaste action, or dishonour'd step, That hath depriv'd me of your grace and favour: That I am glad I have not, though, not to have it, Lear. Better thou Had'st not been born, than not to have pleas'd me better Fall into taint:] Either her offence must be monstrous, or, if she has not committed any such offence, the affection which you always professed to have for her must be tainted and decayed, and is now without reason alienated from her. 9 (If for I want, &c.] If this be my offence, that I want the glib and oily art, &c. |