On her kind nurs'ry. Hence, avoid my fight! So be my grave my peace, as here I give [To Cor. Her father's heart from her; Call France; who stirs? With my two daughters dowers, digeft the third. That troop with Majefty. Our felf by monthly courfe, By you to be fuftain'd, fhall our abode Beloved fons, be yours; which to confirm, Kent. Royal Lear, [Giving the Crown. Whom I have ever honour'd as my King, Lov'd as my father, as my mafter follow'd, And as my patron thought on in my pray'rs Lear. The bow is bent and drawn, make from the shaft. Referve thy State; with better judgment check Lear. Kent, on thy life no more. Kent. My life I never held but as a pawn Το wage against thy foes; nor fear to lose it, Thy fafety being the motive. Lear. Out of my fight! Kent. See better, Lear, and let me ftill remain The true blank of thine eye. Lear. Now by Apolio Kent. Now by Apollo, King, Thou fwear'ft thy gods in vain. Lear. O vaffal! mifcreant! [Laying his hand on his fword. Alb. Corn. Dear Sir, forbear. Kent. Kill thy phyfician, and thy fee bestow Or whilft I can vent clamour from my throat, Lear. Hear me, recreant! Since thou haft fought to make us break our vow, Kent. Fare thee well, King; fith thus thou wilt appear, [Exit. Enter Glo'fter, with France and Burgundy, and Attendants. Glo. Here's France and Burgundy, my noble lord. (2) (2) Cor. Here's France, and Burgundy, my noble lord.] The generality of the editions, ancient and modern, ftupidly place this verse to Cordelia. But I have, upon the authority of the old 4to, reftor'd it to the right owner, Glo'fter; who was, but a little before, fent by the King to conduct France and Burgundy to him. Lear. Lear. My lord of Burgundy, We first address tow'rd you, who with this King Bur Moft royal Majefty, I crave no more than what your Highness offer'd, Lear. Right noble Burgundy, When he was dear to us, we held her fo; And nothing more, may fitly like your Grace, Bur. I know no answer. Lear. Will you with those infirmities fhe owes, Unfriended, new-adopted to our hate, Dowr'd with our curfe, and ftranger'd with our oath, Take her, or leave her? Bur. Pardon, royal Sir; Election makes not up on fuch conditions. [me, Lear. Then leave her, Sir; for by the pow'r that made I tell you all her wealth. -For you, great King, [To France. I would not from your love make fuch a stray, To match you where I hate; therefore befeech you, Than on a wretch, whom nature is afham'd France. This is moft ftrange! best object, That she, who ev'n but now was your That monsters it; (3) or your fore-voucht affection Farn (3) As monftrous is,] This bald reading is a modern fophiftication the eldeft and beft copies read; That Fal'n into taint: which to believe of her, Muft be a faith, that reafon without miracle Cer. I yet befeech your Majefty. (If, for I want that glib and oily art, To fpeak and purpofe not; fince what I well intend, That hath depriv'd me of your grace and favour: That I am glad I've not; though, not to have it, Lear. Better thou Hadft not been born, than not have pleas'd me better. France. Is it but this? a tardinefs in nature, Which often leaves the hiftory unspoke, That it intends to do? my lord of Burgundy, Aloof from th' intire point. Say, will you have her? Bur. Royal King, Give but that portion which your felf propos'd, And here I take Cordelia by the hand, Dutchefs of Burgundy. Lear. Nothing:-I've fworn. Bur. I'm forry then, you have so loft a father, That you must lofe a husband. Cor. Peace be with Burgundy, That monsters it i. e. that makes a monster, a prodigy, of it: And our pret ufes this verb elfewhere in fuch a fenfe. fays to Gonerill, his wife; So Albany, afterwards in this play, Thou chang'd, and felf-converted thing! for fhame, And fo, in Coriolanus ; I'd rather have one scratch my head i' th' Sun, Since that refpects of fortune are his love, I fhall not be his wife. France. Fairest Cordelia, that art most rich, being poor, Moft choice, forfaken; and most lov'd, despis'd! Thee and thy virtues here I seize upon: Be't lawful, I take up what's caft away. Gods, Gods! 'tis ftrange, that from their cold'ft neglect My love should kindle to enflam'd respect. Thy dow'rlefs daughter, King, thrown to my chance, Is Queen of us, of ours, and our fair France: Not all the Dukes of wat'rish Burgundy Can buy this unpriz'd, precious, maid of me. Lear. Thou haft her, France; let her be thine, for we [Flourish. Exeunt Lear [and Burgundy. France. Bid farewel to your fifters. Cor. Ye jewels of our father, with wash'd eyes Cordelia leaves you: I know what you are, And, like a fifter, am most loth to call Your faults, as they are nam'd. Love well our father: To your profeffing bofoms I commit him; But yet, alas! flood I within his grace, I would prefer him to a better place. So farewel to you both. Reg. Prefcribe not us our duty. Gon. Let your ftudy Be to content your lord, who hath receiv'd you At fortune's alms; you have obedience scanted, And well are worth the Want that you have wanted. (4) (4) And well are worth the Want that you have wanted.] This is a very obscure expreffion, and must be pieced out with an implied fenfe, to be understood, This I take to be the poet's meaning, ftript of the jingle which makes it dark; " You well deferve to meet with that "Want of love from your husband, which you have profefs'd to want "for our father." Cor. |