That we our largest bounty may extend
Where merit doth most challenge it.-Goneril,
Our eldeft-born, fpeak first.

Gon.

Sir, I

Do love you more than words can wield the matter,
Dearer than eye-fight, space and liberty;

Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare ;

No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour:
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 do? Love, and be filent.

[Afule.
Lear. Of all thefe bounds, even from this line to this,
With fhadowy forefts and with champains rich'd,
With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads,
We make thee lady: To thine and Albany's iffue
Be this perpetual.-What fays our fecond daughter,
Our dearest Regan, wife to Cornwall? Speak.

Reg. I am made of that felf metal as my fifter,
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
Myself an enemy to all other joys,

Which the most precious fquare of fenfe poffeffes;
And find, I am alone felicitate

In your dear highness' love.

Then poor Cordelia!

Cor.
And yet not fo; fince, I am fure, my love's
More richer than my tongue.

[Afide.

Lear. To thee, and thine, hereditary ever, Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom; No lefs in space, validity, and pleasure, Than that confirm'd on Goneril.-Now, our joy, Although

B 2

Although the laft, not leaft; to whose young love
The vines of France, and milk of Burgundy,

Strive to be interefs'd; what can you say, to draw
A third more opulent than your fifters? Speak.
Cor. Nothing, my lord.

Lear. Nothing?

Cor. Nothing.

Lear. Nothing can come of nothing: fpeak again.
Cor. Unhappy that I am, I cannot heav

My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty

According to my bond; nor more, nor less.

Lear. How, how, Cordelia? mend your speech a little, Left it 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 have my fifters husbands, if they say,
They love you, all? Haply, when I thall wed,

That lord, whofe hand must take my plight, fhall carry
Half my love with him, half my care, and duty:

Sure, I shall never marry like my fisters,

To love my father all.

Lear. But goes this with thy heart?

Cor.

Ay, good my lord.

Lear. So young, and so untender?

Cor. So young, my lord, and true.

Lear. Let it be so,-Thy truth then be thy dower: For, by the facred radiance of the fun The mysteries of Hecate, and the night; By all the operations of the orbs, From whom we do exift, and cease to be; Here I difclaim all my paternal care, Propinquity and property of blood, -

And

And as a stranger to my heart and me

Hold thee, from this, for ever. The barbarous Scythian, Or he that makes his generation messes

To gorge his appetite, fhall to my bofom

Be as well neighbour'd, pitied, and reliev'd,
As thou my fometime daughter.

Kent.

Lear. Peace, Kent!

Good my liege,

Come not between the dragon and his wrath :
I lov'd her moft, and thought to fet my rest
On her kind nursery.-Hence, and avoid my fight!-

So be my grave my peace, as here I give

[TO CORDELIA.

Her father's heart from her!-Call France ;-Who stirs?

Call Burgundy.-Cornwall, and Albany,

With my two daughters' dowers digeft this third:

Let pride, which the calls plainnefs, marry her.
I do invest you jointly with my power,
Pre-eminence, and all the large effects

That troop with majesty. Ourself, by monthly course,
With refervation of an hundred knights,

By you to be fuftain'd, fhall our abode

Make with you by due turns. Only we ftill retain
The name, and all the additions to a king;

The fway,

Revenue, execution of the rest,

Beloved fons, 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,

Lov'd as my father, as my mafter follow'd,

As my great patron thought on in my prayers,

Lear. The bow is bent and drawn, make from the

fhaft.

B 3

Kent.

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'ft thou, that duty shall have dread to speak,
When power to flattery bows? To plainnefs honour's bound,
When majesty stoops to folly. Reverse thy doom;
And, in thy best confideration, check

This hideous rashness: anfwer my life my judgment,
Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least;
Nor are those empty-hearted, whose low found
Reverbs no hollowness.

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 fafety being the motive.

Lear:

Out of my fight!

Kent. See better, Lear; and let me still remain The true blank of thine eye.

Lear. Now, by Apollo,

Kill thy phyfician, and the fee beltow

Upon the foul disease. Revoke thy 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 !—

Since thou haft fought to make us break our vow,

(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 provifion
To fhield thee from diseases of the world;
And, on the fixth, to turn thy hated back
Upon our kingdom: if, on the tenth day following,
Thy banish'd trunk be found in our dominions,
The moment is thy death: Away! by Jupiter,

This fhall not be revok'd.

Kent. Fare thee well, king: fince thus thou wilt appear, Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here.

The gods to their dear shelter take thee, maid,

[To CORDELIA. That juftly think'st, and hast most rightly said !— And your large speeches may your deeds approve,

[To REGAN and GONERIL. That good effects may spring from words of love.Thus, Kent, O princes, bids you all adieu; He'll shape his old course in a country new.

[Exit.

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
Hath rivall'd for our daughter; What, in the least,
Will you require in present dower with her,

Or cease your quest of love?

Bur.

Most royal majesty,

I crave no more than hath your highness offer'd,
Nor will you tender less.

Lear.

Right noble Burgundy,

When the was dear to us, we did hold her fo;
But now her price is fall'n: Sir, there the ftands;