lach. I am down again : But now my heavy coufcience finks my knee, [Kneels. As then your force did. Take that life, 'befeech you, Which I fo often owe: but your ring firft; And here the bracelet of the trueft princess, That ever fwore her faith. Poft. Kneel not to me : The power that I have on you, is to spare you; The malice towards you, to forgive you: Live, And deal with others better. Cym. Nobly doom'd: We'll learn our freenefs of a fon-in-law; Arv. You holp us, fir, As you did mean indeed to be our brother; Poft. Your fervant, princes.Good my lord Call forth your foothfayer: As I flept, methought, Luc. Philarmonus, Sooth. Here, my good lord. Luc. Read, and declare the meaning. Soothsayer reads. "When as a lion's whelp fhall, to himfelf "unknown, without feeking find, and be em"brac'd by a piece of tender air; and when from "a ftately cedar fhall be lopt branches, which,| "being dead many years, fhail after revive, be "joined to the old stock, and freshly grow; then "fhall Pofthumus end his miferies, Britain bel "fortunate, and flourish in peace and plenty." Thou, Leonatus, art the lion's whelp; The fit and apt conftruction of thy name, Being Leo-natus, doth import fo much; The piece of tender air, thy virtuous daughter, [To Cymbeline. Which we call mollis aer; and mollis aer We term it mulier : which mulier, I divine, Is this moft conftant wife; [To Poft.] who, even now, Anfwering the letter of the oracle, Unknown to you, unfought, were clip'd about With this moft tender air. Cym. This hath fome feeming. Sooth. The lofty cedar, royal Cymbeline, My peace we will begin :-And, Caius Lucius, Shews are ghoftly appearances. premises. To pay our wonted tribute, from the which Sooth. The fingers of the powers above do tune When botuling winds, and beating rain, The tender thought on thee ball dwell. Each lonely feene fall thee reflore; 2 A collection is a corollary, a confequence deduced from Knights attending on the King, Officers, MeJengers, Soldiers, and Attendant:. Enter Kent, Glofter, and Edmund. Kent the duke of Albany, than Cornwali. THOUGHT, the king had more affected Glo. It did always feem fo to us: but now, in the divifion of the kingdom, it appears not which of the dukes he values most ; for equalities are fo weighed, that curiofity in neither can make choice of either's moiety 2. Kent. Is not this your fon, my lord? Gio. His breeding, fir, 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: whereupon fhe grew round-womb'd; and had, indeed, fir, a fon for her cradle, ere the had a husband for her bed. Do you fmell a fault? Kent. I cannot wish the fault undone, the iffue of it being fo proper. Glo. But I have, fir, a fon by order of law, fome year elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account, though this knave came fomewhat faucily into the world before he was fent for: yet was his mother fair; there was good fport at his making, and the whorefon must be acknowled ged.-Do you know this noble gentleman, Edmund? Edm. No, my lord. Glo. My lord of Kent: remember him hereafter as my honourable friend. Edm. My fervices to your lordship. [ter. Kent. I muft love you, and fue to know you betEdm. Sir, I shall ftudy deferving. Glo. He hath been out nine years, and away he shail again :-The king is coming. [Trumpets found within. Enter Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Goneril, Regan, Cordelia, and Attendants. Lear. Attend the lords of France and Burgun 3 Darker, for more 1 Curiofity is fcrupuloufnefs, or captiousness. 2 The ftri&t fenfe of the word moiety is ho, one of wo equal parts; but Shak fpeare commonly ufes it for any part or divifion. fecret; not for indirect, oblique. 4 Conftant is firm, determined. Great Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love, They love you, all? Haply, when I fhall wed, carry Long in our court have made their amorous fojourn, That lord, whofe hand must take my plight, fha". [ters,Half my love with him, half my care, and duty: Where nature doth with merit challenge.-Goneril, Our eldeft-born, fpeak first. Gon. Sir, I Do love you more than words can wield the matter, With fhadowy forests and with champains_rich'd, 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 the comes too fhort: that 2 I profefs Myself an enemy to all other joys, Lear. But goes thy heart with this? Cor. Ay, my good lord. [dower Lear. So young, and fo untender ? Or he that makes his generation messes Come not between the dragon and his wrath: Which the most precious fquares of fenfe poffeffes; Her father's heart from her!-Call France;→ And find, I am alone felicitate And yet not fo; fince, I am fure, my love's Lear. To thee, and thine, hereditary ever, Lear. Nothing? Cor. Nothing. Lear. Nothing can come of nothing: fpeak again. Cor. Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave My heart into my mouth: I love your majefty According to my bond; nor more, nor lefs. Lear. How, how, Cordelia? metid your fpeech a little, Left it may mar your fortunes. Cor. Good my lord, You have begot me, bred me, lov'd me: I Return thofe duties back as are right fit, Obcy you, love you, and moft honour you. Why have my fifters hufbands, if they fay, Who ftirs? Call Burgundy.Cornwall, and Albany, [courfe, I do inveft you jointly with my power, Whom I have ever honour'd as my king, 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 fhall have dread to speak, When power to flattery bows? To plainnets ho nour's bound, When majefty stoops to folly. Reverse thy doom; 1 That is, beyond all affignable quantity. 2 That seems to ftand without relation, but is referred to find, the first conjunction being inaccurately fuppreffed. I find that the names my deed, I find that I profess, &c. 3 Square here means combafs, comprehenfion. 4 Validity, for worth, value.. 51 e. trom this tune i. e. the execution of all the other business. And, And, in thy beft confideration, check [ment, I crave no more than hath your highness offer'd, This hideous rafhnefs: anfwer my life my judg-Nor will you tender lefs. Thy youngest daughter does not love thee leaft ; Lear. Kent, on thy life, no more. Kent. My life I never held but as a pawn Lear. Right noble Burgundy, When the was dear to us, we did hold her so ; But now her price is fall'n: Sir, there fhe stands; To wage againft thine enemies: nor fear to lofe it, And nothing more, may fitly like your grace, Lear. Out of my fight! Kent. See better, Lear; and let me ftill remain The true blank 2 of thine eye. Lear. Now, by Apollo,- [Laying his hand on his fword. Alb. Corn. Dear fir, forbear. She's there, and she is yours. Bur. I know no answer. [owes 7, Lear. Sir, will you, with thofe infirmities the Unfriended, new-adopted to our hate, [oath, Dower'd with our curfe, and ftranger'd with our Take her, or leave her? Bur. Pardon me, royal fir; Kent. Do; kill thy physician, and the fee beftow I tell you all her wealth.-For you, great king, Upon the foul difeafe. 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 hatt fought to make us break our vow, To come betwixt our fentence and our power 4, Kent. Why, fare thee well, king: fince thus Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here. [To France. France. This is most strange! That the, who even but now was your best object, That monfters it, or your fore-vouch'd affection Cor. I yet befeech your majesty, (If for I want that glib and oily art, Tofpeak and purpofe not; fince what I well intend, I'll do't before I speak) that you make known It is no vicious blot, murder, or foulness, [To Cordelia. No unchafte action, or dishonour'd itep, That justly think'st, and hast most rightly faid!—That hath depriv'd me of your grace and favour: And your large fpeeches may your deeds approve, But even for want of that, for which I am richer [To Regan and Goneril. A ftill-foliciting eye, and such a tongue That good effects may spring from words of love. That I am glad I have not, though not to have it, Thus Kent, O princes, bids you all adieu; Hath loft me in your liking. He'll fhape his old courfe in a country new. [Exit. Re-enter Glofter, with France, Burgundy, and at tendants. Lear. Better thou [better. Hadit not been born, than not to have pleas'd me France. Is it no more but this? a tardiness in nature, Glo. Here's France and Burgundy, my noble Which often leaves the hiftory unfpoke, lord. That it intends to do ?-My lord of Burgundy, Bur. Royal Lear, Give but that portion which yourself propos'd, 1 Means the fame as reverberates. 2 The blank is the white or arrow is fhot. See better, fays Kent, and keep me always in your view. pride paling due bonnds. 4 i. e. our power to execute that sentence. exact mark at which the 3 i. e. pride exorbitant; 5 Queft of love is amour ous expedition. The term originated from Romance. A queft was the expedition in which a knight was engaged. 6 Seeming is fpecious. 7 i. e. is poffefled of. 8. e. makes not adtances. is here uled for corruption and for disgrace. io Entire for firgle 0002 9 Taint And And here I take Cordelia by the hand, Lear. Nothing; I have fworn: I am firm. Cor. Peace be with Burgundy! Since that refpects of fortune are his love, I fhall not be his wife. Gon. You fee how full of changes his age is: the obfervation we have made of it hath not been little: he always lov'd our fifter moft; and with what poor judgment he hath now caft her off, appears too grofily. Reg. 'Tis the infirmity of his age: yet he hath ever but flenderly known himfelf. Gon. The best and foundeft of his time hath France. Faireft Cordelia, that art moft rich, be- been but rafh; then must we look to receive from Have no fuch daughter, nor fhall ever fee [Flourish. Exeunt Lear, Burgundy, &c. Your faults, as they are nam'd. Ufe well our father: I would prefer him to a better place. Reg. Prefcribe not us our duties. Gon. Let your ftudy Be, to content your lord; who hath receiv'd you Who cover faults, at laft fhame them derides. France. Come, my fair Cordelia. [Exeunt France, and Cordelia. Gen. Sifter, it is not a little I have to fay, of what most nearly appertains to us both. I think, our father will hence to-night. his age, not alone the imperfections of long-engrafted condition, but, therewithal, the unruly waywardness that infirm and cholerick years bring with them. Reg. Such unconftant starts are we like to have from him, as this of Kent's hanishment. Gon. There is further compliment of leavetaking between France and him. Pray you, let us hit together 4: If our father carry authority with fuch difpofitions as he bears, this last furrender of his will but offend us. Reg. We fhall further think of it. Gon. We must do fomething, and i' the heat 5. [Ext SCENE II. A Caftle belonging to the Earl of Glofter. Enter Edmund, with a Letter. Edm. Thou, nature, art my goddess; to thy law Enter Glofter. Glo. Kent banifh'd thus! And France in choler parted! Reg. That's most certain, and with you; next And the king gone to-night! fubfcrib'd his power! month with us. Confin'd to exhibition 10! All this done I Here and where have the power of nouns. Thou lofeft this refidence to find a better refidence in another place. 2 The meaning is," You well deserve to meet with that want of love from your hufband, which you have profelled to want for our father." 3 i. c. complicated, involved cun5 i. c. We mult frike while the iron's hot. ning. That is, Wherefore 4 i. e. agree. fhould I acquiefce, submit tamely to the plagues and injuftice of cultom? 7 Curiofity, in the time of Shakspeare, was a word that fignified an over-nice fcrupuloufness in manners, drefs, &c. The curi ofity of nations means, the idle, nice diftinctions of the world. 8 To deprive was, in our author's time, fynonymous to difinherit. 9 Subfcrib'd, for transferred, alicnated. 10 Exhibition is allowance. Upon |