Kent. Good my Liege

Lear. Peace, Kent!

Come not between the dragon and his wrath,
I lov'd her most, and thought to set my Rest
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 ftirs?
Call Burgundy.-Cornwall and Albany,

With my two daughters' dowers digeft the third.
Let pride, which fhe calls plainness, marry her.
I do inveft you jointly with my Power,
Preheminence, and all the large effects

That troop with Majefty. Our felf by monthly course,
With refervation of an hundred Knights,
By you to be fustain`d, shall our abode.
Make with you by due turns: only retain
The name and all th' addition to a King:
*The sway, revenue, execution of th' Heft,
Beloved fons, be yours; which to confirm,

This Cor'onet part between you. [Giving the Crown.
Kent. Royal Lear,

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 fhaft.

The fway, revenue, execution,

Beloved fons, be yours.] The old Books read the Lines thus.
The fway, revenue, execution of the rest,

Beloved fons be yours.

This is evidently corrupt, and the Editors not knowing what to make of-of the reft, left it out. The true Reading, without doubt, was,

The fway, revenue, execution of th'Heft,
Beloved fons, be yours.-

Heft, is an old Word for regal Command: fo that the Senfe of the
whole is,I will only retain the Name and all the ceremonious Ob-
fervances that belong to a King; the Effentials, as Sway, Revenue,
Adminiftration of the Laws, be yours.
Mr. Warburton.

Kent. Let it fall rather, though the fork invade
The region of my heart; be Kent unmannerly,
When Lear is mad: what would'ft thou do, old man?
Think'ft thou, that duty fhall have dread to speak,
When pow'r to flatt'ry bows? to plainnefs Honour
Is bound, when Majefty to folly falls.

Referve thy State; with better judgment check
This hideous rafhnefs; with my life I anfwer.
Thy youngest daughter does not love thee leaft;
Nor are thofe 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 againft thy foes; nor fear to lofe 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

Lear. Now by Apollo

eye.

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
Upon the foul disease; revoke thy doom,
Or whilft I can vent clamour from my throat,
I'll tell thee, thou doft evil.

Lear. Hear me, recreant!

Since thou haft fought to make us break our vow,
Which we durft never yet; and with strain'd pride,
To come betwixt our fentence and our power;
Which nor our nature, nor our place, can bear,
Our potency make good; take thy reward.
Five days we do allot thee for provision,
To fhield thee from difafters of the world;
And, on the sixth, to turn thy hated back
Upon our Kingdom; if, the tenth day following,

Thy

Thy banish'd trunk be found in our dominions,
The moment is thy death: away! By Jupiter,

This fhall not be revok'd.

[appear,

Kent. Fare thee well, King; fith thus thou wilt Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here; The gods to their dear shelter take thee, maid, That juftly think'st, and hast most rightly faid; And your large fpeeches may your deeds approve, That good effects may fpring from words of love: Thus Kent, O Princes, bids you all adieu,

He'll shape his old courfe in a country new. [Exit.

SCENE

III.

Enter Glo'fter, with France and Burgundy, and

Attendants.

Glo. HERE's France and Burgundy, my noble lord.

Lear. My lord of Burgundy,

We first address tow'rd you, who with this King
Have rivall'd for our daughter; what at least
Will you require in prefent dower with her,
Or cease your quest of love?

Bur. Moft royal Majesty,

I crave no more than what your Highness offer'd,
Nor will you tender lefs.

Lear. Right noble Burgundy,

When she was dear to us, we held her fo;
But now her price is fall'n: Sir, there fhe ftands,
If aught within that little feeming fubftance,
Or all of it with our difpleasure piec'd,

And nothing more, may fitly like your Grace,
She's there, and fhe is yours.

Bur. I know no answer.

you

Lear. Will with those infirmities fhe owes, Unfriended, new-adopted to our hate,

Dower'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.

Lear. Then leave her, Sir; for by the pow'r that made me,

I tell you all her wealth.-For you, great King,

[To France.
I would not from your love make such a stray,
To match you where I hate; therefore beseech you,
T'avert your liking a more worthy way

Than on a wretch, whom nature is afham'd
Almoft t' acknowledge hers.

France. This is moft ftrange!

best object,

That fhe, who ev'n but now was your
Your Praife's argument, balm of your age,
Dearest and best; should in this trice of time
Commit a thing so monftrous, to dismantle
So many folds of favour! fure, her offence
Must be of fuch unnatural degree,

That monfters it; or your fore-vouch'd affection
Fall'n into taint: which to believe of her,
Must be a faith, that reafon without miracle
Should never plant in me.

Cor. I yet befeech your Majefty,

(If, for I want that glib and oily art;

To speak and purpofe not; fince what I well intend
I'll do't before I fpeak) that you make known
It is no vicious blot, murder, or foulness,
No unchalle action, or difhonour'd ftep,

That hath depriv'd ine of your grace and favour:
But ev'n for want of that, for which I'm richer,
A fill-foliciting eye, and fuch a tongue,

That I am glad I've not; though, not to have it,
Hath loft me in your liking.

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 unfpoke,
That it intends to do? my lord of Burgundy,
What say you to the lady? love's not love,
When it is mingled with regards, that stand

Aloof

Aloof from th' intire point. Say, will you have her?

She is herself a dowry.

Bur. Royal King,

Give but that portion which yourself 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 lost a father, That you muft lofe a husband:

Cor. Peace be with Burgundy,

Since that respects of fortune are his love,
I fhall not be his wife.

France. Fairest Cordelia, that art moft rich, being poor,

Moft choice, forfaken: and moft lov'd, defpis'd!
Thee and thy virtues here I feize upon :

Be't lawful, I take up what's caft away.

Gods, Gods! 'tis ftrange, that from their cold'ft neg. lect

My love fhould kindle to enflam'd refpect.

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'rifh Burgundy

Can buy this unpriz'd. precious, maid of me.
Bid them farewel, Cordelia, tho' unkind;

Thou lofeft here, a better where to find.

Lear. Thou haft her, France; let her be thine, for we Have no fuch daughter; nor fhall ever fee That face of hers again; therefore be gone Without our grace, our love, our benizon : Come, noble Burgundy.

France. B

[Flourish. Exeunt Lear and Burgundy.

SCENE

ID farewel to your

IV.

fifters.

Cor. Ye jewels of our father, with wafh'd

eyes

Cordelia