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 motive. Lear. Out of my sight! Kent. See better, Lear; and let me still remain The true blank2 of thine eye. Lear. Now, by Apollo Kent. Kill thy physician, and the fee bestow 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 vows, (Which nor our nature nor our place can bear,) Our potency made good,2 take thy reward:- 1 Answer my life, &c.] Let my life answer for my judgment that thy youngest daughter, &c. 2 Blank.] Centre:-alluding to the white that used to be the centre of a target. Our potency made good.] To make good, or vindicate, our potency. To shield thee from diseases of the world; Upon our kingdom: if on the tenth day following This shall not be revoked. Kent. Fare thee well, king: sith 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 !— [To REGAN and GONERIL. That good effects may spring from words of love.- [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 toward you, who with this king Or cease your quest of love? Bur. Most royal majesty, I crave no more than hath your highness offered, Nor will you tender less. Lear. Right noble Burgundy, When she was dear to us, we did hold her so; But now her price is fallen. Sir, there she stands; 1 Diseases.] Discomforts, inconveniences. So in Spenser's Faery Queen, III. v. 19: 'For by no means the high bank he could seize, But laboured long in that deep ford with vain disease.' If aught within that little seeming substance, Bur. I know no answer. Lear. Will you, with those infirmities she owes, Unfriended, new-adopted to our hate, Dowered with our curse, and strangered 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, I tell you all her wealth.-For you, great king, [To FRANCE. To match you where I hate; therefore beseech you This is most strange! France. That monsters it, or your fore-vouched affection Cor. I yet beseech your majesty, If for I want that glib and oily art, To speak and purpose not,-since what I well intend, Pieced.] Eked out. I'll do't before I speak,-that you make known That hath deprived me of your grace and favour: That I am glad I have not, though not to have it Lear. Better thou Hadst not been born than not t' have pleased me better. France. Is it but this? a tardiness in nature, Which often leaves the history unspoke That it intends to do?-My lord of Burgundy, Give but that portion which yourself proposed, Duchess of Burgundy. Lear. Nothing: I have sworn; I am firm. Bur. I am sorry, then, you have so lost a father That you must lose a husband. Cor. Peace be with Burgundy! Since that respects of fortune are his love, I shall not be his wife. France. Fairest Cordelia, that are most rich, being poor; Most choice, forsaken; and most loved, despised! Thee and thy virtues here I seize upon; Be it lawful, I take up what's cast away. Gods, gods! 'tis strange, that from their cold'st neglect 1 Murder.] This word seems here inappropriate. It has been plausibly conjectured that for the words murder or we should read or other. My love should kindle to inflamed respect. Thy dowerless daughter, king, thrown to my chance, 3 Lear. Thou hast her, France: let her be thine, for we Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see That face of hers again.-Therefore be gone, [Flourish. Exeunt LEAR, BURGUNDY, CORNWALL, France. Bid farewell to your sisters. Cor. The jewels of our father, with washed eyes Cordelia leaves you what you are; And, like a sister, am most loth to call Your faults as they are named. Love well our father: But yet, alas! stood I within his grace, I would prefer him to a better place. So farewell to you both. Reg. Prescribe not us our duties. Let your study Be, to content your lord, who hath received you 1 Waterish.] Weak, spiritless. 2 Though unkind.] Though they are unnatural. See the Editor's Hamlet, p. 15, note 2. Here-where.] These words are used as substantives. 4 At fortune's alms.] At the charity of chance. 5 Plighted.] Infolded. To plight originally means to twist or |