Cor. Nothing. Lear. Nothing can come of nothing: speak again. My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty Lear. How, how, Cordelia? mend your speech a little, Lest 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 sisters husbands, if they say, They love you, all? Haply, when I shall wed, That lord, whose hand must take my plight, shall carry Half my love with him, half my care, and duty: Sure, I shall never marry like my sisters, To love my father all. Lear. But goes this with thy heart? 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 sacred radiance of the sun; The mysteries of Hecate, and the night; By all the operations of the orbs, From whom we do exist, and cease to be; Hold thee, from this, for ever. The barbarous Scythian, To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom, Be as well neighbour'd, pitied, and reliev'd, As thou my sometime daughter. Kent. Lear. Peace, Kent! Good, my liege, Come not between the dragon and his wrath: I lov'd her most, and thought to set my rest On her kind nursery.-Hence, and avoid my sight!- So be my grave my peace, as here I give [To Cordelia. Her father's heart from her!-Call France ;-Who stirs? With my two daughters' dowers digest this third: That troop with majesty,-Ourself, by monthly course, By you to be sustain'd, shall our abode The sway, Revenue, execution of the rest, Beloved sons, be yours: which to confirm, [Giving the Crown. Royal Lear, Whom I have ever honour'd as my king, Kent. Lov'd as my father, as my master follow'd, As my great patron thought on in my prayers,— When majesty stoops to folly. Reverse thy doom; 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 Lear. Out of my sight! Kent. See better, Lear; and let me still remain The true blank of thine eye. Lear. Now, by Apollo, Kent. Thou swear'st thy gods in vain. Now, by Apollo, king, O, vassal! miscreant ! [Laying his Hand on his Sword. Alb. Corn. Dear sir, forbear. Kill thy physician, and the fee bestow Lear. Hear me, recreant! Since thou hast sought to make us break our vow Kent. Fare thee well, king: since thus thou wilt appear, Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here.- [To Cordelia. That justly 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 Glo. Here's France and Burgundy, my noble lord. We first address towards you, who with this king Bur. Most royal majesty, I crave no more than hath your highness offer'd, Lear. Bur. Lear. Sir, I know no answer. Will you, with those infirmities she owes, Dower'd with our curse, and stranger'd 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. I would not from your love make such a stray, To match you where I hate; therefore beseech you To avert your liking a more worthier way, Than on a wretch whom nature is asham'd Almost to acknowledge hers. France. This is most strange! That she, that even but now was your best object, The argument of your praise, balm of your age, So many folds of favour! Sure, her offence That monsters it, or your fore-vouch'd affection Must be a faith, that reason without miracle 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, That I am glad I have not, though, not to have it, Lear. Better thou Hadst not been born, than not to have pleas'd 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, Bur. Royal Lear, Give but that portion which yourself propos'd, Duchess of Burgundy. Lear. Nothing: I have sworn; I am firm. Cor Peace be with Burgundy! Since that respects of fortune are his love, I shall not be his wife. [poor; France. Fairest Cordelia, that art most rich, being Most choice, forsaken; and most lov'd, despis'd! 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 |