Gon. I love you, Sir, Dearer than eye-fight, space and liberty; A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable, Cor. What shall Cordelia do? love and be filent. [Afide. Lear. Of all these bounds, ev'n from this line to this, With shadowy forests and with champions rich'd, Reg. I'm made of that felf-metal as my fifter, Which the most precious square of sense possesses; Cor. Then poor Cordelia! And yet not fo, fince, I am fure, my love's [Afide. Lear. To thee, and thine, hereditary ever, (1) And prize me at ber worth. In my true beart.] Mr. Bishop prescrib'd the pointing of this passage, as I have regulated it in the text. Regan would say, that in the truth of her heart and affection, the equals the worth of her fifter. Without this change in the pointing, the makes a boast of herself without any cause assign'd. Lear. Nothing? Cor. Nothing. Lear. Nothing can come of nothing; speak again. Cor. Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave My heart into my mouth: I love your Majesty According to my bond, no more nor less. Lear. How, how, Cordelia? mend your speech a little, Left you may mar your fortunes. Cor. Good my lord, You have begot me, bred me, lov'd me. I To love my father all. Lear. But goes thy heart with this? Lear. So young, and so untender? Cor. So young, my lord, and true. Lear. Let it be fo, thy truth then be thy dower: For by the facred radiance of the fun, Or he that makes his generation, messes To gorge his appetite; shall to my bosom As thou, my sometime daughter. Kent. Good my Liege Lear. Peace, Kent! Come not between the dragon and his wrath. On i [To Cor. On her kind nurs'ry. Hence, avoid my fight! So be my grave my peace, as here I give Call Burgundy. Cornwall and Albany, With my two daughters dowers, digeft the third. I do invest you jointly with my Power, Preheminence, and all the large effects That troop with Majesty. Our felf by monthly course, Kent. Royal Lear, [Giving the Crown. Whom I have ever honour'd as my King, Lear. The bow is bent and drawn, make from the shaft.. Lear. Kent, on thy life no more. Kent. My life I never held but as a pawn Lear. Out of my fight! Kent. See better, Lear, and let me still remain The true blank of thine eye. A 5 Lear. Now by Apollo- Thou swear'st thy gods in vain. Lear. O vaffal! miscreant! [Laying his hand on his fword. Alb. Corn. Dear Sir, forbear. Kent. Kill thy physician, and thy fee beftow Upon the foul disease; revoke thy doom, Lear. Hear me, recreant! Kent. Fare thee well, King; sith thus thou wilt appear, Thus Kent, O Princes, bids you all adieu, He'll shape his old course in a country new. [Exit. Enter Glo'ster, with France and Burgundy, and Attendants. Glo. Here's France and Burgundy, my noble lord. (2) (2) Cor. Here's France, and Burgundy, my noble lord.] The generality of the editions, ancient and modern, stupidly place this verse to Cordelia. But I have, upon the authority of the old 4to, restor'd it to the right owner, Glofter; who was, but a little before, sent by the King to conduct France and Burgundy to him, 4 Lear. 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 present dower with her, Or cease your quest of love? Bur. Most royal Majesty, I crave no more than what your Highness offer'd, Nor will you tender less. Lear. Right noble Burgundy, When she was dear to us, we held her fo; And nothing more, may fitly like your Grace, Lear. Will you with those infirmities she owes, Unfriended, new-adopted to our hate, Bur. Pardon, royal Sir; Election makes not up on such conditions. [me, Lear. Then leave her, Sir; for by the pow'r that made I tell you all her wealth. For you, great King, [To France. I would not from your love make such a stray, France. This is most strange! That the, who ev'n but now was your best object, That monsters it; (3) or your fore-voucht affection Fal'n That (3) As monstrous is,] This bald reading is a modern sophistication: the eldest and best copies read; |