Cor. I yet befeech your majesty

(If for I want that glib and oily art,

To fpeak 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 unchafte action, or difhonour'd step,

That hath depriv'd me of your grace and favour:
But even for want of that, for which I am richer;
A ftill-foliciting eye, and fuch a tongue

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

Lear. Better thou

Hadft not been born, than not to have pleas'd me better.

France. Is it no more but this? a tardinefs in naWhich often leaves the history unfpoke, [ture, That it intends to do?My lord of Burgundy, What fay you to the lady? Love is not love, When it is mingled with regards, that stand Aloof from the entire point. Will you have her? She is herself a dowry.

Bur. Royal Lear,

Give but that portion which yourself propos'd,
And here I take Cordelia by the hand,

Dutchefs of Burgundy.

Lear. Nothing: I have fworn; I am firm.

Bur. I am forry then, you have fo loft a father, That you must lose a husband.

Cor. Peace be with Burgundy!

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

France. Fairest Cordelia, thou art most rich, being

poor;

Moft choice, forfaken; and most lov'd, defpis'd!

Thee

Thee and thy virtues here I feize upon :
Be it lawful, I take up what's caft away.
Gods, gods! 'tis ftrange, that from their cold't ne-
My love fhould kindle to inflam'd respect. — [glect
Thy dowerlefs daughter, king, thrown to my chance,
Is queen of us, of ours, and our fair France:
Not all the dukes of watʼrifh Burgundy
Shall buy this unpriz'd precious maid of me.—
Bid them farewell, Cordelia, though unkind:
Thou lofeft here, a better where to find.

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

[Flourish. Exeunt LEAR, BURGUNDY, &c. France. Bid farewell to your fifters.

Cor. The jewels of our father, with wash'd eyes Cordelia leaves you: I know you what you are; And, like a fifter, am moft loth to call

Your faults, as they are nam'd. Ufe well our father:
To your profefling bofoms I commit him:
But yet, alas! ftood I within his grace,

I would prefer him to a better place.

So farewell to you both.

Reg. Prefcribe not us our duties.

Gon. Let your study

Be to content your lord; who hath receiv'd you At fortune's alms: You have obedience fcanted, And well are worth the want that you have wanted.

Cor. Time fhall unfold what plated cunning hides, Who cover faults, at laft fhame them derides. Well may you profper!

France.

France. Come, my fair Cordelia.

[Exeunt FRANCE, and CORDELIA.

Gon. 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.

Reg. That's most certain, and with you; next month with us.

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 most; and with what poor judgment he hath caft her off, appears too grofsly.

Reg. 'Tis the infirmity of his age: yet he hath ever but flenderly known himself.

Gon. The best and foundest of his time hath been but rash; then must we look to receive from his age, not alone the imperfections of long-engrafted condition, but, therewithal, the unruly waywardnefs that infirm and cholerick years bring with them. Reg. Such unconftant starts are we like to have from him, as this of Kent's banishment.

Gon. There is further compliment of leave-taking between France and him. Pray you, let us hit together: If our father carry authority with fuch difpofitions as he bears, this laft furrender of his will but offend us.

Reg. We fhall further think of it.

Gon. We must do something, and i'the heat.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II. A Cafile belonging to the Earl of Glofter.

Enter EDMUND with a letter.

Edm. Thou, nature, art my goddess, to thy law

B

My

My fervices are bound: Wherefore fhould I
Stand in the plague of custom; and permit
The curiofity of nations to deprive me,

For that I am some twelve or fourteen moon-fhines
Lag of a brother? Why bastard? Wherefore base?
When my dimenfions are as well compact,

My mind as generous, and my shape as true,
As honeft madam's iffue? Why brand they us
With bafe? with bafenefs? baftardy? base, base!
Who, in the lusty stealth of nature, take
More compofition and fierce quality,

-Well then,

Than doth, within a dull, ftale, tired bed,
Go to the creating of a whole tribe of fops,
Got 'tween afleep and wake?
Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land:
Our father's love is to the baftard Edmund,
As to the legitimate: Fine word-legitimate!
Well, my legitimate, if this letter fpeed,
And my invention thrive, Edmund the bafe
Shall top the legitimate. I grow, I profper :-
Now, gods, ftand up for baftards!

Enter GLOSTER.

Glo. Kent banifh'd thus! And France in choler parted!

And the king gone to-night! fubfcrib'd his power! Confin'd to exhibition! All this done

Upon the gad!-Edmund! How now? what news? Edm. So pleafe your lordship, none.

[Putting up the letter. Glo. Why foearneftly feek you to put up that letter? Edm. I know no news, my lord.

Glo. What paper were you reading?

Edm. Nothing, my lord.

Glo.

Glo. No! what needed then that terrible dispatch of it into your pocket? the quality of nothing hath not fuch need to hide itself. Let's fee: Come, if it be nothing, I fhall not need fpectacles.

Edm. I beseech you, fir, pardon me: it is a letter from my brother, that I have not all o'er-read; and for fo much as I have perus'd, I find it not fit for your over-looking.

Glo. Give me the letter, fir.

Edm. I fhall offend either to detain or give it, The contents, as in part I understand them, are to blame.

Glo. Let's fee, let's fee.

Edm. I hope, for my brother's juftification, he wrote this but as an effay or taste of my virtue.

Glo. [Reads.] This policy, and reverence of age, makes the world bitter to the best of our times; keeps our fortunes from us, 'till our oldness cannot relifh them. I begin to find an idle and fond bondage in the oppreffion of aged tyranny; who fways, not as it hath power, but as it is fuffered. Come to me, that of this I may speak more. If our father would fleep 'till I wak'd him, you Should enjoy half his revenue for ever, and live the belo ved of your brother, Edgar.-Hum.-Confpiracy! -Sleep, 'till I wak'd him,—you should enjoy half his revenue!-My fon Edgar! had he a hand to write this? a heart and brain to breed it in ?- -When came this to you? Who brought it?

Edm. It was not brought me, my lord, there's the cunning of it; I found it thrown in at the cafement of my closet.

Glo. You know the character to be your brother's? Edm. If the matter were good, my lord, I durft

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fwear