Why have my Sifters Husbands, if they fay Lear. But goes thy Heart with this? Lear. So young, and fo untender? Lear. Let it be fo, the Truth then be thy dowre And as a Stranger to my Heart and me, Hold thee from this for ever. The Barbarous Scythian, Kent. Good my Liege Lear. Peace, Kent! Come not between the Dragon and his Wrath; On her kind Nursery. Hence, and avoid my fight !---[To Cor. So be my Grave my Peace, as here I give Her Father's Heart from her; call France; who ftirs? Call Burgundy. -Cornwall, and Albany, With my two Daughters Dowres, digeft the third, Preheminence, and all the large Effects That troop with Majefty, with Majefty, Our felf by monthly courfe With refervation of an hundred Knights, By you to be fuftain'd, shall our abode Make with you by due turn, only we shall retain Revenue, Execution of the rest, Beloved Sons, be yours, which to confirm, This Coronet part between you. Kent. Kent. Royal Lear, Whom I have ever honour'd as a King, Lov'd as my Father, as my Master follow'd, Lear. The Bow is bent and drawn, make from the Shaft. Kent. Let it fall rather, though the fork invade The region of my Heart; be Kent unmannerly, When Lear is mad; what wouldft thou do, old Man? Think'st thou that Duty fhall have dread to fpeak, When Power to Flattery bows? To plainness Honour's bound, When Majefty falls to Folly; referve thy State, This hideous rafhnefs; anfwer 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, ne'er fear to lose its Lear. Out of my fight ! Kent. See better, Lear, and let me ftill remain The true Blank of thine Eye. Lear. Now by Apollo Kent. Now by Apollo; King, Thou fwear'ft thy Gods in vain. Lear. O Vaffal! Mifcreant!--[Laying his Hand on his Sword: Alb. Corn. Dear Sir, forbear. Kent. Kill thy Phyfician, and thy Fee bestow Upon the foul Difeafe, revoke the Gift, Or whilft I can vent clamour from my Throat, I'll tell thee thou doft evil. Lear. Hear me Recreant, on thine Allegiance hear me ; That thou haft fought to make us break our Vows, Which we durft never yet; and with ftrain'd Pride, To come betwixt our Sentence and our Power, Which, nor our Nature, nor our Place can bear, Our Potency made good, take thy Reward. Five days we do allot thee for Provifion, To fhield thee from difafters of the World, VOL. V. Dd And And on the fixth to turn thy hated back Kent. Fare thee well, King, fith thus thou wilt appear, Freedom lives hence, and Banishment is here; The Gods to their dear fhelter take thee, Maid, [Exit: We first addrefs toward you, who, with this King, Bur. Moft Royal Majefty, I crave no more than what your Highness offer'd, Lear. Right Noble Burgundy, When he was dear to us we held her fo, But now her price is fall'n : Sir, there the ftands, And nothing more, may fitly like your Grace, Bur. I know no Anfwer. Lear. Will you with those infirmities fhe owes, Dowr'd withour Curfe, and ftranger'd with our Oath, Bur. Pardon me, Royal Sir, Election makes not up in fuch Conditions. Lear. Then leave her, Sir, for by the Power that made me, I tell you all her Wealth. For you, great King, I would not from your Love make fuch a stray, To match you where I hate; therefore befeech you T'a T'avert your liking a more worthier way, Fra. This is most strange! That he, who even but now, was your beft Object, As Monstrous is; or your fore-voucht affection Cor. I yet befeech your Majefty, If for I want that glib and oily Art, To fpeak and purpofe not, fince what I will intend, Lear. Better thou hadft Not been born, than not t'have pleas'd me better. Bur. Royal King, Give but that Portion which your felf propos'd, Dutchess of Burgundy. Lear. Nothing I have Sworn, I am firm. Bur. I am forry then you have fo loft a Father, That you must lose a Husband. Dd 2 Cor Cor. Peace be with Burgundy, Since that refpe&t and fortunes are his Love, I fhall not be his Wife. Fra. Faireft Cordelia, that art moft rich being poor, Moft choice forfaken, and most lov'd defpis'd, 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'ft negle& Thy dowreless Daughter, King, thrown to my chance, Not all the Dukes of watrish Burgundy, Laer. Thou haft her France, let her be thine, for we [Flourish. Fra. Bid farewel to your Sifters. Cor. The Jewels of our Father, with wash'd eyes Your faults as they are named. Love well our Father: But yet alas, ftood I within his Grace, I would prefer him to a betttr place, So farewel to you both. Reg. Prefcribe not us our Duty. [Exeunt. Be to content your Lord, who hath receiv'd you: Fra. Come, my fair Cordelia. [Exeunt France and Cor. Gon. Sifter, it is not little I have to fay, Of what most nearly appertains to us both, I think our Father will go hence to Night. Reg. |