Lear. Now by Apollo

Kent. Now by Apollo, King, Thou swear'st thy gods in vain. Lear. O vassal! miscreant!-Alb. Corn. Dear Sir, forbear.

Kent. Kill thy physician, and thy fee bestow Upon the foul disease; revoke thy doom, Or whilst I can vent clamour from my throat, I'll tell thee thou dost evil.

Lear. Hear me recreant!

Since thou hast sought to make us break our vow,
Which wedurst never yet; and with strain'd pride,
To come betwixt our sentence and our power:
Which nor our nature, nor our place, can bear,
Our potency make good; take thy reward.
Five days we do aliot thee for provision, (16)

(16) It being remembered that Kent has the same prototype as Talgol in Hudibras, and Laertes in Hamlet, (see figs. 17 and 57 ante,) the number 5 mentioned in Lear's speech to Kent may be easily traced, as drawn in

Fig. 83,

5

in the streaks of light that mark the shadows of which

To shield thee from disasters of the world;
And, on the sixth, to turn thy hated back
Upon our kingdom; if the tenth day following
Thy banish'd trunk be found in our dominions,
The moment is thy death: away! By Jupiter, (17)
This shall not be revok'd.
[appear,
Kent. Fare thee well, King; sith thus thou wilt
Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here;
The gods to their dear shelter take thee, maid,

[To Cor.

Kent is composed: the same may as easily be conceived to form the figure 6, or, by omitting the upper part of it, a nought; and if coupled with another mark of light just before it, may together form 10, or 16, as drawn in Fig. 84.

These circumstances are dwelt upon here, because it will be found hereafter that the poet frequently adopts this method of pointing to particular numbers.

(17) Death. That is, by the total disappearance of Kent's person, owing to the moon, pro tanto, becoming obscured.

That justly think'st, and hast most rightly said; And your large speeches may your deeds approve, [To Gon. and Reg.

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.

SCENE III.

Enter GLO'STER, with FRANCE and BURGUNDY, and Attendants.

Glo. Here's France and Burgundy, my noble Lord.
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 so;

But now her price is fall'n. Sir, there she stands,
If aught within that little seeming substance,
Or all of it with our displeasure piec'd,

And nothing more, may fitly like your Grace,
She's there, and she is yours.

Bur. I know no answer.

Lear. Will you with those infirmities she owes,

Unfriended, new-adopted to our hate,

[oatli,

Dower'd with our curse, and stranger'd with our Take her, or leave her?

Bur. Pardon, Royal Sir;

Election makes not up on such conditions.

Lear. Then leave her, Sir; for by the pow'r 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, (18) To match you where I hate; therefore beseech you T'avert your liking a more worthy way,

Than on a wretch, whom nature is asham'd (19) Almost t' acknowledge her's.

France. This is most strange !

That she, who ev'n but now was your best object,
Your praise's argument, balm of your age,
Dearest and best, should in this trice of time
Commit a thing so monstrous, to dismantle
So many folds of favour! Sure, th' offence
Must be of such unnatural degree,
As monsters it; or your fore-vouch'd affection

(18) A stray. As of a planet, and therefore of the moon; it having been frequently above observed, that the moon was so considered by the ancients.

(19) This alludes to Cordelia's person in the moon not being very distinctly marked as a human figure, it being made up only of streaks of light.

Fall'n into taint: which to believe of her,
Must be a faith that reason without miracle
Should never plant in me.

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,
I'll do't before I speak), that you make known
It is no vicious blot, murder, or foulness,
No unchaste action, or dishonour'd step,

That hath depriv'd me of your grace and favour:
But ev'n the want of that for which I'm richer,
A still-soliciting eye, and such a tongue,
That I am glad I've not; though not to have it,
Hath lost me your liking.

Lear. Better thou

[better.

Hadst not been born, than not have pleas'd me
'France. Is it but this? a tardiness in nature,
Which often leaves the history unspoke
That it intends to do? My Lord of Burgundy,
What say you to the lady? Love's not love

When it is mingled with regards that stand [her?
Aloof from th' entire point. Say, will you have
She is herself a dowry.

Bur. Royal King,

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

Duchess of Burgundy.

Lear. Nothing. I've sworn.