Lear. Then leave her, sir; for, by the power that made me,

I tell you all her wealth.-[To FRANCE.] For you, great king,

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 ashamed
Almost to acknowledge hers.

France.
This is most strange !
That she, who even but now was your best object,
The argument of your praise, balm of your age,
The best, the dearest, should in this trice of time
Commit a thing so monstrous, to dismantle
So many folds of favour! Sure, her offence
Must be of such unnatural degree,

That monsters it, or your fore-vouch'd affection
Fall 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 will 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 deprived me of your grace and favour:
But even for want of that for which I am richer,
A still-soliciting eye, and such a tongue
That I am glad I have not, though not to have it
Hath lost me in your liking.

Lear.

Better thou

Hadst not been born than not t' have pleased 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, What say you to the lady?

Love's not love,

When it is mingled with regards that stand
Aloof from the entire point.

She is herself a dowry.

Bur.

Will you have her?

Royal king,

Give but that portion which yourself proposed, And here I take Cordelia by the hand, Duchess of Burgundy.

Lear. Nothing: I have sworn: I am firm. Bur. I am sorry, then, you have so lost a father That you must lose a husband.

Cor.

Peace be with Burgundy! Since that respects of fortune are his love, I shall not be his wife.

France. Fairest Cordelia, that art most rich, being poor;

Most choice, forsaken; and most loved, despised!
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

My love should kindle to inflamed respect.-
Thy dowerless daughter, king, thrown to my
chance,

Is queen of us, of ours, and our fair France:
Not all the dukes of waterish Burgundy
Can buy this unprized precious maid of me.-
Bid them farewell, Cordelia, though unkind :
Thou losest here, a better-where to find.

Lear. Thou hast her, France: let her be thine, for we

Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see
That face of hers again :-therefore be gone,

Without our grace, our love, our benizon.-
Come, noble Burgundy.

[Flourish. Exeunt LEAR, BURG., Corn., Alb., GLOS., and Attendants.

France. Bid farewell to your sisters.

Cor. The jewels of our father, with wash'd

eyes

Cordelia leaves you: I know you what you are; And like a sister, am most loath to call

Your faults as they are named. Love well our father:

To your professed bosoms I commit him :
But yet, alas! stood I within his grace,

I would prefer him to a better place.

So farewell to you both.

Let your study

Reg. Prescribe not us our duty. Gon. Be, to content your lord; who hath received you At fortune's alms. You have obedience scanted, And well are worth the want that you have wanted. Cor. Time shall unfold what plighted cunning

hides;

Who covers faults at last with shame derides.
Well may you prosper!

France.

Come, my fair Cordelia. [Exeunt FRANCE and CORDELIA. Gon. Sister, it is not little I have to say, 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 see how full of changes his age is; the observation we have made of it hath been little he always loved our sister most; and with what poor judgment he hath now cast her off appears too grossly.

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

Gon. The best and soundest of his time hath been but rash: then must we look from his age to receive not alone the imperfections of longengraffed condition, but, therewithal, the unruly waywardness that infirm and choleric years bring with them.

Reg. Such unconstant starts are we like to have from him, as this of Kent's banishment.

Gon. There is further compliment of leavetaking between France and him. Pray you, let us hit together: if our father carry authority with such disposition as he bears, this last surrender of his will but offend us.

Reg. We shall further think of it.

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

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.-A Hall in the Earl of Gloster's

Castle.

Enter EDMUND, with a letter.

Edm. Thou, Nature, art my goddess; to thy law

My services are bound. Wherefore should I
Stand in the plague of custom; and permit
The curiosity of nations to deprive me,

For that I am some twelve or fourteen moonshines

Lag of a brother? Why bastard? Wherefore

base?

When my dimensions are as well compact,
My mind as generous, and my shape as true,
As honest madam's issue? Why brand they us

With base? with baseness? bastardy? base,

base?

Who, in the lusty stealth of nature, take
More composition and fierce quality,
Than doth, within a dull, stale, tired bed,
Go to the creating a whole tribe of fops,
Got 'tween asleep and wake?-Well, then,
Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land:
Our father's love is to the bastard Edmund,
As to the legitimate: fine word,-legitimate!
Well, my legitimate, if this letter speed,
And my invention thrive, Edmund the base
Shall top the legitimate. I grow; I prosper :-
Now, gods, stand up for bastards!

Enter GLOSTER.

Glo. Kent banish'd thus! and France in choler parted!

And the king gone to-night! prescribed his

power!

Confined to exhibition! All this done

Upon the gad!

news?

-Edmund! How now; what

[Putting up the letter.

Edm. So please your lordship, none.

Glo. Why so earnestly seek you to put up

that letter?

Edm. I know no news, my lord.

Glo. What paper were you reading?
Edm. Nothing, my lord.

Glo. No? what needed then that terrible dispatch of it into your pocket? the quality of nothing hath not such need to hide itself. Let's see: come, if it be nothing, I shall not need spectacles.

Edm. I beseech you, sir, pardon me : it is a