Which of you, fhall we fay, doth love us moft? Gon. I love you, Sir, Dearer than eye-fight, space and liberty; Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare; No lefs than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable, Cor: What fhall Cordelia do? love and be filent. [Afide Lear. Of all thefe Bounds, ev'n from this line to this, Only the comes too short: that I profess My felf an enemy to all other joys, Which the moft precious fquare of fenfe poffeffes; In your dear Highness' love. Cir. Then poor Cordelia! And yet not fo, fince, I am fure, my love's More pond'rous than my tongue. Lear. To thee, and thine, hereditary ever, [Afide 1 (1) And prixe me at ber Worth. In my true Heart,] Mr. Bishop prefcrib'd the Pointing of this Passage, as I have regulated it in the Text. Regan would fay, that in the Truth of her Heart and Affection, the equals the worth of her Sifter. Without this Change in the Pointing, the makes a Boaft of her felf without any Caufe affign'd. A 4 Although our laft, not leaft; to whofe young love, Strive to be int'refs'd: what fay you, to draw Lear. Nothing? Cor. Nothing. Lear. Nothing can come of nothing; fpeak again. My heart into my mouth: I love your Majefty 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 ? Cor. Ay, my good lord.. Lear. So young, and fo untender ? Cor. So young, my lord, and true. Lear. Let it be fo, thy truth then be thy dower From whom we do exift, and cease to be; Hold thee, from this, for ever. The barb'rous Scythians my bofom gorge Be as well neighbour'd, pitied, and reliev'd, As thou, my fometime daughter. Kent, Kent. Good my Liege Come not between the dragon and his wrath. So be my grave my peace, as here I give [To Com Her father's heart from her; Call France; who stirs? With my two daughters' dowers digeft the third. That troop with Majefty. Our felf by monthly courfe By you to be fuftain'd, fhall our abode [Giving the Crown Beloved fons, be yours; which to confirm, Whom I have ever honour'd as my King, Lov'd as my father, as my mafter follow'd, Lear. The bow is bent and drawn, make from the fhaft. Kent. Let it fall rather, though the fork invade Referve thy State; with better judgment check Lear. Kent, on thy life no more. Kent. My life I never held but as a pawn To wage against thy foes; nor fear to lose it, 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 favord. Alb. Corn. Dear Sir, forbear. Kent. Kill thy phyfician, and thy fee bestow Lear. Hear me, recreant! Since thou haft fought to make us break our vow, Kent. Fare thee well, King; fith thus thou wilt appear, [Exita Enter Glo'fter, with France and Burgundy, and Attendants. Glo. Here's France and Burgundy, my noble lord. Lean Lear. My lord of Burgundy, We first address tow'rd you, who with this King Bur. Moft royal Majefty, I crave no more than what your Highness offer'd, Lear. Right noble Burgundy, When fhe was dear to us, we held her fo; And nothing more, may fitly like your Grace, Bur. I know no answer. Lear. Will you with those infirmities she owes, Unfriended, new-adopted to our hate, Dower'd with our curfe, and stranger'd with our oath, Take her, or leave her? Bur. Pardon, royal Sir; Election makes not up on fuch 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 fuch a stray, To match you where I hate; therefore befeech you, T'avert your liking a more worthy way Than on a wretch, whom nature is afham'd Almoft t' acknowledge hers. France. This is most strange ! That the, who ev'n but now was your best object That monsters it; or your fore-vouch'd affection Mufy |