Lear.
Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloster.

Glo.
I shall, my liege. [Exeunt Gloster and Attendants.

Lear.
Meantime, we shall express our darker purpose.^{4 note}
Give me the map there.—Know, that we have divided,
In three our kingdom: and 'tis our fast intent^{5 note}
To shake all cares and business from our age;
Conferring them on younger strengths, while we
Unburden'd crawl toward death.—Our son of Cornwall,
And you, our no less loving son of Albany,
We have this hour a constant will^{6 note} to publish
Our daughters' several dowers, that future strife
May be prevented now. The princes, France and Burgundy,
Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love,
Long in our court have made their amorous sojourn,
And here are to be answer'd.—Tell me, my daughters,
Which of you, shall we say, doth love us most?
That we our largest bounty may extend
Where merit doth most challenge it.—Goneril,
Our eldest-born, speak first.

Gon.
Sir, I
Do love you more than words can wield the matter,
Dearer than eye-sight, space, and liberty;

Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare;
A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable;
Beyond all manner of so much^{7 note} I love you.

Cor.
What shall Cordelia do?—Love and be silent. [Aside.

Lear.
Of all these bounds, even from this line to this,
With shadowy forests and wide-skirted meads,
We make thee lady: To thine and Albany's issue
Be this perpetual.—What says our second daughter,
Our dearest Regan, wife to Cornwall? Speak.

Reg.
I am made of that self-metal as my sister,
And prize me at her worth. In my true heart
I find, she names my very deed of love;
Only she comes too short,—I am alone felicitate^{8 note}
In your dear highness' love.

Cor.
Then poor Cordelia! [Aside.
And yet not so; since, I am sure, my love's
More richer than my tongue.

Lear.
To thee, and thine, hereditary ever,
Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom;
No less in space, validity,^{9 note} and pleasure,
Than that conferr'd on Goneril.—Now, our joy,
Although the last, not least; to whose young love
The vines of France, and milk of Burgundy,
Strive to be interess'd;^{10 note} what can you say, to win
A third more opulent than your sisters? Speak.

Cor.
Nothing, my lord.

Lear.
Nothing?

Cor.
Nothing.

Lear.
Nothing can come of nothing: speak again.

Cor.
Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave
My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty
According to my bond; nor more, nor less.

Lear.
How, how, Cordelia? mend your speech a little,
Lest it may mar your fortunes.

Cor.
Good, my lord,
You gave me being, bred me, lov'd me: I
Return those duties back as are right fit,
Obey you, love you, and most honour you.
Why have my sisters husbands, if they say,
They love you, all? Haply,^{11 note} when I shall wed,
That lord, whose hand must take my plight, shall carry
Half my love with him, half my care, and duty:
Sure, I shall never marry, like my sisters,
To love my father all.

Lear.
But goes this with thy heart?

Cor.
Ay, my good lord.

Lear.
So young, and so untender?^{12 note}

Cor.
So young, my lord, and true.

Lear.
Thy truth then be thy dower:
For by the sacred radiance of the sun;
The mysteries of Hecate, and the night;
Here I disclaim all my paternal care,
And, as a stranger to my heart and me,
Hold thee, from this,^{13 note} for ever.

Kent.
Good, my liege,—

Lear.
Peace, Kent!
Come not between the dragon and his wrath:
I lov'd her most, and thought to set my rest
On her kind nursery.—Hence, and avoid my sight!— [To Cordelia.
So be my grave my peace, as here I give
Her father's heart from her!—Call France;—Who stirs?
Call Burgundy.—Cornwall, and Albany,
With my two daughters' dowers digest this third:
Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry her.
I do invest you jointly with my power,
Pre-eminence, and all the large effects
That troop with majesty. Ourself, by monthly course,
With reservation of an hundred knights,
By you to be sustain'd, shall our abode

Make with you by due turns. Only, we still retain
The name, and all the additions^{14 note} to a king;
The sway, revenue, execution of the rest,^{15 note}
Beloved sons, be yours: which to confirm,
This coronet part between you. [Giving the crown.

Kent.
Royal Lear,
Whom I have ever honour'd as my 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 would'st thou do, old man?

Lear.
Kent, on thy life no more.

Kent.
My life I never held but as a pawn
To wage against thine enemies;^{16 note} nor fear to lose it,
Thy safety being the motive.

Lear.
Out of my sight!

Kent.
See better, Lear.

Lear.
Now by Apollo,—

Kent.
Now, by Apollo, king,
Thou swear'st thy gods in vain.

Lear.
O, vassal! miscreant! [Laying his hand on his sword

Alb. Corn.
Dear Sir, forbear.

Kent.
Do;
Kill thy physician;
For, whilst I can vent clamour from my throat,
I'll tell thee thou dost evil.

Lear.
Hear me, recreant!
On thine allegiance hear me!—
Since thou hast sought to make us break our vow,
(Which we durst never yet,) and, with strain'd pride, ^note

To come betwixt our sentence and our power;^{18 note}
(Which nor our nature nor our place can bear,)
Our potency made good,^{19 note} take thy reward.
Five days we do allot thee for provision,
And, on the sixth, to turn thy hated back
Upon our kingdom: if, on the tenth day following,
Thy banish'd trunk be found in our dominions,
The moment is thy death. Away! By Jupiter,
This shall not be revok'd.

Kent.
Fare thee well, king: since thus thou wilt appear,
Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here.—
The gods to their dear shelter take thee, maid, [To Cordelia.
That justly think'st, and hast most rightly said!—
And your large speeches may your deeds approve, [To Regan and Goneril.
That good effects may spring from words of love.—
Thus Kent, O princes, bids you all adieu;
He'll shape his old course^{20 note} in a country new. [Exit. Re-enter Gloster, with France, Burgundy, and Attendants.

Glo.
Here's France and Burgundy, my noble lord.

Lear.
My lord of Burgundy,
We first address towards you, who with this king
Hath rivall'd for our daughter.
Sir, there she stands;
If aught within that little, seeming^{21 note} 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,
Take her, or leave her.

Bur.
Pardon me, royal Sir;
Election makes not up on such conditions.^{22 note}

Lear.
Then leave her, Sir; for by the power 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,
To match you where I hate; therefore beseech you
To avert^{23 note} your liking a more worthier way,
Than on a wretch whom nature is asham'd
Almost to acknowledge hers.

France.
This is most strange!
That she, that 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!

Cor.
Yet beseech your majesty, that you make known
It is no vicious blot, nor other foulness,
No unchaste action, or dishonour'd step,
That hath depriv'd 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 to have pleas'd me better.

France.
Is it but this?^{24 note} a tardiness in nature,
Which often leaves the history unspoke,
That it intends to do?
Fairest Cordelia, that art most rich, being poor;
Most choice, forsaken; and most lov'd, despis'd;
Thee and thy virtues here I seize upon:
Be it lawful, I take up what's cast away.
Thy dowerless daughter, king, thrown to my chance,
Is queen of us, of ours, and our fair France:

Bid them farewell, Cordelia, though unkind:
Thou losest here, a better where to find.^{25 note}

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 begone,
Without our grace, our love, our benizon.^{26 note}—
Come, noble Burgundy. [Flourish. Exeunt Lear, Burgundy, Gloster, and Attendants.

France.
Bid farewell to your sisters.

Cor.
Ye 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 nam'd. Use well our father:
To your professing 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.

Gon.
Prescribe not us our duties.

Reg.
Let your study
Be, to content your lord, who hath receiv'd you
At fortune's alms.

Cor.
Time shall unfold what plaited cunning^{27 note} hides;
Who cover faults, at last shame them derides.—
Well may you prosper.

France.
Come, my fair Cordelia. [Exeunt France and Cordelia.

Previous section

Next section