George Sewell [1723–5], The works of Shakespear in six [seven] volumes. Collated and Corrected by the former Editions, By Mr. Pope ([Vol. 7] Printed by J. Darby, for A. Bettesworth [and] F. Fayram [etc.], London) [word count] [S11101].
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SCENE VI.
A Castle belonging to the Earl of Glo'ster. Enter Bastard with a letter.
Bast.
Thou Nature art my goddess, to thy law
My services are bound; wherefore should I
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Stand in the plague of custom, and permit
The h notenicety 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 gen'rous, 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 creating a whole tribe of fops,
Got 'tween a-sleep and wake? Well then,
Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land,
Our father's love is to the bastard Edmund,
As to th'legitimate; fine word—legitimate—
Well, my legitimate, if this letter speed
And my invention thrive, Edmund the base
Shall to th' legitimate—I grow, I prosper;
Now Gods stand up for bastards!
George Sewell [1723–5], The works of Shakespear in six [seven] volumes. Collated and Corrected by the former Editions, By Mr. Pope ([Vol. 7] Printed by J. Darby, for A. Bettesworth [and] F. Fayram [etc.], London) [word count] [S11101].
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