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Alexander Pope [1747], The works of Shakespear in eight volumes. The Genuine Text (collated with all the former Editions, and then corrected and emended) is here settled: Being restored from the Blunders of the first Editors, and the Interpolations of the two Last: with A Comment and Notes, Critical and Explanatory. By Mr. Pope and Mr. Warburton (Printed for J. and P. Knapton, [and] S. Birt [etc.], London) [word count] [S11301].
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SCENE XV. To them, Enter Albany.

Lear.
Woe! that too late repents—O, Sir, are you come?
Is it your will, speak, Sir? prepare my horses.— [To Albany.
Ingratitude! thou marble-hearted fiend,
More hideous, when thou shew'st thee in a child,
Than the sea-monster.

Alb.
Pray, Sir, be patient.

Lear.
Detested kite! thou liest. [To Gonerill.
My train are men of choice and rarest parts,
That all particulars of duty know;
And in the most exact regard support
The worships of their names. O most small fault!
How ugly didst thou in Cordelia shew?
noteWhich, like an engine, wrencht my frame of nature
From the fixt place; drew from my heart all love,
And added to the gall. O Lear, Lear, Lear!

-- 37 --


Beat at this gate that let thy folly in, [Striking his head.
And thy dear judgment out.—Go, go, my people.

Alb.
My lord, I'm guiltless, as I'm ignorant,
Of what hath moved you.

Lear.
It may be so, my lord—
Hear, Nature, hear; dear Goddess, hear a Father!
Suspend thy purpose, if thou didst intend
To make this creature fruitful:
Into her womb convey sterility,
Dry up in her the organs of increase,
And 7 notefrom her derogate body never spring
A Babe to honour her! If she must teem,
Create her child of spleen, that it may live,
And be a thwart disnatur'd torment to her;
Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth,
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With candent tears fret chanels in her cheeks:
Turn all her mother's pains and benefits
To laughter and contempt; that she may feel,
How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is,
To have a thankless child.—Go, go, my people.

Alb.
Now, Gods, that we adore, whereof comes this?

Gon.
Never afflict yourself to know of it:
But let his disposition have that scope,
That dotage gives it.

Lear.
What, fifty of my followers at a clap?
Within a fortnight?—

Alb.
What's the matter, Sir?

Lear.
I'll tell thee—life and death! I am asham'd
That thou hast power to shake my manhood thus; [To Gonerill.
That these hot tears, which break from me perforce,

-- 38 --


Should make thee worth them.—blasts and fogs upon thee!
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Th' untented woundings of a father's curse
Pierce every fence about thee! Old fond eyes,
Beweep this Cause again, I'll pluck ye out,
And cast you, with the waters that you lose,
To temper clay. Ha! is it come to this?
Let it be so: I have another daughter,
Who, I am sure, is kind and comfortable;
When she shall hear this of thee, with her nails
She'll flea thy wolfish visage. Thou shalt find,
That I'll resume the shape, which thou dost think
I have cast off for ever. [Ex. Lear and Attendants.
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Alexander Pope [1747], The works of Shakespear in eight volumes. The Genuine Text (collated with all the former Editions, and then corrected and emended) is here settled: Being restored from the Blunders of the first Editors, and the Interpolations of the two Last: with A Comment and Notes, Critical and Explanatory. By Mr. Pope and Mr. Warburton (Printed for J. and P. Knapton, [and] S. Birt [etc.], London) [word count] [S11301].
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