Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom, Lear. Nothing? Cor. Nothing. Lear. Nothing will come of nothing: speak again. Cor. Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty Lear. How, how, Cordelia! mend your speech a little, Lest you may mar your fortunes. Cor. Good my lord, You have begot me, bred me, loved 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, when I shall wed, That lord whose hand must take my plight shall carry Half my love with him, half my care and duty To love my father all. Ay, my good lord. Lear. But goes thy heart with this? Lear. Let it be so; thy truth then be thy dower: From whom we do exist and cease to be, Scythian, The barbarous Or he that makes his generation messes Kent. Lear. Peace, Kent! Good my liege, Come not between the dragon and his wrath. I loved her most, and thought to set my rest On her kind nursery. Hence, and avoid my sight! 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 the third; 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 turn. Only we shall retain The name and all the addition to a king; Kent. Royal Lear, Whom I have ever honour'd as my king, Loved as my father, as my master follow'd, As my great patron thought on in my prayers,— 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 wouldst thou do, old man? Think'st thou that duty shall have dread to speak When power to flattery bows? To plainness honour's bound When majesty falls to folly. Reserve thy state; And, in thy best consideration, check This hideous rashness: answer my life my judgement, Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least; Nor are those empty-hearted whose low sound Reverbs no hollowness. Lear. Kent, on thy life, no more. Kent. My life I never held but as a pawn To wage against thine enemies; nor fear to lose it, Thy safety being the motive. Lear. Out of my sight! Kent. See better, Lear; and let me still remain The true blank of thine eye. Lear. Now, by Apollo, Kent. Now, by Apollo, king, Thou swear'st thy gods in vain. Lear. O, vassal! miscreant ! [Laying his hand upon his sword. Alb., Corn. Dear sir, forbear. Kill thy physician, and the fee bestow Upon the foul disease. Revoke thy gift; 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, Kent. Fare thee well, king; sith thus thou wilt appear, Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here. [To CORDELIA.] The gods to their dear shelter take thee, maid, That justly think'st, and hast most rightly said! [To REGAN and GONERIL.] And your large speeches may your deeds approve, That good effects may spring from words of love. Thus Kent, O princes! bids you all adieu; He'll shape his old course in a country new. [Exit. Flourish. Re-enter GLOUCESTER, with FRANCE, BURGUNDY, and Attendants. Glou. Here's France and Burgundy, my noble lord. Lear. My Lord of Burgundy, We first address toward you, who with this king Hath rivall'd for our daughter. What, in the least, Will you require in present dower with her, Or cease your quest of love? Bur. Most royal majesty, I crave no more than hath your highness offer'd, Nor will you tender less. Lear. Right noble Burgundy, When she was dear to us we did hold her so, But now her price is fall'n. Sir, there she stands: If aught within that little seeming substance, Or all of it, with our displeasure pieced, And nothing more, may fitly like your grace, She's there, and she is yours. Bur. I know no answer. Lear. Will you, with those infirmities she owes, Unfriended, new-adopted to our hate, Dower'd with our curse, and stranger'd with our oath, Take her, or leave her? Bur. Pardon me, royal sir ; Election makes not up on such conditions. Lear. Then leave her, sir; for, by the power that made me, |