Their mediation; must I be unfolded [me For things that others do; and, when we fall, Cœes. Cleopatra, Not what you have reserv'd, nor what acknowledg'd, Put we i' the roll of conquest: still be it yours, Make not your thoughts your prisons: no, dear Not so: Adieu. [Exeunt Cæsar and his Train. Cleo. He words me, girls, he words me, that I should not Be noble to myself; but hark thee, Charmian. And we are for the dark. Cleo. Char. Madam, I will. Re-enter Dolabella. Dol. Where is the queen? Char. Behold, sir. [Exit Charmian. Dolabella? Cleo. D. Madam, as thereto sworn byyour command, Which my love makes religion to obey, I tell you this: Cæsar through Syria Intends his journey; and, within three days, You with your children will he send before: Make your best use of this: I have perform'd Your pleasure and my promise. Cleo. Dolabella, thee leave To play till doomsday.-Bring our crown and all. Guard. Cleo. Let him come in. [Exit Guard.] How poor an instrument May do a noble deed! he brings me liberty. Re-enter Guard, with a Clown bringing a Basket. Cleo. Avoid, and leave him. [Exit Guard. Hast thou the pretty worm of Nilus there, That kills and pains not? Clown, Truly I have him: but I would not be the party that should desire you to touch him, for his biting is immortal; those, that do die of it, do seldom or never recover. [on't? Cleo. Remember'st thou any that have died Clown. Very many, men and women too. I heard of one of them no longer than yesterday: a very honest woman, but something given to lie; as a woman should not do, but in the way of honesty: how she died of the biting of it, what pains she felt.-Truly, she makes a very good report o' the worm: But he that will believe all that they say, shall never be saved by half that they do: But this is most fallible, the worm's an odd worm.. Cleo. Get thee hence; farewell. Clown. I wish you all joy of the worm. Cleo. Farewell. [Clown sets down the Basket. Clown. You must think this, look you, that the worm will do his kind.8 Immortal longings in me: Now no more The juice of Egypt's grape shall moist this lip:- Char. Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain; that The gods themselves do weep! This proves me base: [To the Asp, which she applies to her Breast. Char. Cleo. O eastern star! Char. O, break! O, break! [Applying another Asp to her Arm. Enter the Guard, rushing in. 1 Guard. Where is the queen ? 1 Make haste. 2 Perplexed or tangled. 3 Unpolitic to leave me to myself. Enter Dolabella. Dol. How goes it here? 2 Guard. [Dies. All dead. [Within.] A way there, way for Cæsar! Enter Cæsar, and Attendants. Bravest at the last: Dol. Who was last with them?! 1 Guard. A simple countryman, that brought her figs; This was his basket. Cæs. Poison'd then. 1 Guard. Cœs. O noble weakness! If they had swallow'd poison, 'twould appear Dol. 1 Guard. This is an aspick's trail: and these Have slime upon them, such as the aspick leaves LEAR, King of Britain. KING OF FRANCE. DUKE OF BURGUNDY. DUKE OF CORNWALL. DUKE OF ALBANY. EARL OF KENT. EARL OF GLOSTER. EDGAR, Son to Gloster. King Lear. Persons Represented. EDMUND, Bastard Son to Gloster. CURAN, a Courtier. Old Man, Tenant to Gloster, Act First.. SCENE I. A ROOM OF STATE IN KING LEAR'S PALACE. Enter Kent, Gloster, and Edmund. Kent. I thought, the king had more affected the duke of Albany, than Cornwall. Glo. It did always seem so to us; but now, in the division of the kingdom, it appears not which of the dukes he values most; for equalities are so weigh'd that curiosity in neither can make choice of either's moiety. Kent. Is this your son, my lord? Glo. His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge: I have so often blush'd to acknowledge him, that now I am brazed 2 to it. Kent. I cannot conceive you. Glo. Sir, this young fellow's mother had a son for her cradle, ere she had a husband for her bed. Do you smell a fault? Kent. I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it being so proper. Glo. But I have, sir, a son by order of law, some year elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account: though this knave came somewhat saucily into the world, yet was his mother fair, and he must be acknowledged. Do you know this noble gentleman, Edmund ? Edm. No, my lord. Glo. My lord of Kent: remember him hereafter as my honourable friend. Edm. My services to your lordship. Glo. I shall, my liege. purpose. [Exeunt Gloster and Edmund. Lear. Meantime we shall express our darker1 [divided, Give me the map there.-Know, that we have In three, our kingdom: and 'tis our fast intent 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, Gon. Do love you more than words can wield the mat- Kent. I must love you, and sue to know you Beyond all manner of so much I love you. [able; better. Edm. Sir, I shall study deserving. Glo. He hath been out nine years, and away he shall again:-The king is coming. [Trumpets sound within. Enter Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Goneril, Regan, Cordelia, and Attendants. Lear. Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloster. 1 Scrutiny. 2 Hardened. Cor. [Aside.] What shall Cordelia do ? love and be silent. [this, With shadowy forests and with champains 2 L. Of all these bounds, even from this line to rich'd, With plenteous rivers 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. 1 Secret, 2 Plains. Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry her. I do invest you jointly with my power, Pre-eminence, and all the large effects [course, That troop with majesty.-Ourself, by monthly With reservation of an hundred knights, pos-By you to be sustain'd, shall our abode 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,-that I profess Myself an enemy to all other joys, Which the most precious square1 of sense And find, I am alone felicitate In your dear highness' love. [sesses; Cor. [Aside.] Then poor Cordelia! Lear. To thee, and thine hereditary ever, Cor. Nothing. L. 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 Lest it may mar your fortunes. [little, Cor. Half my love with him, half my care, and duty: Lear. But goes this with thy heart? Cor. Lear. So young, and so untender? L. Let it be so,-Thy truth then be thy dower: From whom we do exist, and cease to be; 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.-[To Cordelia.] Hence, and avoid my sight!So be my grave my peace, as here I give Her father's heart from her!-Call France;-Who Call Burgundy.-Cornwall, and Albany, [stirs? With my two daughters' dowers digest this third: 1 Complement 2 Valna 8 (From this time.) 4 His children. Make with you by due turns. Only we still retain Revenue, execution of the rest, T [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, 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 would'st thou do, old man? [speak, Think'st thou that duty shall have dread to When power to flattery bows? To plainness honour's bound, When majesty stoops to folly. Reverse thy doom; And, in thy best consideration, check [ment, This hideous rashness: answer my life my judgThy 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 blank2 of thine eye. Lear. Now, by Apollo, Kent. Now, by Apollo, king, Thou swear'st thy gods in vain. Lear. [Laying his hand on his Sword.] 0, vassal, miscreant! Alb. Corn. Dear sir, forbear. ( pride, To come betwixt our sentence and our power; Kent. Fare thee well,king: since thus thou wilt Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here.1 Titles. 2 Mark [To Cordelia.] The gods to their dear shelter take thee, maid, That justly think'st, and hast most rightly said!-- G. Here's France and Burgundy,my noble lord. We first address towards you, who with this king Bur. Most royal majesty, I crave no more than hath your highness offer'd, Bur. Lear. Sir, I know no answer. Will you, with those infirmities she owes,1 Bur. I tell you all her wealth.-To France.] For you, great king, I would not from your love make such a stray, To match you where I hate: therefore beseech To avert your liking a more worthier way, [you 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, Most best, most dearest, should in this trice of time Commit a thing so monstrous, to dismantle That monsters it, or your fore-vouch'd affection Cor. I yet beseech your majesty, (If for2 I want that glib and oily art, [tend, To speak and purpose not; since what I well inI'll do't before I speak,) that you make known It is no vicious blot, murder, or 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. Better thou Lear. Hadst not been born, than not to have pleas'd sme better. France. Is it but this? a tardiness in nature, Which often leaves the history unspoke, That it intends to do? My lord of Burgundy, What say you to the lady? Love is not love, When it is mingled with respects, that stand She is herself a dowry. Aloof from the entire point. Will you have her? Royal Lear, Bur. Give but that portion which yourself propos'd, And here I take Cordelia by the hand, Duchess of Burgundy. Lear. Nothing: I have sworn; I am firm. Bur. I am sorry then, you have so lost a father, That you must lose a husband. Cor. Peace be with Burgundy! Since that respects of fortune are his love, I shall not be his wife.. France. Fairest Cordelia, thou art most rich, being poor;! Most choice, forsaken: and most lov'd, despis'd! My love should kindle to inflam'd respect. Is queen of us, of ours, and our fair France: Not all the dukes of wat'rish Burgundy Shall buy this unpriz'd precious maid of me. Bid them farewell, Cordelia, though unkind: Thou losest here, a better where to find. 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 be gone, Without our grace, our love, our benizon. 1Come, noble Burgundy. [Flourish. Exeunt Lear, Burgundy, Cornwall, Albany, Gloster, and Attendants. France. Bid farewell to your sisters. Cor.The 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 professed bosoms I commit him: Gon. Prescribe not us our duties. Let your study Be, to content your lord; who hath receiv'd you At fortune's alms. You have obedience scanted, And well are worth the want that you have wanted. [hides; Cor. Time shall unfold what plaited cunning Who cover faults, at last shame them derides Well may you prosper! France. Come, my fair Cordelia, [Exeunt France and Cordelia. Gon. Sister, it is not a little I have to say, of what most nearly appertains to us both. I think, our father will hence to-night. 1 Blessing.. |