I. i.

What in the leaft will you require in prefent
Dower with her, or ceafe your queft of loue?

Burg. Royall maiefty, I craue no more then what
Your highnes offered, nor will you tender leffe?

Lear. Right noble Burgundie, when she was deere to
We did hold her fo, but now her prife is fallen,

200

210

Sir there she stands, if ought within that little

Seeming fubftace, or al of it with our displeasure peecft,

And nothing elfe may fitly like your grace,
Shees there, and fhe is yours.

Burg. I know no answer.

Lear. Sir will you with thofe infirmities fhe owes,
Vnfriended, new adopted to our hate,

Couered with our curfe, and ftranger'd with our oth,
Take her or leaue her.

Burg. Pardon me royall fir, election makes not vp
On fuch conditions.

(me

Lear. Then leaue her fir, for by the powre that made

I tell you all her wealth, for you great King,

I would not from your loue make such a stray,

To match you where I hate, therefore befeech you,

To auert your liking a more worthier way,

Then on a wretch whome nature is afhamed

Almoft to acknowledge hers.

Fra. This is moft ftrange, that fhe, that euen but now
Was your beft obiect, the argument of your praise,

Balme of your age, most best, most deereft,

220 Should in this trice of time commit a thing,

So monstrous to dismantell so many foulds of fauour,
Sure her offence must be of such vnnaturall degree,

That monsters it, or you for voucht affections
Falne into taint, which to beleeue of her

Must be a faith that reason without miracle

Could neuer plant in me.

Cord. I yet befeech your Maiestie,

If for I want that glib and oyly Art,

To fpeake and purpofe not, fince what I well entend
Ile do't before I fpeake, that you may know

230 It is no vicious blot, murder or foulnes,

[9

I. i.

Hath riuald for our Daughter; what in the leaft
Will you require in present Dower with her,
Or ceafe your quest of Loue?

Bur. Moft Royall Maiefty,

I craue no more then hath your Highnesse offer'd,
Nor will you tender lesse?

Lear. Right Noble Burgundy,

When she was deare to vs, we did hold her fo, 200 But now her price is fallen: Sir, there she stands, If ought within that little feeming fubftance,

210

Or all of it with our displeasure piec'd,
And nothing more may fitly like your Grace,
Shee's there, and she is yours.

Bur. I know no answer.

Lear. Will you with those infirmities fhe owes,
Vnfriended, new adopted to our hate,

Dow'rd with our curfe, and stranger'd with our oath,
Take her or, leaue her.

Bur. Pardon me Royall Sir,

Election makes not vp in fuch conditions.

Le. Then leaue her fir, for by the powre that made me,

I tell you all her wealth. For you great King,

I would not from your loue make fuch a stray,

To match you where I hate, therefore befeech you
T'auert your liking a more worthier way,
Then on a wretch whom Nature is afham'd
Almoft t'acknowledge hers.

Fra. This is most strange,

That she whom euen but now, was your obiect,
The argument of your praise, balme of your age,
The beft, the deereft, should in this trice of time
220 Commit a thing fo monftrous, to dismantle
So many folds of fauour: sure her offence
Muft be of fuch vnnaturall degree,

That monsters it: Or your fore-voucht affection
Fall into taint, which to beleeue of her

Muft be a faith that reafon without miracle

Should neuer plant in me.

Cor. I yet befeech your Maiesty.

If for I want that glib and oylie Art,

To fpeake and purpofe not, fince what I will intend, Ile do't before I fpeake, that you make knowne 230 It is no vicious blot, murther, or fouleneffe,

[285a

I. i.

No vncleane action or difhonord step

That hath depriu'd me of your grace and fauour,
But euen for want of that, for which I am rich,

A ftill foliciting eye, and fuch a tongue,

As I am glad I haue not, though not to haue it,
Hath loft me in your liking.

Leir. Goe to, goe to, better thou hadft not bin borne,
Then not to haue pleas'd me better.

Fran. Is it no more but this, a tardines in nature,

(do,

240 That often leaues the hiftorie vnfpoke that it intends to
My Lord of Burgundie, what say you to the Lady?
Loue is not loue when it is mingled with respects that
Aloofe from the intire point wil you haue her?

250

260

She is her felfe and dowre.

Burg. Royall Leir, giue but that portion
Which your felfe propofd, and here I take Cordelia
By the hand, Dutches of Burgundie,

Leir. Nothing, I haue fworne.

Burg. I am fory then you haue fo loft a father,

That you must loofe a hufband.

Cord. Peace be with Burgundie, fince that respects
Of fortune are his loue, I fhall not be his wife.

(ftads

Fran. Faireft Cordelia that art moft rich being poore,
Moft choife forfaken, and most loued defpifd,

Thee and thy vertues here I ceaze vpon,

Be it lawful I take vp whats caft away,

Gods, Gods! tis strage, that from their couldst neglect,
My loue fhould kindle to inflam'd respect,

Thy dowreles daughter King throwne to thy chance,
Is Queene of vs, of ours, and our faire France:

Not all the Dukes in watrifh Burgundie,

Shall buy this vnprizd precious maide of me,
Bid them farewell Cordelia, though vnkind

Thou loofeft here, a better where to find.

Lear. Thou haft her France, let her be thine,

For we haue no fuch daughter, nor fhall euer fee
That face of hers againe, therfore be gone,

(Burgudy.

Without our grace, our loue, our benizon? come noble
Exit Lear and Burgundie.

:

270

Fran. Bid farewell to your fifters?

[10

I. i.
No vnchaste action or dishonoured step
That hath depriu'd me of your Grace and fauour,
But euen for want of that, for which I am richer,
A ftill foliciting eye, and such a tongue,

That I am glad I haue not, though not to haue it,
Hath loft me in your liking.

Lear. Better thou had'ft,

Not beene borne, then not t haue pleas'd me better.
Fra. Is it but this? A tardineffe in nature,
Which often leaues the history vnspoke

240 That it intends to do: my Lord of Burgundy,
What fay you to the Lady? Loue's not loue
When it is mingled with regards, that stands
Aloofe from th'intire point, will you haue her?
She is herfelfe a Dowrie.

250

260

270

Bur. Royall King,

Giue but that portion which your felfe propos'd,
And here I take Cordelia by the hand,

Dutcheffe of Burgundie.

Lear. Nothing, I haue fworne, I am firme.
Bur. I am forry then you haue fo loft a Father,

That you must loofe a husband.

Cor. Peace be with Burgundie,

Since that respect and Fortunes are his loue,

I fhall not be his wife.

Fra. Faireft Cordelia, that art moft rich being poore,
Moft choise forsaken, and moft lou'd defpis'd,

Thee and thy vertues here I feize vpon,

Be it lawful I take vp what's cast away.

Gods, Gods! 'Tis ftrange, that from their cold'st neglect
My Loue fhould kindle to enflam'd refpect.

Thy dowreleffe Daughter King, throwne to my chance,
Is Queene of vs, of ours, and our faire France:
Not all the Dukes of watrish Burgundy,
Can buy this vnpriz'd precious Maid of me.
Bid them farewell Cordelia, though vnkinde,
Thou loofeft here a better where to finde.

.

Lear. Thou haft her France, let her be thine, for we
Haue no fuch Daughter, nor shall euer see
That face of hers againe, therfore be gone,

Without our Grace, our Loue, our Benizon:
Come Noble Burgundie.

Fra

Flourish. Exeunt.

[285b

Bid farwell to your Sifters.

I. i.

280

290

Cord. The iewels of our father,

(you are,

With wafht eyes Cordelia leaues you, I know you what
And like a fifter am most loath to call your faults

As they are named, vfe well our Father,
To your profeffed bofoms I commit him,
But yet alas ftood I within his grace,
I would preferre him to a better place:
So farewell to you both?

Gonorill. Prescribe not vs our duties?

Regan. Let your study be to content your Lord,
Who hath receaued you at Fortunes almes,

You haue obedience fcanted,

And well are worth the worth that you haue wanted.
Cord. Time fhal vnfould what pleated cuning hides,
Who couers faults, at last shame them derides:

Well may you prosper.

Fran. Come faire Cordelia?

Exit France & Cord.

Gonor. Sifter, it is not a little I haue to fay,

Of what most neerely appertaines to vs both,

I thinke our father will hence to night.

Reg. Thats most certaine, and with you, next moneth with vs. Gon. You see how full of changes his age is the obferuation we haue made of it hath not bin little; hee alwaies loued our fifter moft, and with what poore iudgement hee hath now caft her off, appeares too groffe.

Reg. Tis the infirmitie of his age, yet hee hath euer but flenderly knowne himselfe.

Gono. The beft and foundeft of his time hath bin but rash, 300 then must we looke to receiue from his age not alone the imperfection of long ingrafted condition, but therwithal vnruly waywardnes, that infirme and cholericke yeares bring with them.

Rag. Such vnconstant starts are we like to haue from him, as this of Kents banishment.

Gono. There is further complement of leaue taking betweene France and him, pray lets hit together, if our Father cary autho310 rity with fuch difpofitions as he beares, this laft furrender of his will but offend vs,

Ragan. We fhall further thinke on't.

[11

Gon. We must doe fomething, and it'h heate.

Exeunt.