Against his growing anger at Kent, Lear struggles in vain Though knowing well from long experience the wisdom of this loyal nobleman, he is powerless to check the tide of passion that engulfs him, or to recognize what it is that Kent really desires. His anger at Cordelia and his anger at Kent are alike illustrations of his lack of self-control.

Lear.

On thine allegiance, hear me!

Hear me, recreant!

That thou hast sought to make us break our vow,
Which we durst never yet, and with strain'd pride
To come betwixt our sentence and our power,
Which nor our nature nor our place can bear,
Our potency made good, take thy reward.
Five days we do allot thee, for provision.
To shield thee from disasters of the world,
And on the sixth to turn thy hated back

Upon our kingdom. If on the tenth day following
Thy banish'd trunk be found in our dominions,

170

175

The moment is thy death. Away! By Jupiter,
This shall not be revok'd.

180

Kent. Fare thee well, king; sith thus thou wilt

appear,

Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here.--
The gods to their dear shelter take thee, maid,
That justly think'st and hast most justly said !
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.

168. recreant: faithless wretch.

170. That: seeing that.

row: the promised division of the kingdom,

(Exit.)

185

In line 173 Lear utters a condemning self-characterization: his self-willed nature can endure no check. Such a character, essentially weak through stubbornness, may be expected to strengthen and support himself by appeal to some duty, such as the keeping of a which he claims never to neglect.

vow,

Kent accepts banishment as the less of two evils, since to remain with the king and silently abet his foolishness would be true banishment, while even in exile he can enjoy the only freedom which he desires: freedom to be loyal to his king. This loving loyalty under new conditions is the old course which he will shape in a country new.

171. strain'd: unnatural, forced.

172.

174.

power: execution of his will.

our potency made good: absolute construction; our power being recognized.

take thy reward: accept sentence of punishment.

178. tenth the sense of the line seems to require seventh,

perhaps, as suggested by Daniel, to be read se'nth.

Flourish. Re-enter Gloucester with France, Burgundy

and Attendants.

Gloucester. 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?

Burgundy.

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;

190

195

But now her price is fall'n.

Sir, there she stands.

200

If aught within that little seeming substance,

Or all of it, with our displeasure piec'd,

And nothing more, may fitly like your grace,
She's there, and she is yours.

192. address toward you: address ourselves to you.

198. so worthy of the dower I offered. There is probably a play upon the word also with reference to dear.

200. seeming substance: unreality, i. e., Cordelia. Whatever she may seem, is in reality nothing.

201. piec'd: pieced out, supplemented,

Lear's words to Burgundy show at once the change in his attitude toward Cordelia. To speak of the dower may be regarded natural;

but not to haggle for the lowest acceptable. Burgundy is naturally puzzled. He declares his satisfaction with what Lear has previously offered,-doubtless the third of his estate, and cannot believe that the king will now at the last moment offer less.