Kent. Kill thy physician, and thy fee bestow 165 Upon the foul disease. Revoke thy gift; Or, whilst I can vent clamour from my throat, I'll tell thee thou dost evil. Lear. Hear me, recreant! On thine allegiance, hear me! 170 That thou hast sought to make us break our vows, Which we durst never yet, and with strain’d pride To come betwixt our sentences and our power, Which nor our nature nor our place can bear, Our potency made good, take thy reward. 175 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, 180 The moment is thy death. Away! By Jupiter, This shall not be revok'd. 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, 185 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. 166. gift : Qs., doom, in agreement with 1. 151. 172. strain'd=exaggerated. 175. Our potency made good : in order to show our royal authority. Lear forgets that he has relinquished it. 177. disasters=misfortunes. Thus Kent, O princes, bids you all adieu ; [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, 195 Or cease your quest of love? Bur. Most royal Majesty, I crave no more than what 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 fallen. 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. Bur. I know no answer. Lear. Will you, with those infirmities she owes, Unfriended, new-adopted to our hate, 206 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 in such conditions. Lear. Then leave her, sir; for, by the power that 210 made me, 201. little-seeming=little in appearance. Cf. 1. 85. 205. owes=owns, as often. 209. Election makes not up: one cannot come to a choice. I tell you all her wealth. [To France.] For you, great king, way Than on a wretch whom Nature is asham'd 215 Almost to acknowledge hers. France. This is most strange, That she, whom even but now was your best object, The argument of your praise, balm of your age, The best, the dearest, should in this trice of time Commit a thing so monstrous, to dismantle 220 So many folds of favour. Sure, her offence Must be of such unnatural degree, That monsters it, or your fore-vouch'd affection Fallen into taint; which to believe of her, Must be a faith that reason without miracle 225 Should never plant in me. Cor. I yet beseech your Majesty, If for I want that glib and oily art, To speak and purpose not; since what I well intend, I'll do 't before I speak, —that you make known It is no vicious blot, murder, or foulness, 230 No unchaste action, or dishonoured step, That hath depriv'd me of your grace and favour; But even for want of that for which I am richer, 218. argument=subject, as often. 221-224. Sure ... taint : Surely either her offence must be so unnatural that it is monstrous, or else the affection which you formerly vouched for has become tainted. 230. murder, or : The substitution of nor other has been suggested as an emendation. 233. for which : i. e. for the want of which. A still-soliciting eye, and such a tongue Better thou France. Is it but this, a tardiness in nature Which often leaves the history unspoke That it intends to do? My Lord of Burgundy, 240 What say you to the lady? Love's not love When it is mingled with regards that stands Aloof from the entire point. Will you have her? She is herself a dowry. Bur. Royal king, Give but that portion which yourself propos’d, 245 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 respect and fortunes are his love, 251 I shall not be his wife. France. Fairest Cordelia, that art most rich being poor, Most choice forsaken, and most lov'd despis’d! Thee and thy virtues here I seize upon, 255 Be it lawful I take up what's cast away. Gods, gods! 't is strange that from their cold'st neglect 234. still-soliciting=ever soliciting. 251. respect and fortunes : hendiadys for considerations of fortune. My love should kindle to inflam'd respect. 260 Lear. Thou hast her, France. Let her be thine; for we Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see 266 That face of hers again. — [To Cor.] Therefore be gone Without our grace, our love, our benison. Come, noble Burgundy. Flourish. Exeunt (all but France, Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia). France. Bid farewell to your sisters. 270 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 named. Love well our father, To your professed bosoms I commit him ; 275 Reg. Prescribe not us our duty. Let your study 264. here and where are nouns. 271. with wash'd eyes : i. e. with tears. 275. bosoms=loves. 277. prefer=recommend. 282. the want that you have wanted=the lack of affec |