Glost. (c.) Plead with the seas, and reason down the winds, Yet shalt thou ne'er convince me: I have seen [Aside.-Advances. Glost. Ha, [Crosses to EDMUND, R.] Edmund! welcome, boy.-O, Kent! see here Inverted nature, Gloster's shame and glory : Whilst Edgar, begged of heaven, and born in honour, Nay, weep not, Edmund, for thy brother's crimes. My lord, you wait the king, who comes resolv'd His realms amongst his daughters. Heaven succeed it! Kent. I grieve to see him With such wild starts of passion hourly seiz'd, As render majesty beneath itself. Glost. Alas! 'tis the infirmity of his age: Yet has his temper ever been unfixt, Chol'ric, and sudden. [Flourish of Trumpets and Drums, R. Hark, they approach. [Flourish.-Exeunt, R. Enter CORDELIA, L. EDGAR following. Edg. Cordelia, royal fair, turn yet once more, And, ere successful Burgundy receive The treasure of thy beauties from the king, Ere happy Burgundy for ever fold thee, Cast back one pitying look on wretched Edgar. Cord. Alas! what would the wretched Edgar with The more unfortunate Cordelia? Who, in obedience to a father's will, Flies from her Edgar's arms to Burgundy's. [Flourish continues till the Scene changes.-Exeunt CORDELIA, R. and EDGAR, L. SCENE II.-A Room of State in the Palace.-Flourish of Drums and Trumpets, R.-KING LEAR seated upon his Throne, ALBANY, CORNWALL, BURGUNDY, KENT, GLOSTER, GONERIL, REGAN, CORDELIA, Captain of the Guard, three Knights, two Pages, two Gentlemen with the Map, two Gentlemen with the Crown, Physician, Herald, Banners and Guards, Lords, Ladies, &c. &c. discovered. Lear. (c.) Attend, my lords of Albany and Cornwall, With princely Burgundy. Alb. (L. c.) We do, my liege. [The Gentleman who holds the Map, L. advances Know, lords, we have divided In three our kingdom, having now resolv'd Long in our court have made your amorous sojourn, Goneril, our eldest born, speak first. Gon. (R. c.) Sir, I do love you more than words can utter, Beyond what can be valu'd rich or rare; Nor liberty, nor sight, health, fame, or beauty, Lear. Of all these bounds, e'en from this line to this, Reg. (R. c.) My sister, sir, in part, exprest my love; For such as her's, is mine, though more extended: Sense has no other joy that I can relish; I have my all in my dear liege's love. Lear. Therefore, to thee and thine hereditary, Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom. Cord. (R.) Now comes my trial. How am I distrest, That must with cold speech tempt the chol'ric king Rather to leave me dowerless, than condemn me To Burgundy's embraces! [Aside. [Whilst CORDELIA is speaking, LEAR, assisted by KENT and GLOSTER, descends from the Throne, and comes forward c.; KENT goes below BURGUNDY, L. and GLOSTER remains at LEAR'S R. a little behind him. Lear. Speak now, our last, not least in our dear loveSo ends my task of state-Cordelia, speak; What canst thou say to win a richer third, Than what thy sisters gained? Cord. Now must my love, in words, fall short of their's, As much as it exceeds in truth. [Aside.] Nothing, my lord. Lear. Nothing? Cord. Nothing. Lear, Nothing can come of nothing; speak again. Sir, as I ought, I love your majesty, No more, nor less. Lear. Take heed, Cordelia ; Thy fortunes are at stake; think better on't, And mend thy speech a little. Cord. (R.) O, my liege! You gave me being, bred me, dearly loved me, And I return my duty as I ought, Obey you, love you, and most honour you. Why have my sisters husbands, if they love you all? Haply when I shall wed, the lord, whose hand Shall take my plight, will carry half my love; Lear. (c.) And goes thy heart with this? Cord. So young, my lord, and true. 1 here disclaim all my paternal care, And from this minute hold thee as a stranger Kent. (L.) This is frenzy. Come not between a dragon and his rage. I lov'd her most, and in her tender trust Design'd to have bestow'd mine age at ease. So be my grave my peace, as here I give My heart from her, and with it all my wealth! [The Gentleman who holds the Crown advances from R. to R. c. My lords of Cornwall and of Albany, I do invest you jointly with full right Kent. [Kneels.] Royal Lear, Whom I have ever honour'd as my king, Lov'd as my father, ás my master follow'd, And, as my patron, thought on in my pray'rs Lear. Away! the bow is bent, make from the shaft. Kent. [Rises.] No, let it fall, and drench within my heart: Be Kent unmannerly when Lear is mad; Thy youngest daughter Lear. On thy life no more. Kent. What wilt thou do, old man ? Lear. Out of my sight. Kent. See better first. Lear. Now, by the gods Kent. Now, by the gods, rash king, thou swear'st in vain. [LEAR, attempting to draw his sword, is prevented by ALBANY and GLOSTER, who advance and stay his arms. Lear. Ha, traitor! Kent. Do, kill thy physician, Lear; Strike thro' my throat; yet with my latest breath. And tell thee to thy face that thou dost ill. Lear. Hear me, rash man, on thine allegiance hear me; [LEAR sheathes his sword; ALBANY and GLOSTER retire to their former places. Since thou hast striven to make us break our vow, And kingdom: If, when three days are expir'd, [LEAR turns from KENT; and confers with GONERIL, REGAN, ALBANY, and CORNWALL. Kent. (L.) Why, fare thee well, king; since thou art resolv'd, I take thee at thy word; I will not stay To see thy fall. The gods protect thee, maid, [Exit, L. Lear. Now, Burgundy, you see her price is fall'n; Yet, if the fondness of your passion still Affect her as she stands, dow'rless, and lost In our esteem, she's yours; take her, or leave her. Burg. Pardon me, royal Lear, I but demand The dow'r yourself propos'd, and here I take Cordelia by the hand, Duchess of Burgundy. Lear. Then leave her, sir; for, by a father's rage, I tell you all her wealth. [CORDELIA throws herself at LEAR's feet. Away! Away! Away! [Flourish of Trumpets, &c.-Exeunt all but CORDELIA, L. Enter EDGAR, R. U. E. and raises CORDELIA. Edg. (c.) Has heav'n then weigh'd the merit of my love, Or is it the raving of a sickly thought? Cou'd Burgundy forego so rich a prize, [Raises CORDelia, C. Smile, Princess, and convince me; for, as yet, |