Enter King Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Gonerill, Regan, Cordelia, and Attendants. Lear. Attend the Lords of France and Burgundy, Glofter. Glo. I fhall, my Liege. [Exit. Lear. Mean time we fhall exprefs our darker pur-. pofe. Give me the map here. Know, we have divided, And you, our no lefs loving fon of Albany, Burgundy, 5 express our darker purpose.] Darker, for more fecret ; not for indirect, oblique. WARBURTON. This word may admit a further explication. We shall express our darker purpefe: that is, we have already made known in fome measure our defign of parting the kingdom; we will now discover what has not been told before, the reafons by which we fhall regulate the partition. This interpretation will juftify or palliate the exordial dialogue. and 'tis our FAST intent,] This is an interpolation of Mr. Lewis Theobald, for want of knowing the meaning of the old reading in the quarto of The princes France and 1608, and first folio of 1623; where we find it, --and 'tis our FIRST intent, which is as Shakespear wrote it : who makes Lear declare his purpofe with a dignity becoming his character: That the first reafon of his abdication was the love of his people, that they might be protected by fuch as were better able to discharge the truft; and his natural affec tion for his daughters, only the Jecond. WARBURTON. Faft is the reading of the firft folio, and I think the true reading. Conftant will feems a confirmation of fat intent. Great rivals in our younger daughter's love, Long in our court have made their am'rous fojourn, Which of you, fhall we fay, doth love us most, Gon. Sir, Gonerill, I love you more than words can wield the matter, Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare; No lefs than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour; As much as child e'er lov'd, or father found; A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable, Beyond all manner of fo much I love you. 8 Cor. What fhall Cordelia 9 do? love and be filent. [Afide. Lear. Of all these Bounds, ev'n from this line to this, With fhadowy forefts and with champions rich'd, Reg. I'm made of that self-metal as my sister, ' that I profess 9 So the quarto: the folio has Speak. 1-that I profefs] That seems to ftand without relation, but is referred to find, the first conjunction being inaccurately fuppreffed. I find that he names any deed, that I profefs, &c. My Myfelf an enemy to all other joys, Which the moft precious fquare of fenfe poffeffes; And find, I am alone felicitate In your dear Highness' love. And yet not 10, fince, I am fure, my love's [Afide. Lear. To thee, and thine, hereditary ever, Lear. Nothing can come of nothing; fpeak again. My heart into my mouth. I love your Majesty Lear. How, how, Cordelia? mend your speech a little, Left you may mar your fortunes. Cor. Good my Lord, I You have begot me, bred me, lov'd me. Half my love with him, half my care and duty. To love my father all. Lear. But goes thy heart with this? Lear. So young, and fo untender? Cor. So young, my Lord, and true. Lear. Let it be fo, thy truth then be thy dower For by the facred radiance of the fun, The mysteries of Hecate, and the night, · By all the operations of the orbs, From whom we do exift, and cease to be, Hold thee, from this, for ever. The barb'rous Seythian, Or he that makes his generation meffes To gorge his appetite, fhall to my bofom 6 To love my father all.-] firft edition, without which the Thefe words restored from the fenfe was not compleat. POPE. Be Be as well neighbour'd, pitied, and reliev'd, Lear. Peace, Kent! Come not between the dragon and his wrath. [To Cor. With my two daughters' dowers digeft the third. That troop with Majefty. Our felf by monthly course, the whole is, I will only retain the name and all the ceremonious obfervances that belong to a King; the fentials, as Iway, revenue, administration of the laws, be yours. WARBURTON. Execution of the reft.] I do not fee any great difficulty in the words, execution of the rest, which are in both the old copies. The execution of the reft is, I fuppofe, all the other bufnels. Dr. Warburton's own explanation of his amendment confutes it; if beft be a regal command, they were, by the grant of Lear, to have rather the bet than the execution. |