Enter Kent, Glofler, and Edmund the Baftard. I Kent. I Thought the King had more affected the Duke of Albany than Cornwall. Glo. It did always feem fo to us: but now, in the divifion of the kingdom, it appears not which of the Dukes he values moft; for qualities are fo weigh'd, that curiofity in neither can make choice of either's moiety. VOL. VI. A † Curiosity, for exacteft fcrutiny. Kent. Kent. Is not this your fon, my Lord? Glo. His breeding, Sir, hath been at my charge. I have so often blush'd to acknowledge him, that now I am braz'd to't. Kent. I cannot conceive you, Glo. Sir, this young fellow's mother could; whereupon fhe grew round-womb'd; and had indeed, Sir, a fon for her cradle, ere she had a husband for her bed. Do fmell a fault you Kent. I cannot wifh the fault undone, the issue of it being fo proper. Glo. But I have a fon, Sir, by order of law, some year, elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account : though this knave came somewhat faucily into the world before he was sent for, yet was his mother fair; there was good sport at his making, and the whorson must be acknowledged. Do you know this Nobleman, Ed mund ? Edm. No, my Lord. Glo. My Lord of Kent Remember him hereafter as my honourable friend. Kent. I must love you, and fue to know and years, you better. he fhall away [Trumpets found, within. A SCENE TN. Enter King Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Gonerill, Regan, Cordelia, and Attendants. Lear. Attend the Lords of France and Burgundy, Glo'fter. Glo. I fhall, my Liege. [Exit. Lear. Mean time we fhall exprefs our darker + purpose. Give me the map here: know, we have divided, In three, our kingdom; and 'tis our first intent, To fhake all cares and bufinefs from our age: Conferring them on younger ftrengths, while we Unburthen'd crawl tow'rd death. Our fon of Cornwall, Darker, for more fecret; not for indire&, oblique. And And you, our no less loving fon of Albany, Long in our court have made their am'rous fojourn, Which of you, fhall we fay, doth love us most? Where nature doth with merit challenge. Gonerill, Gon. I love you, Sir, Dearer than eye-fight, space, and liberty; No lefs than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour; Cor. What fhall Cordelia 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, With plenteous rivers, and wide-skirted meads, We make thee lady. To thine and Albany's iffue Be this perpetual.What fays our fecond daughter, Our dearest Regan, wife of Cornwall? fpeak. Reg. I'm made of that felf-metal as my fifter, And prize me at her worth, in my true heart. I find the names my very deed of love; Only she comes too fhort: that I profess Myfelf an enemy to all other joys, Which the most precious fquare of fenfe poffeffes; And find I am alone felicitate In your dear Highness' love. Cor. Then poor Cordelia ! And yet not fo, fince I am fure my love's Lear. To thee and thine, heriditary ever, ↑ i. e. beyond all expreffion. A 2 [Afide.. No No lefs in fpace, validity †, and pleasure, Lear. Nothing? Cor. Nothing. Lear. Nothing can come of nothing; speak again. My heart into my mouth: I love your Majefty Lear. How, how, Cordelia ? mend your fpeech a little, Left you may mar your fortunes. Cor. Good my Lord, I You have begot me, bred me, lov'd me. That Lord whose hand muft take my plight, shall carry Sure, I fhall never marry like my fifters, To love my father all.. Lear. But goes thy heart with this? Lear. So young, and fo untender? Lear. Let it be fo, thy truth then be thy dower : For by the facred radiance of the fun, The myfteries of Hecate, and the night, By all the operations of the orbs, From whom we do exift, and ceafe to be; Propinquity, and property of blood, And as a ftranger to my heart and me, Hold thee from this for ever. The barb'rous Scythian, To gorge his appetite, fhall to my bofom Validity, for worth, value; not for integrity, or good title. As |