Thrown on this shore. I op'd the coffin, and Where shall be shown you all was found with her; Found there rich jewels; recover'd her, and plac'd How she came placed here within the temple; her Here in Diana's temple. Per. May we see them? Cer. Great sir, they shall be brought you to my Whither I invite you. Look! Thaisa is Thai. O, let me look! If he be none of mine, my sanctity Will to my sense' bend no licentious ear, Per. Immortal Dian! No needful thing omitted.. Pure Diana! Thai. Lord Cerimon hath letters of good credit, Per. Heavens make a star of him! Yet there, We'll celebrate their nuptials, and ourselves Now I know you better.-To hear the rest untold.-Sir, lead the way. [Exe. When we with tears parted Pentapolis, sent kindness Makes my past miseries sport: You shall do well, My heart Leaps to be gone into my mother's bosom. [Kneels to Thaisa. Per. Look, who kneels here! Flesh of thy flesh, Thaisa; Thy burden at the sea, and call'd Marina, I left behind an ancient substitute. Can you remember what I call'd the man? heard Enter Gower. Gow. In Antioch,' and his daughter, you have That this tragedy has some merit, it were rain to deny; but that it is the entire composition of Shakspeare, is more than can be hastily granted. I shall not venture, with Dr. Farmer, to determine that the hand of our great poet is only visible in the last act, for I think it appears in several passages dispersed over each of these divisions. I find it difficult, however, to persuade myself that he was the original fabricator of the plot, or the author of every dialogue, chorus, &c. STEEVENS. The story is of great antiquity; and is related by various ancient authors in Latin, French, and English. I will, my lord. (2) i. e. His beard. I THOUGHT, the king had more affected the duke of Albany, than Cornwall, An Officer, employed by Edmund. Servants to Cornwall. Goneril, Regan, daughters to Lear. Cordelia, Knights attending on the King, Officers, Messengers, Soldiers, and Attendants. Scene, Britain. Enter Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Goneril, Regan, Lear. Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Glo. I shall, my liege. [Exe. Glo. and Edm. purpose. Give me the map there.-Know, that we have diGlo. It did always seem so to us: but now, in vided, the division of the kingdom, it appears not which In three, our kingdom: and 'tis our fast intent of the dukes he values most; for equalities are so To shake all cares and business from our age; weigh'd, that curiosity' in neither can make choice Conferring them on younger strengths, while we of either's moiety.2 Unburden'd crawl toward death.-Our son of Corn Kent. Is not this your son, my lord? Glo. His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge: I have so often blushed to acknowledge him, that now I am brazed to it. Kent. I cannot conceive you. wall, And you, our no less loving son of Albany, Glo. Sir, this young fellow's mother could: whereupon she grew round-wombed; and had, in- Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love, deed, sir, a son for her cradle, ere she had a hus-Long in our court have made their amorous soband for her bed. Do you smell a fault? journ, Kent. I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue And here are to be answer'd.-Tell me, my daughof it being so proper.3 ters, Glo. But I have, sir, a son by order of law, some (Since now we will divest us, both of rule, year elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my ac- Interest of territory, cares of state,) count: though this knave came somewhat saucily Which of you, shall we say, doth love us most? into the world before he was sent for, yet was his That we our largest bounty may extend mother fair; there was good sport at his making, Where merit doth most challenge it.-Goneril, and the whoreson must be acknowledged. Do you Our eldest-born, speak first. know this noble gentleman, Edmund? Gon. Edm. No, my lord. Sir, I Do love you more than words can wield the matter, Glo. My lord of Kent: remember him hereafter Dearer than eye-sight, space and liberty; as my honourable friend. Edm. My services to your lordship. Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare; No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour: Kent. I must love you, and sue to know you As much as child e'er lov'd, or father found. better. A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable; (4) More secret. (5) Determined resolution. stirs ? With shadowy forests and with champains' rich'd, | Her father's heart from her!-Call France ;-Who Which the most precious square of sense possesses; Then poor Cordelia! [Aside. 4 Lear. To thee, and thine, hereditary ever, Lear. Nothing? Nothing. Cor. Lest it may mar your fortunes. me, Good my lord, That lord, whose hand must take my plight, shall carry Half my love with him, half my care, and duty: Lear. But goes this with thy heart? Call Burgundy.-Cornwall, and Albany, course, With reservation of a hundred knights, Revenue, execution of the rest, 10 Beloved sons, be yours: which to confirm, the shaft. Lear. Out of my sight! Kent. See better, Lear; and let me still remain Ay, good my lord. Thou swear'st thy gods in vain. Lear. So young, and so untender? Lear. Let it be so. Thy truth then be thy dower: From whom we do exist, and cease to be; Scythian, The barbarous Or he that makes his generation3 messes Kent. Good my liege, Lear. Peace, Kent! To come betwixt our sentence and our power (Which nor our nature nor our place can bear ;) Our potency make good, take thy reward. Five days we do allot thee, for provision To shield thee from diseases of the world; And, on the sixth, to turn thy hated back Upon our kingdom: if, on the tenth day following, On her kind nursery.-Hence, and avoid my sight!-Thy banish'd trunk be found in our dominions, Come not between the dragon and his wrath: Kent. Fare thee well, king: since thus thou wilt | A still-soliciting eye, and such a tongue appear, Lear. Hadst not been born, than not to have pleas'd me better. France. Is it but this? a tardiness in nature, Which often leaves the history unspoke, That good effects may spring from words of love.-That it intends to do?-My lord of Burgundy, Thus Kent, O princes, bids you all adieu; What say you to the lady? Love is not love, He'll shape his old course' in a country new. [Ex. When it is mingled with respects, that stand Aloof from the entire point." 10 Will you have her? Re-enter Gloster; with France, Burgundy, She herself a dowry. Attendants. and Glo. Here's France and Burgundy, my noble lord. Lear. My lord of Burgundy, We first address towards you, who with this king 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; But now her price is fall'n: Sir, there she stands; If aught within that little, seeming3 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. Lear. Sir, I know no answer. Will you, with those infirmities she owes,4 Unfriended, new-adopted to our hate, Bur. Royal Lear, Give but that portion which yourself propos'd, And here I take Cordelia by the hand, Duchess of Burgundy. Lear. Nothing: I have sworn ; İ 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 respects of fortune are his love, I shall not be his wife. France. Fairest Cordelia, thou art most rich, being poor; Most choice, forsaken; and most lov'd, despis'd! - My love should kindle to inflam'd respect.- Shall buy this unpriz'd precious maid of me. Dower'd with our curse, and stranger'd with our Bid them farewell, Cordelia, though unkind: Pardon me, royal sir Election makes not up on such conditions. I tell you all her wealth.-For you, great king, That monsters it, or your fore-vouch'd' affection 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 (1) Follow his old mode of life. (2) Amorous expedition. (3) Specious. (4) Owns, is possessed of. (5) Concludes not. (6) Turn. (7) Former declaration of. Thou losest here, a better where to find. Lear. Thou hast her, France: let her be thine; for we Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see [Flourish. Exeunt Lear, Burgundy, Cornwall, France. Bid farewell to your sisters. Cor. The jewels of our father, with wash'd eyes Gon. Prescribe not us our duties. Let your study Be, to content your lord; who hath receiv'd you Come, my fair Cordelia. [Exeunt France and Cordelia. Gon. Sister, it is not a little I have to say, of what most nearly appertains to us both. I think, our father will hence to-night. Reg. That's most certain, and with you; next month with us. (8) Reproach or censure. (9) Because. (10) Who seeks for aught in love but love alone" (11) Place, (12) Blessing. (13) Folded, doubled. Gon. You see how full of changes his age is; the observation we have made of it hath not been little he always loved our sister most; and with what poor judgment he hath now cast her off, appears too grossly. Reg. 'Tis the infirmity of his age: yet he hath ever but slenderly known himself. for so much as I have perused, I find it not fit for your over-looking. Glo. Give me the letter, sir. Edm. I shall offend, either to detain or give it. The contents, as in part I understand them, are to blame. Glo. Let's see, let's see. Gon. The best and soundest of his time hath Edm. I hope, for my brother's justification, he been but rash; then must we look to receive from wrote this but as an essay or taste of my virtue. his age, not alone the imperfections of long-engraft- Glo. [Reads.] This policy and reverence of age, ed condition,' but therewithal, the unruly way-makes the world bitter to the best of our times; wardness that infirm and choleric years bring with keeps our fortunes from us, till our oldness canthem. Reg. Such unconstant starts are we like to have from him, as this of Kent's banishment. Gon. There is further compliment of leavetaking between France and him. Pray you, let us hit together: If our father carry authority with such dispositions as he bears, this last surrender of his will but offend us. Reg. We shall further think of it. Gon. We must do something, and i'the heat.2 [Exeunt. SCENE II-A hall in the Earl of Gloster's castle. Enter Edmund, with a letter. Edm. Thou, nature, art my goddess; to thy law My services are bound: Wherefore should Stand in the plague of custom; and permit The curiosity of nations to deprive me, For that I am some twelve or fourteen moon-shines Lag of a brother? Why bastard? wherefore base? When my dimensions are as well compact, My mind as generous, and my shape as true, As honest madam's issue? Why brand they us With base? with baseness? bastardy? base, base? Who, in the lusty stealth of nature, take More composition and fierce quality, Than doth, within a dull, stale, tired bed, Go to the creating a whole tribe of fops, Got 'tween asleep and wake?-Well then, Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land: Our father's love is to the bastard Edmund, As to the legitimate: Fine word,-legitimate! Well, my legitimate, if this letter speed, And my invention thrive, Edmund the base Shall top the legitimate. I grow; I prosper :Now, gods, stand up for bastards! Enter Gloster. : Glo. Kent banish'd thus! And France in choler And the king gone to-night! subscrib'd his power! [Putting up the letter. Glo. Why so earnestly seek you to put up that letter? Edm. I know no news, my lord. Glo. No? What needed then that terrible despatch of it into your pocket? the quality of nothing hath not such need to hide itself. Let's see: Come, if it be nothing, I shall not need spectacles. Edm. I beseech you, sir, pardon me: it is a letfer from my brother, that I have not all o'er-read; If not relish them. I begin to find an idle and fond bondage in the oppression of aged tyrrany; who sways, not as it hath power, but as it is suffered. Come to me, that of this I may speak more. our father would sleep till I waked him, you should enjoy half his revenue for ever, and live the beloved of your brother, Edgar.-Humph-Conspiracy!-Sleep till I waked him, you should enjoy half his revenue,-My son Edgar! Had he a hand to write this? a heart and brain to breed it in ?When came this to you? Who brought it? the cunning of it; I found it thrown in at the caseEdm. It was not brought me, my lord, there's ment of my closet. Glo. You know the character to be your bro ther's? Edm. If the matter were good, my lord, I durst swear it were his; but, in respect of that, I would fain think it were not. Glo. It is his. Edm. It is his hand, my lord; but, I hope, his heart is not in the contents. Glo. Hath he never heretofore sounded you in this business? Edm. Never, my lord: But I have often heard him maintain it to be fit, that, sons at perfect age, and fathers declining, the father should be as ward to the son, and the son manage his revenue. Glo. O villain, villain!-His very opinion in the letter!-Abhorred villain! Unnatural, detested, brutish villain! worse than brutish!-Go, sirrah, seek him; I'll apprehend him ;-Abominable villain!-Where is he? Edm. I do not well know, my lord. If it shall please you to suspend your indignation against my brother, till you can derive from him better testimony of his intent, you shall run a certain course; where, 10 if you violently proceed against him, mistaking his purpose, it would make a great gap in your own honour, and shake in pieces the heart of his obedience. I dare pawn down my life for him, that he hath writ this to feel my affection to your honour, and to no other pretence12 of danger. Glo. Think you so? Edm. If your honour judge it meet, I will place you where you shall hear us confer of this, and by an auricular assurance have your satisfaction; and that without any further delay than this very evening. Glo. He cannot be such a monster. Glo. To his father, that so tenderly and entirely loves him.-Heaven and earth!-Edmund, seek him out; wind me into him, I pray you: frame the business after your own wisdom: I would unstate myself, to be in a due resolution. 13 |