Unfriended, new-adopted to our hate, Burg. Pardon, royal Sir; Election makes not up on fuch conditions. Lear. Then leave her, Sir; for, by the pow'r that made me, I tell you all her wealth.-For you, great king, [to France. I would not from your love make fuch a ftray, To match you where I hate. France. This is moft ftrange. Cord. I yet befeech your majefty, (If, for I want that glib and oily art, To fpeak and purpose not ; fince what I well intend, No unchafte action, or difhonour'd step, That hath depriv'd me of your grace and favour: That I am glad I've not; though, not to have it, Lear. Better thou Hadft not been born, than not have pleas'd me better. I 2 France. France. Is it but this? a tardiness in nature, Thy dow'rlefs daughter, king, thrown to my Is queen of us, of ours, and our fair France. Lear. Thou haft her, France; let her be thine, for we Have no fuch daughter; nor fhall ever fee Come, noble Burgundy. [Flourish. Exeunt Lear and Burgundy. France. Bid farewell to your fifters. Cord. Ye jewels of our father, with wash'd eyes Your faults, as they are nam'd. Love well our To your profeffing bofoms I commit him; So farewell to you both. Regan. Prefcribe not us our duty. Gon. Let your ftudy Be to content your ford, who hath receiv'd you Cord. t Gord. Time hall unfold what plaited cunning hides. Well may you profper! France. Come, my fair Cordelia. [Exeunt France and Gord. Gon. Sifter, it is not little I've to say, Of what most nearly appertains to us both; Gon. You fee how full of changes his age is: the obfervation I have made of it hath not been little; he always loved our fifter most, and with what poor judgment he hath now caft her off, appears too grofsly. Regan. 'Tis the infirmity of his age; yet he hath ever but flenderly known himself. Gon. The best and foundest of his time hath been but rafh; then muft we look, from his age, to receive not alone the imperfections of long-ingrafted condition, but therewithal the unruly waywardness, that infirm and cholerick years bring with them. L Regan. Such unconftant starts are we like to have from him, as this of Kent's banishment. Gon. There is further compliment of leave-taking between 13 between France and him; pray you, let us hit together: if our father carry authority with fuch dif pofition as he bears, this last surrender of his will but offend us. Regan. We fhall further think of it. Gon. We must do fomething; ay, and fuddenly. [Exeunt. Scene changes to a caftle belonging to the earl of Glocefter. Enter Edmund, with a letter. Edm. 'Thou, Nature, art my goddefs; to thy law For that I am fome twelve or fourteen moon-fhines Now, Now, gods, ftand up for baftards! To him enter Glocefter. Gloc, Edmund, how now? what paper were you reading? Edm. Nothing, my lord. [putting up the letter. Gloc. No? what needed then that terrible difpatch of it into your pocket? let me fee. Edm. Í befeeeh you, Sir, pardon me; it is a letter from my brother, that I have not all o'erread; and for fo much as I have perus'd, I find it not fit for your o'er-looking. Gloc. Give me the letter, Sir. Edm. I fhall offend, either to detain, or give it: The contents, as in part I understand them, are to blame. Gloc. Let's fee, let's fee. Edm. I hope, for my brother's juftification, he wrote this but as an affay, or tafte, of my virtue. Gloc. [reads.] "This policy and reverence of ages makes the "world bitter to the beft of our times; keeps our "fortunes from us, till our oldness cannot relish "them. I begin to find the oppreffion of aged 66 tyranny; which fways, not as it hath power, "but as it is fuffered. Come to me, that of this "I may I 4 |