Obey you, love you, and most honour you.
Why have my sisters husbands, if they say
They love you all? Haply, when I shall wed,
That lord whose hand must take my plight, shall carry
Half my love with him, half my care and duty:

Sure, I shall never marry like my sisters,

To love my father all.

Lear. But goes thy heart with this?

Cor.

Ay, good my lord.

Lear.So young, and so untender?

Cor. So young, my lord, and true.

Lear. Let it be so,-thy truth, then, be thy dow'r : For, by the sacred radiance of the sun,

Here I disclaim all my paternal care,

And as a stranger to my heart and me

Hold thee, from this, for ever.

Kent.

Lear. Peace, Kent!

Good my liege,—

Come not between the dragon and his wrath.-
I lov'd her most, and thought to set my rest

On her kind nursery.-Hence, and avoid my sight!--
So be my grave my peace, as here I give

Her fathers heart from her!-Call France;-who

stirs ?

Call Burgundy.-[Exit a Knight.]-Cornwall and Albany,

With

my two daughters' dow'rs digest this third: Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry her.

I do invest you jointly with my power,

Pre-eminence, and all the large effects

That troop with majesty.-Ourself, by monthly

course,

With reservation of an hundred knights,

By you to be sustain'd, shall our abode

Make with you by due turns. Only we still retain

The name, and all th' additions to a king

The sway,

Revenue, execution of the rest,

Beloved sons, be yours: which to confirm,
This coronet part between you.

Kent.

[Giving the Crown to ALBANY.

Royal Lear,

Whom I have ever honour'd as my king,

--

Lov'd as my father, as my master follow'd,-
Lear. The bow is bent and drawn, make from the

The moment is thy death. Away! by Jupiter,

This shall not be revok'd.

Kent. Fare thee well, king.

[To CORDELIA.] The gods to their dear shelter take thee, maid!

[To REGAN and GONERIL.] And your large speeches may your deeds approve.

Thus Kent, O princes, bids you all adieu;

He'll shape his old course in a country new. [Exit.

Flourish. Re-enter GLOSTER and EDMUND, with FRANCE, BURGUNDY, and Attendants.

Glo. Here's France and Burgundy, my noble lord. Lear. My Lord of Burgundy,

We first address towards you, who, with this king Hath rivall'd for our daughter: what, in the least, Will you require in present dow'r with her,

Or cease your quest of love?

Bur.

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 :
Dower'd with our curse, and stranger'd with our oath,
Take her, or leave her?

Bur.
Pardon me, royal sir;
Election makes not up on such conditions.

Lear. Then leave her, sir; for, by the pow'r that

made me,

I tell you all her wealth.-[To FRANCE. For you,

great king,

I would not from your love make such a stray,

To match you where I hate; therefore beseech you
T'avert your liking a more worthier way

Than on a wretch whom nature is asham'd
Almost t' acknowledge hers.

France.

This is most strange !

Cor. I yet beseech your Majesty,-make known, It is no vicious blot, nor stain of foulness,

No unchaste action, or dishonour'd step,

That hath depriv'd me of your grace and favour;
But even for want of that for which I'm richer,-
A still-soliciting eye, and such a tongue
As I am glad I have not, though not to have it
Hath lost me in your liking.

Lear.

Better thou

Hadst not been born than not t' have pleas'd me

better.

France.

Is it but this? a tardiness in nature

Which often leaves the history unspoke

That it intends to do? My Lord of Burgundy,
What say you to the lady? Will you have her?
She is herself a dowry.

Give but that portion which yourself propose,
And here I take Cordelia by the hand,

Duchess of Burgundy.

Lear.

I have sworn; I 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! Thee and thy virtues here I seize upon.

Thy dow'rless daughter, king, thrown to my chance, Is queen of us, of ours, and our fair France:

Not all the dukes of wat'rish Burgundy

Can buy this unpriz'd precious maid of me.

Lear. Thou hast her, France: let her be thine;

for we

Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see

That face of hers again :- Therefore be gone
Without our grace, our love, our benison.

[Flourish. Exeunt LEAR, Burgundy,
CORNWALL, ALBANY, GLOster,
EDMUND, and Attendants.

France. Bid farewell to your sisters.

Cor. Ye jewels of our father, with wash'd eyes Cordelia leaves you: I know you what you are; And, like a sister, am most loathe to call

Your faults as they are nam'd. Love well our father: To your professèd bosoms I commit him:

But yet, alas, stood I within his grace,

I would prefer him to a better place.
So, farewell to you both.

Reg. Prescribe not us our duties.
Gon.

Let your study

Be to content your lord, who hath receiv'd you
At fortune's alms.

Cor.

hides:

Time shall unfold what plaited cunning

Who cover faults, at last them shame derides.

Well may you prosper.

France.

Come, my fair Cordelia.

[Exeunt FRANCE and CORDELIA.

Gon. I think our father will hence to-night. Reg. That's most certain, and with you; next month with us.

Gon. You see how full of changes his age is; he always lov'd our sister most; and with what poor judgment he hath now cast her off appears too grossly.

Reg. Such unconstant starts are we like to have from him as this of Kent's banishment.

Gon. Pray you, let us hit together: we must do something, and i' the heat.