King Lear | Page 6

unspoke That it intends to do?--My lord of Burgundy, What say
you to the lady? Love's not love When it is mingled with regards that
stands Aloof from the entire point. Will you have her? She is herself a
dowry.
Bur. Royal king, Give but that portion which yourself propos'd, And
here I take Cordelia by the hand, Duchess of Burgundy.
Lear. Nothing: 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, that art most rich, being poor; Most choice,
forsaken; and most lov'd, despis'd! Thee and thy virtues here I seize
upon: Be it lawful, I take up what's cast away. Gods, gods! 'tis strange
that from their cold'st neglect My love should kindle to inflam'd
respect.-- Thy dowerless daughter, king, thrown to my chance, Is queen
of us, of ours, and our fair France: Not all the dukes of waterish
Burgundy Can buy this unpriz'd precious maid of me.-- Bid them
farewell, Cordelia, though unkind: 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 That face of hers again.--Therefore be gone
Without our grace, our love, our benison.-- Come, noble Burgundy.
[Flourish. Exeunt Lear, Burgundy, Cornwall, Albany, Gloster, and
Attendants.]
France. Bid farewell to your sisters.
Cor. The jewels of our father, with wash'd eyes Cordelia leaves you: I
know you what you are; And, like a sister, am most loath to call Your
faults as they are nam'd. Love well our father: To your professed
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. You have obedience scanted, And well are worth the
want that you have wanted.
Cor. Time shall unfold what plighted cunning hides: Who cover faults,

at last shame them derides. Well may you prosper!
France. Come, my fair Cordelia.
[Exeunt France and Cordelia.]
Gon. Sister, it is not 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.
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.
Gon. The best and soundest of his time hath been but rash; then must
we look to receive from his age, not alone the imperfections of
long-ingraffed condition, but therewithal the unruly waywardness that
infirm and choleric years bring with them.
Reg. Such unconstant starts are we like to have from him as this of
Kent's banishment.
Gon. There is further compliment of leave-taking 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' th' heat.
[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 I Stand in the plague of custom, and permit The
curiosity of nations to deprive me, For that I am some twelve or
fourteen moonshines 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.]
Glou. Kent banish'd thus! and France in choler parted! And the king
gone to-night! subscrib'd his pow'r! Confin'd to exhibition! All this
done Upon the gad!--Edmund, how now! What news?
Edm. So please your lordship, none.