We make thee lady. To thine and Albany's iffue
Be this perpetual.-What fays our fecond daughter,
Our dearest Regan, wife of Cornwall? speak.
Regan. I'm made of that felf mould, as is 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
Myself an enemy to all other joys,
Than your dear highness' love.
Cord. Then poor Cordelia !

And yet not fo, fince I am fure my love's
More pond'rous than my tongue.

[Afide.

Lear. To thee, and thine, hereditary ever, Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom; No lefs in fpace, validity, and pleasure, Than that conferr'd on Gonerill.-Now our joy, Altho' our laft, not leaft; to whofe young love, The vines of France, and milk of Burgundy, Strive to be int'refs'd! what say you, to draw A third, more opulent than your fifters? speak. Cord. Nothing, my lord.

Lear. Nothing?

Cord. Nothing.

Lear. Nothing can come of nothing; fpeak again. Cord. Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave

My

My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty
According to my bond; no more nor less.

Lear. How, how, Cordelia? mend your fpeech a little;

Left you may mar your fortunes.

Gord. Good my lord,

You gave me being, bred me, lov'd me. I
Return thofe duties back, as are right fit;
Obey you, love you, and most honour you.
Why have my fifters husbands, if they fay,
They love you, all? hap'ly, when I shall wed,
That lord, whofe hand must take my plight, fhall

carry

Half my love with him, half my care and duty:
Sure, I shall never marry like my fifters,

To love my father all.

Lear. But goes thy heart with this?

Cord. Ay, my good lord.

Lear. So young, and fo untender?

Cord. So young, my lord, and true.

Lear. Let it be fo; thy truth then be thy dower,

For by the facred radiance of the fun,

The mysteries of Hecate, and the night,
By all the operations of the orbs,

From whom we do exist, and cease to be:
Here I disclaim all my paternal care,

Pro

Propinquity, and property of blood,

And as a stranger to my heart and me
Hold thee, from this, for ever.

Kent. Good my liege-

Lear. Peace, Kent,

Come not between the dragon and his wrath.
I lov'd her moft, and thought to set my rest
On her kind nurs'ry. Hence, avoid my fight!-

[To Cord.

So be my grave my peace, as here I give
Her father's heart from her; call France; who stirs?
Call Burgundy.-Cornwall and Albany,
With my two daughters' dowers, digeft the third.
Let pride, which the calls plainnefs, marry her.
I do inveft you jointly with my power,
Preheminence, and all the large effects

That troop with majesty. Ourself by monthly course,
With refervation of a hundred knights,

By you to be fuftain'd, fhall our abode
Make with you by due turns: only retain
The name and all th' addition to a king;
The fway, revenue, execution,

Beloved fons, be yours! which to confirm,

This coronet part between you. [Giving the crown,

Kent. Royal Lear,

Whom I have ever honour'd as my king,

Lov'd as my father, as my master follow'd,
And as my patron thought on in my pray'rs-
Lear. The bow is bent and drawn, make from
the shaft.

Kent. Let it fall rather, tho' the fork invade The region of my heart; be Kent unmannerly, When Lear is mad: with better judgment check This hideous rafhnefs; with my life I answer, Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least. Lear. Kent, on thy life no more!

Kent. My life I never held but as a pawn To wage against thy foes; nor fear to lose it, Thy fafety being the motive.

Lear. Out of my fight!

Kent. See better, Lear.
Lear. Now by Apollo--
Kent. Now by Apollo, king,
Thou fwear'ft thy gods in vain.
Lear. Oh, vaffal! mifcreant!

[Laying his hand on his sword.

Alb. Cornw. Dear Sir, forbear.

Kent. Kill thy physician, and thy fee bestow Upon thy rank disease; revoke thy doom, Or, whilft I can vent clamour from my throat, I'll tell thee thou doft evil.

Lear. Hear me, recreant!

VOL. III.

Since thou haft fought to make us break our vow,
To come betwixt our fentence and our power,
(Which nor our nature, nor our place, can bear)
Take thy reward.

Five days we do allot thee for provision,

To fhield thee from difafters of the world;
And, on the fixth, to turn thy hated back
Upon our kingdom; if, the tenth day following,
Thy banish'd trunk be found in our dominions,
The moment is thy death: away! by Jupiter,
This fhall not be revok❜d.

Kent. Why, fare thee well, king, fince thou art refolv'd.

The gods protect thee, excellent Cordelia,
That juftly think'ft, and haft most rightly faid!
Now to new climates my old truth I bear;
Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here. [Exit.

Enter Glocefter, with France and Burgundy, and attendants.

Gloc. Here's France and Burgundy, my noble lord.
Lear. Right noble Burgundy,

Who with this king haft rivall'd for our daughter;
When the was dear to us, we held her so;
But now her price is fall'n: Sir, there fhe stands
Will you, with those infirmities fhe owes,

Un