Pre-eminence, and all the large effects

That troop with majesty: ourself, by monthly

course,

With reservation of a 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 the additions 1 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.

Royal Lear,

Whom I have ever honor'd as my king,

Loved as my father, as my master follow'd,

As my great patron thought on in my prayers ;Lear. The bow is bent and drawn; make from the shaft.

Kent. Let it fall rather, though the fork invade The region of my heart: be Kent unmannerly, When Lear is mad. What wouldst thou do, old man ?

Think'st thou, that duty shall have dread to speak, When power to flattery bows? To plainness honor's bound,

When majesty stoops to folly.

Reverse thy doom;

And, in thy best consideration, check

This hideous rashness: answer my life my judg

ment,

I Titles.

Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least;
Nor are those empty-hearted, whose low sound
Reverbs 1 no hollowness.

Lear.

Kent, on thy life, no more.

Kent. My life I never held but as a pawn

To wage against thine enemies; nor fear to lose it, Thy safety being the motive.

Lear.

Out of my sight!

Kent. See better, Lear; and let me still remain The true blank of thine eye.

Alb. Corn. Dear sir, forbear.
Kent. Do;

Kill thy physician, and the fee bestow

Upon the foul disease. Revoke thy gift ;

Or, whilst I can vent clamor from my throat,
I'll tell thee thou dost evil.

Lear.

Hear me, recreant!

On thine allegiance, hear me !

Since thou hast sought to make us break our vow, (Which we durst never yet) and, with strain'd

pride,

To come betwixt our sentence and our power;

1 For reverberates.

2 The blank is the white or exact mark at which the arrow is shot.

(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,
Thy banish'd trunk be found in our dominions,
The moment is thy death. Away! By Jupiter,
This shall not be revoked.

Kent. Fare thee well, king: since thus thou wilt

appear,

Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here.
The gods to their dear shelter take thee, maid,
[to Cordelia.

That justly think'st, and hast most rightly said!
And your large speeches may your deeds approve,
[to Regan and Goneril.
That good effects may spring from words of love.
Thus Kent, O princes, bids you all adieu :
He'll shape his old course in a country new.

[Exit.

Re-enter GLOSTER, with FRANCE, BURGUNDY, and

Attendants.

Glos. Here's France and Burgundy, my noble

lord.

Lear. My lord of Burgundy,

We first address towards you, who with this king Hath rival'd for our daughter. What, in the least, Will you require in present dower 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 fallen. Sir, there she stands:
If aught within that little, seeming 1 substance,
Or all of it, with our displeasure pieced,

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,2

Unfriended, new-adopted to our hate,

Dower'd with our curse, and stranger'd with our

oath,

Take her, or leave her?

Bur.

Pardon me, royal sir;

3

Election makes not up3 on such conditions. Lear. Then leave her, sir; for, by the power made me,

all her wealth.-For you, great king,

that

[to France.

I would not from your love make such a stray,
To match you where I hate; therefore beseech

you

1 Beautiful.

2 Owns, is possessed of.

3 Comes not to a decision.