Upon the foul disease. Revoke thy gift; Or, whilst I can vent clamour from my throat, Lear. Hear me, recreant! On thine allegiance hear me ! Since thou hast sought to make us break our vow, 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!— [Exit. 1 (Which nor our nature nor our place can bear,) Our potency made good,] i. e. They to whom I have yielded my power and authority, yielding me the ability to dispense it in this instance, take thy reward. 2 by Jupiter,] Shakspeare makes his Lear too much a mythologist: he had Hecate and Apollo before. JOHNSON. 3 He'll shape his old course] He will follow his old maxims; he will continue to act upon the same principles. Re-enter GLOSTER; 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 Or cease your quest of love1? Bur. Most royal majesty, I crave no more than hath your highness offer'd, Lear. Right noble Burgundy, When she was dear to us, we did hold her so; 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, 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; Election makes not up on such conditions'. Lear. Then leave her, sir; for, by the power that made me, quest of love?] Quest of love is amorous expedition. The term originated from Romance. A quest was the expedition in which a knight was engaged. 5 6 seeming] is beautiful, or rather, specious. 1 Election makes not up on such conditions.] a decision; in the same sense as when we say, mind on that subject." Election comes not to "I have made up my I tell you all her wealth.-For you, great king, [TO FRANCE. I would not from your love make such a stray, France. This is most strange! That she, that even but now was your best object, That monsters it, or your fore-vouch'd affection Cor. 9 I yet beseech your majesty, (If for I want that glib and oily art, To speak and purpose not; since what I well intend, It is no vicious blot, murder, or foulness, No unchaste action, or dishonour'd step, That hath depriv'd me of your grace and favour: A still-soliciting eye, and such a tongue That I am glad I have not, though, not to have it, Lear. Better thou Had'st not been born, than not to have pleas'd me better. 8 ▬▬▬▬▬ or your fore-vouch'd affection Fall into taint:] Either her offence must be monstrous, or, if she has not committed any such offence, the affection which you always professed to have for her must be tainted and decayed, and is now without reason alienated from her. 9 (If for I want, &c.] If this be my offence, that I want the glib and oily art, &c. France. Is it but this+? a tardiness in nature, That it intends to do ?-My lord of Burgundy, Bur. Royal Lear, Give but that portion which yourself propos'd, 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, thou art most rich, being poor; Most choice, forsaken; and most lov'd, despis'd! Be it lawful, I take up what's cast away. Gods, gods! 'tis strange, that from their cold'st neglect Thy dowerless daughter, king, thrown to my chance, tions. 2 "It is no more but this ?"-MALONE. with respects,] i. e. with cautious and prudential considera ·from the entire point.] Single, unmixed with other con siderations. Thou losest here,] Here and where have the power of nouns. Thou losest this residence to find a better residence in another place. Lear. Thou hast her, France; let her be thine; for we Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see [Flourish. Exeunt LEAR, BURGUNDY, CORN- 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. Use 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. Gon. Prescribe not us our duties. Reg. 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 plaited cunning' hides; Who covers faults, at last shame them derides. Well may you prosper! France. Come, my fair Cordelia. [Exeunt FRANCE and CORDELIA. Gon. Sister, it is not a little I have to say, of what most dearly 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 plaited cunning ] i. e. complicated, involved, cunning. -- |