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lach. I am down again :

But now my heavy coufcience finks my knee,

[Kneels. As then your force did. Take that life, 'befeech you, Which I fo often owe: but your ring firft; And here the bracelet of the trueft princess, That ever fwore her faith.

Poft. Kneel not to me :

The power that I have on you, is to spare you; The malice towards you, to forgive you: Live, And deal with others better.

Cym. Nobly doom'd:

We'll learn our freenefs of a fon-in-law;
Pardon's the word to all.

Arv. You holp us, fir,

As you did mean indeed to be our brother;
Joy'd are we, that you are.

Poft. Your fervant, princes.Good my lord
of Rome,

Call forth your foothfayer: As I flept, methought,
Great Jupiter, upon his eagle back'd,
Appear'd to me, with other fprightly thews
Of mine own kindred: when I wak'd, I found
This label on my bofom; whofe containing
Is fo from fenfe in hardness, that I can
Make no collection of it: let him fhew
His fkill in the conftruction.

Luc. Philarmonus,

Sooth. Here, my good lord.

Luc. Read, and declare the meaning.

Soothsayer reads.

"When as a lion's whelp fhall, to himfelf "unknown, without feeking find, and be em"brac'd by a piece of tender air; and when from "a ftately cedar fhall be lopt branches, which,| "being dead many years, fhail after revive, be "joined to the old stock, and freshly grow; then "fhall Pofthumus end his miferies, Britain bel "fortunate, and flourish in peace and plenty." Thou, Leonatus, art the lion's whelp; The fit and apt conftruction of thy name, Being Leo-natus, doth import fo much; The piece of tender air, thy virtuous daughter, [To Cymbeline. Which we call mollis aer; and mollis aer We term it mulier : which mulier, I divine, Is this moft conftant wife; [To Poft.] who, even now, Anfwering the letter of the oracle, Unknown to you, unfought, were clip'd about With this moft tender air.

Cym. This hath fome feeming.

Sooth. The lofty cedar, royal Cymbeline,
Perfonates thee: and thy lopt branches point
Thy two fons forth: who, by Belarius ftolen,
For many years thought dead, are now reviv'd,
To the majestic cedar join'd; whose issue
Promifes Britain peace and plenty.
Cym. Well.

My peace we will begin :-And, Caius Lucius,
Although the victor, we fubmit to Cæfar,
And to the Roman empire; promifing

Shews are ghoftly appearances. premises.

To pay our wonted tribute, from the which
We were diffuaded by our wicked queen ;
On whom heaven's justice (both on her, and hers)
Hath lay'd most heavy hand.

Sooth. The fingers of the powers above do tune
The harmony of this peace. The vifion
Which I made known to Lucius, ere the ftroke
Of this yet fearce-coki battle, at this inftant
Is full accomplish'd: For the Roman eagle,
From fouth to weft on wing foaring aloft,
Leffen'd herself, and in the beams o' the fun
So vanifh'd: which fore-fhew'd, our princely eagle,
The imperial Cæfar, fhould again unite
His favour with the radiant Cymbeline,
Which shines here in the weft.

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When botuling winds, and beating rain,
In tempefts fake the fylvan cell;
Or midst the chace on ev'ry plain,

The tender thought on thee ball dwell.
6.

Each lonely feene fall thee reflore;
For thee the tear be duly jhed:
Belov'd, 'till life could charm no more;
And mourn'd'till pity's felf be dead.

2 A collection is a corollary, a confequence deduced from

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Knights attending on the King, Officers, MeJengers, Soldiers, and Attendant:.

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Enter Kent, Glofter, and Edmund.

Kent the duke of Albany, than Cornwali.

THOUGHT, the king had more affected

Glo. It did always feem fo to us: but now, in the divifion of the kingdom, it appears not which of the dukes he values most ; for equalities are fo weighed, that curiofity in neither can make choice of either's moiety 2.

Kent. Is not this your fon, my lord?

Gio. His breeding, fir, hath been at my charge: I have so often blush'd to acknowledge him, that now I am braz'd to't.

Kent. I cannot conceive you.

Glo. Sir, this young fellow's mother could: whereupon fhe grew round-womb'd; and had, indeed, fir, a fon for her cradle, ere the had a husband for her bed. Do you fmell a fault?

Kent. I cannot wish the fault undone, the iffue of it being fo proper.

Glo. But I have, fir, a fon by order of law, fome year elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account, though this knave came fomewhat faucily into the world before he was fent for: yet was his mother fair; there was good fport at his making, and the whorefon must be acknowled

ged.-Do you know this noble gentleman, Edmund? Edm. No, my lord.

Glo. My lord of Kent: remember him hereafter as my honourable friend.

Edm. My fervices to your lordship.

[ter.

Kent. I muft love you, and fue to know you betEdm. Sir, I shall ftudy deferving. Glo. He hath been out nine years, and away he shail again :-The king is coming.

[Trumpets found within. Enter Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Goneril, Regan, Cordelia, and Attendants.

Lear. Attend the lords of France and Burgun

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3 Darker, for more

1 Curiofity is fcrupuloufnefs, or captiousness. 2 The ftri&t fenfe of the word moiety is ho, one of wo equal parts; but Shak fpeare commonly ufes it for any part or divifion. fecret; not for indirect, oblique. 4 Conftant is firm, determined.

Great

Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love,

They love you, all? Haply, when I fhall wed,

carry

Long in our court have made their amorous fojourn, That lord, whofe hand must take my plight, fha".
And here are to be anfwer'd.-Tell me, my daugh-
(Since now we will divest us, both of rule,
Intereft of territory, cares of ftate,)
Which of you, fhall we fay, doth love us moft? To love my father all.
That we our largest bounty may extend

[ters,Half my love with him, half my care, and duty:
Sure, I fhall never marry like my filters,

Where nature doth with merit challenge.-Goneril, Our eldeft-born, fpeak first.

Gon. Sir, I

Do love you more than words can wield the matter,
Dearer than eye-fight, space and liberty;
Beyond what can be valued rich or rare; [nour:
No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, ho-
As much as child e'er lov'd, or father found.
A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable;
Beyond all manner of fo much I love you.
Co. What fhall Cordelia do? Love, and be
filent.
[Afde.
I av. Of all these bounds, even from this line
to this,

With fhadowy forests and with champains_rich'd,
With plenteous rivers, and white-skirted meads,
We make thee lady: To thine and Albany's itlue
Be this perpetual.-What fays our fecond daughter,
Our dearest Regan, wife to Cornwall? Speak.

Reg. I am made of that felf metal as my fifter, And prize me at her worth. In my true heart I find, the names my very deed of love; Only the comes too fhort: that 2 I profefs Myself an enemy to all other joys,

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Lear. But goes thy heart with this? Cor. Ay, my good lord.

[dower

Lear. So young, and fo untender ?
Cor. So young, my lord, and true.
Lear. Let it be fo,-Thy truth then be th
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,
Propinquity and property of blood,
And as a stranger to my heart and me
Hold thee, from this 5, for ever. The barbarous
Scythian,

Or he that makes his generation messes
To gorge his appetite, shall to my bofom
Be as well neighbour'd, pitied, and reliev`2,
As thou my fometime daughter.
Kent. Good my liege,-
Lear. Peace, Kent!

Come not between the dragon and his wrath:
I lov'd her moft, and thought to fet my reft
On her kind nur fery.--Hence, and avoid my fight!--
[To Ca›delia.
So be my grave my peace, as here I give

Which the most precious fquares of fenfe poffeffes; Her father's heart from her!-Call France;→ And find, I am alone felicitate

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

Lear. To thee, and thine, hereditary ever,
Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom;
No less in fpace, validity 4, and pleature,
Than that confirm'd on Goneril.---Now, our joy,
Although the last, not leaft; to whofe young love
The vines of France, and milk of Burgundy,
Strive to be interefs'd; what can you fay, to draw
A third, more opulent than your fifters Speak.
Cor. Nothing, my lord.

Lear. Nothing?

Cor. Nothing.

Lear. Nothing can come of nothing: fpeak again. Cor. Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave My heart into my mouth: I love your majefty According to my bond; nor more, nor lefs.

Lear. How, how, Cordelia? metid your fpeech a little,

Left it may mar your fortunes.

Cor. Good my lord,

You have begot me, bred me, lov'd me: I Return thofe duties back as are right fit, Obcy you, love you, and moft honour you. Why have my fifters hufbands, if they fay,

Who ftirs?

Call Burgundy.Cornwall, and Albany,
With my two daughters' dowers digeft this third:
Let pride, which the calls plainnefs, marry her.

[courfe,

I do inveft you jointly with my power,
Preheminence, and all the large effects
That troop with majefty. Ourfelf, by monthly
With refervation of an hundred knights,
By you to be fuftain'd, thall our abode
Make with you by due turns. Only we fhail re-
The name, and all the addition to a king;
The fway, revenue, execution of the reft,
Beloved fons, be yours: which to confirm,
This coronet part between you. [Giving the croton.
Kent. Roval Lear,

Whom I have ever honour'd as my king,
Lov'd as my father, as my mafter 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 would'st thou do, old man?

Think'st thou that duty fhall have dread to speak, When power to flattery bows? To plainnets ho

nour's bound,

When majefty stoops to folly. Reverse thy doom;

1 That is, beyond all affignable quantity. 2 That seems to ftand without relation, but is referred to find, the first conjunction being inaccurately fuppreffed. I find that the names my deed, I find that I profess, &c. 3 Square here means combafs, comprehenfion. 4 Validity, for worth, value..

51 e. trom this tune i. e. the execution of all the other business.

And,

And, in thy beft confideration, check [ment, I crave no more than hath your highness offer'd, This hideous rafhnefs: anfwer my life my judg-Nor will you tender lefs.

Thy youngest daughter does not love thee leaft ;
Nor are thofe empty-hearted, whofe low found
Reverbs no hollowness.

Lear. Kent, on thy life, no more.

Kent. My life I never held but as a pawn

Lear. Right noble Burgundy,

When the was dear to us, we did hold her so ;

But now her price is fall'n: Sir, there fhe stands;
If aught within that little feeming substance,
Or all of it, with our difpleafure piec'd,

To wage againft thine enemies: nor fear to lofe it, And nothing more, may fitly like your grace,
Thy fafety being the motive.

Lear. Out of my fight!

Kent. See better, Lear; and let me ftill remain

The true blank 2 of thine eye.

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

[Laying his hand on his fword.

Alb. Corn. Dear fir, forbear.

She's there, and she is yours.

Bur. I know no answer.

[owes 7, Lear. Sir, will you, with thofe infirmities the Unfriended, new-adopted to our hate, [oath, Dower'd with our curfe, and ftranger'd with our Take her, or leave her?

Bur. Pardon me, royal fir;

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Kent. Do; kill thy physician, and the fee beftow I tell you all her wealth.-For you, great king, Upon the foul difeafe. Revoke thy gift; Or, whilft I can vent clamour from my throat, I'll tell thee, thou doft evil.

Lear. Hear me, recreant;

On thine allegiance hear me !-

Since thou hatt fought to make us break our vow,
(Which we durft never yet,) and, with strain'd
pride 3,

To come betwixt our fentence and our power 4,
(Which nor our nature nor our place can bear,)
Our potency made good, take thy reward.
Five days we do allot thee for provifion
To shield thee from difafters of the world;
And, on the fixth, 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 fhall not be revok'd.

Kent. Why, fare thee well, king: fince thus
thou wilt appear,

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

[To France.
I would not from your love make fuch a stray,
To match you where I hate; therefore befeech you
To avert your liking a more worthier way,
Than on a wretch whom nature is afham'd
Almost to acknowledge hers.

France. This is most strange!

That the, who even but now was your best object,
The argument of your praife, balm of your age,
The beft, the deareft; fhould in this trice of time
Commit a thing so monstrous, to dismantle
So many folds of favour! Sure, her offence
Muft be of fuch unnatural degree,

That monfters it, or your fore-vouch'd affection
Fall into taint 9: which to believe of her,
Must be a faith, that reafon without miracle
Should never plant in me.

Cor. I yet befeech your majesty, (If for I want that glib and oily art, Tofpeak and purpofe not; fince what I well intend, I'll do't before I speak) that you make known It is no vicious blot, murder, or foulness, [To Cordelia. No unchafte action, or dishonour'd itep, That justly think'st, and hast most rightly faid!—That hath depriv'd me of your grace and favour: And your large fpeeches may your deeds approve, But even for want of that, for which I am richer [To Regan and Goneril. A ftill-foliciting eye, and such a tongue That good effects may spring from words of love. That I am glad I have not, though not to have it, Thus Kent, O princes, bids you all adieu; Hath loft me in your liking. He'll fhape his old courfe in a country new. [Exit.

Re-enter Glofter, with France, Burgundy, and at

tendants.

Lear. Better thou

[better.

Hadit not been born, than not to have pleas'd me France. Is it no more but this? a tardiness in nature,

Glo. Here's France and Burgundy, my noble Which often leaves the hiftory unfpoke,

lord.

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That it intends to do ?-My lord of Burgundy,
What fay you to the lady Love is not love,
When it is mingled with regards, that fland
Aloof from the entire 10 point. Will you have her?
She is herself a dowry.

Bur. Royal Lear,

Give but that portion which yourself propos'd,

1 Means the fame as reverberates. 2 The blank is the white or arrow is fhot. See better, fays Kent, and keep me always in your view. pride paling due bonnds. 4 i. e. our power to execute that sentence.

exact mark at which the

3 i. e. pride exorbitant; 5 Queft of love is amour

ous expedition. The term originated from Romance. A queft was the expedition in which a knight was engaged. 6 Seeming is fpecious. 7 i. e. is poffefled of. 8. e. makes not adtances.

is here uled for corruption and for disgrace.

io Entire for firgle 0002

9 Taint

And

And here I take Cordelia by the hand,
Dutchess of Burgundy."

Lear. Nothing; I have fworn: I am firm.
Bur. I-am forry then, you have fo loft a father.
That you must lofe a husband.

Cor. Peace be with Burgundy!

Since that refpects of fortune are his love,

I fhall not be his wife.

Gon. You fee how full of changes his age is: the obfervation we have made of it hath not been little: he always lov'd our fifter moft; and with what poor judgment he hath now caft her off, appears too grofily.

Reg. 'Tis the infirmity of his age: yet he hath ever but flenderly known himfelf.

Gon. The best and foundeft of his time hath

France. Faireft Cordelia, that art moft rich, be- been but rafh; then must we look to receive from

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Have no fuch daughter, nor fhall ever fee
That face of her's again :-Therefore be gone,
Without our grace, our love, our benizon.-
Come, noble Burgundy.

[Flourish. Exeunt Lear, Burgundy, &c.
France. Bid farewel to your fifters.
Cor. The jewels of our father, with wafh'd eyes
Cordelia leaves you: I know you what you are :
And, like a fifter, am moft loth to call

Your faults, as they are nam'd. Ufe well our father:
To your profeffing bofoms I commit him:
But yet, alas! food I within his grace,

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

Reg. Prefcribe not us our duties.

Gon. Let your ftudy

Be, to content your lord; who hath receiv'd you
At fortune's alms: You have obedience fcanted,
And well are worth the want that you have wanted.
Cor. Time fhall unfold what plaited 3 cunning
hides,

Who cover faults, at laft fhame them derides.
Well may you profper!

France. Come, my fair Cordelia.

[Exeunt France, and Cordelia. Gen. Sifter, it is not a little I have to fay, of what most nearly appertains to us both. I think, our father will hence to-night.

his age, not alone the imperfections of long-engrafted condition, but, therewithal, the unruly waywardness that infirm and cholerick years bring with them.

Reg. Such unconftant starts are we like to have from him, as this of Kent's hanishment.

Gon. There is further compliment of leavetaking between France and him. Pray you, let us hit together 4: If our father carry authority with fuch difpofitions as he bears, this last furrender of his will but offend us.

Reg. We fhall further think of it.

Gon. We must do fomething, and i' the heat 5. [Ext

SCENE II.

A Caftle belonging to the Earl of Glofter.

Enter Edmund, with a Letter.

Edm. Thou, nature, art my goddess; to thy law
My fervices are bound: Wherefore thould 1
Stand in the plague of cuftom; and permit
The curiofity 7 of nations to 8 deprive me,
For that I am fome twelve or fourteen moon-
fhines
[bafe?
Lag of a brother? Why bastard? wherefore
When my dimensions are as well compact,
My mind as generous, and my shape as true,
As honeft madam's iffue? Why brand they us
With bate? with bafenefs? baftardy ? bafe, bafe?
Who, in the lufty ftealth of nature, take
More compofition and fierce quality,
Than doth, within a dull, ftale, tired bed,
Go to the creating of a whole tribe of fops,
Got 'tween afleep and wake ?-Well then,
Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land:
Our father's love is to the baftard Edmund,
As to the legitimate: Fine word,-legitimate!
Well, my legitimate, if this letter speed,
And my invention thrive, Edmund the bafe
Shall top the legitimate. I grow; I profper :-
Now, gods, ftand up for bastards !

Enter Glofter.

Glo. Kent banifh'd thus! And France in choler parted!

Reg. That's most certain, and with you; next And the king gone to-night! fubfcrib'd his power!

month with us.

Confin'd to exhibition 10! All this done

I Here and where have the power of nouns. Thou lofeft this refidence to find a better refidence in another place. 2 The meaning is," You well deserve to meet with that want of love from your hufband, which you have profelled to want for our father." 3 i. c. complicated, involved cun5 i. c. We mult frike while the iron's hot.

ning.

That is, Wherefore

4 i. e. agree. fhould I acquiefce, submit tamely to the plagues and injuftice of cultom? 7 Curiofity, in the time of Shakspeare, was a word that fignified an over-nice fcrupuloufness in manners, drefs, &c. The curi ofity of nations means, the idle, nice diftinctions of the world. 8 To deprive was, in our author's time, fynonymous to difinherit. 9 Subfcrib'd, for transferred, alicnated. 10 Exhibition is allowance. Upon

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