O'ershoots itself, to plead in his behalf; First-born and best-belov'd.-O, villain Edgar! Glost. Plead with the seas, and reason down the winds, Yet shalt thou ne'er convince me: I have seen Inverted nature, Gloster's shame and glory: Whilst Edgar, begg'd of Heaven, and born in honour, His realms amongst his daughters. Heav'n succeed it! Kent. I grieve to see him. With such wild starts of passion hourly seiz'd, As render majesty beneath itself. Glost. Alas! 'tis the infirmity of his age: Yet has his temper ever been unfixt, Chol'ric, and sudden. Hark, they approach. [Flourish of Trumpets. [Exeunt GLOSTER, KENT, and EDMUND. Enter CORDELIA and EDGAR. Edg. Cordelia, royal fair, turn yet, once more, And, ere successful Burgundy receive The treasure of thy beauties from the King, Cast back one pitying look on wretched Edgar. Who, in obedience to a father's will, Flies from her Edgar's arms to Burgundy's? SCENE II. [Exeunt. A Room of State in the Palace. Flourish of Trumpets-Drums. KING LEAR upon his Throne. ALBANY, CORNWALL, BURGUNDY, KENT, GLOSTER, GONERIL, REGAN, CORDELIA, CAPTAIN of the GUARD, KNIGHTS, PAGES, GENTLEMAN with the Map, GENTLEMAN with the Crown, LORDS, LADIES, &c. &c. discovered. Lear. Attend, my lords of Albany and Cornwall, With princely Burgundy. Alb. We do, my liege. Lear. Give me the map.-Know, Lords, we have divided In three our kingdom, having now resolv'd Long in our court have made your amorous sojourn, And now are to be answer'd.-Tell me, my daughters, Gon. Sir, I do love you more than words can utter, Beyond what can be valu'd rich or rare ; Nor liberty, nor sight, health, fame, or beauty, As much as child can love the best of fathers. Lear. Of all these bounds, e'en from this line to this, With shady forests, and wide skirted meads, We make thee lady; to thine and Albany's issue Be this perpetual. What says our second daughter, Regan, wife to Cornwall? Reg. My sister, sir, in part, exprest my love; For such as hers, is mine, though more extended: Sense has no other joy that I can relish ; I have my all in my dear liege's love. Lear. Therefore, to thee and thine hereditary, Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom. Cord. Now comes my trial.-How am I distrest, That must with cold speech tempt the chol'ric king, Rather to leave me dowerless, than condemn me To Burgundy's embraces! Lear. Speak now our last, not least in our dear love, So ends my task of state,-Cordelia, speak; Than what thy sisters gain'd? Cord. Now must my love in words, fall short of theirs, As much as it exceeds in truth.-Nothing, my Lord. Lear. Nothing? Cord. Nothing. Lear. Nothing can come of nothing; speak again. Cord. Unhappy am I that I can't dissemble: Sir, as I ought, I love your Majesty, No more, nor less. Lear. Take heed, Cordelia ; Thy fortunes are at stake; think better on't, You gave me being, bred me, dearly love me, Obey you, love you, and most honour you. Lear. And goes thy heart with this? Cord. So young, my lord, and true. Kent. This is phrenzy. Consider, good my liege Lear. Peace, Kent; Come not between a dragon and his rage. all! In this fair third, Cordelia's forfeit dow'r. Whom I have ever honour'd as my king, And, as my patron, thought on in my pray❜rs,- Be Kent unmannerly when Lear is mad; Thy youngest daughter Lear. On thy life, no more. Kent, What wilt thou do, old man ? Lear. Out of my sight. Kent. See better first. Lear. Now, by the gods Kent. Now, by the gods, rash king, thou swear'st in vain. Lear. Ha, traitor! Kent. Do, kill thy physician, Lear; Strike through my throat; yet, with my latest breath, I'll thunder in thine ear my just complaint, And tell thee to thy face, that thou dost ill. Lear. Hear me, rash man; on thine allegiance Since thou hast striven to make us break our vow, |