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Iach. I am down again:

But now my heavy conscience sinks my knee,
[Kneels.
As then your force did. Take that life, 'beseech
Which I so often owe: but your ring first; [you, 5
And here the bracelet of the truest princess,
That ever swore her faith.

Post. Kneel not to me:

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

Sooth. The fingers of the powers above do tune
The harmony of this peace. The vision
Which I made known to Lucius, ere the stroke
Of this yet scarce-cold battle, at this instant
Is full accomplished: For the Roman eagle,

The power that I have on you, is to spare you;
The malice towards you, to forgive you: Live, 10 From south to west on wing soaring aloft,

And deal with others better.

Cym. Nobly doom'd:

We'll learn our freeness of a son-in-law;

Pardon's the word to all.

Arv: You holp us, sir.

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

Post. Your servant, princes. Good my lord

of Rome,

Lessen'd herself, and in the beams o' the sun
So vanish'd: which fore-shew'd, our princelyeagle,
The imperial Cæsar, should again unite

His favour with the radiant Cymbeline;

15 Which shines here in the west.

Cym. Laud we the gods;

And let our crooked smokes climb to their nostrils
From our blest altars! Publish we this peace
To all our subjects. Set we forward: Let
Roman and a British ensign wave
Friendly together: SO thro' Lud's town march;
And in the temple of great Jupiter

Our peace we'll ratify; seal it with feasts.-
Set on there:-Never was a war did cease,

Call forth your soothsayer: As I slept, methought, 20 A
Great Jupiter, upon his eagle back'd,
Appear'd to me, with other sprightly shews1
Of mine own kindred: when I wak'd, I found
This label on my bosom; whose containing
Is so from sense in hardness, that I can
Make no collection of it: let him shew
His skill in the construction.

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"When as a lion's whelp shall to himself "unknown, without seeking find, and be em"brac'd by a piece of tender air; and when from

25 Ere bloody hands were wash'd, with such a peace.

30

[Exeunt omnes.

A SONG, sung by Guiderius and Arviragus over
Fidele, supposed to be dead.

By Mr. WILLIAM COLLINS.

1.

To fair Fidele's grassy tomb,

Soft maids and village hinds shall bring

" a stately cedar shall be lopt branches, which, 35 Each op'ning sweet, of earliest bloom,

"being dead many years, shall after revive, be
" joined to the old stock, and freshly grow; then
"shall Posthumus end his miseries, Britain be
"fortunate, and flourish in peace and plenty."
Thou, Leonatus, art the lion's whelp;
The fit and apt construction of thy name,
Being Leo-natus, doth import port so 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, [now
Is this most constant wife; [To Post.] who, even
Answering the letter of the oracle,

Unknown to you, unsought, were clip'd about,
With this most tender air.

Cym. This hath some seeming.

Sooth. The lofty cedar, royal Cymbeline, Personates thee: and thy lopt branches point, Thy two sons forth: who, by Belarius stolen,

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When howling winds, and beating rain,
In tempests shake the sylvan cell;

For many years thought dead, are now reviv'd, 55 Or 'midst the chace on ev'ry plain,

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1 Sprightly shews are ghostly appearances; but should be read spritely sheus. * A collection is a corollary, a consequence deduced from premises.

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Knights attending on the King, Officers, Messengers, Soldiers, and Attendants.
SCENE, Britain.

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Albany, than Cornwall.

Glo. It did always seem so to us: but now, in the division of the kingdom, it appears not which of the dukes he values most; for equalities are so weighed, that curiosity' in neither can make 10 choice of either's moiety.

Kent. Is not this your son, my lord ?

Glo. His breeding, sir, 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 she grew round-womb'd; and had, indeed, sir, a son for her cradle, ere she had a husband for her bed. Do you smell a fault?

Kent. I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it being so proper.

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

Glo. My lord of Kent. Remember him here

after as my honourable friend.

[ter.

Edm. My services to your lordship.
Kent. I must love you, and sue to know you bet-
Edm. Sir, I shall study deserving.
Glo. He hath been out nine years, and away
he shall again:-The king is coming.

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

Lear. Attend the lords of France and Burgundy,

Gloster.

15 Glo. I shall, myliege. [ExeuntGloster and Edmund. Lear. Mean time we shall express our darker1

purpose.

The map there.-Know, that we have divided
In three our kingdom: and 'tis our fast intent
20 To shake all cares and business from our age;
Conferring them on younger strengths, while we
Unburthen'd crawl toward death. - Our son of
Cornwall,

Glo. But I have, sir, a son by order of law,
some years elder than this, who is yet no dearer in
my account, though this knave came somewhat 25 We have this hour a constant will to publish

And you, our no less loving son of Albany,

saucily into the world before he was sent for: yet was his mother fair; there was good sport at his

Our daughters' several dowers, that future strife
May be prevented now. The princes, France and

making, and the whoreson must be acknowledged.

Burgundy,

Curiosity is scrupulousness, or captiousness.

2 The strict sense of the word moiety is half,

one of two equal parts: but Shakspeare commonly uses it for any part or division. more secret; not for indirect, oblique. • Constant is firm, determined.

Durker, for

Great

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Cor. What shall Cordelia do? Love, and be
silent.
[Aside.
Lear. Of all these bounds, even from this line 20
to this,

With shadowy forests and with champains rich'd,
With plenteous rivers, and white-skirted meads,
We make thee lady: To thine and Albany's issue

Scythian,

Or he that makes his generation messes
To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom
Be as well neighbour'd, pitied, and reliev'd,
As thou my sometime daughter.

Bethis perpetual. --What says our second daughter, 25 Kent. Good my liege,

Our dearest Regan, wife to Cornwall? Speak.

Reg. I am made of that self metal as my sister,
And prize me at her worth. In my true heart
I tind, she names my very deed of love;
Only she comes too short: that I profess
Myself an enemy to all other joys,
Which the most precious square of sense pos-
And find, I am alone felicitate
In your dear highness' love.

30

(sesses;

Cor. Then poor Cordelia!

Lear. Peace, Kent!

Come not between the dragon and his wrath :
I lov'd her most, and thought to set my rest
On her kind nursery. Hence, and avoid my
[To Cordelia.

sight!

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,
[Aside. 35 With my two daughters' dowers digest this third :
Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry her.
I do invest you jointly with my power,
Pre-eminence, and all the large effects [course,
That troop with majesty. Ourself, by monthly

And yet not so; since I am sure, 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 space, validity, and pleasure,
Than that confirm'd on Goneril.-Now, our joy,
Although the last, not least; to whose young love,
The vines of France, and milk of Burgundy,

Strive to be interess'd; what can you say, to draw

40 With reservation of an hundred knights,
By you to be sustain'd, shall our abode
Make with you by due turns. Only, we shall re-
The name, and all the addition to a king;
The sway, revenue, execution of the rest,

[tain

Cor. Nothing, my lord.

Lear. Nothing?

This coronet part between you. [Giving the crown.
Kent. Royal Lear,

Cor. Nothing.

[again.

A third, more opulent than your sisters? Speak. 45 Beloved sons, be yours: which to confirm,

Lear. Nothing can come of nothing: speak

Cor. Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave

My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty
According to my bond; nor more, nor less.

Lear. How, how, Cordelia! mend yourspeech

a.ittle,

Lest it may mar your fortunes.

Cor. Good my lord,

You have begot me, bred me, lov'd me: I
Return those duties back as are right fit,

Obey you, love you, and most honour you.

Why have my sisters husbands, if they say,

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Whom I have ever honour'd as my king,
Lov'd as my father, as my master follow'd,
50 As my great patron thought on in my prayers, -
Lear. The bow is bent and drawn, make from

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60 When majesty stoops to folly. Reverse thy doom;

* That seems to stand without relation, but is referred to find; the first conjunction being inaccurately suppressed. I find that she names my deed, I find that I profess, &c.

Square here means compass, comprehension.

i. e, from this time. i. e. the execution of all the other business.

Validity, for worth, value.

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[Laying his hand on his sword.

Kent. Do; kill thy physician, and the fee bestow
Upon the foul disease. Revoke thy gift;

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

On thine allegiance hear me!

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Lear. Sir, will you, with those infirmities she
Unfriended, new-adopted to our hate, [oath,
Dower'd with our curse, and stranger'd with our
Take her, or leave her?
15 Bur. Pardon me, royal sir;

Election makes not up on such conditions.

Lear. Then leave her, sir; for by the power
that made me,

20

Lear. Hear me, recreant;

I tell you all her wealth. -For you, great king,
[To France.
I would not from your love make such a stray,
To match you where I hate; therefore beseech you
To avert your liking a more worthier way
Than on a wretch whom nature is asham'd

Since thou hast sought to make us break our vow, 25 Almost to acknowledge hers.

(Which we durst never yet,) and, with strain'd

France. This is most strange !
Thatshe, who even but now was your best object,
The argument of your praise, balm of your age,
The best, the dearest, should in this trice of time

1

Upon our kingdom: if on the tenth day following,

30 Cominit a thing so monstrous, to dismantle
So many folds of favour! Sure, her offence
Must be of such unnatural degree,
That monsters it, or your fore-vouch'd affection
Fall into taint': which to believe of her,

Should never plant in me.

Cor. I yet beseech your majesty,
(If for I want that glib and oily art,
[tend,
To speak and purpose not; since what I well in-

pride', To come betwixt our sentence and our power, (Which nor our nature nor our place can bear,) Our potency made good, take thy reward. Five days we do allot thee for provision To shield thee from disasters of the world; And, on the sixth, to turn thy hated back

Thy banish'd trunk be found in our dominions, 35 Must be of faith, that reason without miracle
The moment is thy death: Away! By Jupiter,

This shall not be revok'd.

Kent. Why, fare thee well, king: since thus

thou wilt appear,

Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here. - 40 I'll do't before I speak) that you make known
The gods to their dear shelter take thee, maid,
[To Cordelia.
That justly think'st, and hast most rightly said. -
our large speeches ma may your deeds approve,
[To Regan and Goneril. 45 A still-soliciting eye, and such a tongue

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Re-enter Gloster, with France, Burgundy, and 50 France. Is it no more but this? a tardiness in

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We first address towards you, who with this king 55 When it is mingled with regards, that stand

Have rivall'd for our daughter; What, in the least,

Will you require in present dower with her,

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passing due bounds. * i. e. our power to execute that sentence.

Quest of love is amorous expe

6

is here used for corruption and for disgrace. Entire for single.

dition. The term originated from romance. A quest was the expedition in which a knight was en

gaged. • Seeming is specious. ' i. e. is possessed of.

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Bur. Royal Lear,

Give but that portion which yourself propos'd,

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Most choice, forsaken; and most lov'd, despis'd!
Thee and thy virtues here I seize upon :
Be it lawful, I take up what's cast away.
Gods, gods! 'tis strange, that from their cold'st

neglect

My love should kindle to inflam'd respect.-
Thy dowerless daughter, king, thrown to my
chance,

Is queen of us, and ours, and our fair France:
Not all the dukes of wat'rish Burgundy
Shall buy this unpriz'd precious maid of me.-
Bid them farewell, Cordelia, though unkind :
Thou losest here, a better where1 to find.

Lear. Thou hast her, France: let her be thine;
for we
Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see
That face of her's again:-Therefore be gone,
Without our grace, our love, our benizon.-
Come, noble Burgundy.

Gon. You see how full of changes his age is ! the observation we have made of it hath not been little! he always lov'd our sister most; and with what poor judgement he hath now cast her off, 5 appears too grossly.

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

Gon. The best and soundest of his time hath been but wash; then must we look to receive 10 from his age, not alone the imperfections of longengrafted condition, but therewithal the unruly waywardness that infirm and choleric years bring with them.

Reg. Such unconstant starts are we like to

15 have from him, as this of Kent's banishment.

Gon. There is further compliment of leavetaking between France and him. Pray you, let us hit together*: If our father carry authority with such dispositions as he bears, this last sur20 render of his will but offend us.

25

Reg. We shall further think of it.
Gon. We must do something, and i' the heats.
[Exeunt.

SCENE Π.

A Castle belonging to the Earl of Gloster.
Enter Edmund, with a letter.
Edm. Thou, nature, art my goddess; to thy law
My services are bound: Wherefore should I
[Flourish. Excunt Lear, Burgundy, &c. 30 Stand in the plague of custom; and permit
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 loth to call
[ther:
Your faults, as they are nam'd. Use well our fa-35
To your professing 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.

Reg. Prescribe not us our duties.

Gon. 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 2.

Cor. Time shall unfold what plaited' cunning
hides;

Who cover 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 nearly appertains to us both. I think, our father will hence to-night.

The curiosity of nations to deprive me,
For that I am some twelve or fourteen moon-
shines
[base
Lag of a brother? Why bastard? wherefore
When my dimensions are as well compact,
My mind as generous, and my shape as true,
As honest madam's issue? Why brand they us
With base? with baseness? bastardy? base, base?
Who, in the lusty stealth of nature, take

40 More composition, and fierce quality

Than doth, within a dull, stale, tired bed,
Go to the creating of a whole tribe of fops,
Got 'tween asleep and wake?-Well then,
Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land:
45 Our father's love is to the bastard Edmund,
As to the legitimate: Fine word, legitimate!
Well, my legitimate, if this letter speed,
And my invention thrive, Edmund the base
Shall top the legitimate. I grow; I prosper :-
50 Now, gods, stand up for bastards!

Reg. That's most certain, and with you; next 55 month with us.

Enter Gloster:

Glo. Kent banish'd thus! And France in choler parted! And the king gone to-night! subscrib'd' his power! Confin'd to exhibition! All this done

Here and where have the power of nouns. - Thou losest this residence to find a better residence in another place. The meaning is, "You well deserve to meet with that want of love from your husband, which you have professed to want for our father." i. e. complicated, involved cunning. i. e. We must strike while the iron's hot. • That is, Wherefore should I ac* i. e. agree. quiesce, submit tamely to the plagues and injustice of custom? Curiosity, in the time of Shakspeare, was a word that signified an over-nice scrupulousness in manners, dress, &c. -The curiosity of

7

nations means, the idle, nice distinctions of the world. • To deprive was, in our author's time,

synonymous to disinherit.

1

Subscrib'd for transferred, alienated.

Exhibition is allowance.
Upon

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