Then, venom, to thy work. [Stabs the KING. All. Treason! treason! 337 King. O! yet defend me, friends; I am but hurt. Ham. Here, thou incestuous, murderous, Drink off this potion; -is thy union here? 340 He is justly serv'd; It is a poison temper'd by himself. Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet: Mine and my father's death come not upon thee, Nor thine on me! [Dies. Ham. Heaven make thee free of it! I follow thee.. 346 I am dead, Horatio. Wretched queen, adieu! 352 Ham. As thou'rt a man, 356 Give me the cup: let go; by heaven, I'll have 't. O God! Horatio, what a wounded name, Things standing thus unknown, shall live behind me. ACT I. Glo. My Lord of Kent: remember him here SCENE I.-A Room of State in KING LEAR'S after as my honourable friend. Glo. Sir, this young fellow's mother could; whereupon she grew round-wombed, and had, indeed, sir, a son for her cradle ere she had a husband for her bed. Do you smell a fault? 16 Kent. I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it being so proper. Glo. But I have a son, sir, by order of law, some year elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account: though this knave came somewhat saucily into the world before he was sent for, yet was his mother fair; there was good sport at his making, and the whoreson must be acknowledged. Do you know this noble gentleman, Edmund? Edm. No, my lord. 26 Edm. My services to your lordship. Kent. I must love you, and sue to know you better. 32 Edm. Sir, I shall study deserving. Glo. He hath been out nine years, and away he shall again. The king is coming. Sennet. Enter LEAR, CORNWALL, ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, CORDELIA, and Attendants. Lear. Attend the Lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester. 30 Glo. I shall, my liege. [Exeunt GLOUCESTER and EDMUND Lear. Meantime we shall express our darker purpose. Give me the map there. Know that we have divided In three our kingdom; and 'tis our fast intent To shake all cares and business from our age, 41 Conferring them on younger strengths, while we Unburden'd crawl toward death. Our son of Cornwall, And you, our no less loving son of Albany, 44 We have this hour a constant will to publish Our daughters' several dowers, that future strife May be prevented now. The princes, France and Burgundy, Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love, 48 Long in our court have made their amorous sojourn, 112 For, by the sacred radiance of the sun, Or he that makes his generation messes Lear. Peace, Kent! 116 120 Good my liege, Make with you by due turn. Only we shall retain The name and all th' addition to a king; 176 Our potency made 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 140 Upon our kingdom: if, on the tenth day following Kent. Royal Lear, Whom I have ever honour'd as my king, Lov'd 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. 145 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? 148 Think'st thou that duty shall have dread to speak When power to flattery bows? To plainness honour's bound 152 When majesty falls to folly. Reserve thy state; Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least; Lear. Kent, on thy life, no more. Kent. My life I never held but as a pawn 157 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 160 The true blank of thine eye. Now, by Apollo, king, Thou swear'st thy gods in vain. Lear. Now, by Apollo,Kent. If aught within that little-seeming substance, Bur. I know no answer. 204 Lear. Will you, with those infirmities she owes, Unfriended, new-adopted to our hate, our oath, Take her, or leave her? Bur. Pardon me, royal sir; 208 Election makes not up on such conditions. Lear. Then leave her, sir; for, by the power that made me, I tell you all her wealth.-[To FRANCE.] For you, great king, I yet beseech your majesty- eyes Cordelia leaves you: I know you what you are; 272 228 And like a sister am most loath to call Better thou Lear. 236 Hadst not been born than not to have pleas'd me better. France. Is it but this? a tardiness in nature Royal Lear, 244 Bur. Lear. Nothing: I have sworn; I am firm. 248 That you must lose a husband. Cor. 252 France. Fairest Cordelia, that art most rich, being poor; Most choice, forsaken; and most lov'd, despis'd! Be it lawful I take up what's cast away. To your professed bosoms I commit him: So farewell to you both. Reg. Prescribe not us our duties. 276 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. 282 Gon. The best and soundest of his time hath 256 been but rash; then, must we look to receive |