SCENE III.

Enter Glo'fter, with France and Burgundy, and Attendants.

Glo. Here's France and Burgundy, my noble Lord.
Lear. My Lord of Burgundy,

We first addrefs tow'rd you, who with this King
Have rivall'd for our daughter; what in the least
Will you require in prefent dower with her,
Or ceafe your quest of love?
Bur. Moft royal Majesty,

I crave no more than what your Highness offer'd,
Nor will you tender less.

Lear. Right noble Burgundy,

When she was dear to us, we held her fo;

But now her price is fall'n. Sir, there she stands,
If aught within that little feeming fubftance,
Or all of it with our displeasure piec'd,

And nothing more, may fitly like your Grace,
She's there, and she is yours.

Bur. I know no answer.

Lear. Will you with those infirmities fhe owes, Unfriended, new-adopted to our hate,

Dower'd with our curfe, and stranger'd with our oath, Take her, or leave her?

Bur. Pardon, royal Sir;

* Election makes not up on fuch conditions. Lear. Then leave her, Sir; for by the pow'r that made me,

6 Seeming is beautiful.

* Election makes not up on fuch conditions.] To make up fignifies to complete, to conclude; as, they made up the bargain; but in this fenfe it has, I think,

always the fubject noun after it. To make up, in familiar language, is, neutrally, to come forward, to make advances, which, I think, is meant here.

I

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 befeech you,
T'avert your liking a more worthy way
Than on a wretch, whom nature is afham'd
Almost t'acknowledge hers.

France. This is most ftrange!

That she, who ev'n 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 fo monftrous, to dismantle
So many folds of favour! fure, her offence
Must be of fuch unnatural degree,

8

That monsters it; or your fore-vouch'd affection

copy.

7 Best is added from the first gious, or you must fall into reproach for having vouched affection which you did not feel.

The common books read,
-or your fore-vouch'd af.
fection

Fall'n into taint:] This line has no clear or ftrong fente, nor is this reading authorised by any copy, though it has crept into all the late editions. The early quarto reads,

—or you for vouch'd affe&ions Fal'n into taint.

If the reading of the folio be preferred. we may with a very flight change produce the fame fenfe.

Fall into taint; which to believe of her,
Must be a faith, that reafon without miracle
Should never plant in me.

Cor. I yet befeech your Majefty,
If-for I want that glib and oily art,
To fpeak 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,
No unchafte action, or difhonour'd step,
That hath depriv'd me of your grace and favour,
But ev❜n for want of that, for which I'm richer,
A ftill folliciting eye, and fuch a tongue,
That I am glad I've not; though, not to have it,
Hath loft me in your liking.

Lear. Better thou

Hadft not been born, than not have pleas'd me better.
France. Is it but this? a tardiness in nature,
Which often leaves the hiftory unfpoke,
That it intends to do? My Lord of Burgundy,
What say you to the lady? Love's not love,
When it is mingled with regards, that stand
Aloof from th' intire point. Say, will you have her?
She is herself a dowry.

Bur. [To Lear.] Royal King,

Give but that portion which yourself propos'd,
And here I take Cordelia by the hand,
Dutchess of Burgundy.

Lear. Nothing:-I've fworn.

Bur. I'm forry then, you have fo loft a father, That you must lose a husband.

Cor. Peace be with Burgundy,

Since that refpects of fortune are his love,

I fhall not be his wife.

France. Fairest Cordelia, that art moft rich, being

Foor,

9 from th' intire point.] Intire, for right, true. WARBURTON. other confiderations.

Rather, fingle, unmixed with

Most

Moft choice, forfaken; and moft lov'd, defpis'd.

Thee and thy virtues here I feize upon,

Be't lawful, I take up what's caft away.

Gods, Gods! 'tis ftrange, that from their cold'ft neglect

My love should kindle to enflam'd refpect.

Thy dow'rlefs daughter, King, thrown to my chance,
Is Queen of us, of ours, and our fair France;
Not all the Dukes of watʼrifh Burgundy
Can buy this unpriz'd, precious, maid of me.
Bid them farewel, Cordelia, tho' unkind;
Thou lofeft here, a better where to find.

Lear. Thou haft her, France; let her be thine, for we Have no fuch daughter; nor fhall ever fee That face of hers again; therefore be gone Without our grace, without our love, our benizon. Come, noble Burgundy.

[Flourish. Exeunt Lear and Burgundy.

Ś CE NE IV.

France. Bid farewel to your fifters.

Cor. Yejewels of our father, with wash'd eyes
Cordelia leaves you; I know what you are,
And, like a fifter, am moft loth to call

Your faults, as they are nam'd. Love well our father;
To your profeffing bofoms I commit him;
yet, alas! ftood I within his grace,

But

I would prefer him to a better place.

So farewel to you both.

Reg. Prefcribe not us our duty.
Gon. Let your study

Be to content your Lord, who hath receiv'd

you

• Thou lefeft here,-] Here and a better refidence in another where have the power of nouns. place. Thou lofeft this refidence to find

At

At fortune's alms; you have obedience scanted, 2 And well are worth the Want that you have wanted. Cor. Time fhall unfold what plaited cunning hides, 3 Who covers faults, at laft with fhame derides. Well may you prosper!

France. Come, my fair Cordelia.

[Exeunt France and Cordelia.

SCENE V.

Gon. Sifter, it is not little I've to say, Of what most nearly appertains to us both. I think, our father will go hence to night.

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

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 most, and with what poor judgment he hath now caft her off, appears too grofsly.

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

Gon. The belt and foundest of his time hath been but rash; then must we look, from his age, to receive not alone the imperfections of long-engrafted

2 And well are worth the Want that you have wanted.] This is a very obfcure Expreffion, and must be pieced out with an implied Senfe to be understood. This I take to be the Poet's Meaning, ftript of the Jingle which makes it dark: "You "well deferve to meet with that "Want of Love from your Huf"band, which you have pro "felled to want for our Father." THEOBALD. And well are worth the Want

VOL. VI.

that you have WANTED. ] This nonfenfe must be corrected thus,

And well are worth the Want

that you have VAUNTED. i. e. that disherison, which you fo much glory in, you deserve. WARBURTON. I think the common reading very fuitable to the manner of our authour, and well enough explained by Theobald.

3 Who covers faults, &c.] Il rira bien, qui rira le dernier.

C

con