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 cease 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 fhe was dear to us, we held her fo;
But now her price is fall'n. Sir, there fhe stands,
If aught within that little feeming substance,
Or all of it with our displeasure piec'd,

And nothing more, may fitly like your Grace,
She's there, and fhe 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,

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.

2

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 strange!

That fhe, 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 such unnatural degree,

8

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

7 Best is added from the first gious, or you must fall into re

copy.

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 affections Fal'n into taint. The folio,

-or your fore-vouch'd affection Fall into taint. Taint is used for corruption and for difgrace. If therefore we take the oldeft reading it may be reformed thus:

-fure her offence Must be of juch unnatural de

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 speak and purpose not; fince what I well intend,
I'll do't before I fpeak-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 history unspoke,

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 most rich, being

foor,

9 from th' intire point.] Intire,

for right, true. WARBURTON. cther 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'st neglect

My love fhould 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. Ye jewels 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;

But yet, alas! ftood I within his grace,

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, * 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 profper!

France. Come, my fair Cordelia.

[Exeunt France and Cordelia.

SCENE

V.

Gon. Sifter, it is not little I've to fay, 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 best and foundeft of his time hath been but rafh; then must we look, from his age, to receive not alone the imperfections of long-engrafted