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King Lear (Quarto 2, 1619)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Pervez Rizvi
Not Peer Reviewed
The History of King Lear.
275Fran. Fairest Cordelia, that art most rich being poore,
Most choise forsaken, and most loued despis'd,
Thee and thy vertues heere I seize vpon,
Be it lawfull I take vp what's cast away.
Gods, Gods! tis strange, that from their cold'st neglect,
280My loue should kindle to enflam'd respect,
Thy dowrelesse daughter King, throwne to thy chance,
Is Queene of vs, of ours, and our faire France:
Not all the Dukes in watrish Burgundy,
Shall buy this vnpriz'd precious maid of me,
285Bid them farwell Cordelia, though vnkinde
Thou losest heere, a better where to finde.
Lear. Thou hast her France, let her be thine,
For we haue no such daughter, nor shall euer see
That face of hers againe, therefore be gone,
290Without our grace, our loue, our benizon: come noble Bur-
Exit Lear and Burgundy.
Fran. Bid farwell to your sisters.
Cord. The Iewels of our Father,
With washt eyes Cordelia leaues you, I know you what you are,
295And like a sister am most loth to call your faults
As they are named, vse well our Father,
To your professed bosomes I commit him,
But yet alasse, stood I within his grace,
I would preferre him to a better place;
300So farwell to you both.
Gonorill. Prescribe not vs our duties.
Regan. Let your study be to content your Lord,
Who hath receiu'd you at Fortunes almes,
You haue obedience scanted,
305And well are worth the worth that you haue wanted.
Cord. Time shall vnfold what pleated cunning hides,
Who couers faults, at last shame them derides:
Well may you prosper.
Fran. Come faire Cordelia.
Exit France and Cord.
310Gon. Sister, it is not a little I haue to say,
Of what most neerely appertaines to vs both,
I