The History of King Lear.
¶Fra. This is mo
st
strange, that
she that euen but now
235Was your be
st obiect, the argument of your prai
se,
¶Balme of your age, mo
st be
st, mo
st deere
st,
¶Should in this trice of time commit a thing
¶So mon
strous, to di
smantle
so many foulds of fauour,
¶Sure her offence mu
st be of
such vnnaturall degree,
¶That mon
sters it, or you for voucht affections
¶Falne into taint, which to beleeue of her
¶Mu
st be a faith that rea
son without miracle
¶Could neuer plaint in me.
245Cord. I yet be
seech your Maie
sty,
¶If for I want that glib and oily Art,
¶To
speake and purpo
se not,
since what I well intend,
¶Ile do't before I
speake, that you may know
¶It is no vicious blot, murder, or foulene
sse,
250No vncleane action or di
shonoured
step
¶That hath depriu'd me of your grace and fauour,
¶But euen for want of that, for which I am rich,
¶A
still
soliciting eye, and
such a tongue,
¶As I am glad I haue not, though not to haue it,
255Hath lo
st me in your liking.
¶Lear. Go to, goe to, better thou had
st not bene borne,
¶Then not to haue pleas'd me better.
¶Fran. Is it no more but this, a tardine
sse in nature,
¶That often leaues the hi
story vn
spoke that it intends to do,
260My Lord of
Burgundy, what
say you to the Lady?
¶Loue is not loue when it is mingled with re
spects that
stands
¶Aloofe from the entire point, will you haue her?
¶She is her
selfe and dower.
265Burg. Royall
Lear, giue but that portion
¶Which your
selfe propos'd, and here I take
¶Cordelia by the hand, Dutche
sse of
Burgundy.
¶Lear. Nothing; I haue
sworne.
270Burg. I am
sorry then you haue
so lo
st a father,
¶That you mu
st lo
se a husband.
¶Cord. Peace be with
Burgundy,
since that re
spects
¶Of fortune are his loue, I
shall not be his wife.
B
