1228.1[Scene 16] [Video Sc.16] When will these clouds of sorrow once disperse
16.21231And smiling joy triumph upon thy brow?
16.31232When will this scene of sadness have an end
16.41233And pleasant acts ensue to move delight?
16.51234When will my lovely queen cease to lament
16.61235And take some comfort to her grievèd thoughts?
16.71236If of thyself thou deignst to have no care,
16.81237Yet pity me whom thy grief makes despair.
Oh, grieve not you, my lord, you have no cause.
16.101239Let not my passions move your mind a whit,
16.121241For his ill will that life to me first lent.
16.131242If so the stalk be drièd with disdain,
16.141243Withered and sere the branch must needs remain.
But thou art now graft in another stock:
16.161245I am the stock and thou the lovely branch,
16.171246And from my root continual sap shall flow
16.181247To make thee flourish with perpetual spring.
16.191248Forget thy father and thy kindred now,
16.201249Since they forsake thee like inhumane beasts.
16.211250Think they are dead since all their kindness dies,
16.221251And bury them where black oblivion lies.
16.231252Think not thou art the daughter of old Leir,
16.251254But think thou art the noble Gallian queen,
16.261255And wife to him that dearly loveth thee.
16.271256Embrace the joys that present with thee dwell;
16.281257Let sorrow pack and hide herself in hell.
Not that I miss my country or my kin,
16.301259My old acquaintance or my ancient friends --
16.321261Knowing you, which are more dear to me
16.331262Than country, kin and all things else can be?
16.341263Yet pardon me, my gracious lord, in this,
16.351264For what can stop the course of nature's power?
16.361265As easy is it for four-footed beasts
16.371266To stay themselves upon the liquid air
16.391268And overstrip the feathered fowls in flight,
16.411270To live and thrive without the help of water,
16.431272To wash the tawny colour from his skin,
16.441273Which all oppose against the course of nature,
Mirror of virtue, Phoenix of our age!
16.471276Too kind a daughter for an unkind father!
16.481277Be of good comfort, for I will dispatch
16.491278Ambassadors immediately for Britain,
16.501279Unto the king of Cornwall's court, whereas
16.511280Your father keepeth now his residence,
16.521281And in the kindest manner him entreat
16.531282That, setting former grievances apart,
16.541283He will be pleased to come and visit us.
16.551284If no entreaty will suffice the turn,
16.561285I'll offer him the half of all my crown.
16.571286If that moves not, we'll furnish out a fleet
16.581287And sail to Cornwall for to visit him,
16.591288And there you shall be firmly reconciled
16.601289In perfect love, as erst you were before.
Where tongue cannot sufficient thanks afford,
16.621291The king of heaven remunerate my lord.
Only be blithe and frolic, sweet, with me;
16.641293This and much more I'll do to comfort thee.
King Leir