But how far distant are we from the court?

Some twenty miles, my lord, or thereabouts.

It seemeth to me twenty thousand miles;

5.4403Yet hope I to be there within this hour.

[To himself] Then are you like to ride alone for me.

5.6405I think my lord is weary of his life.

Sweet Gonorill, I long to see thy face,

5.8407Which hast so kindly gratified my love.

[He looks at the letter.] Get a fresh horse, for, by my soul I swear,

5.10411I am past patience longer to forbear

5.11412The wished sight of my beloved mistress,

5.12413Dear Ragan, stay and comfort of my life.

[To himself] Now what in God's name doth my lord intend?

5.14415He thinks he ne'er shall come at's journey's end.

5.15416I would he had old Daedalus' waxen wings

5.16417That he might fly, so I might stay behind;

5.17418For ere we get to Troynovant, I see,

5.18419He quite will tire himself, his horse, and me.

Brother of Cambria, we greet you well,

5.20423As one whom here we little did expect.

Brother of Cornwall, met in happy time.

5.22425I thought as much to have met with the Sultan of Persia

5.23426As to have met you in this place, my lord.

5.24427No doubt it is about some great affairs

5.25428That makes you here so slenderly accompanied.

To say the truth, my lord, it is no less.

5.27430And, for your part, some hasty wind of chance

5.28431Hath blown you hither thus upon the sudden.

My lord, to break off further circumstances,

5.30433For at this time I cannot brook delays,

5.31434Tell you your reason, I will tell you mine.

In faith, content; and, therefore, to be brief,

5.33436For I am sure my haste's as great as yours:

5.34437I am sent for to come unto King Leir,

5.35438Who, by these present letters, promiseth

5.36439His eldest daughter, lovely Gonorill,

5.37440To me in marriage and for present dowry

5.38441The moiety of half his regiment.

5.39442The lady's love I long ago possessed,

5.40443But until now I never had the father's.

You tell me wonders, yet I will relate

5.42445Strange news, and henceforth we must brothers call.

5.43446Witness these lines: his honorable age,

5.44447Being weary of the troubles of his crown,

5.45448His princely daughter Ragan will bestow

5.46449On me in marriage, with half his seigniories,

5.47450Whom I would gladly have accepted of

5.48451With the third part, her complements are such.

If I have one half and you have the other,

5.50453Then between us we must needs have the whole.

The hole! How mean you that? 'Sblood, I hope

5.52455We shall have two holes between us.

Why, the whole kingdom.

Ay, that's very true.

What then is left for his third daughter's dowry,

5.56459Lovely Cordella, whom the world admires?

'Tis very strange. I know not what to think,

5.58461Unless they mean to make a nun of her.

'Twere pity such rare beauty should be hid

5.60463Within the compass of a cloister's wall;

5.61464But, howsoe'er, if Leir's words prove true,

5.62465It will be good, my lord, for me and you.

Then let us haste, all danger to prevent,

5.64467For fear delays do alter his intent.