Though doubts did ever sleep What is your title? First, sir, I pray, Per. I am Pericles of Tyre: but tell me now (As in the rest thou hast been godlike perfect,) My drown'd queen's name, thou art the heir of kingdoms, And another life to Pericles thy father. Mur. Is it no more to be your daughter, than Per. Now, blessing on thee, rise; thou art my Give me fresh garments. Mine own, Helicanus, Per. O'er, point by point, for yet he seems to doubt, Per. None? is closed. So leave him all.-Well, my companion-friends, [Exeunt Lysimachus, Helicanus, Marina, SCENE II.-The same. Pericles on the deck Dia. My temple stands in Ephesus; hie thee thither, And do upon mine altar sacrifice. There, when my maiden priests are met together, Reveal how thou at sea didst lose thy wife: To mourn thy crosses, with thy daughter's, call, Awake, and tell thy dream. [Diana disappears. I will obey thee!-Helicanus ! Enter Lysimachus, Helicanus, and Marina. Hel. Sir. Per. My purpose was for Tharsus, there to strike The inhospitable Cleon; but I am For other service first: toward Ephesus (1) Repeat a lively narrative of your adventures. Enter Gower, before the temple of Diana of Gow. Now our sands are almost run; More a little, and then done. This, as my last boon, give me (For such kindness must relieve me,) That you aptly will suppose What pageantry, what feats, what shows, To greet the king. So he was thriv'd, [Exit. Per. Hail Dian; to perform thy just command, At sea in childbed died she; but brought forth Thai. Voice and favour! Thrown on this shore. I op'd the coffin, and Where shall be shown you all was found with her; Found there rich jewels; recover'd her, and plac'd How she came placed here within the temple, her Here in Diana's temple. Per. May we see them? Cer. Great sir, they shall be brought you to my Whither I invite you. Look! Thaisa is Thai. O, let me look! If he be none of mine, my sanctity Will to my sense' bend no licentious ear, The voice of dead Thaisa! Per. Immortal Dian! No needful thing omitted. Pure Diana! Thai. Lord Cerimon hath letters of good credit, Per. Heavens make a star of him! Yet there, We'll celebrate their nuptials, and ourselves Now I know you better.-To hear the rest untold.-Sir, lead the way. [Ex. When we with tears parted Pentapolis, sent kindness Makes my past miseries sport: You shall do well, Mar. My heart Leaps to be gone into my mother's bosom. [Kneels to Thaisa. Per. Look, who kneels here! Flesh of thy flesh, Thaisa; Gow. In Antioch,' and his daughter, you have Thy burden at the sea, and call'd Marina, from Tyre, I left behind an ancient substitute. Can you remember what I call'd the man? I have nam'd him oft. Thai. 'Twas Helicanus then. [Exit Gower. That this tragedy has some merit, it were rain to deny; but that it is the entire composition of Shakspeare, is more than can be hastily granted. I shall not venture, with Dr. Farmer, to determine that the hand of our great poet is only visible in the last act, for I think it appears in several passages dispersed over each of these divisions. I find it difficult, however, to persuade myself that he was the original fabricator of the plot, or the author of every dialogue, chorus, &c. STEEVENS. The story is of great antiquity; and is related by various ancient authors in Latin, French, and English. I will, my lord. (2) i. e. His beard. Fool. Oswald, steward to Goneril. ACT I. SCENE I-A room in state in King Lear's palace. Enter Kent, Gloster, and Edmund. Kent. I THOUGHT, the king had more affected the duke of Albany, than Cornwall. Glo. It did always seem so to us: but now, in the division of the kingdom, it appears not which of the dukes he values most; for equalities are so weigh'd, that curiosity' in neither can make choice of either's moiety.2 Kent. Is not this your son, my lord? Glo. His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge: I have so often blushed to acknowledge him, that now I am brazed to it. Kent. I cannot conceive you. Knights attending on the King, Officers, Messengers, Soldiers, and Attendants. Give me the map there.-Know, that we have di In three, our kingdom: and 'tis our fast intents And you, our no less loving son of Albany, Glo. Sir, this young fellow's mother could: whereupon she grew round-wombed; and had, in- Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love, deed, sir, a son for her cradle, ere she had a hus-Long in our court have made their amorous soband for her bed. Do you smell a fault? journ, Kent. I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue And here are to be answer'd.-Tell me, my daugh of it being so proper.3 Glo. But I have, sir, a son by order of law, some year elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account: though this knave came somewhat saucily into the world before he was sent for, yet was his mother fair; there was good sport at his making, and the whoreson must be acknowledged.-Do you know this noble gentleman, Edmund? Edm. No, my lord. ters, (Since now we will divest us, both of rule, Gon. Glo. My lord of Kent: remember him hereafter Dearer than eye-sight, space and liberty; as my honourable friend. Edm. My services to your lordship. Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare; Kent. I must love you, and sue to know you As much as child e'er lov'd, or father found. better. A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable; With shadowy forests and with champains' rich'd, Which the most precious square of sense possesses; Cor. Lear. To thee, and thine, hereditary ever, Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom; No less in space, validity, and pleasure, Than that confirm'd on Goneril.-Now, our joy, Although the last, not least; to whose young love The vines of France, and milk of Burgundy, Strive to be interess'd: what can you say, to draw A third more opulent than your sisters? Speak. Cor. Nothing, my lord. Nothing? Nothing. Lear. Cor. Lear. Nothing can come of nothing: speak again. Cor. Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty According to my bond; nor more, nor less. Lear. How, how, Cordelia? mend your speech a little, Lest it may mar your fortunes. Cor. That lord, whose hand must take my plight, shall carry Half my love with him, half my care, and duty: Lear. But goes this with thy heart? Her father's heart from her!-Call France ;-Who stirs ? Call Burgundy.-Cornwall, and Albany, I That troop with majesty.-Ourself, by monthly course, With reservation of a hundred knights, Revenue, execution of the rest,10 be yours: which to confirm, Kent. Let it fall rather, though the fork invade The region of my heart: be Kent unmannerly, When Lear is mad. What would'st thou do, old man? Think'st thou, that duty shall have dread to speak, When power to flattery bows? To plainness honour's bound, When majesty stoops to folly. Reverse thy doom; And, in thy best consideration, check This hideous rashness: answer my life my judg ment, Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least; Nor are those empty-hearted, whose low sound Reverbs" no hollowness. Lear. Kent, on thy life, no more. Kent. My life I never held but as a pawn To wage against thine enemies; nor fear to lose it, Thy safety being the motive. Lear. Out of my sight! Kent. See better, Lear; and let me still remain The true blank of thine eye. Lear. Now, by Apollo,Kent. Ay, good my lord. Thou swear'st thy gods in vain. Lear. So young, and so untender? Lear. Let it be so.-Thy truth then be thy dower: From whom we do exist, and cease to be; Scythian, The barbarous Or he that makes his generation messes Kent. Lear. Peace, Kent! Good my Now, by Apollo, king, O, vassal! miscreant! [Laying his hand on his sword. Alb. Corn. Dear sir, forbear. Kill thy physician, and the fee bestow Lear. Hear me, recreant! On thine allegiance hear me !— Since thou hast sought to make us break our vow (Which we durst never yet,) and, with strain'd pride, To come betwixt our sentence and our power liege,-Five days we do allot thee, for provision Come not between the dragon and his wrath : I lov'd her most, and thought to set my rest On her kind nursery.-Hence, and avoid my sight!-Thy banish'd trunk be found in o dominions, Kent. Fare thee well, king: since thus thou wilt | A still-soliciting eye, and such a tongue appear, Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here.- Attendants. and Glo. Here's France and Burgundy, my noble lord. Lear. My lord of Burgundy, We first address towards you, who with this king Most royal majesty, Lear. Right noble Burgundy, Bur. Lear. Sir, I know no answer. Will you, with those infirmities she owes,4 That I am glad I have not, though not to have it, Lear. Better thou Hadst not been born, than not to have pleas'd me France. Is it but this? a tardiness in nature, Bur. Royal Lear, Lear. Nothing: I have sworn; I am firm. France. Fairest Cordelia, thou art most rich, Most choice, forsaken; and most lov'd, despis'd! My love should kindle to inflam'd respect.- Dower'd with our curse, and stranger'd with our Bid them farewell, Cordelia, though unkind: oath, Take her, or leave her? Bur. Pardon me, royal sir; I tell you all her wealth.-For you, great king, This is most strange! That monsters it, or your fore-vouch'd' affection I yet beseech your majesty I'll do't before I speak,) that you make known (1) Follow his old mode of life. (2) Amorous expedition. (3) Specious. Thou losest here, a better where to find. Lear. Thou hast her, France: let her be thine; Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see [Flourish. Exeunt Lear, Burgundy, Cornwall, France. Bid farewell to your sisters. Cor. The jewels of our father, with wash'd eyes Gon. Prescribe not us our duties. Let your study Be, to content your lord; who hath receiv'd you Who cover faults, at last shame them derides. Come, my fair Cordelia. [Exeunt France and Cordelia. Gon. Sister, it is not a little I have to say, of what most nearly appertains to us both. I think, our father will hence to-night. Reg. That's most certain, and with you; next month with us. |