Page:King Lear (1917) Yale.djvu/22

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Her father's heart from her! Call France. Who stirs?

Call Burgundy. Cornwall and Albany,

With my two daughters' dowers digest the third;

Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry her.

I do invest you jointly with my power,

Pre-eminence, and all the large effects

That troop with majesty. Ourself by monthly course,

With reservation of a hundred knights,

By you to be sustain'd, shall our abode

Make with you by due turn. Only we shall retain

The name and all th' addition to a king;

The sway, revenue, execution of the rest,

Beloved sons, be yours: which to confirm,

This coronet part between you.

Kent. Royal Lear,

Whom I have ever honour'd as my king,

Lov'd as my father, as my master follow'd,

As my great patron thought on in my prayers,—

Lear. The bow is bent and drawn; make from the shaft.

Kent. Let it fall rather, though the fork invade

The region of my heart: be Kent unmannerly

When Lear is mad. What wouldst 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 falls to folly. Reserve thy state;

And, in thy best consideration, check

This hideous rashness: answer my life my judgment,

 130 digest: assimilate

131 marry: find a husband

133 effects: outward marks of royalty

134 troop with: follow in the train of

138 addition: title, marks of distinction

151 state; cf. n.

