Touch. By my troth, yes; I count it but time lost to hear such a foolish song. God be with you, and God mend your voices! Come, Audrey. [exeunt.

SCENE IV. ANOTHER PART OF THE FOREST.

Enter Duke Senior, Amiens, Jaques, Orlando,
Oliver, and Celia.

not;

Duke S. Dost thou believe, Orlando, that the
Can do all this that he hath promised?
Orl. I sometimes do believe, and sometimes do
[boy
As those that fear they hope, and know they fear.
Enter Rosalind, Silvius, and Phebe.
Ros. Patience once more, whiles our compáct
is urg'd:
You say, if I bring in your Rosalind, [to the Duke.
You will bestow her on Orlando here?

.

Duke S. That would I, had I kingdoms to give with her.

Ros. And you say you will have her, when I bring her? [to Orlando. Orl. That would I, were I of all kingdoms king. Ros. You say, you'll marry me, if I be willing? [to Phebe. Phe. That will I, should I die the hour after. Ros. But, if you do refuse to marry me, You'll give yourself to this most faithful shepherd? Phe. So is the bargain.

will?

Ros. You say, that you'll have Phebe, if she [to Silvius. Sil. Though to have her and death were both one thing.

even.

:

Ros. I have promis'd to make all this matter
daughter;-
Keep you your word, O duke, to give your
You yours, Orlando, to receive his daughter:-
Keep your word, Phebe, that you will marry me;
Or else, refusing me, to wed this shepherd:-
Keep your word, Silvius, that you'll marry her,
If she refuse me: and from hence I go,
To make these doubts all even.

:

[exeunt Rosalind and Celia. Duke S. I do remember in this shepherd-boy Some lively touches of my daughter's favour.

Orl. My lord, the first time that I ever saw him,
Methought he was a brother to your daughter:
But, my good lord, this boy is forest-born;
And hath been tutor'd in the rudiments
Of many desperate studies by his uncle
Whom he reports to be a great magician,
Obscured in the circle of this forest.

Enter Touchstone and Audrey.

Jaq. There is, sure, another flood toward, and these couples are coming to the ark! Here comes a pair of very strange beasts, which in all tongues are called fools.

Touch. Salutation and greeting to you all!
Jee Good my lani ni: 1.:..

is the motley-minded gentleman, that I have so often met in the forest: he hath been a courtier, he swears.

Touch. If any man doubt that, let him put me to my purgation. I have trod a measure: I have flattered a lady; I have been politic with my friend, smooth with mine enemy; I have undone three tailors; I have had four quarrels, and like to have fought one.

Jaq. And how was that ta'en up?

Touch. 'Faith, we met, and found the quarrel was upon the seventh cause.

this fellow?
Jaq. How seventh cause?-Good my lord, like

Duke S. I like him very well.

Touch. God 'ild you, sir; I desire you of the
like.
I press in here, sir, amongst the rest of
according as marriage binds, and blood breaks.
the country copulatives, to swear and to forswear;
mine own; a poor humour of mine, sir, to take
A poor virgin, sir, an ill-favour'd thing, sir, but
that, that no man else will. Rich honesty dwells

like a miser, sir, in a poor house; as your pearl,
in your foul oister.
[sententious.
Duke S. By my faith, he is very swift and
Touch. According to the fool's bolt, sir, and
such dulcet diseases.

Jaq. But, for the seventh cause; how did you find the quarrel on the seventh cause?

Touch. Upon a lie seven times reinoved.-Bear your body more seeming, Audrey: as thus, sir. I did dislike the cut of a certain courtier's beard; he sent me word, if I said his beard was not cut well, he was in the mind it was: this is called the retort courteous. If I sent him word again, it was not well cut, he would send me word, he cut it to please himself; this is called the quip modest. If again, it was not well cut, he disabled my judgement: this is called the reply churlish. If again, it was not well cut, he would answer, I spake not true: this is called the reproof valiant. If again, it was not well cut, he would say, I lie: This is called the countercheck quarrelsome; and so to the lie circumstantial, and the lie direct.

Jaq. And how oft did you say, his beard was not well cut?

Touch. I durst go no further than the lie circumstantial, nor he durst not give me the lie direct; and so we measured swords and parted.

Jaq. Can you nominate in order now the degrees of the lie?

Touch. O, sir, we quarrel in print, by the book; as you have books for good manners: I will name you the degrees. The first, the retort courteous; the second, the quip modest; the third, the reply churlish; the fourth, the reproof valiant; the fifth, the countercheck quarrelsome; the sixth, the lie with circumstance; the seventh, the lie direct. All these you may avoid, but the lie direct; and you may avoid that too, with an if. I knew when seven justices could not take up a quarrel; but when the parties were met themselves, one of them thought but of an if; as, if you said so, then I said so; and they shook hands, and swore brothers. Your if is the only peace-maker; much virtue in if.

Jaq. Is not this a rare fellow, my lord? he's

14.

Wedding is great Juno's crown;

O blessed bond of board and bed! 'Tis Hymen peoples every town:

High wedlock then be honoured: Honour, high honour and renown, To Hymen, god of every town! Duke S. O my dear niece, welcome thou art

to me;

Even daughter, welcome in no less degree.
Phe. I will not eat my word, now thou art mine:
Thy faith my fancy to thee doth combine.
[to Silvius.

Enter Jaques De Bois. Jaq. de B. Let me have audience for a word

or two;

I am the second son of old Sir Rowland,
That bring these tidings to this fair assembly:
Duke Frederick, hearing how that every day,
Men of great worth resorted to this forest,
Address'd a mighty power: which were on foot,
In his own conduct, purposely to take
His brother here, and put him to the sword:
And to the skirts of this wild wood he came;
Where, meeting with an old religious man,
After some question with him, was converted
Both from his enterprise and from the world;

SCENE I. A ROOM OF STATE IN 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 to us; but now, in the division of the kingdom, it appears not which of the dukes he values most; for equalities are so weighed, that curiosity in neither can make choice of either's moiety.

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.

Oswald, Steward to Goneril
An Officer, employed by Edmund.
Gentleman, Attendant on Cordelia,
A Herald.

Servants to Cornwall

Kent. I cannot conceive you.

Glo. Sir, this young fellow's mother could: whereupon she grew round-wombed; and had, indeed, sir, a son for her cradle, ere she had a husband for her bed. Do you smell a fault?

Goneril,

Regan,
Cordelia,

ACT I.

Daughters to Lear.

Knights, attending on the King; Officers, Messcrigers, Sol diers, and Attendants

purpose.

Glo. I shall, my liege. [ex. Glos. and Edmund. Lear. Meantime, we shall express our darker [vided, Give me the map there. Know that we have diIn three, our kingdom: and 'tis our fast intent To shake all cares and business from our age; Conferring them on younger strengths, while we Unburden'd crawl toward death. Our son of

Cornwall,

And you, our no less loving son of Albany,
We have this hour a constant will to publish
Our daughters' several dowers, that future strife
May be prevented now. The princes, France
and Burgundy,

Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love,
Long in our court have made their amorous sojourn,
And here are to be answer'd. Tell me, my daugh-
Since now we will divest us, both of rule, [ters,

Kent. I cannot wish the fault undone, the Interest of territory, cares of state), issue of it being so proper.

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 some-
what 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 acknow-
ledged. Do you know this noble gentleman,
Edmund?
Edm. No, my lord.

[ter,
Do love you more than words can wield the mat-
Dearer than eye-sight, space, and liberty;
Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare; [our:
No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, hon-
As much as child e'er lov'd, or father found.

Glo. My lord of Kent: remember him here- A love, that makes breath poor, and speech unafter as my honourable friend. Beyond all manner of so much I love you. [able; Cor. What shall Cordelia do? Love, and be silent. [aside. Lear. Of all these bounds, even from this line to this,

Edm. My services to your lordship. Kent. I must love you, and sue to know you Edm. Sir, I shall study deserving. [better. Glo. He hath been out nine years, and away he shall again!-The king is coming. [trumpets sound within. Enter Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Goneril, Regan, Cordelia, and Attendants. Lear. Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloster.

Which of you, shall we say, doth love us most?
That we our largest bounty may extend
Where merit doth most challenge it.-Goneril,
Our eldest-born, speak first.

Gon. Sir, I

With shadowy forests and with champains rich'd,
With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads,
We make thee lady: to thine and Albany's issue
Be this perpetual. What says our second daughter,
Our dearest Regan, wife to Cornwall? Speak.
Reg. I am made of that self metal as my sister,

And prize me at her worth. In my true heart
I find, she names my very deed of love;
Only she comes too short,—that I profess
Myself an enemy to all other joys,

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

Which the most precious square of sense possesses; With reservation of an hundred knights, [course,
And find, I am alone felicitate
By you to be sustain'd, shall our abode [tain
In your dear highness' love.
Make with you by due terms. Only we still re-
The name, and all the additions to a king;

Cor. Then poor Cordelia!

The sway,

[aside.

And yet not so; since, I am sure, my love's
More richer than my tongue.

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.
Lear. Nothing?

Cor. Nothing.

[again.

Lear. Nothing can come of nothing: speak
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
Lest it may mar your fortunes.
(a little,

Cor. Good, my lord,

You have begot me, bred me, lov'd me: I
Return those duties back as are right fit,
Obey you, love you, and most honour you.
Why have my sisters husbands, if they say,
They love you, all? Haply, when I shall wed,
That lord, whose hand must take my plight, shall

carry

Half my love with him, half my care, and duty:
Sure, I shall never marry like my sisters,
To love my father all.

Lear. But goes this with thy heart?
Cor. Ay, good my lord.

Lear. So young, and so untender?
Cor. So young, my lord, and true.
Lear. Let it be so. Thy truth then be thy
For, by the sacred radiance of the sun; [dower:
The mysteries of Hecate, and the night;
By all the operations of the orbs,

From whom we do exist, and cease to be;
Here I disclaim all my paternal care,
Propinquity and property of blood,
And as a stranger to my heart and me
Hold thee, from this, for ever. The barbarous
Or he that makes his generation messes [Scythian,
To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom
Be as well neighbour'd, pitied, and reliev'd,
As thou my sometime daughter.

Kent. Good my liege,-
Lear. Peace Kent!

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
[to Cordelia.
So be my grave my peace, as here I give
Call France;

sight!

Her father's heart from her!
who stirs ?
Call Burgundy.-Cornwall, and Albany,
With my two daughters' dowers digest this third:

Revenue, execution of the rest,

Beloved sons, be yours; which to confirm,
This coronet part between you. [giving the crown
Kent. Royal Lear,

Whom I have 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.

Kill thy physician, and the fee bestow
Upon the foul disease.
Revoke thy gift;

Or, whilst I can vent clamour from my throat,
I'll tell thee, thou doth evil.

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
(Which nor our nature nor our place can bear,)
Our potency made good, take thy reward.
Five days we do allot thee, for provision
To shield thee from diseases of the world;
And, on the sixth, to turn thy hated back
Upon our kingdom: if, on the tenth day following,
Thy banish'd trunk, be found in our dominions,
The moment is thy death: away! by Jupiter,
This shall not be revok'd.
[wilt appear,
Kent. Fare thee well, king: since thus thou
Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here.