Cor. Ay, good my lord.[2504]
Lear. So young, and so untender?
Cor. So young, my lord, and true. 105
Lear. Let it be so; thy truth then be thy dower:[2505]
For, by the sacred radiance of the sun,
The mysteries of Hecate, and the night;[2506]
By all the operation of the orbs[2507]
From whom we do exist and cease to be; 110
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 Scythian,[2508]
Or he that makes his generation messes[2509] 115
To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom[2509][2510]
Be as well neighbour'd, pitied and relieved,[2510]
As thou my sometime daughter.
Kent. Good my liege,—[2511]
Lear. Peace, Kent![2512]
Come not between the dragon and his wrath.[2512] 120
I loved her most, and thought to set my rest
On her kind nursery. Hence, and avoid my sight![2513]
So be my grave my peace, as here I give
Her father's heart from her! Call France. Who stirs?
Call Burgundy. Cornwall and Albany,[2514] 125
With my two daughters' dowers digest this third:[2515]
Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry her.
I do invest you jointly with my power,[2516]
Pre-eminence and all the large effects[2517]
That troop with majesty. Ourself, by monthly course,[2518] 130
With reservation of an hundred knights
By you to be sustain'd, shall our abode
Make with you by due turns. Only we still retain[2519]
The name and all the additions to a king;[2520][2521]
The sway, revenue, execution of the rest,[2520][2522] 135
Beloved sons, be yours: which to confirm,
This coronet part betwixt you.[2523]
Kent. Royal Lear,
Whom I have ever honour'd as my king,[2524]
Loved as my father, as my master follow'd,[2525]
As my great patron thought on in my prayers,—[2526] 140
Lear. The bow is bent and drawn; make from the shaft.
Kent. Let it fall rather, though the fork invade[2527]
The region of my heart: be Kent unmannerly,
When Lear is mad. What wouldst thou do, old man?[2528]
Think'st thou that duty shall have dread to speak, 145
When power to flattery bows? To plainness honour's bound,[2529]
When majesty stoops to folly. Reverse thy doom,[2530]
And in thy best consideration check[2531]
This hideous rashness: answer my life my judgement,[2532]
Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least; 150
Nor are those empty-hearted whose low sound[2533]
Reverbs no hollowness.[2533]
Lear. Kent, on thy life, no more.[2534]