As

you did mean indeed to be our brother;

Joy'd are we, that you are,

Poft. Your fervant, princes.Good my lord of Rome,

5

To pay our wonted tribute, from the which
We were diffuaded by our wicked queen;
On whom heaven's justice (both on her, and her's)
Hath lay'd moft heavy hand.

Sootb. The fingers of the powers above do tune
The harmony of this peace. The vifion
Which I made known to Lucius, ere the stroke
Of this yet scarce-cold battle, at this inftant
Is full accomplished: For the Roman eagle,
10 From fouth to weft on wing foaring aloft,
Leffen'd herself, and in the beams o' the fun
So vanifh'd: which fore-fhew'd, our princely eagle,
The imperial Cæfar, fhould again unite
His favour with the radiant Cymbeline,
Which fhines here in the west.

15

Cym. Laud we the gods;

And let our crooked smokes climb to their noftrils
From our bleft altars! Publifh we this peace
To all our fubjects. Set we forward: Let

Call forth your foothfayer: As I flept, methought, 20 A Roman and a British enfign wave
Great Jupiter, upon his eagle back'd,

Appear'd to me, with other sprightly fhews'
Of mine own kindred: when I wak'd, I found
This label on my bosom; "whose containing

If fo from fenfe in hardness, that I can

Make no collection 2 of it: let him fhew
His skill in the construction.

Luc. Philarmonus,

Sooth. Here, my good lord.

Luc. Read, and declare the meaning.
Soothsayer reads.

Friendly together: fo thro' Lud's town march;
And in the temple of great Jupiter

Our peace we'll ratify; feal it with feafts.
Set on there :-Never was a war did cease,

25 Ere bloody hands were wash'd, with fuch a peace.

30

"When as a lion's whelp fhall to himself "unknown, without feeking find, and be em"brac'd by a piece of tender air; and when from "a ftately cedar fhall be lopt branches, which, 35 "being dead many years, fhall after revive, be "joined to the old stock, and freshly grow; then "fhall Pofthumus end his miferies, Britain be "fortunate, and flourish in peace and plenty." Thou, Leonatus, art the lion's whelp; The fit and apt construction of thy name, Being Leo-natus, doth import so much;

40

[Exeunt omnes.

A SONG, fung by Guiderius and Arviragus ever
Fidele, fuppofed to be dead.

By Mr. WILLIAM COLLINS.

I.

To fair Fidele's graffy tomb,

Soft maids and village binds fhall bring
Each op'ning fweet, sf earliest bloom,
And rifle all the breathing spring.

2.

No wailing ghoft shall dare appear

To vex with forieks this quiet grove :
But fhepherd-lads affemble bere,
And melting virgins own their love.

3.

No wither'd witch fhall here be feen,
No goblins lead their nightly crew:
The female fays fhall baunt the green,
And drefs thy grave with pearly dew.

4.

The red-breaft oft' at ev'ning hours
Shall kindly lend bis little aid,
With boary mofs, and gather'd flowers,
To deck the ground where thou art laid.

5.

When bowling winds, and beating rain,
In tempefts shake the fylvan cell;

Or midft the chace on ev'ry plain,
The tender thought on thee shall dwell.

6.

Each lonely feene fhall thee restore;
For thee the tear be duly fhed:
Belov'd, till life could charm no more;
And mourn'd, till pity's felf be dead.

Sprightly fhews are ghoftly appearances; but should be read Spritely fhews. Corollary, a confequence deduced from premises.

2 A collection is a

KING

Knights attending on the King, Officers, Messengers, Soldiers, and Attendants.

Cariofity is fcrupuloufnefs, or captiousness. 2 The Atrict fenfe of the word moiety is balf, one of two equal parts; but Shakspeare commonly uses it for any part or divifice. 3 Darker, for more fecret not for indirect, oblique. 4 Conftant is firm, determined.

30

Lear. Of all these bounds, even from this line 20
to this,

With fhadowy forests and with champains rich'd,
With plenteous rivers, and white-skirted meads,
We make thee lady: To thine and Albany's iffue
Be this perpetual.-What says our fecond daughter, |25|
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, the names my very deed of love;
Only the comes too fhort: that I profess

Myfelf an enemy to all other joys,

Which the most precious fquare 3 of fenfe poffeffes;
And find, I am alone felicitate

In your dear highnefs' love.

Cor. Then poor Cordelia !

And yet not fo; fince I am fure, my love's
More pond'rous than my tongue.

30

Lear. But goes thy heart with this?

Cor. Ay, my good lord.

Lear. So young, and fo untender?

Cor. So young, my lord, and true.

[dower:

Lear. Let it be fc-Thy truth then be thy
For, by the facred radiance of the fun,
The myfteries of Hecate, and the night;
By all the operations of the orbs,
From whom we do exift, and cease to be;
Here I difclaim all my paternal care,
Propinquity and property of blood,
And as a stranger to my heart and me
Hold thee, from this 5, for ever.
Scythian,

The barbarou

Or he that makes his generation messes
To gorge his appetite, fhall to my bosom
Be as well neighbour'd, pitied, and reliev'd,
As thou my fometime 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 nurfery.-Hence, and avoid my fight!-
[To Corde

So be my grave my peace, as here I give
Her father's heart from her!-Call France;-
Who ftirs?

Call Burgundy.Cornwall, and Albany,
[Afide. 35 With my two daughters' dowers digeft this third:
Let pride, which the calls plainnefs, marry her.
I do inveft you jointly with my power,
Preheminence, and all the large effects [course,
That troop with majefty. Ourfelf, by monthly
40 With refervation of an hundred knights,
By you to be fuftain'd, shall our abode
Make with you by due turns. Only, we shall re-
The name, and all the addition to a king;
The sway, revenue, execution of the rest,
45 Beloved fons, be yours: which to confirm,
This coronet part between you. [Giving the crown.
Kent. Royal Lear,

Lear. To thee, and thine, hereditary ever,
Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom;
No lefs in space, validity 4, and pleasure,
Than that confirm'd on Goneril.-Now, our joy,
Although the laft, not leaft; to whofe young love
The vines of France, and milk of Burgundy,
Strive to be interefs'd; what can you fay, to draw
A third, more opulent than your fifters? Speak.
Cer. Nothing, my lord.

Lear. Nothing?

Cor. Nothing.

Lear. Nothing can come of nothing: fpeak again.
Cor. Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave
My heart into thy mouth: I love your majesty
According to my bond; nor more, nor lefs.
Lear. How, how, Cordelia! mend your speech
a little,

Left it may mar your fortunes.

Cor. Good my lord,

You have begot me, bred me, lov'd me: I
Return thofe duties back as are right fit,
Obey you, love you, and most honour you.
Why have my fifters husbands, if they say,

That is, beyond all affignable quantity.

[tain

Whom I have ever honour'd as my king,
Lov'd as my father, as my mafter follow'd,
50 As my great patron thought on in my prayers,
Lear. The bow is bent and drawn, make from

Think'st thou that duty shall have dread to speak, When power to flattery bows? To plainnefs honour's bound,

16ol When majesty stoops to folly. Reverse thy doom; 2 That feems to stand without relation, but is referred to find, the first conjunction being inaccurately fuppreffed. I find that the names my deed, I find that 3 Square here means compajt, comprehenfion. 4 Validity, for worth, value. i. e. the execution of all the other business.

I profefs, &c.

from this time.

And,

Lear. Then leave her, fir; for by the power that made me,

I tell you all her wealth.-For you, great king, [To France. I would not from your love make such a stray, To match you where I hate; therefore befeech you To avert your liking a more worthier way Than on a wretch whom nature is afham'd 25 Almoft to acknowledge hers.

30

France. This is most strange!

That she, who even but now was your best object,
The argument of your praife, balm of your age,
The beft, the dearest, should in this trice of time
Commit a thing fo monstrous, to dismantle
So many folds of favour! Sure, her offence
Muft be of fuch unnatural degree,

That monfters it, or your fore vouch'd affection
Fall into taint: which to believe of her,
35 Must be of faith, that reason without miraole
Should never plant in me.

Cor. I yet beseech your majesty,
(If for I want that glib and oily art,

[tend,

To fpeak and purpofe not; fince what I well in-
40 I'll do't before I speak) that you make known
It is no vicious blot, murder, or foulness,
No unchafte action, or dishonour'd step,

Kent. Why, fare thee well, king: fince thus thou wilt appear, Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here.-The gods to their dear shelter take thee, maid, [To Cordelia. That justly think'st, and has most rightly said.-And your large speeches may your deeds approve, [To Regan and Goneril. 45 That good effects may spring from words of love. Thus Kent, O princes, bids you all adieu; He'll shape his old courfe in a country new. [Exit.

Re-enter Glofter, with France, Burgundy, and attendants.

Glo. Here's France and Burgundy, my noble lord.

Lear. My lord of Burgundy,

We first address towards you, who with this king
Have rivall'd for our daughter; What, in the least,
Will you require in present dower with her,
Or cease your quest of love 5 ?

Bur. Most royal majesty,

I Means the fame as reverberates.

50

Which often leaves the history unfpoke,
That it intends to do?-My lord of Burgundy,
What fay you to the lady? Love is not love,

55 When it is mingled with regards, that stand

Aloof from the entire 10 point. Will you have her?
She is herfelf a dowry.

2 The blank is the white or exact mark at which the arrow is

fhot. See better, fays Kent, and keep me always in your view. 3 i. e. pride exorbitant; pride paffing due bounds. 4 i. e. our power to execute that fentence. 5 Queft of love is amorous expedition. The terma

originated from romance. A queft was the expedition in which a knight was engaged. fpecious. 7 i. e. is poffeffed of. 8 i, e. makes not advances.

for difgrace. 10 Entire for fingle.

302

6 Seeming is

9 Taint is here used for

corruption and

And

And here I take Cordelia by the hand,
Dutchess of Burgundy.

Lear. Nothing; I have fworn: I am firm.
Bur. I am forry then you have so loft a father,
That you must lose a husband.

Cor. Peace be with Burgundy!

Since that refpects of fortune are his love,

I fhall not be his wife.

France. Faireft Cordelia, thou art most rich,
being poor;

Moft choice, forfaken; and most lov'd, defpis'd!
Thee and thy virtues here I feize upon:

Be it lawful, I take up what's caft away.

Gods, gods! 'tis ftrange, that from their cold'ft neglect

My love should kindle to inflam'd respect.

Thy dowerlefs daughter, king, thrown to my
chance,

Is queen of us, of ours, and our fair France:
Not all the dukes of wat'rifh Burgundy
Shall buy this unpriz'd precious maid of me.-
Bid them farewel, Cordelia, though unkind:
Thou lofeft here, a better where to find.

Lear. Thou haft her, France: let her be thine;
for we

Have no fuch daughter, nor fhall ever fee
That face of her's again :-Therefore be gone,
Without our grace, our love, our benizon.

Come, noble Burgundy.

Gon. You fee how full of changes his age is! the obfervation we have made of it hath not been little! he always lov'd our fifter moft; and with what poor judgment he hath now caft her off, 5 appears too grofsly.

Reg. 'Tis the infirmity of his age: yet he hath ever but flenderly known himself.

Gon. The beft and foundeft of his time hath been but rafh; then muft we look to receive 10 from his age, not alone the imperfections of longengrafted condition, but therewithal the unruly waywardness that infirm and cholerick years bring with them.

Reg. Such unconftant starts are we like to 15 have from him, as this of Kent's banishment.

Gon. There is further compliment of leavetaking between France and him. Pray you, let us hit together: If our father carry authority with fuch difpofitions as he bears, this last fur20 render of his will but offend us.

25

Reg. We fhall further think of it.

Gon. We must do something, and i' the heat 5. [Exeunt.

SCENE II.

A Cafe belonging to the Earl of Glofter.

Enter Edmund, with a Letter.

Edm. Thou, nature, art my goddess; to thy law My fervices are bound: Wherefore should I

[Flourish. Exeunt Lear, Burgundy, &c. 30 Stand in the plague of custom; and permit France. Bid farewel to your fifters.

Cor. The jewels of our father, with wash'd eyes
Cordelia leaves you: I know you what you are:
And, like a fifter, am most loth to call

Your faults, as they are nam'd. Use well our father:
To your profeffing bofoms I commit him:

But yet, alas! food I'within his grace,
I would prefer him to a better place.
So farewel to you both.

Reg. Prefcribe not us our duties.
Gon. Let your study

Be, to content your lord; who hath receiv'd you
At fortune's alms: You have obedience scanted,
And well are worth the want that you have

wanted 2.

Cor. Time fhall unfold what plaited 3 cunning
hides;

Who cover faults, at last shame them derides.
Well may you prosper!

France. Come, my fair Cordelia.

[Exeunt France and Cordelia. Gon, Sifter, it is not a little I have to fay, of what moft nearly appertains to us both. I think, our father will hence to-night.

The curiofity of nations to deprive me,
For that I am fome twelve or fourteen moon-
fhines
[bafe?
Lag of a brother? Why baftard? wherefore
35 When my dimenfions are as well compact,
My mind as generous, and my shape as true,
As honeft madam's iffue? Why brand they us
With bafe? with baseness ? bastardy? base, base?
Who, in the lufty stealth of nature, take
40 More compofition and fierce quality,

Than doth, within a dull, stale, tired bed,
Go to the creating of a whole tribe of fops,
Got 'tween afleep and wake?-Well then,
Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land:
45 Our father's love is to the bastard Edmund,
As to the legitimate: Fine word,-legitimate!
Well, my legitimate, if this letter speed,
And my invention thrive, Edmund the base
Shall top the legitimate. I grow; I prosper :—
50 Now, gods, ftand up for baftards!

Reg. That's moft certain, and with you; next 55 month with us.

Enter Glofter.

Glo. Kent banish'd thus! And France in choler parted!

And the king gone to-night! fubfcrib'd his power!

Confin'd to exhibition 10! All this done

Here and subere have the power of nouns. Thou lofeft this refidence to find a better refidence in another place. 2 The meaning is, "You well deserve to meet with that want of love from your husband, which you have profeffed to want for our father." 3 i. e. complicated, involved, cunning. 4 i. e. agree. 3 i. e. We must firike while the iron's bot. 6 That is, Wherefore fhould I acquiefce, fubmit tamely to the plagues and injuftice of custom? 7 Curiofity, in the time of Shakspeare, was a word that fignified an over-nice fcrupuloufnefs in manners, drefs, &c. The curiofity of nations means, the idle, nice diftinctions of the world. 8 To deprive was, in our author's time, fynonymous to difinberit.

Subfcrib'd for transferred, alienated.

10 Exhibition is allowance.

Upon