France. Fairest Cordelia, that art most rich, being poor;
Most choice, forsaken; and most lov'd, despis'd!
Thee and thy virtues here I seize upon:
Be it lawful I take up what's cast away. 256
Gods, gods! 'tis strange that from their cold'st neglect
My love should kindle to inflam'd respect.
Thy dowerless daughter, king, thrown to my chance,
Is queen of us, of ours, and our fair France: 260
Not all the dukes of waterish Burgundy
Shall buy this unpriz'd precious maid of me.
Bid them farewell, Cordelia, though unkind:
Thou losest here, a better where to find. 264
Lear. Thou hast her, France; let her be thine, for we
Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see
That face of hers again, therefore be gone
Without our grace, our love, our benison. 268
Come, noble Burgundy.
Flourish. Exeunt [Lear, Burgundy, Cornwall, Albany, Gloucester, and Attendants.]
France. Bid farewell to your sisters.
Cor. The jewels of our father, with wash'd eyes
Cordelia leaves you: I know you what you are; 272
And like a sister am most loath to call
Your faults as they are nam'd. Use well our father:
To your professed bosoms I commit him:
But yet, alas! stood I within his grace, 276
I would prefer him to a better place.
So farewell to you both.
Reg. Prescribe not us our duties.
262 unpriz'd: invaluable (?)
263 unkind: unnatural
264 a better where: a better place
268 benison: blessing
271 wash'd; cf. n.
275 bosoms: affections
