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- Edition: King Leir
The History of King Leir (Quarto, 1605)
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398Enter the King of Cornwall and his man booted and
399spurd, a riding wand, and a letter in his hand.
401Ser. Some twenty miles, my Lord, or thereabouts.
403Yet hope I to be there within this houre.
405I thinke, my Lord is weary of his life.
408Enter the King of Cambria booted and spurd, and his
409man with a wand and a letter.
on the
letter.
411I am past patience, longer to forbeare
413Deare Ragan, stay and comfort of my life.
B3He
The History of King Leir
415He thinks he ne're shall come at's iourneyes end.
416I would he had old Dedalus waxen wings,
418For e're we get to Troynouant, I see,
420Cornwall & Cambria looke one vpon another, and
421start to see eche other there.
422Corn. Brother of Cambria, we greet you well,
423As one whom here we little did expect.
424Cam. Brother of Cornwall, met in happy time:
425I thought as much to haue met with the Souldan of Persia,
426As to haue met you in this place, my Lord.
431Hath blowne you hither thus vpon the sudden.
433For at this time I cannot brooke delayes:
434Tell you your reason, I will tell you mine.
435Corn. In fayth content, and therefore to be briefe;
437I am sent for, to come vnto King Leir,
439His eldest daughter, louely Gonorill,
440To me in mariage, and for present dowry,
441The moity of halfe his Regiment.
443But vntill now I neuer had the fathers.
444Cam. You tell me wonders, yet I will relate
445Strange newes, and henceforth we must brothers call;
447Being weary of the troubles of his Crowne,
448His princely daughter Ragan will bestow
449On me in mariage, with halfe his Seigniories,
450Whom I would gladly haue accepted of,
451With the third part, her complements are such.
452Corn. If I haue one halfe, and you haue the other,
Then
and his three daughters.
453Then betweene vs we must needs haue the whole.
454Cam. The hole! how meane you that? Zlood, I hope,
455We shall haue two holes beweene vs.
456Corn. Why, the whole Kingdome.
457Cam. I, that's very true.
458Cor. What then is left for his third daughters dowry,
459Louely Cordella, whom the world admires?
461Vnlesse they meane to make a Nunne of her.
464But howsoe're, if Leirs words proue true,
465It will be good, my Lord, for me and you.
467For feare delayes doe alter his intent. Exeunt.