COMEDY OF ERRORS. ACT II. SCENE I. Adriana. EITHER my husband, nor the slave re- That in such haste I sent to seek his master! Luciana. Perhaps, some merchant hath invited him, And from the mart he's somewhere gone to dinner; Good sister, let us dine, and never fret : A man is master of his liberty: Time is their master; and, when they see time, They'll go, or come: If so, be patient, sister. Adriana. Why should their liberty than ours be more? Luciana. Because their business still lies out o' door. Adriana. Look, when I serve him so, he takes it ill. Luciana. O, know, he is the bridle of your will. Adriana. There's none, but asses, will be bridled so. Luciana. Why, headstrong liberty is lash'd with woe. There's nothing, situate under Heaven's eye, But hath his bound, in earth, in sea, in sky: The beasts, the fishes, and the winged fowls, Are their males' subjects, and at their controls: Men, more divine, the masters of all these, Adriana. This servitude makes you to keep unwed. sway. Luciana. Ere I learn love, I'll practise to obey. Adriana. How if your husband start some other where? Luciana. Till he come home again, I would forbear. Adriana. Patience, unmov'd, no marvel though she pause; They can be meek, that have no other cause. A wretched soul, bruis'd with adversity, We bid be quiet, when we hear it cry; But were we burden'd with like weight of pain, Luciana. Well, I will marry one day, but to try ;— KING LEAR. ACT I. SCENE I. Cordelia. OOD my lord You have begot me, bred me, lov'd me: I 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 To love my father all. * France. * This is most strange ! That she, that even but now was your best object, That monsters it, or your fore-vouch'd affection Fall into taint: which to believe of her Must be a faith, that reason without miracle Could never plant in me. Cordelia. I yet beseech your majesty (If for I want that glib and oily art, To speak and purpose not; since what I well intend, No unchaste action, or dishonour'd step, That hath depriv'd me of your grace and favour : That I am glad I have not, though not to have it, Lear. Better thou Hadst not been born, than not to have pleas'd me better. France. Is it but this? a tardiness in nature, Which often leaves the history unspoke, That it intends to do?-My Lord of Burgundy, France. Fairest Cordelia, that art most rich, being poor; Most choice, forsaken; and most lov'd, despised! Thee and thy virtues here I seize upon: Be it lawful, I take up what's cast away. 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, Shall buy this unpriz'd precious maid of me.- * * * France. Bid farewell to your sisters. * Cordelia. The jewels of our father, with wash'd eyes Your faults, as they are nam'd. Use well our father: I would prefer him to a better place. So farewell to you both. ACT IV. SCENE VII. Cordelia. O thou good Kent, how shall I live, and work, To match thy goodness? My life will be too short, And every measure fail me. Kent. To be acknowledg'd, madam, is o'erpaid. All my reports go with the modest truth; Nor more, nor clipp'd, but so. Cordelia. Be better suited: These weeds are memories of those worser hours; Kent. Pardon me, dear madam; Yet to be known, shortens my made intent: My boon I make it, that you know me not, Till time and I think meet. Cordelia. Then be it so, my good lord.-How does the king? Physician. Madam, sleeps still. |