Today’s Totally Random Lines
For you, great king,
I would not from your love make such a stray,
To match you where I hate; therefore beseech you
T’avert your liking a more worthier way
Than on a wretch whom nature is ashamed
Almost t’acknowledge hers.
Lear
King Lear Act I, Scene i, Line 210
Lear is telling the King of France, who had been one of the guys vying for the hand of Lear’s daughter Cordelia, to forget about her. Lear has just disowned Cordelia for not being effusive enough about her love for him. Now he’s telling the king to pick someone worthier to be his wife, rather than this wretch whom nature is ashamed almost to acknowledge hers.
See, now this is the part I’ve always had a little bit of trouble with in this play. Cordelia was honest with her father when he asked her how much she loved him. After her two rat-fink older sisters told Lear that they loved him above everything, he asked Cordelia what she could say that was more opulent than her sisters. Her reply, as we all know was Nothing.
I love your majesty according to my bond; nor more nor less.
She goes on
You have begot me, bred me, loved me: I
Return those duties back as are right fit,
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
Half my love with him, half my care and duty:
Sure, I shall never marry like my sisters,
To love my father all.
And based on this very reasonable reply the old guy goes full psycho on her. Yeah, I don’t get that. But I suppose that’s just me.
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