Edmund King Lear Act 1 Scene 2

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Thou, Nature, art my goddess; to thy law my services are bound.

my services are bound.

Wherefore should I stand in the plague of custom, and permit the curiosity of nations to deprive me?

nations to deprive me?

For that I am some twelve or fourteen moonshines lag of a brother. Why bastard? Wherefore base?

Wherefore base?

When my dimensions are as well compact, my mind as generous, and my shape as true as honest Madam’s issue?

honest Madam’s issue?

Why brand they us with base? With baseness, bastardy? Base, base?

Base base?

Who, in the lusty stealth of nature, take more composition and fierce quality than doth, within a dull, stale, tired bed, go to th’ creating a whole tribe of fops got ‘tween asleep and wake?

asleep and wake?

Well then, legitimate Edgar, I must have your land. Our father’s love is to the bastard edmund, as to th’ legitimate.

as to th’ legitimate.

Fine word-, ‘legitimate’! Well, my legitimate, if this letter speed and my intention thrive, Edmund the base shall top the legitimate.

top the legitimate.

I grow, I prosper: now gods, stand up for bastards.