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KING LEAR.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

Lear, King of Britain.

King of France.

Duke of Burgundy.

Duke of Cornwall.

Duke of Albany.

Earl of Kent.

Earl of Gloster.

Edgar, son to Gloster.

Edmund, bastard son to Gloster.

Curan, a courtier.

Old Man, tenant to Gloster.
Physician.

Fool.

Oswald, steward to Goneril.
An Officer, employed by Edmund.
Gentleman, attendant on Cordelia.
A Herald.

Servants to Cornwall.

Goneril,

Regan, daughters to Lear.

Cordelia,

Knights attending on the King, Officers, Messengers,

Soldiers, and Attendants.

SCENE, Britain.

KING LEAR.

I

ACT I.

SCENE I. A Room of State in King Lear's Palace.

Enter KENT, GLOSTER, and EDMUND..

Kent.

THOUGHT, the king had more affected the duke of Albany, than Cornwall.

Glo. It did always seem so to us: but now, in the division of the kingdom, it appears not which of the dukes he values most; for equalities are so weigh'd, that curiosity in neither can make choice of either's moiety."

Kent. Is not this your son, my lord?

Glo. His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge: I have so often blush'd to acknowledge him, that now I am brazed to it.

Kent. I cannot conceive you.

Glo. Sir, this young fellow's mother could: whereupon she grew round-wombed; and had, indeed, sir, a son for her cradle, ere she had a husband for her bed. Do you smell a fault?

Kent. I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it being so proper.3

Glo. But I have, sir, a son by order of law, some year elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my ac

Most scrupulous nicety. 2 Part or division. * Handsome.

count: though this knave came somewhat saucily into the world before he was sent for, yet was his mother fair; there was good sport at his making, and the whoreson must be acknowledged.

know this noble gentleman, Edmund ?

Edm. No, my lord.

Do you

Glo. My lord of Kent: remember him hereafter

as my honourable friend.

Edm. My services to your lordship.

Kent. I must love you, and sue to know you better. Edm. Sir, I shall study deserving.

Glo. He hath been out nine years,

shall again :-The king is coming.

and away

he

[Trumpets sound within.

Enter LEAR, CORNWALL, ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, CORDELIA, and Attendants.

Lear. Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloster.

Glo. I shall, my liege.

[Exeunt GLOSTER and EDMUND. Lear. Mean-time we shall express our darker+

purpose.

Give me the map there.-Know, that we have di

vided,

In three, our kingdom: and 'tis our fast intent
To shake all cares and business from our age;
Conferring them on younger strengths, while we
Unburden'd crawl toward death.-Our son of Corn-

wall,

And you, our no less loving son of Albany,

4 More secret,

$ Determined resolution.

We have this hour a constant will to publish

Our daughters' several dowers, that future strife May be prevented now. The princes, France and Burgundy,

Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love,

Long in our court have made their amorous sojourn, And here are to be answer'd.-Tell me, my daughters, (Since now we will devest us, both of rule,

Interest of territory, cares of state,)

Which of

you, shall we say,

doth love us most?

That we our largest bounty may extend

Where merit doth most challenge it.-Goneril,
Our eldest-born, speak first.

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Do love you more than words can wield the matter, Dearer than eye-sight, space and liberty;

Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare;

No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour:
As much as child e'er lov'd, or father found.
A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable;
Beyond all manner of so much I love you.

Cor. What shall Cordelia do? Love, and be silent,

[Aside.

Lear. Of all these bounds, even from this line to

this,

With shadowy forests and with champains" rich'd,
With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads,
We make thee lady: To thine and Albany's issue
Be this perpetual.-What says our second daughter,
Our dearest Regan, wife to Cornwall? Speak.
Reg. I am made of that self metal as my sister,

• Open plains.

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