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,

CORDELIA,

Daughters to Lear.

Knights attending on the King, Officers, Messengers,

Soldiers, and Attendants.

SCENE, Britain.

KING LEAR.

ACT THE FIRST.

SCENE 1.

A Room of State in King Lear's Palace.

Enter KENT, GLOSTER, and Edmund.

Kent. I 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. Do you smell a fault?

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

Glo. But I have, sir, a son by order of law, some year elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account:- Do you know this noble gentleman, Edmund?

Edm. No, my lord.

Glo. My lord of Kent: remember him hereafter as my honourable friend.

'Most scrupulous nicety. 2 Part or division.

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, and away he shall again : The king is coming.

[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 divided,

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
Cornwall,

And you, our no less loving son of Albany,
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 daugh

ters,

(Since now we will divest 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.

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, ho

nour:

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,

3

With shadowy forests and with champains 3 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 daugh-

ter,

Our dearest Regan, wife to Cornwall? Speak.
Reg. I am made of that self metal as my sister,
And prize me at her worth. In my true heart
I find, she names my very deed of love;
Only she comes too short, that I profess
Myself an enemy to all other joys,

Which the most precious square of sense possesses; And find, I am alone felicitate s

In your dear highness' love.

Cor. Then poor Cordelia! [Aside. And yet not so; since, I am sure, my love's More richer than my tongue.

Lear. To thee, and thine, hereditary ever, Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom: No less in space, validity, and pleasure, Than that confirm'd on Goneril. Now, our joy, Although the last, not least; to whose young love The vines of France, and milk of Burgundy,

4 Comprehension,
• Value.

Strive to be interess'd: what can you say, to draw A third more opulent than your sisters? Speak. Cor. Nothing, my lord.

Lear. Nothing?

Cor. Nothing.

Lear. Nothing can come of nothing: speak again. Cor. Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave My heart into

my mouth I love your majesty According to my bond; nor more nor less.

Lear. How, how, Cordelia? mend your speech

a little,

Lest it may mar your

fortunes.

Cor. Good, my lord, You have begot me, bred me, lov'd 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, Haply, when I shall wed, That lord, whose hand must take my plight, shall

They love you, all?

carry

Half my
love with him, half my care, and duty:
Sure, I shall never marry like my sisters,
To love my father all.

Ay, good my lord

Lear. But goes this with thy heart?
Cor.
Lear. So young, and so untender?
Cor. So young, my lord, and true,

Lear. Let it be so,-Thy truth then be thy

dower:

For, by the sacred radiance of the sun;
The mysteries of Hecate, and the night;
By all the operations of the orbs,

From whom we do exist, and cease to be;
Here I disclaim all my paternal care,
Propinquity and property of blood,
And as a stranger to my heart and me

7

7 Kindred.