KING LEAR. Lear, king of Brilain. Duke of Albany. Earl of Kent. Earl of Gloster. Edgar, son to Glosler. Edmund, bastard son to Gloster. Curan, a courtier. Old Man, tenant to Gloster. Fool. Oswald, steward to Goneril. ACT I. PERSONS REPRESENTED. SCENE I-A room in state in King Lear's palace. Enter Kent, Gloster, and Edmund. Kent. I THOUGHT, the king had more affected the Glo. It did always seem so to us: but now, in the division of the kingdom, it appears n ́t 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 blushed to acknowledge him, that now I am brazed to it. Kent. I cannot conceive you. Enter Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Goneril, Regan, Lear. Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Glo. I shall, my liege. [Exe. Glo. and Edm. Lear. Mean-time we shall express our darker purpose. Give me the map there.-Know, that we have di In three, our kingdom: and 'tis our fast intent And you, our no less loving son of Albany, Glo. Sir, this young fellow's mother could: whereupon she grew round-wombed; and had, in- Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love, deed, sir, a son for her cradle, ere she had a hus-Long in our court have made their amorous so band for her bed. Do you smell a fault? journ, Kent. I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue And here are to be answer'd.-Tell me, my daugh of it being so proper. ters, Glo. But I have, sir, a son by order of law, some (Since now we will divest us, both of rule, Year elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my ac- Interest of territory, cares of state,) ount: though this knave came somewhat saucily Which of you, shall we say, doth love us most? to the world before he was sent for, yet was his That we our largest bounty may extend other fa; there was good sport at his making, Where merit doth most challenge it.-Goneril, and the wheson must be acknowledged.-Do you Our eldest-born, speak first. now this noble gentleman, Edmund? Edm. No, my lord. Gon. Sir, I Do love you more than words can wield the matter, Glo. My lord of Kent: remember him hereafter Dearer than eye-sight, space and liberty; my horourable friend. Edm. My services to your lordship. Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare; Kent. I must love you, and sue to know you As much as child e'er lov'd, or father found. etter. A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable; to this, (4) More secret. (5) Determined resolution. 3 M With shadowy forests and with champains' rich'd, Which the most precious square of sense possesses; Lear. To thee, and thine, hereditary ever, Lear. Nothing? Nothing. Cor. Lear. How, how, Cordelia? mend your speech Lest it may mar your fortunes. Cor. course, With reservation of a hundred knights, Revenue, execution of the rest, 10 Beloved sons, be yours: which to confirm, the shaft. Ay, good my lord. Thou swear'st thy gods in vain. Lear. So young, and so untender? Lear. Let it be so.-Thy truth then be thy dower: From whom we do exist, and cease to be; The barbarous Or he that makes his generation messes Good my liege, Lear. O, vassal! miscreant. [Laying his hand on his sword. Alb. Corn. Dear sir, forbear. Kill thy physician, and the fee bestow Lear. Hear me, recreant On thine allegiance hear me !- To come betwixt our sentence and our power Lear: Peace, Kent! Come not between the dragon and his wrath: Kent. Fare thee well, king: since thus thou wilt | A still-soliciting eye, and such a tongue Glo. Here's France and Burgundy, my noble lord. Lear. My lord of Burgundy, We first address towards you, who with this king Most royal majesty, Right noble Burgundy, Bur. I know no answer. Lear. Sir, Will you, with those infirmities she owes,* That I am glad I have not, though not to have it. Lear. better. France. Is it but this? a tardiness in nature, Bur. Lear. Nothing: I have sworn; I am firm. Cor. France. Fairest Cordelia, thou art most rich, Most choice, forsaken; and most lov'd, despis'd! My love should kindle to inflam'd respect.- Dower'd with our curse, and stranger'd with our Bid them farewell, Cordelia, though unkind: oath, Take her, or leave her? Bur. I tell you all her wealth. For you, great king, This is most strange! That monsters it, or your fore-vouch'd' affection Cor. I'll do't before I speak,) that you make known Thou losest here, a better where' to find. Lear. Thou hast her, France: let her be thine; Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see [Flourish. Exeunt Lear, Burgundy, Cornwall, Cor. The jewels of our father, with wash'd eyes Gon. Prescribe not us our duties. Let your study Be, to content your lord; who hath receiv'd you Come, my fair Cordelia, [Exeunt France and Cordelia. Gon. Sister, it is not a little I have to say, of what most nearly appertains to us both. I think, our father will hence to-night. Reg. That's most certain, and with you; next month with us. Gen. You see how full of changes his age is; the observation we have made of it hath not been little he always loved our sister most; and with what poor judgment he hath now cast her off, appears too grossly. Reg. 'Tis the infirmity of his age: yet he hath ever but slenderly known himself. for so much as I na: perused, I find it not fit for your over-looking. Glo. Give me the letter, sir. Edm. I shall offend, either to detain or give it. The contents, as in part I understand them, are to blame. Glo. Let's see, let's see. Gon. The best and soundest of his time hath Edm. I hope, for my brother's justification, he been but rash; then must we look to receive from wrote this but as an essay or taste of my virtue. his age, not alone the imperfections of long-engraft- Glo. [Reads.] This policy and reverence of age ed condition,' but therewithal, the unruly way-makes the world bitter to the best of our limes, wardness that infirm and choleric years bring with keeps our fortunes from us, till our oldness can them. Reg. Such unconstant starts are we like to have from him, as this of Kent's banishment. Gon. There is further compliment of leavetaking between France and him. Pray you, let us hit together: If our father carry authority with such dispositions as he bears, this last surrender of his will but offend us. Reg. We shall further think of it. For that I am some twelve or fourteen moon-shines Enter Gloster. Glo. Kent banish'd thus! And France in choler parted! And the king gone to-night! subscrib'd' his power! Edm. I know no news, my lord. Glo. No? What needed then that terrible despatch of it into your pocket? the quality of nothing aath not such need to hide itself. Let's see: Come, fit be nothing, I shall not need spectacles. Edm. I beseech you, sir, pardon me it is a leter from my brother, that I have not all o'cr-read; not relish them. I begin to find an idle and fond bondage in the oppression of aged tyrrany; whe sways, not as it hath power, but as it is suffered Come to me, that of this I may speak more. our father would sleep till I waked him, you should enjoy half his revenue for ever, and live the be loved of your brother, Edgar.-Humph-Conspiracy!-Sleep till I waked him, you should enjoy half his revenue,-My son Edgar! Had he a hand to write this? a heart and brain to breed it in ?When came this to you? Who brought it? the cunning of it; I found it thrown in at the caseEdm. It was not brought me, my lord, there's ment of my closet, Glo. You know the character to be your bro ther's? Edm. If the matter were good, my lord, I durst swear it were his; but, in respect of that, I would fain think it were not. Glo. It is his. Edm. It is his hand, my lord; but, I hope, his heart is not in the contents. Glo. Hath he never heretofore sounded you in this business? Edm. Never, my lord: But I have often heard him maintain it to be fit, that, sons at perfect age, and fathers declining, the father should be as ward to the son, and the son manage his revenue. Glo. O villain, villain!-His very opinion in the letter!-Abhorred villain! Unnatural, detested, brutish villain! worse than brutish!-Go, sirrah, seek him; I'll apprehend him ;-Abominable vil lain!-Where is he? Edm. I do not well know, my lord. If it shall please you to suspend your indignation against my brother, till you can derive from him better testimony of his intent, you shall run a certain course; where, if you violently proceed against him, mistaking his purpose, it would make a great gap in your own honour, and shake in pieces the heart of his obedience. I dare pawn down my life for him, that he hath writ this to feel my affection to your honour, and to no other pretence of danger, Glo. Think you so? Edm. If your honour judge it meet, I will place you where you shall hear us confer of this, and by an auricular assurance have your satisfaction; and that without any further delay than this very evening. Glo. He cannot be such a monster. Glo. To his father, that so tenderly and entirely loves him.-Heaven and earth!-Edmund, seek him out; wind me into him, I pray you: frame the business after your own wisdom: I would unstate myself, to be in a due resolution." (7) Suddenly. (8) Trial. (9) Weak and foolish. (10) Whereas. (11) The usual address to a lord. (12) Design (13) Give all that I am possessed of, to be cer tain of the truth. |