PERSONS REPRESENTED LEAR: KING OF BRITAIN. KING OF FRANCE. DUKE OF BURGUNDY. DUKE OF CORNWALL. DUKE OF ALBANY. EARL OF KENT. EARL OF GLOUCESTER. EDGAR: SON TO GLOUCESTER. EDMUND: BASTARD SON TO GLOUCESTER. CURAN: A COURTIER. OLD MAN: TENANT TO GLOUCESTER. THE TRAGEDY OF KING LEAR ACT I SCENE I. KING LEAR'S Palace. Enter KENT, GLOUCESTER, and EDMUND. KENT. I thought the King had more affected the Duke of Albany than Cornwall. GLOU. 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? GLOU. His breeding, Sir, hath been at my charge: I have so often blush'd to acknowledge him, that now I am braz'd to 't. KENT. I cannot conceive you. II GLOU. Sir, this young fellow's mother could; whereupon she grew round-womb'd, 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. 18 GLOU. But I have a son, Sir, by order of law, some year elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account: though this knave came something 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 acknowledg'd. Do you know this noble gentleman, Edmund ? EDM. No, my Lord. VIII: MM 265 ACT I GLOU. My Lord of Kent: remember him hereafter as Sc. I my honourable friend. EDM. My services to your Lordship. KENT. I must love you, and sue to know you better. 30 EDM. Sir, I shall study deserving. GLOU. He hath been out1 nine years, and away he shall again. The King is coming. Sennet. Enter KING LEAR, CORNWALL, ALBANY, LEAR. Attend the Lords of France and Burgundy, GLOU. I shall, my Liege. [Exeunt GLOUCESTER and EDMUND. LEAR. Meantime we shall express our darker2 purpose. 40 Conferring them on younger strengths, while we wall, 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, (Since now we will divest us both of rule, Interest of territory, cares of State) 50 Which of you shall we say doth love us most? That we our largest bounty may extend Where nature doth with merit challenge. Goneril, GON. Sir, I love you more than words can wield the matter; Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare; No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour; 1 abroad. 2 secret. 60 ACT I As much as child e'er lov'd, or father found; A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable : CORD. [aside.] What shall Cordelia speak? Love, and LEAR. Of all these bounds, even from this line to this, I am made of that self metal as my sister, 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 In your dear Highness' love. CORD. [aside.] Then poor Cordelia ! And yet not so; since, I am sure, my love's LEAR. To thee and thine hereditary ever Than that conferr'd on Goneril. Now, our Joy, Strive to be interess'd; what can you say, to draw CORD. Nothing, my Lord. LEAR. Nothing! CORD. Nothing. LEAR. Nothing will come of nothing: speak again. My heart into my mouth: I love your Majesty 70 80 90 1 |