cafe, fays Dr. Johnfon, the publick has "decided, and Cordelia, from the time of Tate, has always retired with victory and felicity." To reconcile the catastrophe of Tate to the story of Shakespeare, was the first grand object which I proposed to myself in this alteration; thinking it one of the principal duties of my fituation, to render every drama fubmitted to the Publick, as confiftent and rational an entertainment as poffible. In this kind of employment, one perfon cannot do a great deal; yet if every Director of the Theatre will endeavour to do a little, the Stage will every day be improved, and become more worthy attention and encouragement. Romeo, Cymbeline, Every Man in his Humour, have long been refined from the drofs that hindered them from being current with the Publick; and I have now endeavoured to purge the tragedy of Lear of the alloy of Tate, which has fo long been fuffered to debafe it. 66 "The utter improbability of Glocefter's "imagining, though blind, that he had leaped down Dover Cliff," has been justly cenfured by Dr. Warton *; and in the representation it is ftill more liable to objection than in print. I have therefore, without fcruple, omitted it, preferving, however, at the fame time, that celebrated Adventurer, No. 122., defcrip defcription of the Cliff in the mouth of Edgar. The putting out Glocefter's eyes is alfo fo unpleafing a circumstance, that I would have altered it, if poffible; but, upon examination, it appeared to be fo closely interwoven with the fable, that I durft not venture to change it. I had once fome idea of retaining the character of the fool; but though Dr. Warton has very truly obferved, that the poet" has fo well conducted even "the natural jargon of the beggar, and the jeftings of the fool, which in other hands "muft have funk into burlefque, that they "contribute to heighten the pathetick;" yet, after the most ferious confideration, I was convinced that fuch a fcene "would "fink into burlesque" in the reprefentation, and would not be endured on the modern ftage. 66 GEORGE COLMAN. + Adventurer, No. 116. KING LEA R. ACTI. SCENE, The King's Palace. Enter Kent, Glocefter, and Edmund the Bastard. H ** Kent. Thought the King had more affected the Duke of Albany than Cornwall. Glo. It did always feem fo to us : but now in the divifion of the kingdom, it appears not which of the Dukes he values moft. Kent. Is not this your fon, my lord? Glo. His breeding, fir, hath been at my charge. Kent. I cannot conceive you. Glo. Sir, this young fellow's mother had, indeed, a fon for her cradle, ere fhe had a husband for her bed. Do you smell a fault? Kent. I cannot wifh the fault undone, the iffue of it being fo proper. B Glo Glo. But I have a fon, fir, by order of law, fome year elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account. Do you know this nobleman, Edmund ? Edm. No, my lord. Glo. My lord of Kent; Remember him hereafter as my honourable friend, Edm. My fervices to your lordship. Kent. I muft love you, and fue to know you better. Edin. Sir, I fhall ftudy your deferving. Trampets found, within. Gle. The King is coming. Scene opens, and difcovers King Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Gonerill, Regan, Cordelia, and attendants. Lear. Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Glo'fter. Glo. I fhall, my liege. [Exit. Lear. Mean time we fhall express our darker purpose: Give me the map here. Know, we have divided, In three, our kingdom; and 'tis our faft intent, To shake all cares and bufinels from our age; Conferring them on younger ftrengths, while we Unburthen'd crawl tow'rd death. Our fon of Corn wall, And you, our no lefs loving fon of Albany, Great rivals in our younger daughter's love, Where nature doth with merit challenge. Gonerill, Gon. I love you, fir, Dearer than eye-fight, fpace,. and liberty; Beyond |