KING LEAR. ACT I. SCENE I. SCENE A Palace. Enter Kent, Glofter, and Edmund the Baftard. KENT. Thought the King had more affected the Glo. It did always fem fo to us: But new in the Divifion of the Kingdom, it appears not which of the Dukes he values moft; for qualities are fo weigh'd, that curiofity 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 fo often blush'd to acknowledge him, that now I am braz'd to't. Kent. I cannot conceive you. Glo. Sir, this young Fellow's Mother could; where pon fhe grew round womb'd, and had indeed, Sir, a Son for her Cradle, e'er the had a Husband for her Bed. fmell a Fault? Do you Kent. I cannot wish the fault undone, the Iffue of it being fo proper. Glo. Glo. But I have a Son, Sir, by order of Law, fome Year elder than this; who, yet is no dearer in my Account, though this Knave came fomewhat fawcily to the World before he was fent for: Yet was his Mother fair, there was good sport at his making, and the whorfon must be acknowledged. Do you know this Nobleman, Edmund? Baft. No, my Lord. Glo. My Lord of Kent; Remember him hereafter, as my honourable Friend. Kent. I muft love you, and fue to know you better. Glo. He hath been out nine Years, and away he fhall again. The King is coming. Enter King Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Gonerill, Regan, Cordelia, and Attendants. Laer. Attend the Lords of France and Burgundy, Glofter. Glo I fhall, my Lord. [Exit. Laer. Mean time we fhall exprefs our darker purpose. Give me the Map here. Know, that we have divided Into three, our Kingdom; and 'tis our faft intent, To shake all cares and bufinefs from our Age, Conferring them on younger ftrengths, while we Unburthen'd crawl toward Death. Our Son of Cornwall, And you our no lefs loving Son of Albany, We have this hour a conftant will to publish Our Daughters feveral Dowers, that future ftrife May be prevented now. The Princes, France and Burgundy, Long in our Court, have made their amorous fojourn, Intereft of Territory, Cares of State, Which of you fhall we fay doth love us most; That we, our largeft bounty may extend Where Nature doth with merit challenge. Gonerill, Our eldeft born, speak first, Gon. Sir, I love you more than word can wield the matter, Dearer than Eye-fight, fpace, and liberty, Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare, No less than Life, with Grace, Health, Beauty, Honour: As As much as Child e'er lov'd, or Father found. Cor. What fhall Cordelia fpeak? Love, and be filent. Reg. I am made of that self-metal as my Sister, Which the most precious fquare of fenfe profeffes, In your dear Highness love. Cor. Then, poor Cordelia! And yet not fo, fince I am fure my Love's Laer. To thee, and thine, hereditary ever, Lear. Nothing? Cor. Nothing. Lear. Nothing will come of nothing, fpeak again. My Heart into my Mouth: I love your Majesty According to my Bond, no more nor less. Lear. How, how, Cordelia? Mend your fpeech a little, Left you may mar your Fortunes. Cor. Good, my Lord, You have begot me, bred me, lov'd me. you. Why Why have my Sifters Husbands, if they fay Lear. But goes thy Heart with this? Lear. So young, and fo untender? Lear. Let it be fo, the Truth then be thy dowre: Kent. Good my Liege Lear. Peace, Kent! Come not between the Dragon and his Wrath; On her kind Nursery. Hence, and avoid my fight!---[To Cor. Her Father's Heart from her; cal! France; who ftirs? Call Burgundy -Cornwall, and Albany, With my two Daughters Dowres, digelt the third, Preheminence, and all the large Effects That troop with Majefly. Our felf by monthly courfe By you to be fuftain'd, fhall our abode Make with you by due turn, only we shall retain. Revenue, Execution of the reft, Beloved Sons, be yours, which to confirm, This Coronet part between you. Kent. Kent. Royal Lear, Whom I have ever honour'd as a King, Lear. The Bow is bent and drawn, make from the Shaft. Kent. Let it fall rather, though the fork invade The region of my Heart; be Kent unmannerly, When Lear is mad; what wouldft thou do, old Man? Think'ft thou that Duty fhall have dread to speak, When Power to Flattery bows? To plainnefs Honour's bound, When Majefty falls to Folly; referve thy State, This hideous rafhnefs; anfwer my Life, my Judgment, Nor are thole empty hearted, whofe low founds Lear, Kent, on thy Life no more. Kent. My Life I never held but as a pawn To wage against thine Enemies, ne'er fear to lose it, Thy fafety being Motive. Lear. Out of my fight! Kent. See better, Lear, and let me ftill remain The true Blank of thine Eye. Lear. Now by Apollo Kent. Now by Apollo; King, Thou fweareft thy Gods in vain. Laer. O Vaffal! Mifcreant!--[Laying his Hand on his Sword. Alb. Corn. Dear Sir, forbear. Kent. Kill thy Phyfician, and thy Fee beftow Upon the foul Difeafe, revoke the Gift, Or whilft I can vent clamour from my Throat, I'll tell thee thou doft evil. Lear. Hear me Recreant, on thine Allegiance hear me ; That thou haft fought to make us break our Vows, Which we durft never yet; and with strain'd Pride, To come betwixt our Sentence and our Power, Which, nor our Nature, nor our Place can bear, Our Potency made good, take thy Reward. Five days we do allot thee for Provifion, To thield thee from difafters of the World, VOL. V. Dd And |