ACT I. V THE TRAGEDY OF KING LEAR. P SCENE I. King Lear's palace. Enter KENT. the king had more affected the Duke of Albany than Cornwall. GLOUCESTER. 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 weighed that curiosity in neither can make choice of either's moiety. KENT. Is not this your son, my lord? GLOUCESTER. 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. GLOUCESTER. Sir, this young fellow's mother could: whereupon she grew round-wombed, 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. GLOUCESTER. 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 acknowledged.Do you know this noble gentleman, Edmund? EDMUND. No, my lord. GLOUCESTER. My lord of Kent: remember him hereafter-as my honourable friend. I must love you, and sue to know you better. EDMUND. Sir, I shall study deserving. GLOUCESTER. He hath been out nine years, and away he shall again. (Sennet within.) The king is coming. Enter one bearing a coronet, King Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Goneril, Regan, Cordelia, & Attendants.) LEAR. Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester. GLOUCESTER. I shall, my liege. LEAR. (Exeunt Gloucester & Edmund.) Meantime we shall express our darker purpose.— To shake all cares and business from our age, Conferring them on younger strengths, while we Unburthen'd crawl toward death.-Our son of Cornwall, And you, our no less loving son of Albany, 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 daughters, 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? Where nature doth with merit challenge.-Goneril, GONERIL. 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; A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable; CORDELIA. (Aside.) What shall Cordelia do? Love, and be silent. LEAR. Of all these bounds, even from this line to this, With shadowy forests and with champains 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 daughter, Our dearest Regan, wife to Cornwall? Speak. REGAN. Sir, I am made of that self metal as my sister, Only she comes too short: that I profess Which the most precious square of sense possesses, In your dear highness' love. CORDELIA.(Aside.) Then poor Cordelia! And yet not so, since I am sure my love's LEAR. To thee and thine, hereditary ever Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom, Nothing, my lord. LEAR. Nothing. Nothing will come of nothing: speak again. CORDELIA. Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty LEAR. How, how, Cordelia? mend your speech a little, CORDELIA. Good my lord, You have begot me, bred me, lov'd me: I That lord, whose hand must take my plight, shall carry Sure, I shall never marry like my sisters, To love my father all. |