KING LEAR.

ACT I. SCENE 1.

The KING'S PALACE.

Enter Kent, Glo'fter, and Edmund the Bastard.

I

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; for qualities are fo weigh'd,' that curiofity in neither can make choice of either's moiety.

Kent. Is not this your fon, my Lord?

Glo. His Breeding, Sir, hath been at my charge. I

in the divifion of the kingdom] There is fomething of obfcurity or inaccuracy in this preparatory fcene. The King has already divided his kingdom, and yet when he enters he examines his daughters, to difcover in what proportions he fhould divide it. Perhaps Kent and Gloucefter only were privy to his defign, which he still kept in his own hands, to be changed or

B 2

performed as fubfequent reasons
fhould determine him.
2 Equalities. 4to.

3 that curiofity in neither] Cu-
rifity, for exactelt fcrutiny. The
fenfe of the whole fentence is,
The qualities and properties of
the feveral divifions
are fo
weighed and balanced against
one another, that the exacteft
fcrutiny could not determine in
preferring one fhare to the other.

WARBURTON., have

have so often blufh'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, whereupon fhe grew round-womb'd; and had, indeed, Sir, a fon for her cradle, ere fhe had a husband for her bed. Do you smell a fault?

Kent. I cannot wish the fault undone, the iffue of it being fo proper.

4

Glo. But I have a fon, Sir, by order of law, fome year elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account. Though this knave came fomewhat faucily to the world before he was fent for, yet was his mother fair, there was good fport at his making, and the whorefon must be acknowledged. Do you know this Nobleman, Edmund ?

Edm. No, my Lord.

Glo. My Lord of Ken!.

Remember him hereafter as my honourable friend.
Edm. My fervices to your Lordship.

Kent. I must love you, and fue to know you better. Edm. Sir, I fhall study your deferving.

Glo. He hath been out nine years, and away he shall [Trumpets found, within.

again.

-The King is coming.

4 fome year elder than this,] The Oxford Editor, not underftanding the common phrase, alters year to years. He did not confider, the Baftard fays,

For that I am fome twelve or
fourteen moon.fbines
Lg of a Brother-

WARBURTON.

SCENE

SCENE II.

Enter 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 exprefs our darker pur

pofe.

6

Give me the Map here. Know, we have divided,
In three, our Kingdom; and 'tis our faft intent,
To shake all cares and business from our age,

Conferring them on younger itrengths, while we Unburden'd crawl tow'rd death. Our fon of Cornwall,

And you, our no lefs loving fon of Albany,

We have this hour a 7 conftant will to publish
Our daughters fev'ral Dow'rs, that future ftrife
May be prevented now.
Burgundy,

5 express our darker purpose.] Darker, for more fecret; not for indirect, oblique.

WARBURTON. This word may admit a further explication. We shall express our darker purpose: that is, we have already made known in fome measure our defign of parting the kingdom; we will now discover what has not been told before, the reafons by which we fhall regulate the partition.

This interpretation will juftify or palliate the exordial dialogue.

and 'tis our FAST intent,] This is an interpolation of Mr. Lewis Theobald, for want of knowing the meaning of the old reading in the quarto of

The Princes France and

1608, and first folio of 1623; where we find it,

—and 'tis our FIRST intent, which is as Shakespear wrote it: who makes Lear declare his purpofe with a dignity becoming his character: That the first reafon of his abdication was the love of his people, that they might be protected by fuch as were better able to discharge the truit; and his natural affection for his daughters, only the fecond. WARBURTON. Faft is the reading of the first folio, and I think the true reading.

B 3

7 Confiant will feems a confirmation of faft intent.

Great

Great rivals in our younger daughter's love,

Long in our Court have made their am'rous fojourn, And here are to be anfwer'd. Tell me, daughters,

Since now we will diveft us both of rule,

Int'reft of territory, cares of state,

Which of you, fhall we fay, doth love us moft,
That we our largest bounty may extend,

Where nature doth with merit challenge. Gonerill,
Our eldest born, speak first.

Gon. Sir,

I love you more than words can wield the matter,
Dearer than eye-fight, fpace and liberty;

Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare;

No lefs than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour;
As much as child e'er lov'd, or father found;
A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable,
8 Beyond all manner of fo much! love you.

Cor. What fhall Cordelia 9 do? love and be filent.

Afide. Lear. Of all thefe Bounds, ev'n from this line to

this,

With fhadowy forefts and with champions rich'd,
With plenteous rivers and wide-fkirted meads,
We make thee lady. To thine and Albany's iffue
Be this perpetual.-What fays our fecond daughter?
Our dearest Regan, wife of Cornwall, speak.

Reg. I'm made of that felf-metal as my fifter,
And prize me at her worth, in my true heart.
I find, fhe names my very deed of love,
Only he comes too fhort; 'that I profefs

8 Beyond all manner, &c.] i. e. beyond all expreffion.

1

WARBURTON.

De ond all manner of much-] Byond all aflignable quanti ty. I love you beyond limits, and cannot fay it is fo much, for how much foever I fhould name it would yet be more.

9 So the quarto: the folio has Speak.

1-that I profefs] That feems to ftand without relation, but is referred to find, the firft conjunction being inaccurately fuppreffed. I find that he names any deed, that I profess, &c.

My

Myself an enemy to all other joys,

2 Which the most precious fquare of fenfe poffeffes; And find, I am alone felicitate

In your dear Highness' love.

Cor. Then poor Cordelia!

And yet not fo, fince, I am fure, my love's 3 More pond'rous than my tongue.

[Afide.

Lear. To thee, and thine, hereditary ever, Remain this ample third of our fair Kingdom; * No less in space, validity, and pleasure, Than that conferr'd on Gonerill. Now our joy, Although our laft, not leaft, to whofe young love, The vines of France, and milk of Burgundy, Strive to be int'refs'd; what say you, to draw A third, more opulent than your fifters? Speak. Cor. Nothing, my Lord. Lear. Nothing? Cor. Nothing.