THE

LIFE and DEATH

OF

KING LEAR

Aa

L EAR, King of Britain.
King of France.
Duke of Burgundy.
Duke of Cornwall.
Duke of Albany.
Earl of Glo'ster.
Earl of Kent.
Edgar, Son to Glo'ster.
Edmund, Bastard Son to Glo'ster.
Curan, a Courtier.
Doctor.
Fool.
Oswald, Steward to Gonerill.
An old Man, Tenant to Glo'fter.
Two Gentlemen, Servants to Glo'ster.

Knights attending on the King, Officers, Mesengers,

Soldiers and Attendants.

SCENE lyes in Britain.

K I N G G LE

LEAR

A C T I. SCENE I.

SCENE A Palace.

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

I

KE N T.,
Thought the King had more affected the

Duke of Albany than Cornwall,
I Glo. It did always seem so to us: but now

in the division of the kingdom, it appears

not which of the Dukes he values moft; for qualities are so weigh’d, that curiosity 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 have so 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; whereupon The 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. Glo. But I have a son, Sir, by order of law, some

years

A 3

'years' elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my acCount; though this knave came somewhat fawcily, * 'into the world before he was sent for, yet was his mother fair, there was good sport at his making, and the whorson must be acknowledg’d. Do you know this nobleman, Edmund ?

Bajt. No, my Lord.

Glo. My Lord of Kent;
Remember him hereafter as my honourable friend.

Baft. My services to your Lordship.
Kent. I must love you, and sue to know you better.
Baft. Sir, I shall study your deserving. [again.

Glo. He hath been out nine years, and away he shall
The King is coming.
S с Ε Ν Ε.

E II.
To them, Enter King Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Gonerill,

Regan, Cordelia, and Attendants.
Lear. Attend the Lords of France and Burgundy.
Glo. I shall," my Liege.

[Exit.
Lear. Mean time we hall express our darker purpose.
Give me the Map here. Know, we have divided
In three, our kingdom; and 'cis our intent,
To shake all cares and business from our age,
Conferring them on younger strengths, while we
Unburthen'd crawl tow'rd death. Our son of Cornwall,
And you, our no less loving fon of Albany,
We have this hour a constant will to publish
Our daughters sev'ral Dow'rs, that future strife
May be 3 'prevented.' The Princes France and Burgundy,
Great rivals in our younger daughter's love,
Long in our Court have made their am'rous sojourn,
And here are to be answer'd. Tell me, daughters,
Since now we will divest us, both of rule,
Int'rest of territory, 4land cares of state ;
Which of you shall we say doth love us most?

That we our largest bounty may extend
Where nature doch with merit challenge. Gonerill
Our eldest born, speak first,

Gon. I love you, Sir,
Dearer than eye-light, space, and liberty,
Beyond what can be valued rich or rare;
No less 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,
Beyond all manner of so much I love you.

Cor. What shall Cordelia do? love and be filent. [-Aside.

Lear. Of all these bounds, ev’n from this line to this,
With shadowy forests and with champions 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 of Cornwall? speak.

Reg. I'm made of that self-metal as my sister,
And prize me at her worth. In my true Heart
I find the names my very deed of love ;
Only she comes too short, that I profels
My self an enemy to all other joys,
Which the most precious s' spirit of sense poffesses,
And find I am alone felicitate
In your dear Highness' love.
Cor. Then poor Cordelia!

[ Afide. And yet not so, since I am sure my love's More pond'rous than my tongue.

Lear. To thee, and thine, hereditary ever, Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom, No less in space, validity, and pleasure, Than that confer'd on Gonerill. Now our joy, Although our last, not least; 'in' whose young love, The vines of France, and milk of Burgundy, Strive to be int'refsd: what say you to draw A third, more opulent than your sisters ? speak. Cor. Nothing, my Lord.