Sidor som bilder
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H.Gravelot.in Vol: 6.P. 3.

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Knights attending on the King, Officers, Meffer
Soldiers and Attendants.

SCENE lies in Britain.

K

KING LEA R.

I

ACT I.

SCENE, the King's Palace.

B

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

KENT.

Thought, the King had more affected the Duke of
Albany than Cornwall.

Glo. It did always feem so to us: but now, in the Divifion of the Kingdom, it appears not, which of the Dukes he values most; for qualities are so 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 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 fon for her cradle, ere she had a husband for her bed. Do you smell a fault?

Kent. I cannot with the fault undone, the issue of it

being fo proper.

A 3

Glo.

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 somewhat saucily to the world before he was sent for, yet was his mother fair; there was good sport at his making, and the whoreson must be acknowledg'd. Do you know this Nobleman, Edmund?

Edm. No, my lord.

Glo. My lord of Kent;

- Remember him hereafter as my honourable friend.
Edm. My services to your lordship.

Kent. I must love you, and sue to know you better.
Edm. Sir, I shall study your deferving.
Glo. He hath been out nine years, and away he shall
[Trumpets found, within.

again.

The King is coming.

Enter King Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Goneritl, Regan, Cordelia, and Attendants.

Lear. Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Glo'ster.
Glo. I shall, my Liege.
[Exit.
Lear. Mean time we shall express our darker purpose.
Give me the Map here. Know, we have divided,
In three, our Kingdom; and 'tis our fast intent,
To shake all cares and business from our age;
Conferring them on younger strengths, while we
Unburden'd crawl tow'rd death. Our son of Cornwall,
And you, our no less loving son of Albany,
We have this hour a constant will to publish
Our daughters sev'ral Dow'rs, that future strife
May be prevented now. 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, cares of state;)
Which of you, shall we say, doth love us most?
That we our largest bounty may extend,
Where nature doth with merit challenge. Gonerill,
Our eldest born, speak first.

Gon.

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