Knights attending on the King, Officers, Messengers, Soldiers and Attendants,

SCENE lyes in Britain.

KING LEA R.

Kent.

ACT I. SCENE I.

SCENE A Palace.

Enter Kent, Glo'fter, and Edmund the Baftard.
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 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 fhe grew round-womb'd, and had indeed, Sir, a fon for her cradle, ere fhe had a husband for her bed. Do you a fault?

fmell

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

Glo. But I have a fon, Sir, by order of law, fome years elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account; though this knave came fomewhat fawcily into the world before he was fent for, yet was his mother fair, there was good sport at his making, and the whorfon must be acknowledg'd, Do you know this nobleman, Edmund ?

Baft. No, my Lord.

Gle.

Glo. My Lord of Kent;

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

Kent. I muft love you, and fue to know you better.
Baft. Sir, I fhall study your deserving.

Glo. He hath been out nine years, and away he fhall again. The King is coming

SCENE II. To them, Enter King Lear, Cornwall,
Albany, Gonerill, Regan, Cordelia, and Attendants.
Lear. Attend the Lords of France and Burgundy.
Glo. I fhall, my Liege.

[Exit Lear. Mean time we fhall exprefs our darker purpofe. Give me the map here. Know, we have divided

In three, our kingdom; and 'tis our intent,
'To shake all cares and bufinefs from our age,

Conferring them on younger ftrengths, while we

Unburthen'd crawl tow'rd death. Our fon of Cornwall,
And you, our no less loving fon of Albany,

We have this hour a conftant will to publish
Our daughters fev'ral Dow'rs, that future ftrife
May be prevented. The Princes France and Burgundy,
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, and cares of ftatc;

Which of you fhall we fay doth love us most?
That we our largest bounty may extend

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

Gon. I love you, Sir,

Dearer than eye-fight, fpace and liberty,

Beyond what can be valued rich or rare;

No lefs than life, with grace, health, beauty, honor:
As much as child e'er lov'd, or father found.

A love that makes breath poor, and fpeech unable,

Beyond all manner of fo much I love you.

Cor. What fhall Cordelia do? love and be filent? [Afide. Lear. Of all these 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 self-metal as my fifter,
And prize me at her worth. In my true Heart
I find the names my very deed of love;
Only the comes too fhort, that I profefs
My felf an enemy to all other joys,

Which the most precious fpirit 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
More pond'rous than my tongue.

Lear. To thee, and thine, hereditary ever,
Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom,
No lefs in fpace, validity, and pleasure,
Than that confer'd on Gonerill.-Now our joy,
Although our laft, not least; in whose 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.

[Afide

Lear. Nothing will come of nothing, speak again.
Cor. Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave

My heart into my mouth: I love your Majefty
According to my bond, no more nor lefs.

Lear. How, how, Cordelia? mend your speech a little,

Left you may mar your fortunes.

Cor. Good my Lord.

You have begot me, bred me, lov'd me. I
Return thofe duties back as are right fit,
Obey you, love you, and moft honour you.
Why have my fifters husbands, if they fay
They love you all? hap'ly when I fhall wed,
That Lord whofe hand muft take my plight, fhall carry
Half my love with him, half my care and duty.

Sure

Sure I fhall never marry

To love my father all

Lear. But goes thy heart with this?
Cor. Ay, my good Lord.

Lear. So young, and fo untender?
Cor. So young, my Lord, and true.

Lear. Let it be fo, thy truth then be thy dowre:

For by the facred radiance of the fun,

The mysteries of Hecate, and the night,
By all the operations of the orbs

From whom we do exift, and ceafe to be;
Here I difclaim all my paternal care,
Fropinquity, and property of blood,
And as a ftranger to my heart and me
Hold thee from this for ever. The barb'rous Scythian,
Or he that makes his generation meffes
To gorge his appetite, fhall to my bofom

Be as well neighbour'd, pitied, and reliev'd,
As thou my fometime daughter.

Kent. Good my Liege

Lear. Peace, Kent!

Come not between the dragon and his wrath.
I lov'd her moft, and thought to set my rest

On her kind nurs'ry. Hence, avoid my fight!- [To Cor.

So be my grave my peace, as here I give

Her father's heart from her; Call France; who ftirs?
Call Burgundy- -Cornwall and Albany,

With my two daughters dowres, digest the third.

Let pride, which the calls plainnefs, marry her.
I do inveft you jointly with my power,
Preheminence, and all the large effects

That troop with Majefty. Our felf by monthly course,
With refervation of an hundred Knights,

By you to be fuftain'd, fhall our abode
Make with you by due turns: only retain
The name and all th' addition to a King;
The fway, revenue, execution,

Beloved fons, be yours; which to confirma
This Coronet part between you.
Kent, Royal Lear

[Giving the Crozuną

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