KING LEAR. ACT I. SCENE I.-King Lear's Palace. Enter KENT, GLOSTER, and EDMUND. KENT. I thought the king had more affected the duke of Albany than Cornwall. 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 most; for qualities are so weighed, that curiosity in neither can make choice of either's moiety. KENT. Is not this your son, my lord? GLO. His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge: I have so often blushed to acknowledge him, that now I am brazed to 't. KENT. I cannot conceive you. GLO. 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. GLO. 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 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 acknowledged.— Do you know this noble gentleman, Edmund ? EDм. 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. GLO. He hath been out nine years, and away he shall again :-The king is coming. [Trumpets sound within. Enter LEAR, CORNWALL, ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, CORDELIA, and Attendants. LEAR. Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloster. GLO. I shall, my liege. [Exeunt GLOSTER and EDMUND. LEAR. Meantime we shall express our darker purpose. Give me the map there.-Know, that we have divided, In three, our kingdom: and 't is our fast intent 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, We have this hour a constant will to publish Our daughters' several dowers, that future strife May be prevented now. 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? That we our largest bounty may extend Where nature doth with merit challenge.-Goneril, Our eldest born, speak first. GON. Sir, I love you more than word can wield the matter, Dearer than eye-sight, 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; COR. What shall Cordelia speak? Love, and be silent. [Aside. LEAR. Of all these bounds, even from this line to this, REG. I am made of that self metal as my sister, Which the most precious square of sense possesses; In your dear highness' love. COR. More ponderous than my tongue. LEAR. To thee, and thine, hereditary ever, LEAR. Nothing? COR. Nothing. LEAR. Nothing will come of nothing: speak again. My heart into my mouth; I love your majesty [Aside. LEAR. How, how, Cordelia? mend your speech a little, Lest you may mar your fortunes. COR. Obey you, love you, and most honour you. husbands, if they say That lord whose hand must take my plight shall carry Sure, I shall never marry like my sisters, To love my father all. LEAR. But goes thy heart with this? LEAR. So young, and so untender? COR. So young, my lord, and true. Ay, my good lord. LEAR. Let it be so :-Thy truth then be thy dower: For, by the sacred radiance of the sun; The mysteries of Hecate and the night; From whom we do exist, and cease to be; The barbarous Scythian, Or he that makes his generation messes KENT. LEAR. Peace, Kent! Good my liege, Come not between the dragon and his wrath: On her kind nursery.-Hence, and avoid my sight!— So be my grave my peace, as here I give [To CORDELIA Her father's heart from her!-Call France ;-Who stirs ? Call Burgundy.-Cornwall and Albany, With my two daughters' dowers digest the third : That troop with majesty.-Ourself, by monthly course, By you to be sustain'd, shall our abode Make with you by due turn. Only we shall retain The sway, Revenue, execution of the rest, Beloved sons, be yours: which to confirm, KENT. [Giving the crown. Royal Lear, Whom I have ever honour'd as my king, Lov'd as my father, as my master follow'd, As my great patron thought on in my prayers,— LEAR. The bow is bent and drawn, make from the shaft. KENT. Let it fall rather, though the fork invade The region of my heart: be Kent unmannerly, When Lear is mad. What wouldst thou do, old man ? When power to flattery bows? To plainness honour's bound, When majesty falls to folly. Reserve thy state; And, in thy best consideration, check This hideous rashness: answer my life my judgment, Nor are those empty-hearted, whose low sounds LEAR. Kent, on thy life, no more. KENT. My life I never held but as a pawn LEAR. Out of my sight! KENT. See better, Lear; and let me still remain The true blank of thine eye. LEAR. Now, by Apollo, KENT. Thou swear'st thy gods in vain. Now, by Apollo, king, O, vassal! miscreant ! [Laying his hand on his sword. ALB., CORN. Dear sir, forbear. KENT. Kill thy physician, and thy fee bestow Upon the foul disease. Revoke thy gift; Or, whilst I can vent clamour from my throat, I'll tell thee, thou dost evil. LEAR. Hear me, recreant! On thine allegiance, hear me! That thou hast sought to make us break our vows, |