THE

LIFE and DEATH

OF

KING LEAR

A a

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

SCENE lyes in Britain.

KING

KING LEAR

ACT I. SCENE I.

SCENE A 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 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 fmell a fault?

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

2

'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 fport at his making, and the whorfon must be acknowledg'd. Do you know this nobleman, Edmund?

Baft. No, my Lord.

Glo. My Lord of Kent;

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

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

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

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 purpose..

Give me the Map here. Know, we have divided
In three, our kingdom; and 'tis our intent,
To fhake all cares and business from our age,
Conferring them on younger ftrengths, while we
Unburthen'd crawl tow'rd death. Our fon of Cornwall,
And you, our no lefs loving fon of Albany,
We have this hour a conftant will to publish
Our daughters fev'ral Dow'rs, that future ftrife

3

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 state;

Which of

you

fhall we fay doth love us moft?

That

year

2 to

3 prevented now.

4 cares

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, 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 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 forests and with champions rich'd,
With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted 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? fpeak.

Reg. I'm made of that felf-metal as my fifter,
And prize me at her worth. In my true Heart
I find the names my very deed of love;
Only she comes too fhort, that I profess

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.

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Now our joy,

[Afide.

Although our laft, not leaft; in whofe young love,
The vines of France, and milk of Burgundy,
Strive to be int'refs'd: what fay you to draw
A third, more opulent than your fifters ? speak.
Cor. Nothing, my Lord.

5 fquare

6 to

A 4

Lear.