THE

LIFE and DE ATH

O F

KING LEAR.

A z

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

SCENE lies in Britain.

G

KING: LEAR.

АСТ I.

SCENE, the King's Palace.

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

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 with the fault undone, the iffue of it being fo proper.

A 3

Glo.

1

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 fomewhat faucily to the world before he was fent for, yet was his mother fair; there was good fport at his making, and the whorefon 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 fervices to your lordship.

Kent. I must love you, and fue to know you better.
Edm. Sir, I fhall ftudy 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, Goneril, Regan, Cordelia, and Attendants.

Lear. Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Glo'fter. Glo. I fhall, my Liege. [Exit. Lear. Mean time we fall exprefs our darker purpose. Give me the Map here. Know, we have divided, In three, our Kingdom; and 'tis our faft intent, To fhake all cares and bufinefs from our age;

Conferring them on younger ftrengths, while we
Unburden'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 now. 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, cares of ftate;)

Which of you, fhall we fay, doth love us most ?

That we our largest bounty may extend,
Where nature doth with merit challenge.

Our eldest born, speak firft.

Gonerill,

Gon.