L EAR, King of Britain. Duke of Burgundy. Duke of Cornwall. Duke of Albany. Earl of Glofter. Earl of Kent. Edgar, Son to Glofter. Edmund, Baftard Son to Glofter. Knights attending on the King, Officers, Meffengers, Soldiers, and Attendants. SCENE lyes in Britain. KING ༡༠༧༥༠༦༡༥༠ ༧༧/༥•༅/༥༠༧/༠༅༥༠ KING LEAR. ACT I. SCENE I. SCENE A Palace. Enter Kent, Glofter, and Edmund the Baftard. KENT. Thought the King had more affected the 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 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 fo 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 Son for her Cradle, e'er fhe had a Husband for her Bed. Do you Smell a Fault? Kent. I cannot wish the fault undone, the Iffue of it being fo proper. Glo. Glo. But I have a Son, Sir, by order of Law, fome Year elder than this; who, yet is no dearer in my Account, though this Knave came fomewhat fawcily to the World before he was fent for: Yet was his Mother fair, there was good fport at his making, and the whorfon must be acknowledged. Do you know this Nobleman, Edmund? Baft. No, my Lord. Glo. My Lord of Kent; Remember him hereafter, as my honourable Friend. Kent. I must love you, and fue to know you better. Glo. He hath been out nine Years, and away he fhall a gain. The King is coming. Enter King Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Gonerill, Regan, Cordelia, and Attendants. Laer. Attend the Lords of France and Burgundy, Glöfter. Lear. Mean time we fhall exprefs our darker purpose. Exit. Our Son of Cornwall, And you our no lefs loving Son of Albaný, We have this hour a conftant will to publish Our Daughters feveral Dowers, that future ftrife May be prevented now. The Princes, France and Burgundy, Long in our Court, have made their amorous fojourn, Intereft of Terrority, Cares of State, Which of you shall we fay doth love us moft; That we, our largest bounty may extend Where Nature doth with merit challenge. Gonerill; Our eldest born, speak first. Gon. Sir, I love you more than word can wield the matter, 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 As much as Child e'er lov'd, or Father found. Cor. What fhall Cordelia fpeak? Love, and be filent. Reg. I am made of that felf-metal as my Sister, Which the most precious fquare of fenfe profeffes, In your dear Highness love. Cor. Then, poor Cordelia! And yet not fo, fince I am fure my Love's Laer. 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 According to my Bond, no more nor less. 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 those Duties back as are right fit, love you, and most honour you. Obey you, Why |