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KING LEAR.

LITERARY AND HISTORICAL NOTICE.

THE subject of this interesting tragedy, which was probably written in 1605, is derived from an old historical ballad, founded on a story in Holinshed's Chronicles, and originally told by Geoffery of Monmouth. "Leir (says the Welsh historian) was the eldest son of Bladud, nobly governed his country for sixty years, and died about 800 years before Christ." Camden tells a similar story of Isra, king of the West Saxons, and his three daughters.The episode of Gloster and his sons is taken from Sidney's Arcadia. Tate, the laureat, greatly altered, and in a degree polished this play, inserting new scenes or passages, and transposing or omitting others in particular, he avoided its original heart-rending catastrophe, by which the virtue of Cordelia was suffered to perish in a just cause, contrary to the natural ideas of justice, to the hope of the reader, and to the facts of the ancient narrative. He also introduced Edgar to the audience as the suitor of Cordelia, cancelling the excellent scene in which, after being rejected as dowerless, by Burgundy, her misfortunes and her goodness recommend her to the love of the king of France. Yet the restauration of the king, and the final happiness of Cordelia, have been ceasured (in the Spectator especially) as at variance with true tragic feeling and poetical beauty: although it may fairly be presumed, since mankind naturally love justice, that an attention to its dictates will never make a play worse, and that an audience will generally rise more satisfied where persecuted virtue is rewarded and triumphant. Lear's struggles against his accumu lated injuries, and his own strong feelings of sorrow and indignation, are exquisitely drawn. The daughters severally working him up to madness, and his finally falling a martyr to that malady, is a more deep and skilful combination of dramatic portraiture than can be found in any other writer. "There is no play (says Dr. Johnson,) which keeps the attention so constantly fixed; which so much agitates our passions and interests our curiosity." The celebrated Dr. Warton, who minutely criticised this play in the Adventurer, objected to the instances of cruelty, as too savage and too shocking. But Johnson observes, that the barbarity of the daughters is an historical fact, to which Shakspeare has added little, although he cannot so readily apologize for the extrusion of Gloster's eyes, which is too horrid an act for dramatic exhibition, and such as must always compel the mind to relieve its distresses by incredulity. Colman, as well as Tate, re-modelled this celebrated Drama, but it is acted, with trifling variations, on the original plan of the latter.

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Kent. Is not this your son, my lord?
Glo. His breeding, Sir, hath been at my

SCENE 1.-A Room of State in King LEAR's charge: I have so often blush'd to acknowledge

Palace.

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him, that now I am brazed to it.
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, Sir, a son, by order of law, some year elder than this, who yet is no dearer • Handsome.

In my account: though this knave came some- | No less in space, validity, and pleasure, what saucily into the world before he was sent Than that confirm'd on Goneril.-Now, our joy, for, yet his mother was fair; there was good Although the last, not least; to whose young sport at his making, and the whoreson must be love acknowledged.-Do you know this noble gentleman, Edmund ?

Edm. No, my lord.

The vines of France, and milk of Burgundy, Strive to be interess'd: what can you say, to draw

Glo. My lord of Kent: remember him here- A third more opulent than your sisters? Speak. after as my honourable friend.

Edm. My services to your lordship.

Kent. I must love you, and sue to know you better.

Edm. Sir, I shall study deserving.

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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 BurGloster. [gundy, 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,

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In three, our kingdom: and 'tis our fast intent
To shake all cares and business from our age;
Conferring them on younger strengths, while we
Unburden'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 daughter's 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,
[daughters,
And here are to be answer'd.-Tell me, my
(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 merit doth most challenge it.-Goneril,
Our eldest-born, speak first.

Gon. Sir, I

[matter

Cor. Nothing, my lord. Lear. Nothing?

Cor. Nothing.

Lear. Nothing can come of nothing: speak again.

Cor. Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave
My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty
According to my bond; nor more, nor less.
Lear. How, how, Cordelia? mend your
speech a little,

Lest it 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,
Obey you, love you, and most honour you.
Why have my sisters husbands, if they say,
They love you ali? Haply, when I shall wed,
That lord, whose hand must take my plight,
shall carry

Do love you more than words can wield the
Dearer than eye-sight, space and liberty;
Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare;
No less than life, with grace, health, beauty,I

honour :

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Half my love with him, half my care, and duty:
Sure, I shall never marry like my sisters,
To love my father all?

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

Lear. So young, and so untender?
Cor. So young, my lord, and true.

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;
By all the operations of the orbs,
From whom we do exist, and cease to be;
Here I disclaim all my paternal care,
And as a stranger to my heart and me
Propinquity and property of blood,
Hold thee, from this, § for ever. The barbarous
Scythian,

Or he that makes his generation || messes
To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom
Be as well neighbour'd, pitied, and reliev'd,
As thou my sometime daughter.

Kent. Good my liege,-
Lear. Peace, Kent!

Come not between the dragon and his wrath: lov'd her most, and thought to set my rest On her kind nursery.-Hence, and avoid my sight[To CORDELIA. So be my grave my peace, as here I give Her father's heart from her !-Call France ;Who stirs ?

Call Burgundy,-Cornwall and Albany, With my two daughter's dowers digest this third:

Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry her. do invest you jointly with my power, Pre-eminence, and all the large effects That troop with majesty.-Ourself, by monthly with reservation of a hundred knights, course, By you to be sustain'd, shall our abode [retain Make with you by due turns. Only we still The name, and all the additions ¶ to a king;

The sway,

Revenue, execution of the rest,
Beloved sons, be your's: which to confirm,
This coronet part between you.

[Giving the Crown. Whom I have ever honour'd as my king, Kent. Royal Lear, 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.

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Kent. Let it fall rather, though the fork in- | If aught within that little seeming substance,
Or all of it, with our displeasure piec'd,
vade
And nothing more, may fitly like your grace,
She's there, and she is yours.

The region of my heart: be Kent unmannerly,
When Lear is mad. What wouldst thou do, old
man?

[speak, Think'st thou that duty shall have dread to When power to flattery bows? To plainness honour's bound, [doom; When majesty stoops to folly. Reverse thy And, in thy best consideration, check This hideous rashness:

judgment,

answer my life, my

Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least;
Nor are those empty-hearted, whose low sound
Reverbs no hollowness.

Lear. Kent, on thy life, no more.

Kent. My life I never held but as a pawn
To wage against thine enemies; nor fear to
lose it,

Thy safety being the motive.
Lear. Out of my sight!

Kent. See better, Lear; and let me still re

The true blank + of thine eye.

Lear. Now, by Apollo,Kent. Now, by Apollo, king, Thou swear'st thy gods in vain. Lear. O vassal miscreant !

[main,

[Laying his Hand upon his Sword. Alb. Corn. Dear Sir, forbear.

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Lear. Hear me, recreant ! On thine allegiance hear me !Since thou hast sought to make us break our [pride, (Which we durst never yet,) and, with strain'd To come betwixt our sentence and our power; (Which nor our nature nor our place can bear,) Our potency make good, take thy reward. Five days we do allot thee, for provision To shield thee from diseases of the world; And, on the sixth, to turn thy hated back

Bur. I know no answer.
Lear. Sir,

Will you, with those infirmities she owes,
Unfriended, new adopted to our hate,
Dower'd with our curse, and stranger'd with our
oath,

Take her, or leave her?

Bur. Pardon me, royal Sir;

Election makes not up on such conditions.
Lear. Then leave her, Sir; for, by the power
that made me,

I tell you all her wealth.-For you, great king,
[To FRANCE.

I would not from your love make such a stray,
To match you where I hate; therefore beseech
you

To avert your liking a more worthier way,
Than on a wretch whom nature is asham'd
Almost to acknowledge hers.

France. This is most strange !

That she, that even but now was your best object,
The argument of your praise, balm of your age,
Most best, most dearest, should in this trice of
time

Commit a thing so monstrous, to dismantle
So many folds of favour! Sure, her offence
Must be of such unnatural degree,

That monsters it, or your fore-vouch'd || affection
Fall into taint: which to believe of her,
Must be a faith, that reason without miracle
Could never plant in me.

Cor. I yet beseech your majesty,

(If for I want that glib and oily art, [intend,
To speak and purpose not: since what I well
I'll do't before I speak, that you make known
It is no vicious blot, murder, or foulness,
No unchaste action, or dishonour'd step,
That hath depriv'd me of your grace and favour :
But even for want of that, for which I am
richer-

A still-sol iting eye, and such a tongue

Upon our kingdom: if, on the tenth day follow-That I am ad I have not, though not to have it,

ing,

Thy banish trunk be found in our dominions,
The moment is thy death: Away! By Jupiter,
This shall not be revok'd.

Kent. Fare thee well, king: since thus thou
wilt appear,

Freedom lives bence, and banishment is here.-
The gods to their dear shelter take thee, maid,
[To CORDELIA.
That justly think'st, and bas most rightly said!
And your large speeches may your deeds approve,
[To REGAN and GONERIL.
That good effects may spring from words of
love.-

Thus Kent, O princes, bids you all adieu;
He'll shape his old course ‡ in a country new.
[Exit.
Re-enter GLOSTER; with FRANCE, BURGUNDY,
and Attendants.

Glo. Here's France and Burgundy, my noble

lord.

Lear. My lord of Burgundy,

We first address towards you, who with this
king

[least,
Hath rivall'd for our daughter; What, in the
Will you require in present dower with her,
Or cease your quest of love? §

Bur. Most royal majesty,

Hath lost me in your liking.

Lear. Better thou

Hadst not been born, than not to have pleas'd

me better.

France. Is it but this a tardiness in nature,
Which often leaves the history unspoke,
That it intends to do?-My lord of Burgundy,
What say you to the lady? Love is not love,
When it is mingled with respects, that stand
Aloof from the entire point. ++ Will you have
She is herself a dowry.

Bur. Royal Lear,

[ber ?

Give but that portion which yourself propos'd,
And bere I take Cordelia by the hand,
Duchess of Burgundy.

Lear. Nothing: I have sworn: I am firm.
Bur. I am sorry, then, you have so lost a
That you must lose a busband.

[father,

Cor. Peace be with Burgundy!
Since that respects of fortune are his love,
shall not be his wife.

France. Fairest Cordelia, thou art most rich,

being poor;

Most choice, forsaken; and most lov'd, despis'd:
Thee and thy virtues bere I seize upon :
Be it lawful, I take up what's cast away.
Gods, gods! 'tis strange, that from their cold'st
neglect

My love should kindle to inflam'd respect.

I crave no more than hath your highness offer'd, Thy dowerless daughter, king, thrown to my

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Bid them farewell, Cordelia, though unkind:
Thou losest here, a better where to find.
Lear. Thou hast her, France: let her be thine;
for we

Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see
That face of her's again :-Therefore be gone,
Without our grace, our love, our benison. †-
Come, noble Burgundy.
[Flourish. Exeunt LEAR, BURGUNDY, CORN
WALL, ALBANY, GLOSTER, and Attendants.
France. Bid farewell to your sisters.

Cor. The jewels of our father with wash'd
eyes

Cordelia leaves you: I know you what you are;
And, like a sister, am most loath to call
Your faults as they are nam'd. Use well our

father:

To your professed bosoms I commit him:
But yet, alas! stood I within his grace,

I would prefer him to a better place.
So farewell to you both.

Gon. Prescribe not us our duties.

Reg. Let your study

Be to content your lord; who hath receiv'd you
At fortune's alms. You have obedience scanted,
And well are worth the want that you have
wanted.

Cor. Time shall unfold what plaited cun-
ning hides;

Who cover faults, at last shame them derides.
Well may you prosper !

France. Come, my fair Cordelia.

[Exeunt FRANCE and CORDELIA. Gon. Sister, it is not a little I have to say, of what most nearly appertains to us both. 1 think our father will hence to-night.

Reg. That's most certain, and with you; next month with us.

Gon. You see how full of changes his age is; the observation we have made of it hath not been little he always loved our sister most; and with what poor judgment he hath now cast her off, appears too grossly.

Reg. 'Tis the infirmity of his age: yet he hath ever but slenderly known himself.

Gon. The best and soundest of his time hath been but rash; then must we look to receive from his age, not alone the imperfections of long-engrafted condition, but, therewithal, the unruly waywardness that infirm and choleric years bring with them.

Reg. Such unconstant starts are we like to have from him, as this of Kent's banishment. Gon. There is further compliment of leavetaking between France and him. Pray you, let us hit together: If our father carry authority with such dispositions as he bears, this last surrender of his will but offend us.

Reg. We shall further think of it.

Than doth, within a dull, stale, tred bed,
Go to the creating a whole tribe of fops,
Got 'tween asleep and wake?-Well then,
Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land:
Our father's love is to the bastard Edmund,
As to the legitimate: Fine word,-legitimate!
Well, my legitimate, if this letter speed,
And my invention thrive, Edmund the base
Shall top the legitimate. I grow; I prosper :-
Now, gods, stand up for bastards !

Enter GLOSTER.

Glo. Kent banish'd thus! And France in

choler parted!

And the king gone to-night! subscrib'd his
Confin'd to exhibition! All this done [power!
Upon the gad ! --Edmund! How now, what
news?

Edm. So please your lordship, none.

[Putting up the Letter. Glo. Why so earnestly seek you to put up that letter?

Edm. I know no news, my lord.

Glo. What paper were you reading?
Edm. Nothing, my lord.

Glo. No? What needed then that terrible despatch of it into your pocket? the quality of nothing hath not such need to hide itself. Let's see: Come, if it be nothing, I shall not need spectacles.

Edm. I beseech you, Sir, pardon me: it is a letter from my brother, that I have not all o'erread: for so much as I have perused, I find it not fit for your over-looking.

Glo. Give me the letter, Sir.

Edm. I shall offend, either to detain or give it. The contents, as in part understand them, are to blame.

Glo. Let's see, let's see.

Edm. I hope, for my brother's justification, he wrote this but as an essay or taste of any

virtue.

Come to

Glo. [Reads.] This policy and reverence of age makes the world bitter to the best of our times, keeps cur fortunes from us till our oldness cannot relish them. I begin to find an idle and fond bondage in the oppression of aged tyranny; who sways, not as it hath power, but as it is suffered. me, that of this I may speak more. If our father would sleep till I waked him, you should enjoy half his revenue for ever, and live the beloved of your brother, Edgar.Humph-Conspiracy!-Sleep till I waked him -you should enjoy half his revenue,-My son Edgar! Had he a hand to write this? a heart and brain to breed it in ?-When came this to you? Who brought it?

Edm. It was not brought me, my lord, there's Gon. We must do something, and i'the heat. the cunning of it; I found it thrown in at the casement of my closet.

[Exeunt.

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Enter EDMUND, with a Letter.

Edm. Thou, nature, art my goddess; to thy
law

My services are bound: Wherefore should I
Stand in the plague ¶ of custom; and permit
The curiosity of nations to deprive me,
For that I am some twelve or fourteen moon-
shines

Lag of a brother? Why bastard? wherefore base?
When my dimensions are as well compact,
My mind as generous, and my shape as true,
As honest madman's issue? Why brand they us
With base? with baseness? bastardy? base,

base?

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Glo. You know the character to be your brother's?

Edm. If the matter were good, my lord, I
durst swear it were his; but, in respect of that,
I would fain think it were not.
Glo. It is bis.

Edm. It is his hand, my lord; but, I hope his heart is not in the contents.

Glo. Hath he never heretofore sounded you in this business?

Edm. Never, my lord: But I have often heard him maintain it to be fit, that, sons at perfect age, and fathers declining, the father should be as ward to the son, aud the sou manage his revenue.

Glo. O villain, villain!-His very opinion in the letter!-Abhorred villain! Unnatural, detested, brutish villain! worse than brutish !-Go sirrah, seek him; I'll apprehend him :-Abominable villain !-Where is he?

Edm. I do not well know, my lord. If it

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