KING LEAR.

ACT I.

SCENE 1.-King LEAR's Palace.

Enter KENT, GLOSTER, and EDMUND.

Kent,

thought the king had more affected the Duke of Albany than Cornwall.

Glo. It did always seem so to us: but A now, in the division of the kingdom, it appears not which of the dukes he values most.

Kent. Is not this your son, 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 it. But I have, sir, a son by order of law, some year older than this, who is yet no dearer in my account. Do you know this noble gentleman, Edmund ?

Edm. 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.

Edm. Sir, I shall study deserving. [Trumpets within.] The king is coming.

Enter LEAR, CORNWALL, ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN,

CORDELIA, Fool, 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've divided 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 daughters' several dowers, that future strife May be prevented now. 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 words can wield the matter; Dearer than eyesight, space, and liberty; As much as child e'er lov'd, or father found;

A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable ;
Beyond all manner of so much I love you.
Cor. [asideWhat shall Cordelia do ? Love, and

be silent.
Lear. Of all these bounds, even from this line to this,
With shadowy forests and with champians rich'd,
With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads,
We make thee lady: to thine and Albany's issue
Be this perpetual.—What says our second daughter,
Our dearest Regan, wife to Cornwall ? Speak.

Reg. Sir,
I'm made of that self metal as my sister,
And prize me at her worth. In my true heart
I find she names my very deed of love;
Only she comes too short.
Cor. {aside]

Then poor Cordelia !
And yet not so; since, I am sure, my love's
More richer than my tongue.

Lear. To thee and thine hereditary ever
Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom ;
No less in space, validity, and pleasure,
Than that conferr'd on Goneril.—Now, our joy,
Although our last, not least, to whose young love
The vines of France and milk of Burgundy
Strive to be interess’d; what can you say to draw
A third more opulent than your sisters ? Speak.

Cor. Nothing, my lord.
Lear. Nothing !
Cor. Nothing
Lear. Nothing will 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 all ? Haply, when I shall wed,
That lord whose hand must take my plight, shall carry
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 thy heart with this?
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 dow'r : For, by the sacred radiance of the sun, Here I disclaim all my paternal care, And as a stranger to my heart and me Hold thee, from this, for ever. Kent.

Good my liege,Lear. Peace, Kent! Come not between the dragon and his wrath.I lov'd her most, and thought to set my rest On her kind nursery.—Hence, and avoid my sight!So be my grave my peace, as here I give Her fathers heart from her !--Call France;who

stirs ? Call Burgundy.— [Exit a Knight.]-Cornwall and

Albany, With my two daughters' dow'rs digest this third : Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry her. I do invest you jointly with my power, Pre-eminence, and all the large effects That troop with majesty.–Ourself, by monthly

course, With reservation of an hundred knights, By you to be sustain'd, shall our abode Make with you by due turns. Only we still retain The name, and all th' additions to a king

The sway,

Revenuc, execution of the rest,

Beloved sons, be yours : which to confirm,
This coronet part between you.

[Giving the Crown to ALBANY. Kent.

Royal Lear,
Whom I have ever honour'd as my king,
Lov'd as my father, as my master follow'd,-
Lear. The bow is bent and drawn, make from the

shaft.
K'ent. Let it fall rather, though the fork invade
The region of my heart : be Kent unmannerly,
When Lear is mad.
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 remain 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.

[Seising his sword. Alb., Corn. Dear sir, forbear. Lear.

Hear me, recreant ! On thine allegiance hear me ! Since thou hast sought to make us break our vow,Which we durst never yet,—and with strain’d pride To come between our sentence and our pow'r;Which nor our nature nor our place can bear,Our potency made 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 Upon our kingdom : if, on the tenth day following, Thy banish'd trunk be found in our dominions,